Help me prep for my first practicum!

The way you stand out is by getting there early, smiling, coming prepared, being neat and well-groomed, and being polite and deferential to the staff.

Always offer to help. If things are quiet, don't stand around in a knot of classmates in the hall chatting; seek out a staffer-- nurse, CNA-- in a patient room and ask what you can do for her/him.

Never, ever, ever tell anyone you plan to work for a year and go to CRNA school or NP school, even if you do.

You won't be carrying a bag around all day; you'll need both of your hands most of the time. Your scissors go in your pocket, your stethoscope goes around your neck. Your cellphone stays locked in the locker with your coat.

I always told my students to ask every nurse why s/he did what s/he did, and also why s/he didn't do what s/he didn't do. Lots of people can tell you why they like something, but it's when they tell you why they don't like something that you can make a decision.

Examples:

"Mother-baby nursing! I love it! What better opportunity to get a new family off to a good start-- a good birthing experience, establish breastfeeding, and all that. And when a new family has a good birth experience, they'll come back to our hospital for care later on in life."

"Mother-baby nursing, yeeeeecccchhhh! Tits and fundi and peripads and screaming brats and if I never see another whiny entitled ***** with a six-page birth plan and a mother-in-law it'll be too damn soon."

* Don't be afraid to ask question

* Don't be afraid to say I don't know, but I can find the answer (to patients AND your instructor AND the nurse)

* answer call lights, even if they're not your assigned patient

* don't bring your cell phone on the floor... I did once because my patient loved dogs and I have 4 and we spent time showing each other picts and talking about our dogs. My instructor approved and called it therapeutic but don't make a habit of it

* if your nurse is busy, follow her but don't bother her. See what she does, be that fly on the wall, soak it all in

* admit a mistake if/when you make one. I caused a med discrepancy in the pyxis and owned up right away to how I made the mistake. Another student didn't own up, she almost lost her place in the program

* act cheerful but not bubbly. It's 6am, you wish you were in bed still but these people in the hospital also wish they were in their own bed.

* leave your crap at home. One classmate had a troubled daughter and couldn't get her **** together some days and it was not generally a good situation

* have FUN!! I loved clinicals, it's why I was in nursing school. I want to work with people!! You are in charge of your own learning so take the bull by the horns and LEARN and DO and SEE

cell phone use is against policy in my facility. All of the above posts have excellent advice. The key is to play nice. I am glad you are so eager. That is why I like working with students!

NEVER say, "I don't know" without following it up with, "I'll get back to you." Then DO so. That goes for patients, your instructor, nurses, etc.

Advocate for yourself. Speak up if there's something you want to observe or try.

Don't be afraid to ask why. If you don't get why a nurse did or didn't do something, ask!

Observe how different nurses do different things, and take from each of them things you like and things you don't. For example, taking report varies widely by the nurses. Some hospitals have a specific form, but many nurses like creating their own. Ask for a copy, and stockpile these to create your own over time.

Read the care plans. Start getting familiar with planning and prioritizing. These skills will come with time, and no one expects you to know these out of the gate, but familiarizing yourself will put you ahead of the game.

Volunteer to do anything and everything. Challenge yourself. Go above and beyond.

Ask for constructive feedback from your nurse. You can learn a lot!

Take time to talk to your patients. They'll love you for it (unless they're the kind who don't want to talk- read their personalities and situations).

No bag- you'll stash it all in your pockets, so don't carry more than you need. Stethoscope, 2 curved hemostats (I clip them on my top with take around one; you'll want two the first time you need to disconnect a stuck IV line), and scissors are all mine, and I get IV caps, flushes, and alcohol wipes at the beginning of each shift. Even if you can't use them, having them at the ready when your nurse needs them shows you're prepared. Pay attention to the little things that you keep finding yourself needing, and carry them with you. You'll get used to being a pack mule. :)

Enjoy yourself!

Never, ever, ever tell anyone you plan to work for a year and go to CRNA school or NP school, even if you do.

"

Why not?

If given an opportunity to do a skill take it. If you refuse, saying "I've done one already" that nurse will not come back to you.

So your refusal to do a staple removal today and result in a lost chance to do a VAC drsg tomorrow.

Do not tell the nurses on the sub-acute floor that you plan to work "some place important, like ER or ICU" . That just belittles us and makes me. to want to help you. Yes, ER and ICU may save peoples lives, but Rehab aisle where we give them their life back by helping them learn to perform this ADLs , walk, etc. it may not be exciting, but it is important.

And most importantly: real life is NOT LIKE. Grey's Anatomy. Trust me. Dr Mc Dreamt is not going to walk through that door and take you out to lunch.

Why not?

Because the message to the staff you say that to is that staff nursing isn't good enough for you.

It also makes them giggle behind your back because they know full well that one year of critical care (if you could get an ICU job right out of school, not likely) isn't enough to get you into CRNA school. Though it is somewhat possible that you could get direct entry into an NP program in a very few schools or after a paltry year of experience as an actual nurse, there are about 100 applicants for every CRNA spot these days. Wanna rethink that?

Also, you may well find yourself applying for work in that hospital, and if management or staff remembers you saying that, they will not hire you; it takes longer than a year to make the effort of orienting a new grad even begin to pay off, and they will not waste their time and budget on someone who does not plan to pay it back, so to speak.

Any tips for making an impression on my instructor on the first day?

Be neat and clean in proper uniform. Great your preceptor warmly and with eye contact. Tell him/her you have been looking forward to your practicum and you hope to learn a lot!

Any do's and don'ts?

Keep your cell phone off, in your bag or better yet, in your car. Be nice and helpful. Don't wait till asked to help. Offer to help. Have a good attitude.

Are you generally allowed to carry around a bag with your goodies like your stethoscope, scissors, etc? If so, what are some recommended things I should take with me.

You can carry around a bag. I have a zippered pencil pouch with alcohol pads, penlight, pens, whiteboard marker, scissors, 24g subq needles (these tend to run low where I work), pill splitter, and special list of doctors' cell phone numbers

Should I practise my skills before hand?

You should be able to do a basic head to toe.