4 skills down, 2 to go! 1st semester students

NurseWeasel · Feb 12, 2003

We're in a similar spot as you, only maybe a week or two behind you. After Spring Break we, too start clinicals. One long day a week at a VA facility.

We just had our first (killer) pharmacology test last night, 25% of our grade, and I didn't hear anyone comment that they felt like they did well at all. Yeeps.

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2003

How did you do on the test? We had our catheter skill evaluation today. I got to go first---yay! 5 down, 1 to go.

NurseWeasel · Feb 13, 2003

We have to wait up to a week for our test results. I think it's a 'distance ed' thing, since we have to mail our tests to the instructor before he can grade them. It's hard not to obsess about it, but it's over & done so there's no sense worrying now, lol. I'll update you when I know more.

Hey awesome news on your catheter skill passing! We have to submit ours by video rather than in front of the instructor. I haven't yet decided if I like that idea or not, but I think it will be less stressful.

SpecFuz · Feb 13, 2003

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Feb 13, 2003

Spec---wow.....glad I don't have a paper to write. :) Do you feel prepared for clinicals?

NurseWeasel---all of your learning & skills are done outside of the classroom? Do you have a lab to go to in order to practice the skills? What about clinicals?

NurseWeasel · Feb 13, 2003

We have one day a week of actual hands-on lab, where we usually get one chance to practice each skill. Bedbaths & vital signs we got checked off during lab, but all the more intensive stuff we have to videotape ourselves.

What bites most is that there is only 1 mannequin at the school - the rest are at the lab which is 30 miles away and owned by another school. So somehow we're supposed to make time to practice until perfect on this 1 mannequin, and videotape ourselves.

Clinicals start in 2 weeks, and from what I can tell we'll do the clinicals in the morning and then have "lab" in the afternoon where we'll practice and talk about things that come up during clinical.

It's becoming more obvious as time passes that this is a relatively new program. It's frustrating to see the disorganization, and I sincerely hope it doesn't affect our pass rate. The first class from this program hasn't graduated yet, and we're the 2nd class.

Spec, check out Reference Point's APA software. It's saved my butt. It is well worth the purchase price in my opinion. http://www.charm.net/~rps/howtodownload.htm It basically sets up the document for you, and has popup windows with forms to enter your references.... you enter the info in the boxes (author, title, pub date) and Wah-Lah your reference page is automatically created. LOVE IT.

NurseHeather · Feb 15, 2003

Hi. I am also a first semester student. I just wanted to share that we only have four skills to be tested on at our school...BP, Pulse, wound dressing, and med passing. All the other skills that some of you have mentioned are just observed during clinicaL and we were able to practice all of them in our labs on campus. I had my first real clinical yesterday. We get paired up with someone for only the first week. I was very lucky. I got paired up with an experienced CNA who was very helpful. now, next week is february recess and from then on, I get to work on a different patient every Friday till May. I am sooo scared about having my own patient. Good luck with all of your clinicals:)

maire, ASN, RN · Feb 15, 2003

It's interesting how different programs do things. I have had 2 clinical days so far in the past 4 weeks that I have been in school. In lab, we learn the skills, and we have to pass lab practicums before we can do those skills in the clinical setting. This past week we had our vital signs practicum and at clinical the next day we were told to scamper and do vitals on our assigned patient.

We have had quizzes every week in lecture but our first real exam isn't until Friday the 21st.

I'm having fun, learning every day, and the stress level seems to be lessening. :) Ask me about that in a week though; I may have a different answer.

justjill · Feb 16, 2003

yea!! good job, jennerizer!!

i think check-offs were one of the most stressful parts of school so far.....

has anyone else found clinicals to be kinda....well, boring?? before i could pass meds and take on the 'total' care of the patient, i always felt like i was in the nurses way....and it didn't take me six hours to do two bed baths

essarge · Feb 16, 2003

As you move through the courses you will be more and more "on your own". Our instructor (we are juniors) left the floor for 45 minutes and we did everything during that time on our own. In med surg II, you are expected to do almost everything on your own, including meds. But don't let that fool you, the classroom stuff is really tough.

Anyway, best of luck to all of you!

epg_pei · Feb 16, 2003

Originally posted by JillianRose
yea!! good job, jennerizer!!

i think check-offs were one of the most stressful parts of school so far.....

has anyone else found clinicals to be kinda....well, boring?? before i could pass meds and take on the 'total' care of the patient, i always felt like i was in the nurses way....and it didn't take me six hours to do two bed baths

I had my first clinical day Friday...it wasn't much, we just do bed baths, vitals, feeding...but I had a jarring experience I wasn't emotionally prepared for...dealing with a elderly pt w dementia...just felt pretty angry to be on my own and unprepared for the experience....next week will be better (famous last words)