So done with underwhelming clinical experiences

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Specializes in critical care.

Finishing semester 3 of 4. I've had med/surg two semesters (one on ortho, one in neuro (neuro was the only one where stuff actually happened)), peds, maternity and psych (which ALMOST was a great rotation, but we had basically fluke situations that prevented us from being on the unit for our acute days).

Maternity, literally had 3 total patients in 14 weeks. THREE. One of them was a labor, and she delivered 2 hours after we got there, and was taken to mother/baby by lunch. So the majority of our time was spent in a room where we were not allowed to work on stuff for other classes or bring lap tops. Volunteering to help in any way possible had no results because every day we were there, there would be 1-2 patients and the last thing those patients of nurses needed was 8 students hovering. We were still graded for these days and would lose points for stuff like lack of enthusiasm and lack of growth from previous clinical experiences. I'm sitting here waiting for grades to be posted, knowing I will probably get a B even though I tried so hard to be awesome. So frustrating. Peds was equally underwhelming but they filled our time with useful learning things. We had opportunities to EARN our grades, as opposed to losing our grades because we're not enthusiastic enough about doing nothing.

Med/surg was sloooooow in ortho, which might be okay since it was first semester, but more responsibility by the end would have been nice. Second semester, I got to help with a lot of ADLs and would care, which I loved. We also had out rotations and those, I loved. I met the hospice whisperer. She was so perfect in her role. I hope to be as perfect in my nurse role as she was. So gifted! So patient! So comforting!

Psych has surprised me the most. I thought I would be interested in it, but not as deeply as I have been. I'm positive I don't have the strength for psych nursing, but I've still loved the whole experience. Next semester is community, which I think I'll love as well. I also have an internship and don't know yet what my placement will be.

*sigh* Just unloading really. How have your experiences been so far?

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

Just one semester to go!!! Hopefully, you get some good experience with this last clinical rotation. I have had amazing experiences (oncology) and bored to tears experiences (OB) and everything in between, so I feel your pain. I am going to a cardiac care unit for my last semester, which is exciting to me.

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

There is a lot of boring in between the drama in real nursing you will come to crave those boring moments as you go forward.

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Specializes in Nursing Management.

I understand what you're saying it can be quite boring. The worst part is that the nurses are so busy and there isn't much we can do to help them.

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I'm sorry your experiences have been lacking. That's frustrating! I can only say that about one mental health rotation- 3 days where I spent them sitting in the RN office of an outpatient clinic. Nothing to do! Other than that I've had a ton of amazing experiences! I'm learning that our schools can only do so much about our clinical- everyone's experiences are going to be different! Even among other levels at the same school. Too many variables! It's tough but it's up to us to make the best of our clinicals!

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Specializes in critical care.
I'm sorry your experiences have been lacking. That's frustrating! I can only say that about one mental health rotation- 3 days where I spent them sitting in the RN office of an outpatient clinic. Nothing to do! Other than that I've had a ton of amazing experiences! I'm learning that our schools can only do so much about our clinical- everyone's experiences are going to be different! Even among other levels at the same school. Too many variables! It's tough but it's up to us to make the best of our clinicals!

Out of curiousity - did the nurses DO anything during your acute care rotation in psych? The ones on our unit didn't. It was very disappointing. They stayed behind the glass, gossiped, and passed meds. I don't think I ever saw them leave the nurse's station. We were there 7 am - 3 pm, so you think you'd see SOMETHING, but nope. We (the students) stayed on the unit enjoying our patient interactions the entire day and we went to groups (led by someone amazing who was not a nurse, but I can't remember what her credentials were), and we went with our patients to their visits with the doctors, who were mostly cold and unfriendly.

I did get to spend a day in PERT with an RN who was the psych patient whisperer. She was so well suited for what she was doing. She and the home hospice nurse I shadowed were truly inspiring women.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

I have done a little precepting and got good feedback. I had students shadow me. I am an APRN and the students were BSN candidates. I have 1/2 hour appts and students sat in on my appts, I talked to them after appts, and I gave them relevant charts to read when I had cancellations. Psych is very interesting. I think students need structure and guidance--on an inpt unit, students could do a group, do 1:1 meetings in open areas and read the charts, go to team meetings etc. the school should be more active to set up relevant experiences.

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Specializes in Neuro Intensive Care.

My program is the complete opposite. We have about two semesters of full clinical rotations (with about 12 days each semester), all on the med surge floor. We each had our own patient each day, and had to complete all care, to include AM care, doctors orders, and meds. After noon med pass, it got kinda slow, but then we would just hit the charts and get the lab info for the 10 page packet of paperwork we had to fill out. I got to experience a lot of different things, and even got to spend a few days down in surgery observing some surgeries. Next we move onto maternal child (where we will have L&D rotations, mother baby unit, and pediatric office rotations) and our final semester is in the ICU. Chin up, you're almost done!

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Are there better opportunities at other hospitals in the area for these units, or are you somewhere where this is as good as it gets? If there are other opportunities in the area, you might say something on a course eval. Feedback is always helpful!

I feel very fortunate about my program, and of the various peds rotations we had, I had one of the best in my class. We're not far from San Francisco, but all of the hospitals in the city will only take students from schools within the city, so we're limited to the smaller hospitals outside, which means no pediatric units.

I know what you mean about psych nurses- we definitely didn't see them doing a whole lot when we were with them.

Good luck with your final semester! I'm there, too! :)

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Specializes in critical care.
Are there better opportunities at other hospitals in the area for these units or are you somewhere where this is as good as it gets? If there are other opportunities in the area, you might say something on a course eval. Feedback is always helpful! I feel very fortunate about my program, and of the various peds rotations we had, I had one of the best in my class. We're not far from San Francisco, but all of the hospitals in the city will only take students from schools within the city, so we're limited to the smaller hospitals outside, which means no pediatric units. I know what you mean about psych nurses- we definitely didn't see them doing a whole lot when we were with them. Good luck with your final semester! I'm there, too! :)[/quote']

Unfortunately, it's as good as it gets. :( The closest bigger area with busy, large hospitals is hours away. I have only been at the hospital in my town, so for internship I signed up for a different hospital hoping it'll be a more fulfilling experience. I'm crossing everything for that!

Good luck in your last semester as well! So exciting to finally be here!

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Wow, I almost wish my experience was that slow in med/surg. Almost. At least I know I've learned. Every semester we take on an extra patient and we do full care for them. I just finished semester 3 and we each had 3 pts. Going into 4th where I will have 4 pts. We're at a county hospital so these people are sick. It's been so stressful but I really am getting to practice all the stuff I'm learning. In our area, our school is still looked upon highly because of our clinical rotations.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I think that you get out of a clinical experience what you put into it.

Plus how can you complain if you thought things were slow or boring? Did you expect them to create drama for you to observe.Sometimes things are just boring and there really is nothing you can do to help.Don't worry, it will be over soon and you will make it. A lot of learning goes on after school. You won't see it all in clinicals.Hang in there.

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