What I didn't get in school...

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in LTC & Correctional Nursing.

I am set to graduate from my PN program in 38 days. I am wrapping up my clinicals Sunday and I have several concerns that I have brought to my school's attention and to my clinicals instructors' attention. In my clincial time I have never gotten the chance to do a cath, a tb test or trach care just to name a few things that bother me the most. My school and instructors tell myself and others that have voices the same concerns that will get to do all of this when we get jobs. I understand that there will be plenty of time and chances to do these things then but I feel like I am missing out. Did anyone else have a similar experience when they were in school? Maybe I am just too worried...I feel confident in knowing how to do these procedures because of practicing in the lab so much but theres nothing like the real thing! Thank you in advance for reading and any responses! :D

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
In my clincial time I have never gotten the chance to do a cath, a tb test or trach care just to name a few things that bother me the most. My school and instructors tell myself and others that have voices the same concerns that will get to do all of this when we get jobs.

Congratulations on becoming an LPN, I heartily commend you for your concerns and having voiced them to your instructors. I feel they have cheated you both by not letting you experience everything clinically that you have paid for but they have also cheated you in their response.

You will be a great nurse. There's no downfall in asking for help when it comes time to do anything you don't feel totally comfortable with. Your new co-workers will appreciate your concern. Best of luck :nurse:

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Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab.

Were there opportunities to do these things and you were not allowed?? Or just no opportunity...I never did an IV..inserted an NG, only did 2 cath's and one time trach care, and that was all the way through my RN...there are not always oppoprtunites..

You will get experience when you are out on your own...and no one will expect you to know how to do it all as a new grad.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I also commend you on your thoughtfulness and understand your concerns. FWIW it seems that the clinical experiences can be hit or miss for nursing students. I had some great ones simply by luck of the draw. My clinical sites were excellent and also sometimes I just happened to be "lucky" and get the patient that needed a cath etc. :)

The good news is that you can and will learn these skills on the job. It isn't ideal but just be honest and ask someone experienced to review the procedure with you ahead of time and stay with you at the bedside as you perform it. Hopefully you will have supportive team members like I did when starting out. Good luck and many congratulations!!!

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Specializes in LTC & Correctional Nursing.
Were there opportunities to do these things and you were not allowed?? Or just no opportunity...I never did an IV..inserted an NG, only did 2 cath's and one time trach care, and that was all the way through my RN...there are not always oppoprtunites..

You will get experience when you are out on your own...and no one will expect you to know how to do it all as a new grad.

In every clinical rotation there were opportunites and my instructors would say things like.."oh, you will get to do this in the next clinical" it pretty much felt like they were too lazy or just unwilling to teach us the real world procedure. Like I said I brought it up to the school time and time again and it fell on deaf ears. It seemed like as I progressed through my clinical rotations they opportunites became less and less. It really saddens me.

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

I had one chance to do a straight cath in clinicals, and I was unable to get it :-( I was so nervous the first time I did a straight cath as an LPN! I just asked for another LPN to come with me, and she was very helpful and supportive. You'll be fine! Your future employer knows that you are a new grad, and has new grad expectations.

At my work, we don't have trach/vent pts. so I've never had the chance to do this outside of lab in school. If we took pts. like this, I would ask for/expect additional training.

I am set to graduate from my PN program in 38 days. I am wrapping up my clinicals Sunday and I have several concerns that I have brought to my school's attention and to my clinicals instructors' attention. In my clincial time I have never gotten the chance to do a cath, a tb test or trach care just to name a few things that bother me the most. My school and instructors tell myself and others that have voices the same concerns that will get to do all of this when we get jobs. I understand that there will be plenty of time and chances to do these things then but I feel like I am missing out. Did anyone else have a similar experience when they were in school? Maybe I am just too worried...I feel confident in knowing how to do these procedures because of practicing in the lab so much but theres nothing like the real thing! Thank you in advance for reading and any responses! :D
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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.
I am set to graduate from my PN program in 38 days. I am wrapping up my clinicals Sunday and I have several concerns that I have brought to my school's attention and to my clinicals instructors' attention. In my clincial time I have never gotten the chance to do a cath, a tb test or trach care just to name a few things that bother me the most. My school and instructors tell myself and others that have voices the same concerns that will get to do all of this when we get jobs. I understand that there will be plenty of time and chances to do these things then but I feel like I am missing out. Did anyone else have a similar experience when they were in school? Maybe I am just too worried...I feel confident in knowing how to do these procedures because of practicing in the lab so much but theres nothing like the real thing! Thank you in advance for reading and any responses! :D

I am a new grad RN, and never got to do a Foley cath or TB test, among I'm sure several things that I'd like to have done.

I did get to watch an 18 year old CVA pt take his first steps with minimal support, be hugged by a 7 year old who thought I'd make a great nurse, be appreciated by an elderly man who spoke little English while trying to explain hypertension in my broken Spanish during a home visit & advocate for an infant with pyloric stenosis who needed to be pushed up on the OR schedule because his poor parents couldn't bear to watch him cry anymore.

To me, these are some of my most prized clinical experiences--the skills will come. Preceptors will understand that you're new and may not have gotten the chance to do every single possible nursing skill. I feel I learned how to be a nurse by learning to advocate for, respect & support my patients--not necessarily by getting the chance to do every single skill. That will come in time. :nurse:

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Specializes in ICU.

given the opportunities were there and NOT taken advantage of is just WRONG. pure lazy on your instructors part. i'd love to hear their explainations and having them say, you'll get that later....is a cop out. :madface:

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Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab.
In every clinical rotation there were opportunites and my instructors would say things like.."oh, you will get to do this in the next clinical" it pretty much felt like they were too lazy or just unwilling to teach us the real world procedure. Like I said I brought it up to the school time and time again and it fell on deaf ears. It seemed like as I progressed through my clinical rotations they opportunites became less and less. It really saddens me.

Well I am sorry cause that just sucks!

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I agree, your instructors let you down! When you get hired and meet with your preceptor be ready to discuss what you hope to get out of orientation. Make sure the other staff members know you are willing and eager to take on procedures! Follow your instincts, make your needs known and you will be fine. Congrats and good luck!

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A nurse I was following today in my clinical rotation gave me a great perspective on procedures and nursing: Being able to do a procedure isn't as important as having a clear picture of your patient and know the whys, risks, and benefits of said procedure. Putting together your patient's clinical picture through a good report with followup questions will help you plan your day's care. Procedures will be there, but you need to know why your patient needs it is more the key to good nursing. But, yes, good for you for voicing your concerns to your CI and administration. If procedures are available, your CI should give you every opportunity to perform them. Having done something in the clinical setting will give you more confidence when you encounter it again in the work setting as you will have had a chance to reflect on how to improve your approach to the procedure. Good luck.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Students are always frustrated and want to do more procedures. I know I did! But it helps if they take responsibility for seeking out these opportunities and then letting the instructor know about it. Also be prepared! Look up snd review how to do a cath, etc. and at least try to get the equipment. Typically a student will just say, "My patient needs a catheter" and then wait for the instructor to check the order, find a reference book, find the equipment, etc. If students are proactive, then everyone will get to do more. Instructors SHOULDN'T sit around and refuse to take opportunities, but they are trying to help everyone with safe basic care and that can be very time-consuming. And days will go by when there just aren't very many needed procedures going on, depending on the patients' needs.

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