Importance of Nursing School Clinicals?

[redraider1977]

How important are they in terms of learning to be a nurse? I have heard some say that you learn to be a nurse after nursing school. Im just finding them to be hodge podge and unorganized. Opinions?

[CharlieT]

I enjoy clinicals because it helps me put a face with health problems and meds. I change clinical instructors each semester to gain exposure to various styles of instruction. I also like to change hospitals each semester. This way I can get a feel for the atmosphere at each of the hospitals and take this into consideration later, when I am looking for a job.

[redraider1977]

Our instructor now is totally about med-surg, hoping to get a clinical instructor next semester that has more ER experience to see the different styles. Plus i have no interest in bedside nursing, so that is a plus too.

[Jules A, MSN]

Be assertive in clinicals, ask questions and if certain procedures need to be done that you want or need to do. Realistically you won't get to try everything you need but basics like injections should be mastered by the time you're done with school. You'll get Orientated to a new grad position but a preceptor should not be there to Teach that's why nursing school is called school and a job a job. And in this economy you'll want to be one of the new grads who is ready.

Great advice and believe it or not I have precepted a new grad that had never given an injection and did not know how to accurately draw up the dose.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

Great advice and believe it or not I have precepted a new grad that had never given an injection and did not know how to accurately draw up the dose.

I had a new grad that had never put in a foley. As time was of the essence, I had to do it. I would have preferred to teach her, but as we all know, teaching someone a procedure takes about twice as long as doing it and we didn't have that time.

To the OP - learn all you can. Keep your ear to the ground on clinicals. If you hear a nurse saying their pt need something - ask if you can do it or at least observe! The more you expose yourself to the better.

[Up2nogood RN, RN]

Great advice and believe it or not I have precepted a new grad that had never given an injection and did not know how to accurately draw up the dose.

That is scary!

I did not have any hospital clinical since I was an LPN first (they are not hired in acute care here), and then I did Excelsior so I had no acute care experience besides being a tech when I got my RN. When there were things I hadn't done like hanging blood, dropping an NG, I would ask my preceptor to talk me through it not just watch her do it.

[Jules A, MSN]

When there were things I hadn't done like hanging blood, dropping an NG, I would ask my preceptor to talk me through it not just watch her do it.

Good for you! What I also do is discuss the equipment and procedure steps before we get in the pts. room which makes the new grads feel more comfortable and more likely to try it themselves rather than just watch me do it.