Nursing student Shadowing RN (adjunct with learning)

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Looking for ya'll nurses opinions regarding this.

Im a nursing student (ASN). I graduate in May!

I work per diem as a PCT, and have worked for 3 years as one in a local hospital.

To keep this post short, I'll sum it up. (of course other people will then ask for more detail - ill provide it PRN)

Overall i'm extremely unhappy with my nursing program and my clinical education. However, I feel blessed to have the PCT experience. I have voiced my concerns to the head of nursing to be met with what I feel are excuses.

I want to gain more understanding and maybe learn a few (extra) things about real world nursing (Ya know, bedside!)

Do you think it would beneficial for me to shadow a nurse on a PCU / Cardiac Stepdown unit?

It is difficult to take things in as a PCT (12 pts, Q4 VS,1 admission / 2 D/C's on PCU keeps you from watching the nurses)

Thoughts? Opinions?

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Specializes in Cardiac/Respiratory/PCU.

Go for it!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Who did you speak to? Have you spoke with your manager? It will depend on your facility if they allow this. If they do they won't pay you.

This is the nature of nursing programs now...minimal clinical training. Sad really.

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Who did you speak to? Have you spoke with your manager? It will depend on your facility if they allow this. If they do they won't pay you.

This is the nature of nursing programs now...minimal clinical training. Sad really.

I'm not worried about being paid or not. I have not talked with any managers regarding this.

I don't normally work on the unit I'd like to shadow a nurse on (PCU and possibly critical care), but I am floated there on occasion.

I'm just wondering if this is an absurd thing to try to do?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

No not really...the question is will your facility allow this......Clearly the school will not take responsibility for you and any extra clinical you want.....I would speak with your manger...however do not be surprised if they do not allow it and if they do there will be no hands on patient time.

It's a shame litigation and liability have limited student experiences.

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Dear Blackvans,

In my second to last semester of nursing school, I had the same sinking feeling of a lack of clinical education. I tried to prioritize what seemed to me to be the biggest and most important missing component and made a plan from there. I came up with an idea of how to address a very specific goal/learning opportunity and then:

1) had two floor nurses agree to mentor me r/t to the specific goal

2) approached the nurse manager and had her agree to plan; she liked that I had already arranged for nurses who were willing

3) approached nursing school professor with whom I had the best rapport and presented the plan along with the news that the nurses and the nursing manager were agreeable to the plan

Luckily, I worked at the hospital where our school held clinicals, so it was easier for me to get the nurses and nursing manager to sign on to my plan. However, I did have to agree to not do any direct patient care. My specific mentoring plan included chart review, prioritization skills and theoretical mentoring. Because this provided a decreased liability for the hospital and the nursing school, everybody felt comfortable signing on. I ended up getting extra hours on the hospital floors and an extra independent study school credit.

I encourage you to advocate for yourself and your education!

-nightbreak

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Some hospitals offer it

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It doesn't hurt to try....getting extra clinical experience would be extremely beneficial ;)

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