mambonurse

Thanks for the reply! I'm working on creating some handouts at the moment. Have a few days before our first clinical. Grouping will be impossible as the hospital only allows 1 student in each area. I gotta get creative! Thank you again!

Hello All, I am currently teaching in an LPN to RN program. My OB/PEDS rotations are at a local hospital but due to the shortage of clinical sites my students only get one day in each area. (i.e., one day in Peds general, one day L&D, ...Postpartum, PICU, Nursery, etc.) With students spread out over these units I can't be there to pass medications or do much teaching so our rotations have turned into observations. The staff is usually helpful but I did have one nurse tell me that basically they teach my students for me because I'm never around. I have to spread myself soo thin on these days...I don't know how best to handle situation. I don't want to be the instructor who just drops off her students. My day is spent walking the length of 2 football fields to check up on my student on each unit. I feel my students are missing out on the hands-on aspect of clinicals and I miss teaching when I'm in the clinical setting. How can I get the most out of this situation for my students? Any creative ideas would be welcome!

Hi Heather, I am a new nurse instructor and was thrown in to a course with no materials. The person whom I replaced took all lecture notes and materials when she left. I want to say that while it was VERY hard to make it through my first semester and I cried everyday from the overwhelming work and frustrations...I would never change my decision. I did, however, have the support of a wonderful team of educators and a great DON! I say all this to say...if you feel teaching is your calling stick with it. Perhaps not at this particular place. One thing that will make your interactions with the students better will be to be honest with them. I am a OB Nurse and I always tell my students that while I may be an expert in my area they may be more knowledgable about other areas or specialties. ( I teach the LPN to RN students so they are all currently nurses) I also let them know "I don't know everything, about everything" but I will be sure to research questions that may come up if I don't know the answer. I hope that you stick with it!! Good luck to you! Sandra