clinicals

defying.gravity · Jul 15, 2015

Just a general question. In clinicals do you get to go to lunch on your own or do you have to stay at lunch with your instructors? We aren't allowed to even step outside for anything. We have to stay with our instructors even during our lunch hour. Starting to feel really hemmed in and ultra controlled. Just wondering how other places handle this.

It's been a long time since I was in nursing school so I can't really answer. There's a chance the agreement between your school and the clinical site is strict, which might explain some of the circumstances you describe. If you said you were not able to have lunch at all, it would be a red flag. Having an hour lunch but being limited to where you eat it is probably within reasonable bounds, however frustrating that is.

If I were in your situation, I'd probably feel a bit uncomfortable adjusting to what I perceived as a loss of freedom and lack of autonomy. I very much like my time to clear my head as well.

If I were in your situation, I'd probably be taking a couple bathroom breaks during lunch and using the stall to get in a 5-10 minute meditation. lol ... pretty gross, I guess, meditating in a bathroom stall, but I've raised children and there were times raising them that I resorted to meditating in the bathroom because it was the only place I could hide and they accepted that it was my private time ..... (I miss those days, by the way ... miss them a lot ...) so gross or not ... sometimes we do what we have to do!

Are you able to bring a small book and read during lunch? I'd probably do that. When I'm really frustrated or bored, I pull out my mantras and run them over and over to find my center and feel my sense of well being. Good luck!

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2015

If I were in your situation, I'd probably be taking a couple bathroom breaks during lunch and using the stall to get in a 5-10 minute meditation. lol ... pretty gross, I guess, meditating in a bathroom stall, but I've raised children and there were times raising them that I resorted to meditating in the bathroom because it was the only place I could hide and they accepted that it was my private time ..... (I miss those days, by the way ... miss them a lot ...) so gross or not ... sometimes we do what we have to do!

I'm impressed that you got your kids to leave you alone when you were in the bathroom. Even a locked door didn't get me the quiet time I craved.

Of course, now I do miss those days.

defying.gravity · Jul 15, 2015

I'm impressed that you got your kids to leave you alone when you were in the bathroom. Even a locked door didn't get me the quiet time I craved.
Of course, now I do miss those days.

lol! Definitely don't be impressed, I'm looking back through rose-colored glasses. If I really think about it, there were many times they were outside the door banging and looking under the door completely unconvinced that I deserved alone time. lol ...

fitnurs · Jul 15, 2015

Is this your first clinical? I'm in a BSN program and during our 1st clinicals (Adult 1 which was on a LTC unit) anytime we were not allowed off the floor without the instructor and all took lunch together. In my 2nd semester clinicals (OB/PEDS) we were on our own for lunch and the required 15 minute break (did this rotation in Canada and they have required breaks during the shift which is btw excellent for creating a healthy work environment). Our Peds clinicals consisted of travelling to various different sites in the community (Headstart, Public Health, schools) and we were placed individually or in pairs so no one with us when we went for lunch. The 3rd semester (Adult II) we were in a hospital and rotated through Med/Surg, Acute Rehab, and different observation sites (cath lab, ER, CCU, ICU, OR). We took our first lunch all together with the instructor. The second lunch we all went to the cafeteria at the same time, but the instructor sat with other people (I think to prepare us to be more independent). After that we took our lunches on our own. I would feel a bit controlled as well if we always had to eat together..perhaps your program will allow more independence as you progress?

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 16, 2015

Holy Escalation, Batman! :wideyed:

OP, you have gone from asking if it's normal/usual for first semester nursing students to not be allowed out of the facility for breaks, or need to stay in groups for lunch. You were told that yes, it is normal/usual, with a few exceptions. You didn't seem to like that response.

You were insistent that being told to follow the clinical rules was tantamount to being "treated like a child". You were informed as to the reasons behind it, and numerous reasons why it was oftentimes a reasonable requirement. You didn't like that response either.

Eventually you devolved into screaming "this is why I'm rethinking my nursing career" (when you are just barely a student at this point) because people on a message board disagreed with your opinions, point of view. Maybe rethinking this whole "nursing thing" isn't such a bad idea after all....honestly, you are going to have run-ins with instructors, nurses, aides, other students....your attitude (while you disagree, I understand) isn't really conducive to actively learning about a profession that is entirely new to you right now.

Given all this, it seems you either need to accept that there will be MANY MANY rules you dislike and disagree with but are willing to follow....OR.....you should talk to a school counselor about other career options better suited to your personality and lifestyle needs. This isn't a judgement, merely an observation.

Nurse Leigh · Jul 16, 2015

Anyone else remember this thread?

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/crazy-clinicals-instructor-983973.html

Now that is an example of ridiculous. I wonder how that poor student and her classmates are doing. I hope their instructor changed her silly policy.

queserasera, RN · Jul 16, 2015

In my clinical group of 8 we were split in half (4/4) to take a 30 minute lunch and would have to leave our patients with one of the other student nurses. In that 30 min we could do whatever for lunch, eat a lunch we brought or go purchase one from cafe or outside hospital.

My instructor rarely came with us to lunch, but when they did it was a great opportunity to ask questions, discuss what has gone wrong/right in the day, and get good feedback.

I will note that though I was always "guaranteed" a lunch break, I would often choose to work through it if that was allowed. With my luck I know something exciting will happen if I go to lunch and I didn't want to miss any opportunities to learn something different.

Purple_roses · Jul 16, 2015

Anyone else remember this thread?
https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/crazy-clinicals-instructor-983973.html
Now that is an example of ridiculous. I wonder how that poor student and her classmates are doing. I hope their instructor changed her silly policy.

Oh my. Now THAT's something to complain about!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 16, 2015

Anyone else remember this thread?
https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/crazy-clinicals-instructor-983973.html
Now that is an example of ridiculous. I wonder how that poor student and her classmates are doing. I hope their instructor changed her silly policy.

Yeah, LOL...I recall my reaction was somewhere along the lines of "if this instructor were to ask me (as the nurse) to document I&O on her students, it ain't gonna happen.." :)

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2015

To be honest I don't remember what the rule was when I was in cinicals. I remember eating lunch as a group with my instructors, but we all really liked them so enjoyed their company.

I see where you are coming from, but generally the clinical rules are fully explained prior. In my opinion though, is your lack of experience at clinical sites is a more important hill to die on than lunch arrangements. During my student days, we pulled and administered PO meds from the very first rotation in LTC; we just had to have our instructor present. Of course early on, there were limitations on what we could do; we were absolutely not allowed if we hadn't been checked off in skills lab already. After some times with the instructor supervising us, we were allowed to with the bedside RN. We got to do more and more as the program progressed, until during our final practicum we were managing the shift under our preceptors' watchful eye. We even paged and reported concerns to the MDs, administered vasoactive drips, etc--again with the preceptors right there next to us. I've seen all sorts of posts here on AN about how little skills many students graduated with. True, nursing isn't a set of manual skills, but they are part of the job description, and then you hear from students who have gone their entire program without placing a PIV or a foley. So not only does orientation need to work on critical thinking and the nursing process in practice, but they have to teach them those manual skills. Hopefully this will change as your program progresses.

You do seem very defensive. Word to the wise: deescalation is a skill you will definitely need in psych.

If you're bored, you can always practice your therapeutic communication skills. :yes:

cupcakeluver · Jul 22, 2015

OP....I get where you're coming from about some alone time. I'm starting 3rd semester in August. Lunch breaks have been different each semester for me, based on the instructor. Some instructors wanted the group to eat lunch together and others let us go our own way, as long as we stayed on the premises. I really hated the rotations where I was stuck with the instructor and classmates the entire 8 hours. In my mind, clinicals are very similar to a job interview. I'm constantly on alert and working my absolute hardest to demonstrate my ability to be a hard worker and my desire to be a nurse. I'm also super aware of the instructor....and desperate to satisfy the requirements expected of me as a student nurse.

It's a tense time. I certainly appreciate 30 minutes to sit by myself and not think! I like to be able to call and check on my kids or talk with my husband or whatever.

It hasn't always worked out that way for me though. Some instructors made us sit together. And so I did. There isn't anything you can do about it really. It's the instructor's decision and you just have to deal. My only advice is try and make the best of it.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 22, 2015

Just a general question. In clinicals do you get to go to lunch on your own or do you have to stay at lunch with your instructors? We aren't allowed to even step outside for anything. We have to stay with our instructors even during our lunch hour. Starting to feel really hemmed in and ultra controlled. Just wondering how other places handle this.

It depends on your clinical instructor. Most of my instructors had us eat at the same time in a group. Towards the end, closer to graduation, we were expected to fit in our meal time so as not to miss a med pass. Since we had more than one pt by then, you had to create a plan right at the start of your shift so you could pass meds & eat. That usually meant we ate by ourselves. Once in a while it worked out where a friend or 2 would have a break at the same time.