How did your clinicals go?

prospectivepville · May 15, 2011

I have to say it was one of the most awkward experiences of my life! I did my clinicals in a nursing home also, and probably the kind of place you'd hide a family member that was less than your favorite distant relative that you just so happened to end up having to take care of. It was horrible! The residents themselves were friendly enough, and the staff was horribly over worked. Seeing their levels of anxiety about the stress they were enduring, the lack of RN's and LPN's on staff who interacted with the CNA's and attempted to help them with basic care was appalling. I will never be that type of nurse! Their system needed a major overhaul. It's really really sad when the CNA's faces light up when you walk through the door, and we were elbow deep after the first day!

Our clinicals took place after our basic labs and lectures. I believe the only way I can describe the difference was utter and complete culture shock. I was under prepared to be in a facility that was so desperately understaffed.

Between feedings, changes, ambulation, and basic care needs, we hardly had time to look up, or concentrate on our small mistakes. So, all in all, I don't think I felt like I was any less prepared as the employees themselves were! We were often left in the room alone with the residents, and our instructor made rounds trying to ensure that the staff wasn't blatantly abusing our good will (which they did anyhow). The only thing that really stuck out to me that I did was forget to lower a bed to the lowest level, I was dully chastised for it by a fellow student. hahaha! I still feel dumfounded sometimes, that while I provided the most accurate care I could, that these individuals don't receive that quality care on a daily basis.

Ours was an evening class so the majority of our time was split between feeding, snacks, changes, and a few baths. We did the grunt work, basically. I did learn a lot though, just because there was no one to ask, and you learn rather quickly that the text books are really useless when it comes to interacting with real people. Everyone's needs are different.

It's really given me a passion for nursing! I'm so excited that I get to continue in an RN program in the fall (ASN). I'd like to make a difference, I know certainly a cool head and logical thinking make all the difference. I consider myself fortunate to have had this clinical experience, and I'm even going to start volunteering at that nursing home.

soxgirl2008 · May 15, 2011

Our clinicals were at the end of the class. Our teacher was with us a lot the first day, but after that we were in pairs with another student and she split her time between us.

Don't worry I was really nervous too and made dumb mistakes and just felt overall really awkward! it passes once you get a job and get some experience.

Dorali, BSN, LPN, RN · May 15, 2011

My class was 4 weeks long, class and labs during the first 3 and clinicals at a NH 2 days and hospital 2 days. Class teaches you the basics on how to do things, but clinicals sends all that out the window. It's a whole different world.

Don't feel bad that you didn't do things up to your expectations, especially if you've never worked in healthcare before. You're brand new at this. In fact, I didn't feel that I was doing very well until several weeks into my first job! You manage to squeak by for a while until you get the hang of it. Every resident has their own routine and whether you have 6 or 15 to learn, it's going to take a while.

Just take what you experienced from it and learn. That's what clinicals are for!!

karamarie91 · May 15, 2011

I learned alot throughout my clinicals, but nothing has prepared me for being a good CNA except actually working as a new CNA. Facilites are often different from one another,meaning the rules of safety, infection control, patient care may be different. I finally replaced a catheter bag even though I learned that in clinicals. In short, being a great CNA can take time. So be patient with yourself and your experiences.

Best wishes

msmo · May 15, 2011

Thank you all so much for your responses! I am so glad to know I'm not the only one that had such an awkward clinical experience...and to know that doesn't mean I can't do the job.

I have learned from the experience, for sure (and will continue to learn by reviewing how things went in the reality of the site, vs. the textbook way of things.)

I had a little talk with my instructor on the last day that I wish I'd had on the first (about how even if the Rs. says "ow ow ow" we're not really hurting them when we're doing something they need to have done.) When I told her I was surprised at how un-confident I felt she said she knew I was feeling that way and that I should just quit that (and laughed...wasn't being mean, but I think she found it kind of funny b/c she knew I knew the skills). She said that the residents pick up on that lack of confidence and then they may feel insecure too and/or take advantage of it.

So for anyone else who hasn't done clinicals yet, be sure to express your concerns to your instructor right away when you have them rather than feeling bad or fretting about things. (See, I learned that much! lol)

I have final exam for class tomorrow and then the state exam to pass. Wish me luck! I think the hard part is over for now...until I start a job.

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · May 15, 2011

I feel like mine could have been more organized. We were all assigned a couple different residents but we had to stay with a classmate and each pair of classmates was assigned to follow 2 CNAs, who were of course dashing in and out of rooms at lightning speed. It was a fustercluck. You'd try to get care done on one of "your" residents but by the time you figured out who their CNA was they would be done and in bed already. We were allowed to do care alone, but transfers had to be supervised by a real CNA.

They were good for getting some practice and a dose of reality though. When you practice on each other in class it's kind of dumb because everyone is limber and complaint. At least in clinicals we were exposed to people with all kind of behaviors, combativeness, contractures, etc.

I remember this one girl was talking about her assigned resident. We all had to copy down everything from the care plans into our notebooks, and she was really nervous and was like, "he is MESSED UP. I don't know what to do." He was a bedbound guy with a history of stroke and we could not understand a thing he said. He was on a feeding tube and had a bedsore on his lower back. He was scary then, but not now!

msmo · May 16, 2011

A fustercluck, lol, good word. It does sound like yours didn't go quite as planned...but I like how yours was planned, anyway. :yeah:

We had a couple of times where we'd go to do something and find our Rs. had been put to bed, or had their care charted by their regular aid even when we did the care. O.o

At least our instructor warned us ahead of time not to expect that everything would go according to "how it's supposed to be done" in the actual day-to-day in a facility.

teenmommy · May 17, 2011

Well I'm still in my clinicals... 3 nights left :)

I think I'm learning a lot more in clinicals then I did in the classroom.. my teacher does have some issues with making fun of her students and making them feel unconfident.. so when she watches something I am doing for a resident I start shaking lol.. but other than that my confidence level has increased a lot. The first few days though I felt so nervous I thought I was going to be sick.

For our clinicals we are each assigned one resident that we take care of from 4-9. We get them ready for supper, feed them, bathe them and get them ready and into bed all by ourself, usually with no supervision. Then there are the call lights that we answer since the CNA's that work there stop working as soon as we come into the facility. Sometimes it's a bit difficult answering those lights because we haven't learned anything about those patients.

Overall I think it's been a great learning experiance so far!

uhohbube · May 19, 2011

Im kind of nervous. Mine are this weekend at a nursing home!! Im kind of scared Im going to do something wrong or mess something up. We are supposed to have a partner with us at all times...so maybe it wont be that bad.