Failing clinical

HarleyGrandma, RN, EMT-B · Apr 30, 2018

You don't need to reinvent the wheel, just do everything you are supposed to do. Show up early, and be thoroughly prepared. Read material ahead of time, volunteer to try new things, ask questions, etc. I've found that instructors will tailor their response to you based on what you give them. Don't tell them you are motivated, show them.

You are worth the work, give it your best!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2018

You don't need to reinvent the wheel, just do everything you are supposed to do. Show up early, and be thoroughly prepared. Read material ahead of time, volunteer to try new things, ask questions, etc. I've found that instructors will tailor their response to you based on what you give them. Don't tell them you are motivated, show them.
You are worth the work, give it your best!

I think this is excellent advice. Turn in assignments on time...especially care plans. Care plans are the recipe on how you are going to care for your patient. Explain whatever the difficulties were and how you're going to improve.

I you happen to fail don't give up on nursing. Sit down and get a plan together to improve. ((HUGS))

caliotter3 · Apr 30, 2018

Latch on to your instructor for any questions you may have. Check in with her. Oftentimes showing enough interest and extra effort will tilt the scales when they need to be tilted.

studentnursej1 · May 1, 2018

Thanks for the replies. I suppose what is concerning is the criteria for pass fail in our handbook are not really objective, unless for failing lecture or being unsafe.

katyq82 · May 1, 2018

Don't tell them you are motivated, show them.

This for sure ^

Another thing you might do is request a check in meeting with her in a couple weeks, or halfway between now and the final evaluation- once you've had a chance to show some improvement but before she will be doing the final evaluation. Just check in, ask her if she feels you have improved in the areas of concern, let her know how you think it is going, and ask her what, if anything, she would like to see you work on in the time remaining.

studentnursej1 · May 8, 2018

I am glad to say i didn't fail!!!

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · May 8, 2018

I am glad to say i didn't fail!!!

This sounds like some good news! Between now and next semester, look back at this one and try to figure out what was going on that got you in danger of failing and what you can do to keep that from happening in the future. Of course making sure that you have your care plans ready to go, on time, and available on hand during your clinical experience is a given. Why might I suggest having the care plans on hand (even if a copy)? If you have a patient that ends up going home before your clinical starts, you might be able to "pick up" a new patient that's similar to one that you would have had. Therefore you already have something to work with, though you will likely have to change some things.

I've had more than one occasion (like every darned week) where I would pick up a patient or two, do the care plan on them, only to have one or both (or sometimes all three!) patients go home or get transferred off the floor before I get a chance to work with them. Having those care plans available made things easier. While I would have to do an abbreviated care plan on those "new" patients, I at least had something to work from.