What would you like to get out of your Community Nurse Rotation?

[echoRNC711, BSN]

Hi Students,

I am a nurse working in cardiac rehab and frequently precept student nurses in their community nursing rotation. I am not part of any faculty but am interested in putting forward a curriculum /plan for students in a way that would best serve you. I am experienced in med/surg and a lot of critical care specialties so I try to incorporate this in the learning process.

Please give some thought as to what you feel would be most beneficial to you during that rotation. Right now students spend 3 days with me and I have listed some of the areas I cover. I am mindful that some students are tired and I give them the option to navigate their learning in the pace that they wish. I tell them I am not there to judge but to assist so if there is an area they are weak at let me know and I will help. I encourage mistakes because it means a student is stepping out of their comfort zone.

Day 1- Orientation to rehab, CVD prevention,risk factor modification.Introduce them to MI/angina/CHF/CABG pt. Review of these DX, cardiac cycle,meds,rx. Sit in on an orientation of new pt.Ask them to come up with plan. Get them to do a physical Assmt. Quick review or intro to cardiac rhythms.We make a plan for next visit I encourage them to include a plan teach a pt the next time like cholesterol teaching . This is optional.

Day 2. Heart failure, All modes of shock, ACS, plus meds drugs/self care for pt. I get them to access pt without a chart to figure out a dx. We go through how to handle emergencies in the real world. I have them read all of the pts EKG that day. They admit a pt with me and I have them get pt hx and do the teaching they planned for.

Day 3- CABG/ valve surgery, pre op/post op teaching of these pt. Visit to CCU /CVRU, See day 1 CABG pt .Show them where all tubes are attached and why. Have them teach a pt incentive spirometry .Discuss survival skills on orientation,how to navigate 1st yr.How to get on with peers. There future job preferences,deciding what area to pursue and options in the field. Personal review.Review of me. Suggestions for future students.

I hope you don't get lost in the long list here. Please feel free to add or reject things. I am more interested in what would work best.While I value input from any nursing student I personally would like to hear from those in their last semester. Thanks

[echoRNC711, BSN]

I guess not much interest in this clinical rotation !

[db2xs]

I have my community/public health rotation next semester. I did intern at an FQHC over the summer, but that is not the same thing as where you at.

Looking at the list it looks overwhelming. How many hours do you get with the students? I am assuming eight hours

[gatoraims RN]

I would like to have you as my nurse come level IV. :) Looks like you are covering a bunch of group. I like your focus on teaching the pt.

[echoRNC711, BSN]

Hi db2xs, Yeah I know it seems like alot. I try to do it informally.Like asking the student "which pt here looks lika a CHF(er)" So they might "see" them in the exam. I also am more interested in getting students to understand by learning to "see "the anatomy,where it is occuring.So something like heart failure can be reduced to LLL= left heart /LV/Lungs (left heart fail, begins LV,can progress to the lungs).Then move to more complex. Trace the anatomy this is where your problems will show. I just keep it simple. Lets look at this pump. lets look at what pressure in this pump does and what happens. What would the pt look like in each of these st

ages. By the last semester you know so much its just learning to put it together now.If nothing else ,the student might remember LLL in the boards. Left side can progress to lungs,ah yes,Pulmonary edema .

Students get 8hrs. I let them pick. If they know angina,then thats a few min review. Other subjects like how to handle MI we may take longer. The student entirely gets to navigate whether its a snooze or as fast as they would like both our brains squeezed.