How much clinical time did you get in school?

november17, ASN, RN · May 9, 2008

In our 4th quarter (right before graduating), we did eighteen 12 hour shifts with a preceptor...based on the preceptor's schedule. We were expected to carry a full patient load on the 5th day, so that meant 2 weeks with a full patient load. Unfortunately the hospital I was a student at had 8-10 patients per RN, so I had a really hard time. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger though!! I lived through it.

I did find it odd though, because during that time I ran into these students from a community college across the state...(they actually had a couple of my patients). I got to talking with them. They were both on the verge of graduating and only had a 2 patient load for 8 hours. I said, "you guys don't precept?" She said, "No, we precept after we graduate at whatever hospital we work at."

I was shocked. Honestly, I think my school did an excellent job of preparing me to be successful right off the bat. I think it was a lot more stressful, but I can't even imagine how it would have compared to those students I ran into that day.

jcaste · May 9, 2008

In our 4th quarter (right before graduating), we did eighteen 12 hour shifts with a preceptor...based on the preceptor's schedule. We were expected to carry a full patient load on the 5th day, so that meant 2 weeks with a full patient load. Unfortunately the hospital I was a student at had 8-10 patients per RN, so I had a really hard time. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger though!! I lived through it.
I did find it odd though, because during that time I ran into these students from a community college across the state...(they actually had a couple of my patients). I got to talking with them. They were both on the verge of graduating and only had a 2 patient load for 8 hours. I said, "you guys don't precept?" She said, "No, we precept after we graduate at whatever hospital we work at."
I was shocked. Honestly, I think my school did an excellent job of preparing me to be successful right off the bat. I think it was a lot more stressful, but I can't even imagine how it would have compared to those students I ran into that day.

I am glad I am getting the opportunity to do a lot of clinical time. I get goosebumps just thinking about the minimal clinical exposure those students had.

GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN · May 9, 2008

20 years ago we had 1 patient only; for each clinical rotation, you can imagine going from that to the real world, anything in comparison is an improvement!!!!! ( that's a bsn program for you-- theory,theory,theory) i think its great those of you today are getting 4-5 pts and preceptorships, you will be sooooo much better prepared!! good luck !!

natrgrrl · May 9, 2008

There are so many nursing schools in our area that we only got 2 days of clinical working up from 6 hr days to 8 hrs. Then we had to share the floor with other nursing schools sometimes so it was a rare occasion that we were able to take 2 pts. This is for the PN program. I think (hope) we will have more pts next year in the RN program.

nursegreen · May 9, 2008

Our clinicals veried depending on the semesters. Nrsg IV which was my last semester before graduation, we were originally scheduled Thursday and Fridays from 6a-2:30p. We talked to our clinical instructor and got approved to do Thursdays only from 6a-8p so we could have two days a week off instead of one. After our final exam on March 31st and EOP April 7th, we started our preceptorship which consisted of ten twelve hours shifts (120 hours). During level four we were required to have four patient's minimum. We took report, adm meds, did assessments and charted our findings, took orders, put them in the computer, called the docs, transferred pt.'s and even called report on them, d/c patient's, and took new admissions including report. We delegated VS, AM care, and feedings, etc to the nurses our patient's were assigned to. They were our techs. Great experience!!!

godbless-yute · May 9, 2008

My school give us three years of clinicals, starting with Fundamentals classs. The first clinical is only 6 hr, 1day per week. Every semester after that is 12hr shifts 1 day per week with 1-2 pts at our instructors discretion. Final semester we do our senior practicum where you're at the hospital without your whole clinical group or your instructor. Not sure how many pts you have, but its 12 hr shifts.

showbizrn · May 9, 2008

One 8-hour clinical day per week for 13 weeks (Exceptions: OB/GYN = 6-weeks and Peds = 6 weeks)

iwanna · May 9, 2008

I think it is great that schools have precepting while in nursing school. The nursing schools in my area do not have it. Most feel totally unprepared when they graduate. And, if you don't get the opportunity to learn nursing skill while in school, instructors said that you will learn it on the job. My school only gave us two pts. and towards the end, they had three pts. I believe that all nursing schools should have one quarter of precepting right before graduating.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · May 9, 2008

My BSN program we have a minimum of 2 full days a week (12 hours each day). My last semester we also precepted three 12 hour shifts per week.

I feel very prepared to start my nursing career actually, especially compared to a lot of other schools/students in my area. I have been able to do all the basic nursing skills (NG tubes, IVs, drips, foleys, ETT suctioning, sterile dressing changes, assessment, shots, charting, pre op teaching, discharges, admit assessment, hooked a patient up to dialysis, etc etc etc).

My last semester we took up to 5 patients on our own on a med-surg type floor (I did a tele floor) three 12 hour shifts a week. I feel ok about starting my nursing career.