what makes a good clinical (student) ?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2005

1. Arrive to clinical practice with the desire to learn.

2. Always treat the patient before you treat the health problem.

3. Be sharp @ math.

4. Never lose compassion!

:balloons: Good luck in everything you do...

mudget · Mar 22, 2005

1. Arrive to clinical practice with the desire to learn.
2. Always treat the patient before you treat the health problem.
3. Be sharp @ math.
4. Never lose compassion!
:balloons: Good luck in everything you do...

As a student, what can I do for you as the nurse. In my very short experience, the nurses are so busy that they almost don't even have the time to ask us to do anything. I am there every morning ready to go and yet it seems as if I'm in the way. Any suggestions?

Haunted · Mar 22, 2005

I ADORE working with students!!! I always write them up for something positive they did that day and give them a copy and the Instructor. I find SOMETHING to compliment them on. Here are some traits that stand out for me:

1: Take it seriously.

2: Stay calm.

3: Talk to me. Let me know what you can and cannot do, meds, IV starts etc.

4: Let me know when you leave for breaks, etc. Things change with the patient, new meds are ordered, tests etc. and I want to keep you informed.

5: Be visable on the unit, either in the patient room or obtaining supplies, reviewing the chart, etc.

6: Have supplies handy, I may need to borrow your scissors, a pen, a penlight etc. if my hands are busy and I can't reach mine.

7: Trust me. I am there to provide a positive example on behalf of nursing and I respect and support your decision to become a nurse. I will never put you in a position where you will fail, screw up or do something to the patient that would put any of us in jeopardy.

8: Let me know if you are uncomfortable with doing a procedure. I will always ask you if you want to insert a foley, an IV, an NG tube etc. I will ask you if you want me to do one first so you can observe, then try one on your own.

9: Respect my job. If things get hectic and I have to move fast, please don't follow me mumbling about something unrelated to my patient. Follow me but wait until I have time to address your concern. I have been in the middle of a procedure with one patientg and had a student walk into the room letting me know that Mr. Jones wants juice, is it OK to get that for him? That is not a priority at that time.

10. Let's touch base before you leave for the day. Let me know how you felt about that patient. Let me know if you observed anything you were not sure of. Give me a mini report.

11: If you take vitals on the patient, give me a copy.

12: Cooperate and support your fellow students.

Last, Thank you for your help. It makes a big difference and I am happy I could work with you.

elizabells, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2005

Wow, Haunted!!! Could you please move to New York so I could maybe have you for clinicals???

abundantjoy07, RN · Mar 22, 2005

Haunted...You just have to move where I am...you sound like a wonderful nurse!!! :yeah:

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2005

Guess I cannot come close but, hey, same as Haunted. Students are cool, they want to learn and I love it. The questions are never ending and the desire to learn is so refreshing. On top of a usually intense assignment, I still love working with students. Yeh please look at what I am doing before asking a question. But otherwise, just ask away.

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2005

And I was asked if I would be a guest speaker for a local community college on my nursing career. I have followed a changing path and I think this might be appealing to some who might otherwise not consider nursing.

danu3 · Mar 22, 2005

Wow, Haunted!!! Could you please move to New York so I could maybe have you for clinicals???

No! Come over the California! The weather is way better than New York.

-Dan

danu3 · Mar 22, 2005

Haunted, did you go to some kind of "school" for this? If not, you should start one.

-Dan

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Mar 22, 2005

I'm all for student obervation in the O.R. ( i mean, how else will you find out if you might want to consider it as a career option?) but please, please, please do not lean over or touch anything sterile.

(We had a student today that even after teling him 3 times not to point to stuff over the sterile table, he did it a fourth time. He was then asked to leave.)

Ask the pt.'s permission to view their surgery. Please don't assume it's ok to watch and not ask them first, because. It's a privacy issue, so the pt. should know that you're there.

Ask the surgeon's permission. Some don't mind, others do.

Ask the circulator's permission as well. And also ask before looking at the chart.

And realize that we're not ignoring you, it's just that we're busy getting stuff arranged and set up to go, that we don't know where a good place for you to stand and view might be, until everyone's set up.

The surgeon might explain what they are doing during the case, or they might not. Just depends.

Anesthesia might let you see the vocal cords before they slide the tube down. Stand behind the doc until they say you can step forward to look.

CardioTrans, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2005

I agree totally with Haunted.

Also, be interested.

If you havent done a procedure before, ask if someone has something that you need to do. It doesnt have to be the nurse you are assigned to.

If you have done something 1000 times, offer the opportunity to your classmates.

Ask questions, we know you are students, thats how you learn.

If you get to do a home health clinical..... be interested. Dont think that home care nurses dont do anything and that this is just a free day.

Good luck to you all.