My first clinical day..

[Jack245]

Thought I'd share and see if anyone else has had this happen.

I was incredibly nervous, and paired up with a partner, and we were instructed to go in, wake the patient, and take her temperature...so we gently woke her, she took one look at me, and started crying out "Heeeeeeelp!"

Needless to say I was a bit more nervous at that point, but by the end of the day, she smiled and waved as we exited the building.

Have any of you had awkward first day stories like that?

Edit: This was a CNA class, not a nursing one.

[joyousdg]

I just remember being shocked that there was a woman in her wheelchair directly in front of the nurses station who smelled awful (C-Diff) and no one took notice of her. We got there at 4 and even after we (the students) mentioned it to the aid and our instructor to the nurse several time she wasn't cleaned up until right before we left. The nurse aid said "well we will just have to change her again before she goes to bed so it is better to wait". It was terrible. She even had to eat that way, her daughters came to visist her and they smelled it too, the staff wouldn't even listen to them.

[CNA2day]

wow Joy I would have been throwing a fit! Poor lady and I bet she has a huge decub on her backside!!!

[oregonbeach]

Other awkward stories, but no, we have to knock and announce ourselves before entering. Usually the door is open so we can see if the patient is sleeping and often just make sure they are breathing and leave them to sleep if they don't answer. There is a point, like for lunch (not nec breakfast, tho) where you do wake them up, but it's with voice and knocking rather than looming over someone.

[joyousdg]

Yeah, that was a sad. I was really difficult some of the students left in tears that night. I reported it to our school, I wish now that I had reported it to the state but I didn't. Next time, if there ever is one, I will.