Little freaked over my patient assignment

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Tomorrow is our first day of clinical this semester. So I went to the floor, got my patient assignment, and started going over the chart. I found a name in there that was familiar to me (the patient's daughter) but I couldn't place the name at all. I finally decided that I must be imagining it. So I got all my info together, and went to the patient's room to introduce myself and do a brief/basic assessment. I walk in the door and there is this person in there who at first I can't place so I say "You look familiar to me..."... ... ... She says "I was in N1 with ya'll." So then I think to myself "this is a student who didn't pass?...?" Oh no...then it hit me...She was one of the clinical instructors for a different group--I never had her as a teacher, but I guess I saw her in the halls and maybe a bit during class as an observer. ARGH I have a instructor's DAD tomorrow! And he is dying! And I will feel like I am under the microscope even more than usual! I can handle it I think but UGH I hate being nervous. She was VERY nice this afternoon, but still...

Well, this may make you feel better, but I prefer to have a student nurse, or even a student doc (forgot what they are called). The assessment is so thourough, and they have the time to spend with the patients that we as nurses sometimes dont! I had a student doc spend 45 minutes for a clinic physical with my son when he was about 4 years old, and it was wonderful!! I had a student nurse right after I graduated nursing school and was in the hospital, that too was wonderful!! I also enjoy having students do the clinicals where I work. They are so eager and full of new ideas!! Good luck!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Thanks for the encouragement! I am sitting here eating breakfast before I go.

I guess this can't be any worse than having the retired public health nurse, whose daughter was a retired CRNA...I could do no right for the daughter, but the mom loved me! According to the daughter everything I did was either too slow, too fast, or not necessary.

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MemphisPanda, I saw that you wrote the patient was dying? I'm sure his daughter realizes this as well and probably just wants her dad to be as comfortable as possible. Knowing how busy nurses are, she'll appreciate knowing that there is one person that will be watching over her dad especially.

Let us know how it goes...

Kris

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I can see how that would make you apprehensive but look at it this way, she's an educator- you could get some good information and instruction out of her while you are caring for her dad.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Ok--first day of clinical with this patient is over, and it went pretty well. The family was great. The instructor did show up for a while, but she didn't hover or anything. I managed to not do anything really stupid even though there were a ton of things to be done. It was sort of a weird day anyway...we didn't have a full day because of the holiday on Monday (whatever that has to do with it, I don't know), it was our first clinical on this floor so we didn't know where all the supplies were...that whole newbie thing was going on. Anyway, thanks for all the well-wishes! It was fine!

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I had a Nursing instructor from the "other school" in town for 2 days as my postpartum patient!! She wanted me to teach her about circumcision, as this was her first son. Was I nervous!!! You'll do fine....:D

Kristy

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Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.

ah, glad to hear it went well.

we have to ask our patient if it is indeed alright to be their student nurse on the night before clinical then we obtain / prepare our needed information from the chart, etc.

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When I was in CNA clinicals in AZ, I was assigned a pt who was considered "PIA" by the nursing staff. They told me how demanding and crabby she was. She was 1 day post op TKR.

I was nervous, but I went in there and did was I was supposed to do. At the end of the shift, she complimented my care- and told me she was professor emeritus from a major university nursing school!

She went on to tell me that she was very impressed with me, and encouraged me to become a nurse. We stayed in touch after she was D/C from the hospital. She wrote me a glowing letter of recommendation, which I have submitted with several job applications, as well as applications to nursing school. That was 13 years ago, and I'm now an RN. However, I will never forget how encouraged I was by this nurse/pt's comments and encouragment.

Just be polite, respectful, as you would w/ any pt. and give it your best. =0) =0) =0)

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AS A RN FOR 15 YEARS NOW I HAVE A MOTTO THAT I ALWAYS FOLLOW.... YOU TREAT THE PATIENT HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.... IF ITS AN IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER AND YOU ARE FEELING YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE PROPER UNBIAS CARE I WOULD ASK FOR A CHANGE IN ASSIGNMENT. YOU WILL DO FINE CARING FOR YOUR PATIENTS.... JUST THE BASIC FACT THAT YOU ARE WORRIED PROVES YOU ARE CARING AND SENSITIVE TO YOUR PATIENTS NEEDS.... HANG IN THERE AND GOOD LUCK !!!!

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