I know where I'm not wanted, but I also know what I need to get out of this.

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Today I worked with THE MOST WONDERFUL nurse in clinicals, the kind that really knows her stuff, pushes you to learn, shows you how to do things and asks you to demonstrate what you've learned. I've did more today than I've done in the past two months! Towards the end of my shift, she said, "you know, it's weird...where I'm from (the Phillipines), your professor would be teaching you these things. Where is she?"

That's a good question - the student/staff ratio is pretty rough (10/1) and most days my teacher seems to dump us on a nurse without consulting with the nurse first to see if they are willing to take a student. And some, as you can imagine, are really REALLY less than enthusiastic (people are busy, I understand). Which leads to a pretty mediocre experience. For those of you who are hitting roadblocks in trying to get the most out of your clinicals or at least learn your skills, how do you work around less than great clinical experiences. I'm trying to be proactive without being pushy but I'm worried that when I end this program (it's accelerated, so the clock is ticking), I might not have the clinical skills I need to feel comfortable practicing.

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Clinical is what you make it. A lot of times your experience is influenced by circumstances out of your control. I try to focus on being grateful for the time that I am getting. If you have some specific concerns, you can bring them up with your instructor. And you can always make a special request for your nurse to get you if they are doing something of particular interest. I wouldn't make waves, or come across as entitled to a certain experience. It does not seem to go well for people who are expecting the "perfect" clinical experience.

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Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.

First off, you are in a teaching hospital. The nurses know this, and they know (or should know) that they will be, at some point, expected to take on a student. What you can do is up to them, since they are still liable for what you do as a student (as well as your CI and school). If the nurse doesn't want a student, she should say so. I know how you feel, I was in your shoes just a short time ago. I had good nurses and not so good nurses. And the not so good nurses, well....that is a hospital where I am not going to put in a resume at. At the end of your rotation on your student survey, write down the good and not so good, and name names. (The hospital will probably ask you if this is a place you'd feel like working, and did you have a good experience.) Don't be afraid to tell them you did not! On my last M/S rotation of my BSN program, we were specifically told by our school and out CI that we were *not* to do any CNA work. We were to shadow our nurse and learn her leadership role. In this particular hospital, they are used to the nursing students taking over for their CNA's so the CNA's can sit in the breakroom and chat....and when we didn't do that, they were extremely rude. NOT a place where I would choose to work. My CI wrote a 4 page letter and told the school she will not take students to that hospital again. (We had the charge nurse call to another unit and say "the students are here if you need baths and vitals done..." (we are also an accelerated LPN-BSN program. The majority of us have been LPN's for over 5 years.)

That said, clinicals are what you make of them. Seek out learning opportunities with another nurse if the one you have is less than welcoming. Talk to the docs, the residents. Go spend some time with your patient. You only have a short time there. Read charts, look at policies/procedures. Ask if you can observe on another unit that is relevant to the rotation you are doing. Make goals for the day/rotation. (Today I want to .....start an IV/insert foley/etc. Tell your nurse "here are my goals for today....")

During my LPN school and part of my BSN program I hated having to feel like I was bothering my nurse, and said I didn't want students when I was working. Now, I've changed my mind. I had one particular RN and one LPN that took it upon themselves to teach me over and beyond what my rotation was.....those are the ones I remember the most, the ones who realized that they are teaching a new round of nurses. The RN I had was in peds and the unit had an overflow of med surg patients. She would say to me "Come on, I want you to see this. I know this is your peds rotation, but come with me...." Those opportunities are the ones you take and run with.

Hang in there, it gets better....I promise!

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You have to make the experience what you want. Today my pt was a self sufficient woman who didn't need help doing much of anything. So what did I do? I helped other students, I took out an IV, I assisted the anesthesiologist when he put a central line in. None of these were "my patients" but it was great experience and my instructor ok'd me to do it. You have to look for opportunities.

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I think I was more worried that I wasn't learning skills before they threw us in the situation - like hanging IV bags. They were supposed to show a video (not even demonstrate, a video!) but ran out of time. The next day, I'm on the floor and the nurses looks at me like I'm crazy when I ask her to demonstrate before I try doing it. The teaching about how to perform certain cares was really glossed over in my program - I've had to teach myself some things from youtube but nothing beats learning hands-on.

I think patient loads definitely seems to play into how willing/able a nurse was to work with students. I've had much better reception in MICU/SICU when nurses had a smaller patient load than in med surg when they had a case load of up to 12 pts. We just have so many students (sometimes we're not the only school there) that it feels like everyone is jockeying against each other to find those opportunities.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

First.......Not all nursing clinicals are in teaching hospitals. Some nurses are not able to help students and may be uncomfortable answering the students questions for they do not know themselves. While it is the hospital who agrees to allow students to have clinical at the facility....the nurses are not "obligated" to take students.

Lets face it....some nurses like students some don't. I think the teachers should speak with the managers and develop a mutual agreement on who takes students and who doesn't...... give these nurses a "course" on the expectations and policies of what this particular group of students requirements/goals are for the week. Let them know what the expectations are. Having a student is difficult sometime juggling questions and observing procedures...guiding them through the day. These nurses re not paid for this TLC and extra responsibilities applied to the student. I think schools should offer continuing ED discounts for nurses that participate in the guidance of the students.

Collaboration and cooperation between the nurses nd the facility and the facility and the school is necessary. Personally..... I think this is where retired experienced nurses could be utilized and employed by the school to guide the students.

Personally.... I would do it for gas money and $20.00/hr.

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First.......Not all nursing clinicals are in teaching hospitals. Some nurses are not able to help students and may be uncomfortable answering the students questions for they do not know themselves. While it is the hospital who agrees to allow students to have clinical at the facility....the nurses are not "obligated" to take students.

Lets face it....some nurses like students some don't. I think the teachers should speak with the managers and develop a mutual agreement on who takes students and who doesn't...... give these nurses a "course" on the expectations and policies of what this particular group of students requirements/goals are for the week. Let them know what the expectations are. Having a student is difficult sometime juggling questions and observing procedures...guiding them through the day. These nurses re not paid for this TLC and extra responsibilities applied to the student. I think schools should offer continuing ED discounts for nurses that participate in the guidance of the students.

Collaboration and cooperation between the nurses nd the facility and the facility and the school is necessary. Personally..... I think this is where retired experienced nurses could be utilized and employed by the school to guide the students.

Personally.... I would do it for gas money and $20.00/hr.

I agree! I know teaching isn't in everyone's wheelhouse and nurses are busier than ever - it's just a MUCH better experience for everyone if they pair someone who likes teaching or wants to teach with a student vs. someone who would rather not be involved.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Be proactive with nurses. Let them and the PCAs know that if they need any help with their other patients, that they can come grab you if you aren't busy with your assigned patient (if you are busy, tell them. Don't let them pull you away from your work). Help out your fellow students. Don't sit around waiting for direction from your instructor or the other nurses. We were told to answer the call light phone when its ringing and don't just let the staff do it. Work with all the nurses on your unit, not just the one who is assigned to your patient. Help PT/OT with your patient. If you see the doctor go into your patient room, go and knock, introduce yourself and ask if they have any questions about the patient's day (same goes if they come up and grab the chart to review). Make sure you tell everyone who you work with thank you for their help, even if they made it clear working with you wasn't a pleasure.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
Collaboration and cooperation between the nurses and the facility and the school is necessary. Personally..... I think this is where retired experienced nurses could be utilized and employed by the school to guide the students.

Personally.... I would do it for gas money and $20.00/hr.

What a fantastic idea!

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I'm not sure how things are done at everyone else's schools, but for clinical at my school the clinical instructor is ALWAYS with you when a new skill is done on a patient. They don't allow us to have nurses show us how to do skills for the first time (unless the instructor is present as well) because not every nurse does everything "by the book". Now that doesn't mean that they are doing anything wrong but my instructors prefer us to learn the "by the book" way first, then learn how it's done in real life. I don't understand how your instructors are still allowed to teach clinical if they are just throwing you out on the floor with no guidance. Maybe my school is weird, I don't know. It just sounds odd to me.

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Me too.

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I'm not sure how things are done at everyone else's schools, but for clinical at my school the clinical instructor is ALWAYS with you when a new skill is done on a patient. They don't allow us to have nurses show us how to do skills for the first time (unless the instructor is present as well) because not every nurse does everything "by the book". Now that doesn't mean that they are doing anything wrong but my instructors prefer us to learn the "by the book" way first, then learn how it's done in real life. I don't understand how your instructors are still allowed to teach clinical if they are just throwing you out on the floor with no guidance. Maybe my school is weird, I don't know. It just sounds odd to me.

That sounds totally reasonable to me - unfortunately, they're giving so many students to each instructor she seems totally overwhelmed and spread too thin. I don't want to say anything that comes off as critical of her teaching style but it doesn't seem kosher and it's not fair to these nurses who seem to expect we're coming to them with a basic skill set.

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