My First 12 Hour Clinical Day

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Today was my first 12 hour clinical day and I LOVED IT!. I'm exhausted, my legs and feet hurt, and I haven't seen my husband since 5:30 this morning but I wouldn't change today for anything! I am a third quarter nursing student and I worked on Med/Surg today with the best nurse a student could ask for. He taught me so many things and allowed me to do all the procedures I was qualified to do. I asked the NAC if I could do the vitals for my patient as well as other patients on the floor and she was so appreciative of me helping her. She acted like I was doing her a favor when the truth is, it was her doing me a favor. I am a firm believer that the only way to become good at something is to do it over and over again. I actually helped people today. I learned a whole lot about medical conditions, medications, and procedures. I feel like I actually made a difference in the day of at least two patients.

I'm on top of the world! I think I am going to love nursing:)

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

I can remember starting clinicals thinking: " Just think, when I get a job working as an RN, it'll be like getting paid to have fun- not like a real job at all". I enjoyed clinicals and learning my skills so much, I thought practicing would be just like that except with pay and all the time. MAN was I young! That thrill wears off after a while, but enjoy it while you can.

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Eh. Don't let jaded comments get in. There are plenty of us who still have fun EVERY day! Congrats girl!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I'm close to graduation and I really enjoyed reading about your first 12 hour shift experience. I like them as well because we get to experience the full range of shift activities as opposed to just getting report, doing vitals, assessment, a med pass or 2, a reassessment/vitals and off the floor to do other activities.

I found years ago that I really do have fun taking care of patients, and for me, that actually increased after I got out of school, so to speak, and began working under my own license. It was also scarier for me at first because now I no longer had the watchful eye of an instructor or preceptor to guide me along.

Now that I'm in nursing, I'm having quite a bit of fun and I'm looking forward to having that same process happen... more fun, more autonomy, and more responsibility because it'll be my own license that I'm responsible for. I know it won't be the pure "school" way any longer...

I hope each day brings you as much fun as you have now. I hope you never have days where work becomes a 4 letter word for you.

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That sounds so exciting! Glad you had such a great day!

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Hello there what a great experience you had. I haven't had a 12hr shift yet. I've only had one session and during that session it was one 8hr day for 7weeks. I thought I would get a 12 hour shift but no luck just yet. Congrats to you and I hope you have many more like that one. I love clinical's they were nervous and exciting all at the same time. I plan to make friends on the site that I really want to work at. Even though every site that I get the pleasure to participate in I will be grateful. Thanks for your post I love to hear the positives from clinical's.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

Well, I'm glad someone had a good 1st 12-hour day. I had my first one on Friday, too, and it was probably the closest you could get to the genuine nursing experience possible. It was definitely one of those days that made me wonder why I was bothering with any of this at all. But, as the hours go by, I feel the dust settle and in spite of how difficult it was, I feel satisfied with how much I learned. I look forward to the fun days but this clinical site is a little tricky. The hospital is less well off funds-wise than the one I was at previously and they are having tele-worthy pts on a med-surg floor which freaked my instructor out with how critical some of our pts seemed to be. It was a little over all of our heads (one of the nurses ordered one of the students to call the doctor for her and it was like *****!?!). I hope next Friday is better but it's okay if it's not as long as I learn something.

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Good for you :-)

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Specializes in OR.

Is your glass half full or half empty?

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.
Is your glass half full or half empty?
My glass was half full- now it's empty and I'm feeling much more positive.
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