Educator with limited clinical experience

[holdensjane]

Hello all!

Ive been a nurse for about 3 years now working in the same unit where I started as a new grad. I've recently taken an educator role, however, my concern is that clinically I'm not super confident. I've done well in all my pt assignments thus far but have had limited exposure to certain med/surg skills as I work in a specialized field. Whenever I've had to do perform such skills I've always had experienced nurses who have most likely worked with such pts to demonstrate for me first before I went on to take care of those patients the next couple of shifts, I.e. Trach care.

unfortunately, as educator people will be coming to me for those things and I'm afraid I won't have the confident knowledge show them as others have shown me.

ive already taken this job, and I think in the back of my mind I would have something valuable to bring into the role but I feel so incompetent right now. Is there any way I could obtain these skills or do you have advice for how I can still be effective in my role, now that I won't have the pt care opportunity to continue to learn them now that I'm away from the bedside?

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

See if you can shadow a more experienced nurse on a Med/Surg unit. Observe how things are done. There are also a great deal of clinical skills books that you can refer to.

Another thought is to get some of the more experienced nurses involved. Have each one take a once a month teach a skills class. Observe, listen, don't be afraid to then do.

Make sure that the unit has a general clinical skills book. Look at it with the nurse who is doing the care first. Think about how you and the other nurse will set up the procedure, how you will complete it.

Good luck in your role!! And remember, you may know more than you think you do. If you don't know something, just know where to find the answer to it. None of us know everything!! And part of educating is to show people where their resources are.