How much extra time do you spend in the Nursing Lab?

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · Oct 9, 2012

What you've been doing has obviously been working for you so what real difference does it make how much time other people may or may not be spending in the lab?

edatri · Oct 9, 2012

I was just curious, esp. since I think new nursing students should be aware that they might need to add X amount of hours to their week for lab practice. I was wondering how widely the X amount of hours varies. It's sort of like when people ask how much time to spend studying for tests.

PinkCupcake · Oct 9, 2012

We spend about 4 hrs a week in lab for class. There is no extra time allowed. If you don't pass your check off you're screwed for clinical.

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · Oct 9, 2012

I spent no more time in the lab than what was mandated. Never faild a single skills test.

Stephalump · Oct 9, 2012

I'm just in there during our scheduled 2 hour lab class. We haven't really done anything that requires lots or practice yet, so we don't even have open lab time yet. We've basically just don't physical assessment, meds, dcing IVs, and wounds.

FDW630 · Oct 9, 2012

We are required to spend at least 2 hours a week in our lab, outside of scheduled lab time. We have to sign off on our time sheets for it. I usually put in an extra hour or so on top of that. I usually dont spend every minute of that time on skills tho. I study or chat about class with classmates.

DawnJ · Oct 10, 2012

We are required to be in lab for 10 extra hours a semester on top of the 2 hours of formal lab time per week. I think that is reasonable and I expect to be spending even more time than that in lab after the first semester. It has been hard to do 10 productive hours on linen changes/bed baths and vitals on our "plastic patients"

Dre2416, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2012

our "lab" time is at clinicals practicing on real patients. Were shown once how to do a task then sent to the "wolves" granted our teacher is standing by assisting us and directing on real patients but our lab time is integrated into teaching time.

itsnowornever, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2012

I spent no more time in the lab than what was mandated. Never faild a single skills test.

This. And usually only practiced once or twice. I can see the pictures from the book in my mind though, so it's like walking around with a book in my head at testing time.

nik415 · Oct 10, 2012

My first semester (Jan. 2012) it was never really explained what the lab was for. We had to figure it out ourselves, and then we heard from upper classmen that faculty was concerned that our class wasn't practicing enough. I guess they forgot that we're in the night program, and the majority of the class can't get to the few morning hours offered. This semester is even worse. Most days there are only 10-12 in the morning, and 4-7 at night which doesn't leave much time when lecture is from 4-6.

The hours are so incompatible with most of our schedules that I want to speak to someone about it, but I'm not sure who or that it would do any good. Plus that lab assistant isn't the nicest person. Luckily, we only have 2 practicums this semester and we just had our first one.

I guess you probably want an answer to your question. When preparing for a practicum I spend as much time as I can in the lab. For our most recent, I was only able to spend 3 hours the day before the practicum to practice. Our next one is on physical assessment at the end of the semester. I plan on trying to get in there at least once a week to practice.

allnurses Guide · Oct 10, 2012

I always did a mental visualization of myself going through the steps of a skill and then I would also "mime" my way through it... at home.

If you can't get to the lab, don't freak out.

You don't necessarily need to be in the lab all the time to practice.