How clinicals work

Whoops! I first posted this under the other thread you wrote in, but I'll give the same answer here. Sorry for the double post!

In my experience each clinical was a bit different. It depends on the instructor and the actual clinical itself....for example mother-baby is very different from psych and both of those are different from pediatrics.

Generally, you will spend a day or so a week in the hospital environment, working directly with patients, performing nursing functions (you and a smaller group of students). At first these will be basic, such as taking vitals or health histories...more will be expected from you each semester. After pharm you will pass medications under the supervision of your instructor. Near the end of school you will most likely have a full pt assignment and do nearly all pt care and charting.

Each instructor may require different paperwork, careplans etc. Some of my instructors did a post-conference so we could all talk about our pts/experiences that day.

If you have more specific questions, I'd be happy to try and help answer them.

Good luck!

Thanks so much for the info. In your opinion do you think it's doable to hold down a fulltime job while in the program?

Thanks so much for the info. In your opinion do you think it's doable to hold down a fulltime job while in the program?

I know a few people who failed trying to work full time...

I know one who successfully does both...it's a load being in nursing school, but only you will know that answer, when you cross that bridge..

Here's how my week went last semester:

Monday- Off from school - however, it is a GREAT day to come into lab and practice the skill you will be evaluated on the following day.

Tuesday: Practice Skill Lab for 6 hours. This is a "clinical-classroom" day. You will meet with your clinical group & learn a skill that week. Like the previous poster said, you start out small: vitals, histories, etc.. then you go into injections, meds, etc.. There were about 2 or 3 Tuesdays where we actually went to the hospital for clinical, too.

Wednesday: Clinical at assigned hospital for 6 hours. You are doing patient care, charting, helping your peers, etc...

Thursday: I had class from 9-11, and 12-2. I would go home and study for at least 3-4 hours.

Friday: Class from 9-11. Go home and study some more.

Saturday & Sunday: Off and studying or practicing a skill.

I hope this gives you some idea of what is expected of you. Even on days where you are not "in class" you are doing something. I am not trying to scare you off, but it is a lot. I, personally, couldn't do it working full time, and I admire the people that do. The key with nursing school is to be organized in all aspects of your life. Home, school, family....

Good luck! :)

I hope this gives you some idea of what is expected of you. Even on days where you are not "in class" you are doing something. I am not trying to scare you off, but it is a lot. I, personally, couldn't do it working full time, and I admire the people that do. The key with nursing school is to be organized in all aspects of your life. Home, school, family....

Good luck! :)

This could not be said any better!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have no idea how one works F/T and does nursing school F/T! But I respect the heck out of those that can. They are VERY motivated for sure! But that said, it just shows that sheer determination can make things that seem impossible actually possible. If you really want to be a nurse, you will do WHATEVER it takes to achieve it, whether it's operating off 3 hours of sleep a night to studying 40 hours a week!!!!!!!!!!

DO NOT allow other people's thoughts about your life and decisions prevent you from following your dream. Only you can make yourself happy.:w00t:

Thanks Veruka, while I may not like your answer I appreciate your honesty. Just out of curiousity did you only have nursing classes to complete while in the program? I will have everything but the nursing courses complete by the time they call me so I am hoping that will help some.

Thanks again,

Yes, I have all my pre-reqs & co-reqs done and out of the way. I was only taking NSG 120 & NSG 126. There were a few people that were also taking A&P on Saturdays that I know of, as well as their nursing courses.

Good luck!

You didn't ask me, so I hope it's Ok to butt in here about taking other classes besides nursing classes.

I had to take that last Psych class on Monday nights while in my first semester, with 120 and 126. Not only did I never get Mondays 'off' like everyone else, I resented the time I had to put toward the Psych class when all I wanted to immerse myself in was nursing. I usually only studied for Psych on Mondays anyway, so the whole flippin' day was spent on Psych. I really wished I had gotten it out of the way earlier, but whatever...things fell into place the way they did. It's doable, (all A's) but that was a very long semester for me.

I can't imagine having a class that took more work, such as A & P. Do not do that to yourself. Please set yourself up for success in the nursing program. Clear your way as best you can - getting through this program is hard enough when it's your primary focus - add a job or extra classes to that, and you've got a tough row to hoe.

Once in my nursing program I had only nursing classes and clinicals.

These kept me busy at least 40-60hrs per week (even 9-14 credit hours). Now I am personally very anal and wanted all A's...still the workload is huge. The amount of information you must learn is huge. I think a nursing program at either a two or four year institution is hands down the most challenging program offered.

When I started my program the advise given to us was not to work at all. In fact, we were told not to make any major life changes, such as pregnancy, marriage, etc.

I did not work outside of the home but I did have my second child one week after completing my third year (pregnancy was hard in school!). My husband and I also built a home throughout my first and second year. But (obviously) these really added a lot of stress. Still, I made it with good grades.

There were a few people in my program who did work full time. I don't know how they did it. One of these I know of ended up falling a year behind. Many people worked part time. Would that be an option for you?

Also do you have a job where you can read/study?

Ultimately, working full time may be a choice you will just have to "wait and see" on.

Maybe some semesters you could manage it and others not.

Taking student loans (and spending wisely) is always an option. If you want to be a nurse school has to be the priority.....also grades may continue to be important. When I interviewed for the nursing position I really wanted, my manager was only interviewing those who had a 3.5 GPA or higher. (If working starts to effect your GPA, I would re-evaluate)

One last thing...now that I am done with school, I think the two most important classes (that I almost wish I could take over) are pharm and patho. Each day at work I have questions involving meds or disease processes (so I look info up).....these are very hard classes, but get all you can out of them.

Sorry to go off on a couple tangents there...

Best of luck to you! You will end up doing whatever works for you. :)

I don't mind you butting in at all, in fact I appreciate it. We'll just have to see how it goes. Right now I have A&P and Pharm. Then I just need Sociology and A&P II. Do you know what happens if they call you earlier than you expected for the program? I'd really like to have all these classes out of the way first but I wouldn't want to lose the chance to get in either.

RN2B73 if you get accepted to the fall at least you can take AP2 and Soc during spring summer so you won't have to worry! I'm 1st semester nursing and I am taking the last psy...yuck! but I had kinda figured it would happen (if I got in when I was hoping for...which I did!)

Just to add to what others have said, the day in the life of an actual clinical....I would come prepared with a small notepad to write patient report on and their drugs. Have a drug guide, stethoscope, nurse scissors, measure tape (for wounds or anything else that needs to be measured), 2 black pens, and 2samll pocket books that I used throughout nursing clinical called RNNotes/MedsurgNotes by Ehren Meyers. Just be prepared for anything that that clinical instructor asks you for. Most times in clinical, the instructor wants you to do a care plan at some point, so a care plan book by Swearingen (All-in-One) would be nice, along with as sheet to write labs on. As far as your drug guide, be prepared to tell the instructor the indication, side effects, contraindications, and interactions for each drug..the good thing is that you can use the small notebook to write them down as many of the patients will be on the same drugs on a day-to-day basis. Just have a bag dedicated for your clinical because the last thing that you want is to do is appear unprepared in the instructor's eyes.

Good luck!