First Week of Clincial

iteach · Sep 2, 2005

Our first day of clinical is not a patient care day. That relieves much student anxiety. Students come to the hospital in professional clothes and a lab coat. We meet in a class room and first go over hospital policies, fire safty, etc. I then go over my clinical expectations and how the day should go. We then tour the unit and meet with the clinical manager. I've used a scavenger hunt to help students locate key items, inlcuding where fire extiguishers and other safety equipment are located. I take a patient chart int the conference room and review charting with them, too. Of course, if you've never been to the hospital or unit you'll be on, you should contact the unit manager and meet with him or her and review your course objectives, expectations, and make arrangements to work with a nurse for a shift so that you are familiar with pt care at that facility.

BGSRN · Sep 2, 2005

Thanks for the information!!

Sarah, RNBScN · Sep 4, 2005

Our first day of clinical is not a patient care day. That relieves much student anxiety. Students come to the hospital in professional clothes and a lab coat. We meet in a class room and first go over hospital policies, fire safty, etc. I then go over my clinical expectations and how the day should go. We then tour the unit and meet with the clinical manager. I've used a scavenger hunt to help students locate key items, inlcuding where fire extiguishers and other safety equipment are located. I take a patient chart int the conference room and review charting with them, too. Of course, if you've never been to the hospital or unit you'll be on, you should contact the unit manager and meet with him or her and review your course objectives, expectations, and make arrangements to work with a nurse for a shift so that you are familiar with pt care at that facility.

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I do the same. Great minds think alike. Ha! Ha!

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Oct 26, 2005

Our first day of clinical is not a patient care day. That relieves much student anxiety. Students come to the hospital in professional clothes and a lab coat. We meet in a class room and first go over hospital policies, fire safty, etc. I then go over my clinical expectations and how the day should go. We then tour the unit and meet with the clinical manager. I've used a scavenger hunt to help students locate key items, inlcuding where fire extiguishers and other safety equipment are located. I take a patient chart int the conference room and review charting with them, too. Of course, if you've never been to the hospital or unit you'll be on, you should contact the unit manager and meet with him or her and review your course objectives, expectations, and make arrangements to work with a nurse for a shift so that you are familiar with pt care at that facility.

I should have read your post before my first clinical day. Oh well, too late now :chuckle.

If I may hijack this thread, I would like to know generally speaking, what you guys expect from first semester clinical students? I am teaching in an ADN program. These chicks just walked into nursing school in September, and have a total of six clinical days this semester. I want so badly to make their time on the floor as productive as possible, but they really have no theory behind them yet, so I feel most of what I try to explain to them is falling on deaf ears. I also don't want to 'feed' them information, I want to encourage them to think, but I feel like I'm overwhelming them. Help!

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Oct 26, 2005

I should have read your post before my first clinical day. Oh well, too late now :chuckle.
If I may hijack this thread, I would like to know generally speaking, what you guys expect from first semester clinical students? I am teaching in an ADN program. These chicks just walked into nursing school in September, and have a total of six clinical days this semester. I want so badly to make their time on the floor as productive as possible, but they really have no theory behind them yet, so I feel most of what I try to explain to them is falling on deaf ears. I also don't want to 'feed' them information, I want to encourage them to think, but I feel like I'm overwhelming them. Help!

Concentrate on BASICS - creating in them a good foundation for safe, professional patient care. Don't take anything for granted and break down concepts to a level that they can understand. Things to concentrate on at this level: the basics of documentation, taking accurate vital signs (taking the APICAL pulse and counting respirations for a full minute), accurate I & O, a basic patient assessment, safeguarding patient confidentiality, and patient safety principles - such as never leaving all side rails down or the bed in "high" position, call bell always within reach, etc.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Oct 29, 2005

Concentrate on BASICS - creating in them a good foundation for safe, professional patient care. Don't take anything for granted and break down concepts to a level that they can understand. Things to concentrate on at this level: the basics of documentation, taking accurate vital signs (taking the APICAL pulse and counting respirations for a full minute), accurate I & O, a basic patient assessment, safeguarding patient confidentiality, and patient safety principles - such as never leaving all side rails down or the bed in "high" position, call bell always within reach, etc.

Thanks Vicky, can always count on you. I'm rather enjoying it so far. Tried to concentrate on basics, but they want to know everyhing!! They kind of want to zoom past the basics, IMO. So many questions, and I don't want to tell them 'don't worry about that yet', like I've heard other instructors have told them.

BGSRN · Nov 4, 2005

Thanks to the advice from everyone on this board clinicals are going very well. I did take that first day and use it for orientation and it was a great idea and set the tone. The first few weeks were focused on the basics and improving assessment skills. They are so eager to learn and have become quite adept at picking up not only abnormal lung sounds but also abnormal heart sounds. They are making the connections between theory and practice as well as making the connection to what is "on the chart" and how the patient presents. It is so rewarding to watch this growth. With a little guidance the students have intervened and advocated for intervention changes with physicans. For example - a patient with a postive fluid balance that was developing crackles, the student discused the IV rate with the physican and her concens and the physican heeded her suggestion! If you could have seen her beam knowing that she made a difference for her patient- I am still smiling about this. Again - this site is wonderful and everyone so helpful for someone who is so new to this role. THANKS!!!!!

teach1 · Nov 11, 2005

Clinical the 1st day includes hospital orientation (patient safety, customer service, infection control, HIPAA, EOC, tour, chart form review, scavenger hunt). 2nd day, shadow RN, seek information to specific questions. The questions relate to policy & procedures, regulatory issues, prioritizing care, medication process, medical record review .... Hope that this provides information for your 1st clinical days.

teach1