Clinical Advice!

RN1982 · Jul 30, 2008

If they assign you to that site, see if you can switch with another student. If not, you are stuck and are just going to have to deal with it.

RNDreamer · Jul 30, 2008

Have you tried to speak to someone at your school to find out? That's what I would do.

At my school, different clinical 'sections' go to different sites. If I were in your situation, I would just simply ask if I could switch sections.

Good luck!

mpccrn, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2008

what were their concerns? why did they think this relative received suboptimal care? why didn't they request transfer to another facility if they truly thought the care given was not optimal.......these are just a few thoughts i had while reading your post. bottom line, people die in hospitals. nursing is at their bedside while they do that. most schools have contracts with facilities for clinical experience for their students. switching may not be an option, however how you deal with it is in your control.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 30, 2008

You can investigate whether or not there are other locations, but as mentioned, there may be no choice. Also, you can take it as an opportunity to see for yourself if these statements are true. Patients die at all facilities, whether it be hospitals, nursing homes, etc. Staff changes happen, so, maybe the ones that may have been negligent (if that was the case) may no longer be there. And, if you see that what was said was true, again, take it as a learning experience to determine what sort of nurse you personally plan to be. Good luck!

soulofme · Jul 30, 2008

You have not even started school yet...have an open mind...it's what you make of it...you must learn to adapt... you said your family was having the problem with the situation and it was making you feel uncomfortable... give it a shot...this is a learning experience... :nurse:

Pipsqueak, ADN · Jul 30, 2008

I also attended clinicals at a hospital where a close relative of mine received poor care. I won't go into the details, but I will say that I did have my reservations going there because I definately was pre judging the facility. However, I did not allow my judgments get in the way of my clinical experiance and was pleasantly suprised to find out this facility was not the terrible place I believed it to be. I'm glad I went.

Just try to keep in mind that poor care given by (just for example) 1 or 2 particular doctors or nurses does not always reflect the entire facility. And there are always going to be 1 or even a few patients that either recieve or believe they have recieved poor care in just about every single facility that exists. That fact alone doesn't mean they're ALL bad and should be avoided.

Now if you have had a major conflict with a particular nurse or doctor involved in your relative's care that would cause you personal grief/anguish if you needed to work with/ shadow them, then perhaps if that situation arose, you could explain your situation and ask if your instructor could reassign you to a different nurse.

LovebugLPN · Jul 30, 2008

Every facility you go to will have at least a few people telling you stories about how a family member/friend did not receive good care. If you avoid every facility that has these stories you will have nowhere to go. Suck it up and go. I know that seems harsh but it is true.

Fonenurse · Jul 30, 2008

It's always difficult working in places where there is a reputation like this. I remember as a student nurse dreading some wards because of their reputation, but as other posters have said, it's often one or two individuals only that make these.

I trained as a midwife at a place where I had received appalling care years earlier. It was emotionally potentially traumatic - but I used this as an opportunity to learn, influence change and improve care in an unassuming and quiet way - and I believe it made me the caring practitioner I am today.

I think what I am trying to say is that every learning experience is down to you and what you make it - and could be the making of you with the right attitude - I would let college know your concerns, but take the experience anyway - and make your own opinion from what you find if you are placed there.