First day of CNA clinicals

[Ninja Nurse, ASN]

So today was my first day at clinicals. We're doing 4 days at a LTC and 5 days hospital. Of course, I was nervous and excited as hell thinking I was gonna be able to "practice" all of my skills. Well if anyone has gone to clinicals yet, you know! WHAT YOU ARE TAUGHT AND WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IS A TOTAL 360!!!! LOL We started to call it the "what not to do at the state test" day.

Let me just say, I was in shock for the first 2 hours, as were all the other students. I was assigned to the alzheimer's unit and my preceptor was "seasoned". I respected her right from the start, but found out quickly that she pretty much had to have a "whatever it takes" kind of approach. She knew each resident like they grew up together, but by midday, she had "parked" me in the commons area and I found myself becoming a wallflower. Not really a bad thing for my first day, but I would've really liked to have done something, anything really. Oh and yes I asked her several times what I could do, and each time I was "parked". Maybe I was messing up her flow or something. But one of the other students had noticed her goofing off several times throughout our day, so maybe that was it too. She might not of wanted me stuck to her hip all day. :wink2:

I did let my instructor know and I won't be working with her next week. But I guess I can kiss the thought of "practicing" my skills during clinicals good-bye.

Has anyone had this type of experience at clinicals? Or want to share their first day?

[yousoldtheworld]

You will get to practice during clinicals! Or at least, you should. Some of us actually like training new aides, and if your class is anything like mine, you'll have to at least perform each skill for your instructor at some point. I've worked with some aides who don't like training because it interferes with their routines, and I understand that to some extent...but if you have someone else, you will probably get the chance to participate.

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

Sorry to hear about your experience When we went for clinicals the staff was short handed & was so happy we were there. Our instructor had us pair off & help perform AM care for the patients & make their beds..then at lunch help feed. We didn't really have that much interaction with the staff in terms of shadowing them. Our instructor used to be ADON for the nursing home we were at so they just let us practice on the residents under his supervision. Hopefully you will get a chance to be more hands-on in the next few days!

[Ninja Nurse, ASN]

Sorry to hear about your experience When we went for clinicals the staff was short handed & was so happy we were there. Our instructor had us pair off & help perform AM care for the patients & make their beds..then at lunch help feed. We didn't really have that much interaction with the staff in terms of shadowing them. Our instructor used to be ADON for the nursing home we were at so they just let us practice on the residents under his supervision. Hopefully you will get a chance to be more hands-on in the next few days!

Yea that's what we were supposed to be doing, and some students were lucky enough to have a good preceptor. Thanks for the encouragement!

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

I can see why she "parked" you. One tiny little thing really CAN slow you down the rest of the shift. At the same time, you're there to learn and practice, and you're entitled to that.

I've never trained anyone, but I'd like to! I already know I wouldn't have time to stop and show someone how to do anything slowly- and students are very slow. In my clinicals the CNAs would whip around the place too- the students were not the first thing on their minds- the residents were. So they'd forget about us, we'd find them and ask what to do and they'd have us get someone ready for bed. So my partner and I would be tiptoeing around this person for the longest time- puttering around and stopping several times trying to think of what to do next according the the book. And the CNAs would pop in like 5 times to ask us if we were done yet!

Personally if I were training someone I'd probably have them just shadow me on the first day to get a big picture view of what it's actually like and everything that you do. And just talk through all the skills.

[CNAMichelle]

We were lucky in the aspect that our instructor assigned us a different cna to shadow each day. some would let you do a lot more than others,I just sorta jumped in(on the 2nd day) and started doing what I knew how to do. I also saw lots of things done completely different than the way you HAVE to do it for state,so you just have to keep going over the skills check list to remind yourself of the proper way(I felt like after clinicals ya had to retrain ya self) cause they dont do it by the book,in the real world(some of which is quite understandable)

and I witnessed many things that a cna should never be doing,example: one cna I shadowed was peed off cause her bf left early(he worked there also) so she was on her cell phone with him compaining about being stuck at work ,working like a dog,while hes home,shes doing all this fussing while changing a residents brief and flipping her all around roughly....and the resident would make comments"hey dont flip me off the bed" etc....... it really ticked me off,and that is just 1 example. so I know what you feel like,but all in all,I really enjoyed clinicals,cause I loved helping the people. Goodluck to ya!

[azcna]

We never shadowed anyone at my clinicals. We were teamed up with a partner from our class for a day or two, and then we were on our own with only one resident to care care of all day. And if we were done early we would help out with feeding, or with other things.

And yes, the real world and what you are taught in class are SO different! People always said that, but I never really thought about it until I experienced it. Thankfully, the place I work for now really does do most things by the book, as many as they can anyways.

[Ninja Nurse, ASN]

I love hearing everyone's response! Thanks.......I kinda wish though that I could test before clinicals because I'm learning a lot of shortcuts that I dont want to use at state. I just keep saying to myself, "ok, at state, I would....." and I study my flashcards. I signed up yesterday. Just waiting for my letter with the date.