I'm starting clinicals...

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Hi all!

I'm starting clinicals next semester (Foundations). Any advice?

Specializes in Telemetry, ER.

Some lessons that I learned in clincial were of course to be on time and come prepared. Know your meds and how they relate to your patient. I found that in my school if you really bust your butt, know your meds and have all of your paperwork the first few weeks then the instructor lightens up a little on you to focus on the slackers. There was usually one person in each clinical that was always running late, not getting their work done, etc.. I found it best to stay far away from that student. Otherwise help out your classmates and the nurses as much as possible if you have down time. When we got to pick our own patient, it was best not to pick an "easy" patient. Make sure you have a good care plan book too. Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in MSN, FNP-BC.
Make friends with the nurses, techs, etc. Let them know that they can call you over to watch or help out with ANYTHING, whether it boring or not. Pretty soon, you will get to see/experience alot more than you expected.

Ditto!

I am starting nursing school in January and have been waiting for 2 years and am almost done with my bachelors prereq's. I find it very insulting when the actions of a student nurse come across as "you're just a tech and because I'm a student nurse I'm better than you". More than anything it's plain disrespectful.

You better believe that if I have a problem with that student I will say something to him/her because part of nursing is working with others and it worries me that some student nurses I've come across have this "it's the tech's job not my job" attitude, especially in school which is the place you want to get experience and practice time management at. If the situation still doesn't improve, I will point it out in a professional manner to the clinical instructor. The schools that come to us typically have the same instructor so I know them and they know me.

The moral of the story. No one person is above another because we all have to work together as a team to get things done.

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Hi all!

I'm starting clinicals next semester (Foundations). Any advice?

  • Be there at least 10 minutes early.

  • If you are administering meds, make sure you know EVERYTHING about them! You should always know everything about a med before giving it to your patient, but your instructors will probably ask.

  • No question is a stupid question. With that said, never be afraid to ask! and if you are unsure, ask!

  • Don't forget your name tag/ID badge, most places won't allow you in without one!

  • Since this is your first clinical, brush up on more basic patient care skills, such as bathing and bed making, prior to clinical.

  • Bring alcohol wipes!

  • Bring extra pens

  • Bring your stethoscope, penlight, bandage scissors and a hemostat if you have one...and don't forget your watch with a second hand!

  • I bring a little pocket notebook to clinical that I can quickly write things down in - trust me, it helps!

  • Your instructor might do this, but get everyone's number in your clinical group.

  • Bring some cash to keep in your pocket. Leave your wallet/purse either at home or in the car - don't leave it laying around at the site because it might disappear! :(

  • If you end up not having things to do with your patient, go bug the other students in your group and see if they need help with procedures or other things. Every patient is different; for example, I was the only person in my group with a patient that had a PEG tube, so everyone in the group on different days would come in and observe me doing tube flushings/administering meds through the tube.

  • Bring your drug book! This has happened to a few students in my group, but they spent the entire night prior to clinical looking up their pt's meds in their drug book, come to clinical the next day and for whatever reason they get a new patient, and then it also turns out that they were passing meds that day so they had to look up everything!

:nurse:

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wow, breaks?... we're not allowed to have those. thankfully, my instructor thought that was ridiculous so we ended clinical a little earlier, but the school insisted on no breaks. which doesnt make sense, because if we were nurses right now and working, we would get breaks.... but apparently not as students. they would rather us just pass out from starvation and thirst. i cant tell you how many times my fellow nursing students and i have snuck into the pantry to share a gingerale... lol. oh, the memories.

i dont know whats going to happen when i get to the 10 hour days... still no breaks?... im going to be running into the bathroom to shove a granola bar down my throat. *sigh*... :eek:

fortunately we get one 15min break ;)

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as far as my comment on spending the few extra $$ to make sure that you can be over-prepared:

I bought an NCLEX-RN book the first time that someone suggested it and it helped a ton (at least in me feeling prepared).

I bought a HESI review book (this is the standardized test that we have to take during each semester of NS) and took all of the CD quizzes (ended up with a 96.7% on HESI...I hope that is because I was prepared).

I bought a nice pair of Danskos that would be my 'clinical only' shoes. Sure, they were expensive, but they last forever, and my back and legs are worth it. (Others in my class tried to squeak by with a regular pair of non-dress code conforming tennis shoes until the instructor finally had to lay down the law).

I spent the few extra bucks on having scrub pants with lots of pockets even though the ones without are cheaper. And that has kept me more organized. I don't want to have to worry about organization when I already am learning so many new skills.

Each of these things was just a little extra here, a little extra there...but I feel like I set myself up for success in the rest of the semesters. Some may disagree. Many get by on less. You can too if you want. But if you have the means....set yourself up right the first time through and you'll be set the rest of the way through school. Good luck! :heartbeat

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Thank you. I was getting some of my immunizations and a girl had a pair of Danskos (sp) on and I said, " I like your shoes." I did not know they were nursing shoes at the time. LOL

The review books must be important. I have seen them mentioned on here several times .

Thanks,

g

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

I'm going into my last semester clinical in Jan and here is a bit of what I learned for clinical:

Make sure your clothes are laid out the night before and you have your bag packed (steth, pens, name tag, pen light, clip board etc) I bought a clipboard that you can store a few papers and pens in. It also had a solar calculator which was great when figuring out dosages (Walmart).

Can you bring your backpack? Many places will not allow bags. If not remember to bring your drug book and your clinical nursing skills book.

Bring a bottle of water and put your name on it.

Don't fake it! If you draw a blank, ask. It happens. Also, I learned that some instructors want to know what your going to do when you enter the room. If your doing a procedure or giving a med and your not quite sure what its about, let them know you'll look it up right away and get right back to them. This way they can go onto another student who needs them just as much. Most will appreciate the honesty rather than watching you fumble for the answer.

I always come at least 15 minutes early. It helps get me in the right mindset. Even though we never get report or our pt until we actually get onto the floor, it helps to focus on your upcoming day.

Your going to be very nervous alot of the time. It's ok, your not alone. Take the time to soak up everything. Ask the instructor if something interesting is going on, can students observe? If your pt is stable and nothing is going on for awhile, it would be great to watch someone give a treatment.

This is your time to try new skills. Even though you might be nervous, give it a try. Relax and enjoy. :)

My first semester clinical was so much fun! I loved it right away and had an instructor who was very grandmotherly and wasn't against holding our hand when we needed it. I've had a few since then, but none that compared to her.

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I'm 100% new to this site and starting clinicals in January as well and have been totally freaked out! :eek:

Theses posts have been great! Thank you all so much! This forum is such a wonderful resource.:wink2:

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Before you spend money on a bunch of stuff, make sure that you can have it with you at clinicals. Most of my instructors wouldn't allow backpacks, reference books, textbooks, calculators, ect. We could only have our stethoscope, scissors, & pen light. On some units, we didn't even get to use our own equipment. We had to use the unit's equipment.

Also, I never had access to my patient's information the night before clinicals and there was no time at the beginning of the day, either. We were expected to hit the ground running just like the floor nurses did.

The night before clinicals, I would make sure to go to bed plenty early so you'll be fresh and alert the next day.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine, Psychiatric Crisis.

Dont be scared to delegate bp or pulse task to your fellow students.

Know your meds before you give them

Triple check med dosage with the order

Ask the pt for his/her birthdate and name before you give the meds

Respect the pts privacy....If you are changing a foley cathether shut the door and pull the blinds

BE NICE TO THE PAITIENTS

iF

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine, Psychiatric Crisis.

if your clinical are in a nursing home.

don't be scared to delegate bp or pulse task to your fellow students.

know your meds before you give them

triple check med dosage with the order

ask the pt for his/her birth date and name before you give the meds

respect the pts privacy....if you are changing a foley catheter shut the door and pull the blinds

be nice to the paitients

if you see a light turn...go to the pts room and ask if they need help

if a pt curses at you...smile

if you are learning therapuetic communication-practice on your pts.

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