Help with 2nd Semester Clinicals.

pinkmarshmallow · Mar 6, 2008

Hi, Im a 3rd year nursing student and I know it can be really difficult to juggle everything along with coursework and clinical placements. I was working 7 days a week for months and was so stressed out I felt like I had no time to get anything done!!Maybe it would help if you make yourself a wee timetable to help you plan out your coursework?I also find it helps to jot down a few quick 'to do' notes at the beginning of each shift, to help you plan and prioritise the things you need to do. This should help you avoid remembering something at the last minute and not having time to do it!!Hope this helps???xx

yoginurse2b · Mar 7, 2008

I'm in my 3rd semester and I am ashame to say that I only learn about organization and prioritization this semester. But thank goodness I have a great clinical instructor who helps me to achieve that. Here are few tips:

1) cheat sheet is a MUST!!! Especially if you're an unorganized person like me, you gotta need that. If you want, pvt message me and I'll email you my cheat sheet. It helps me tremendously.

2) Go through your pt's chart inside out! Learn about everything about your pt will give you an idea what's wrong with the pt, thus what to assess and what interventions you will expect to do. Don't forget about labs and procedures/surgeries, and DR's and RN's most recent notes.

3) After listening to your morning reports, quickly check pt's EKG reading and today's important labs (eg. if pt has Lasix today, check potassium level, etc). Before going into pt's room, check whether meds are in the drawer, so that if they are not, you can quickly notify your RN so you won't be late to give meds.

4) Once you've done your assessment for each pt, quickly chart. Cause the sooner you're done with your charting, the more infos you remember bout your pts, and it will lighten your burden for the morning.

5) If you have 3 pts, and you have lots of meds to give each pts, start giving your meds a lil' early. Eg. if all your pts meds due at 9 am, start giving them at 8:30 am.

Hope that helps!

>--stethoscope--o · Mar 7, 2008

I think I should have been a bit more clearer, but I don't have problem giving meds, I have problem remembering what they do. We get asked about our meds before we give them.

APBT mom, LPN, RN · Mar 7, 2008

Our instructors had us write all the drugs that we give on a med sheet and it has a spot that we can put anything that we need to do or look at on it. I just write everything on it and bring it with me during the med pass so when the instructor asks a question I can flip to it and give her the answer. I have a copy on my computer if you want to see it or use it I can post it on here.