I'm a lot less scared of clinicals now...

[MrsCuoco]

Our LPN class has 30 students, and in October we will begin clinicals, 10 of us being sent off to one of three hospitals at a time.

I had really been in a lot of inner turmoil over clinicals and all the horror stories I read not just here but on other forums about terrible clinical instructors who pick on their students mercilessly and fail them over one tiny thing or nurses who verbally abuse student nurses.

Not to mention the fear I think we ALL have about somehow accidentally harming a patient!

But today I had my inprocessing appointment at our local VA hospital. The woman who is to be my clinical instructor was very nice and smiley and told us about how much they love LPN students there at the VA and how they consider LPNs a vital and valuable member of the nursing team.

I feel really good now about doing my clinicals there and at the other facilities in general. I know I;m bound to run into some contentious personailties, but still, now I know that someone out there wants to mentor and teach me and see me succeed. It's a comforting thought.

[luixbeauty]

I can't wait for clinical's. I have been a CNA for years and worked on an acute care unit in a hospital. Clinical's should be somewhat easy for me, thank goodness because I'll be busting my tail with everything else. I don't know if you have ever been in a cna type position? A lot of people that go into nursing school never have been and so when they arrive at clinical's it can be overwhelming for them. And nurses don't like students messing with their patients but remember you are there to learn. You have to jump in and take control of your education sometimes. For example if a nurse is being not so nice I would just say that I am going to give her patient a shower and change the linens.. Just to show her I'm there to learn and want this also that I can take some of the workload off her. Don't wait around in the corner scared waiting for someone to assign you a duty.. Not that you would but I have seen this from a lot of nursing students assigned to my patient when I was a CNA. I'd have to tell them to come and help turn a patient and change them. I hope you do great on your journey. good luck!

[MrsCuoco]

Thanks! Yes, I was CNA although just for 5 months. The facility I worked at was not great and as soon as I got my acceptance letter for nursing school I quit...this was in April. I would have been happy to remain working there til school started, but management was truly heinous. Basically you were guilty of SOMETHING until they told you otherwise.

[luixbeauty]

Ugh that's too bad. I had a great job at a hospital then relocated to a rural area for the nursing program and the only work I could find as a CNA was in a nursing home (which i was fine with) anyway I heard horror stories about management trying to get CNA in trouble with state over ridiculous things. What choice did I have I needed a job. Well, one day they try it on me so I resigned my position. I'm not going to work for a place that treats their hardworking nursing staff in such a disgusting way!