First week of Clinicals

snazzy-jazzy, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2010

I remember when I was in first semester and felt like there was nothing else I could do. I ended up tidying up, putting ob machines away, going into patients rooms and cleaning up (don't throw away empty water bottles though incase they are on a fluid balance chart, yes I did that once but luckily a nurse noticed me do it the first time and told me)... Tidy up the linen trolley, go and talk to some of the patients, look at some interesting charts and see how the nurses write their notes and look at the care paths. Ask if this is ok first and stand at the desk, don't sit unless offered or there are plenty available. Usually you will be told to grab a seat. You will be noticed as a student that is pro active and interested, and just might be grabbed to watch an interesting procedure. You'll be advancing your own learning and tidying up helps you work out where everything is stored, and by talking to the patients you will learn a lot about them and start to feel comfortable being there.

I remember how awkward I felt in first semester when you can't really do anything than basic cares and obs, but I felt more awkward just walking around with nothing to do when really there is plenty to do. Good on you for asking, you will be a great student.

shannahan · Feb 6, 2010

Those first semester clinicals are awkward but get much better as time goes on. As far as going into the patient's room, become an actress. Walk in confidently and introduce yourself with a smile. Be polite and professional with the nurses.

BellasMommyOBRN · Feb 6, 2010

yea, i agree with everyone else, wait until you get to med-surg. you won't be wandering the halls looking for something to do, especially as they give you more than one patient at a time.

just try to observe as much as you can right now, exposure to the procedures is a great way to learn :up:

AugustRain · Feb 6, 2010

Clinicals can seem frustrating until you get into the swing of things, but there actually are things you can do.

When you get report/check in with your nurse for the day, let her know what skills you're allowed to do. Remember that there are probably lots of students from different schools and different levels rotating through the floor, so don't assume the nurses know what you can do. Also tell them how long you'll be on the floor and whether you're assigned to any other nurses' patients that day, as well.

Instead of asking if there's anything the nurses/CNAs need help with, give them specifics, and ask if you CAN do something...they may not actually NEED assistance, but will often allow you to do something if you ask. And make sure that your nurse/CNA knows that you would like to observe things too. For instance, where I work, techs do blood draws and EKGs...so in addition to watching some of the interesting things nurses are doing, it would benefit a student to go in with a tech and learn how they select a vein for a lab draw or where they place EKG electrodes. If your patient is going off the floor, see if you can go with them.

And don't forget about the things you can do independently, too! Spend time with your patients, take your time doing a physical assessment, ask them questions - I find out a lot about my patients by chatting with them, and it really helps to put together the pieces about how they ended up in the hospital and what I can do to help them heal. Little things matter more than you may realize.

Look through the charts and check out the patient's lab values, scans, history. Find out what about their illness is a "textbook" presentation, and what about it has some variation. Figure out why...co-morbidities, meds, etc. Look at their meds - do you understand why they're getting each one? This will all help you later on as you take on more responsibility with complex patients.

Remember that it's still early in your clinical experience, and it does get better!

1234student · Feb 7, 2010

I understand where you are coming from. I am in my 2nd semester right out of high school... I have no health care experience neither does anyone in my family. Just use this time to get used to everything.. Your patients probably arent very difficult of cases, but as you get farther into nursing they will get harder and harder. So try perfect your assessment and learning to talk to the client. And there are always problems with the nurses on the floor....some you like and some you dont. Some are more open to helping students and others are just there to do their job. BUt sometimes you have to remember they are extremly busy dealing with 4-8 patients at a time depending on the area. They come acrossed as mad, when really they are just super busy.

knittingmonster · Feb 7, 2010

One way I somewhat got over that lost feeling was to just start walking into patients' rooms and checking if they need anything. Sometimes they did, sometimes they didn't. We gave a lot of bed baths and it was a good time to work on assessment skills as well. If I noticed the physicians making rounds on my patient, I'd run in after them so I could listen. I followed a phlebotomist once to observe a blood draw. She was really nice and showed me how to feel for "bouncy" veins, as she put it. We'd take vitals on pts and once I happened to be in the room when RT came in. I watched her try to do a sterile suction to get a sputum sample.

Especially in the first weeks when your skill set is limited, observe as much as you can. Otherwise, I stayed busy by being a gopher.