First day of clinical.

[AdamMe]

Hello everyone!

I'm a new allnurses member and a new student nurse starting this year at Davenport University.

Having spent the last 7 weeks in SIM lab its finally time to start working with real patients tomorrow, but I was just curious as to what I should expect on my first day. I've been a CNA in Geriatrics for the last 2 years so i'm pretty comfortable with patient interaction, but i'm kind of nervous about going in as a nurse.

What should I expect on my first day? Wound care and catheters? Bed changes and vitals?

Thanks!

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Not sure about the specifics of Davenport's program. Our first 4 weeks was in the nursing home. All we did was vitals, assessments and flu/pneumococcal vaccines. The next 6 weeks was in the hospital caring for chronically ill patients (e. g. CHF, CRF, COPD, etc.). This part of clinicals was to get us used to assessments and documenting properly. We also did med passes (oral, SQ/IM only). If we had free time, we were expected to help out the nurses & CNAs.

[mrsboots87]

This will depend heavily on what your objectives for clinical are and what you will be graded on. I can say that in most programs, block one clinicals are all about basic patient care (read mostly CNA stuff), learn proper med pass, and head to toe assessments. Some programs may expect a little more, but he basics is all you will probably be graded on. You generally dont get to do wound care or foleys until you have been checked off in class. If you have already been checked off, then getting to actually practice the skill in real life could be right away or semesters later. It all depends on if any patients need wound care and foleys, and if those patients dont mind a student performing the procedure, and if the nurse doesnt mind taking the time to teach you, or the instructor makes it to you in time to teach it. But in most cases, at least the first couple clinical shifts will be filled with vitals, basic care help, and assessments. Then once you have shown the instructor what you can do (which can be frustrating for a CNA who already does vitals and care), then they will let you move on to more stuff. Just ask you instructor what is expected of you, and what skills they are will to let you practice with either them or a nurse. Then when the oportunity arises, let the nurse know you would love all the practice they are willing to send your way. The more positive you are, and if the nurse knows you are available and willing, they will let you do more things, or at the very least let you watch. GL on your first clinical!