How do clinicals work?

[beccaleigh72]

I just wanted an idea of how they work. Do you stay in groups and go throughout the hospital? Do you just watch the nurses? Do they throw you in there and tell you what needs to be done and you do it? With first year students going in I'm sure you don't know much so how does it work? Do you do labs first then go? I'm just full of questions.

[RedHeaded2bNurse16]

I absolutely LOVE clinical! I'm on a Med-Surg floor and the time flies. I always want to get my hands on something new and challenging! I really love that everything starts to connect and looking at the bigger picture! A big thank you to all you Nurses who take time out of your day to help teach us!

[rubato, ASN, RN]

Love clinicals. I love everything I learn, but more than that, I love the patient interaction. I like taking care of people.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

I hope I am lucky enough to have one of you to care for me when I need a nurse.

[RNstudent13renee]

I feel like each time I go to clinical I learn more and more about communication and how important it is, with patients and staff as well. It's so easy to misinterpret one little thing that will change a whole lot in your care/task.

[krisiepoo]

I learn something new each and every time I'm in the hospital. I always ask my nurse if she's going to do something if I can watch, if there's something that is a little different from norm if she wouldn't mind grabbing me to let me know about it. Most nurses are more than happy to help (after they see that I'm serious and am busting my butt on my pt, too)

one of my fave things to watch, though, was inserting an IV using an ultrasound machine. the needles they used were diamond tipped and showed up on the screen. he showed us how to differentiate between the artery and vein and how to choose the best vein. He spent so much time teaching, it was so cool, all because I had made it a point to ask to see as much as I could

[missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN]

Love it. Be sure (and feel free) to post anything new anyone learned in the clinical setting!

[poppycat, ADN, BSN]

That is awesome! I've been a nurse for over 35 years & I'm still learning.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

OH, heavenly days, this thread has restored my faith in nursing education. Thank you all for seeking out and communicating love of learning.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

...just WAIT until you have your AHA moments in the trenches...keep this approach once and as you go through your career; it has been worth it for me.

[loriangel14, RN]

The learning doesn't stop for nurses. You will continue to learn new things long after school is over.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

OH, heavenly days, this thread has restored my faith in nursing education. Thank you all for seeking out and communicating love of learning.

The nursing student who had my patient the other day was so excited that she learned how to empty a foley (under my instructions) and got a chance to prime the line with antibiotics (which they just learned how to do in skills lab). The excitement was so refreshing!

[ready4nu]

I also love clinicals. Give me a juicy wound and I am in absolute heaven. I told my nurse the other day that although most people may not enjoy playing around with urine, for me, the thought of taking a urine culture from a foley was quite exciting and could easily be the highlight of my whole day. Some are not so thrilled to have us there (and they show it! LOL), but the ones who want to show us things and seem to remember how it was to be learning, and how exciting the mundane tasks once were are absolutely terrific!