Is this the way lab is supposed to be?

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Help! I feel so unprepared for clinicals :down:

First, I am the ONLY one in my whole class who has no medical experience. Even the youngest in our class are CNA's, and most people are still working in the medical field in some way or another.

Second, I seem to always be selected to be in the second group to go to lab, so I miss the instruction :banghead: By the time I get in there, everyone is busy working away, and I have no clue what I'm doing. If I go an drag the instructor over to my station, she'll explain it to me, but often the other students are telling me what to do, and that drives me crazy. I don't want to know how the student remembered the instructions, I want to know the RIGHT way to do it. Also, we have an AUA in our class who thinks she's an RN, and she literally was teaching and checking off students on their skills in lab:banghead: I don't mind at all learning from other's who have more experience but I want to know the right way before I learn trick and short cuts, etc...

My class seems pretty content just to play around and have fun during lab. I don't know if it's because they already know all this stuff, but to me it's BRAND NEW! I didn't even know the right way to wash my hands, for crying out loud. I just think if this is how we are going to do labs for the rest of the year, I'm going to be sooooo unprepared for clinicals. When you go to clinicals are you expected to know this, or will someone be teaching me from scratch? Am I missing something here?

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Do you have a schedule as to what will be covered in lab? If so, what has helped me is to read ahead of time what will be covered. For example, if you know that the next lab will be covering dressing changes, look in your book for instructions and info regarding dressing changes. Sometimes that might mean looking at chapters farther ahead. This would give you a basis to build on for lab time. Also, maybe you could talk with your instructor privately about being in the first group for lab or any other hints she might have for you. Good luck and hang in there - you CAN do this.

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Specializes in Coronary Rehab Unit.
Do you have a schedule as to what will be covered in lab? If so, what has helped me is to read ahead of time what will be covered. For example, if you know that the next lab will be covering dressing changes, look in your book for instructions and info regarding dressing changes. Sometimes that might mean looking at chapters farther ahead. This would give you a basis to build on for lab time. Also, maybe you could talk with your instructor privately about being in the first group for lab or any other hints she might have for you. Good luck and hang in there - you CAN do this.
EXCELLENT advice - I always try to use this same approach (time permitting ;) ) .....

- B

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Specializes in LTAC, Wound Care, Case Management.

Dod0303's advice is right on. Preparing ahead of time is definitely key in keeping up with school regardless of your background.

If you find that just reading in the book isn't helpful in learning the proper way to do it, usually you can find a video on youtube (or similar) that will demonstrate it for you. I have found this to be very helpful for me on occasion. Sometimes watching a dummy being cath'd isn't as helpful as watching a video online.

In our class our instructors expect us to know how the process works (ie, dressing changes, cath, flushing NG tubes, etc); however, they know we have only done the procedures on manequins and it isn't quite the same.

Also, in my experience, sometimes it is better not to be a CNA while in nursing school. CNA's (and others who are already licensed) have "bad habits" and it is important to learn the way your instructors want you to learn it. I've seen several students in my class struggle because they had to unlearn and relearn a task.

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Also, in my experience, sometimes it is better not to be a CNA while in nursing school. CNA's (and others who are already licensed) have "bad habits" and it is important to learn the way your instructors want you to learn it. I've seen several students in my class struggle because they had to unlearn and relearn a task.

I agree! Our teacher is constantly telling the class that there is only one instructor and that the CNA's have some dirty habits to unlearn. But still, there are those that insist on trying to be the teacher, usually teaching the way they know how to do it and not the way it should be done! Stick to your guns, call the teacher over and get your information straight from the source. If one of the CNA's tries to "show you" just gently let them down. Tell them that you learn better by working it out yourself rather than being shown and if you get completely stuck, you'll ask the instructor

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

Remember also sometimes you have to pushy and claim your share of the instructors time. Being a cna doesn't give you much of a head start so as time goes by the tables will be even.

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hmmm i have these cd -roms the taylor video guide, i think thats what the are called the show you how to do every thing look them up on amazon you can prolly find them cheap there

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