First Time Clinicals coming up, getting nervous

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Specializes in Urology, Gyn, Family Practice, HBO.

I am in my second term and we are due to start on our clinicals on the 15th. I am getting sooooo nervous. All that they have told us is that they are going to split our class in half and send us to two separate places. No one knows where we are going, what time we have to be there or which group they are in. Is this normal? The closer it gets, the more I am starting to freak out a little. I don't feel like I am prepared enough to start them, but I am not sure that I will ever feel completly prepared. My best friend is an RN and she promises me that it will get easier. Any advice anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

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Specializes in Adult and Peds ED, Forensic Nursing.

I can reiterate what your friend said, it will (or should) get easier!

I am in my second semester (not an RN) but it is better already. We started clinicals the third week of school so we really didn't know anything. In a way that was good because all they could expect us to do was talk to our patients.

I sometimes get the feeling that not giving us the full picture, making us guess, or worse, ask ;-) is part of the nursing school process. Maybe they want to weed us out (cynical I know)? Maybe they are all disorganized? Maybe they are just keeping us on our toes? I don't know.

My tactic so far is to just adapt and go with the flow as much as possible, but if you really can't ride it out and wait for the school to give you the info, ask straight out, where, when, what, how....

Maybe your upper classmen could also alleviate some of your concerns. Were you assigned a peer-mentor, or an advisor? They might help.

Good luck! It was a little scary/exciting at first (and it is still pretty much every morning!) but is almost fun now.

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Hey guys,

How do you prepare for your clinicals in the hospital? I have been looking up the drugs and diseases of the patients I have helped care for, but I haven't been given direction on what I can do to be ready for the next clinical. I am a first semester NP1 student. I go to the hospital for the 4th time tomorrow. Do you guys have suggestions to help me gain knowledge and familiarity with the floor? I am on a oncology floor.

Thanks

Court

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I'm in my 2nd semester of an ADN program - so while I don't have tons of school experience, I have been out working for a long time. Some things remain the same no matter where you work. It is great to know what treatments you might have to do, but do you know where the supply room is? If you need towels, pads, gloves, bandages, tape, IV solution, do you know where and how to get it? Not sure? Ask the unit secretary :) They are a wealth of information, just don't ever sit in her chair :specs:.

If you need to road trip your client, do you know where to go? Where is Xray or even elevators that will accomodate a bed, a stretcher? do you know where they keep wheelchairs?

The other thing I have found is that even though I may have spent hours working on a pathophys card and worked up my diagnosis and care plans, when I actually come to work with my assigned patient, everything will have changed. So the biggest thing to bring with you when you prepare for clinicals, IMHO, is a large dose of humor mixed liberally with patience. Adding too much stress will curdle the mixture. We all know you can't make it thru school without some stress thrown in. :bugeyes:

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Specializes in ICU.

:twocents:...our 1st clinical day (8 wks ago) started w/ a scavenger hunt. we met our nurses, techs, etc. and found out where all the supplies were for the meager amount of care that we were allowed to give during the following shift (linens, wipes,pull-ups, ect.). it was just a basic orientation.

on our 2nd day we had a "buddie" (classmate) to hold hands w/ while we provided very basic cna type care on our 1st pt. i just let my nurse know the scope of care that i was trained to provide, and that i was there to help her w/ any tasks w/in that scope of practice for my assigned pt. i also let her and the tech know that when i had extra time, that i would be willing to help w/ their load as long as the task was at my skill level, and that i accomplished the goals set for my client.

believe me, the more you offer to help, the more interesting procedures you get to witness, and the nurses/techs will be nicer to you...:D

since then...as we get checked off on a skill in lab, we are allowed to add that skill to our clinical practice as long as our clinical instructor witnesses it.

i'm sure that every program is different...but just remember that you do not have to perform any skill that puts your client at risk, or that you are unsure about. you can have your clinical instructor right there to walk you through a procedure so you can perform w/ confidence.

i have zero healthcare experience and i was terrified as my 1st clinical approached...but now the entire group of us run the halls like we are part of the pack.

it's so fun...and don't forget to offer/ask for help from your classmates...then everyone learns and it's less scary! we help each other w/ basic diaper changes, occupied bed changes, bed baths...whatever. even though these are basic skills, the more contact you have w/ your client the more confidence you will get.

i've heard that pts really like having their own "private" student nurse.

good luck!

jeanettecentaur

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Specializes in Urology, Gyn, Family Practice, HBO.

Thanks so much for the advice. Knowning it will eventually get easier (or at least less terrifying :eek: ) makes me feel much better.

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I like the buddy plan.!!! I wish we had the buddy plan!:yeah:

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