First Clinical

Heloisea3 · Apr 22, 2009

Good luck! I hope you have a fabulous day. :up:

Arievilo · Apr 22, 2009

Good Luck! Learn lots! :)

Rylee2008, ASN, RN · Apr 22, 2009

Good Luck. You'll do great and learn so much!!

emmy27 · Apr 24, 2009

Good luck! Don't worry- it won't be nearly as scary as you think, and in a few months you'll be looking back and wishing they were still as easy as that first one, lol.

Sand_Dollar, BSN · Apr 24, 2009

Goldenatom, how did it go?!?!

buttercup99 · Apr 24, 2009

Hey Goldenatom, I hope you are having a great placement. What are your preceptors like? What are the other nurses like? Willing to teach you or too busy?

Tell us all about it. I'm nosy! :lol2: Hope it's all going well and if you have any questions or need to vent, we're waiting.

Goldenatom · Apr 27, 2009

It went well. It was a long term care facility and I was not quite prepared for my patients condition. Pretty much non-responsive and totally dependent. I got to do most of his care for the day. Bed bath, feeding, clothing (The charge nurse had a good laugh at what I picked out...I usually don't leave the house without my wife approving my clothing selection...), mouth care, bedding change, things like that. Pretty easy stuff. Now I just have to do this damn plan of care...

buttercup99 · Apr 29, 2009

That sounds pretty much like my 1st placement except some of the nurses at mine were mean and the rest were unsupportive :down: . Make sure you seek out as many experiences as you can. If a meeting is on, go to it. If a procedure is being done, like fentanyl administration or colostomy bag care etc, go and watch. And make sure you don't exceed your scope of practice. Example: if you are asked to give medications, don't do it (unless rules are different where you are.) If someone (including a doctor) asks for info on a patient, refer them to staff. Different places have different rules and it can be easy to break them when you are trying to take initiative or do the right thing. I've had RNs ask me to do things that I am not allowed to do and even though it would have reduced their workload, I've had to explain that it is my degree at risk.

Oh, and work out what needs to be done and do it 5 minutes before its due so you can get marked up as taking initiative :lol2:

I just started my placement at Short stay surgery and it is so much better having supportive staff. But I feel like a 1st year again!....... still orientating I suppose.