Hi everyone. I will be starting my clinical rotation this fall. Orientation is on Aug. 20th. I want to be as prepared as possible. Are there any important items I need? Is it necessary to have a lap top or really good PDA?
Any tips advice etc... will be greatly appreciated. I have read some of the other posts and beginning to get more freaked out. I want to do the best I possibly can should I start purchasing NCLEX practice stuff now?
If you drink coffee in the morning like I do, please be considerate and make sure you have breath mints!!!
I am in my first clinical rotation. I have a clipboard that has multiple compartments. I got it at Office Depot for about $15. It has a handle on it for carrying and when you open it there is room for a few papers, and my health assessment pocket guide and there is a slot for my scissors. The outside slots hold my money, penlight, pens and mints. I also have a stethoscope and a PDA which I have RNotes2, Tabers Dictionary, LabValues, Davis DrugGuide and a Medical Calculator. Our group meets at our clinical site at 6:45 am and the first thing we do is get breakfast. We then go over what we are going to be doing for the day while we eat and then it's off to the patient's rooms. Although I am a CNA, I was a bit nervous about having to wake the patients to check on them and then to do their exam but it's getting easier with time. Our clinical is on a transitional care unit in a hospital where the patients are mainly there for a few days to a few weeks for physical and or occupational therapy. It's been really good so far. The crappy part is being that our clinical is on Wednesday we have to complete the health assessment form and a thorough careplan by Friday at 1 pm. We have to complete a health assessment form every week but we only complete a careplan every other week. This week we did a verbal careplan at the clinical site as opposed to having to complete a written one for homework.
I'm kind of surprised by all the people that bring their own BP cuffs. Aren't BP cuffs essentially diagnostic equipment? And therefore isn't the hospital responsible for ensuring that they're properly calibrated? I'm surprised that the hospital would allow uncertified cuffs. That would be a lot like bringing in your own glucometer.
The hospital I worked at as a CNA had 2 manual cuffs for 40 Patient rooms! If the CNAs are using them for their patients when you get there you will have to borrow each others and that takes up time waiting. The cuffs they have at clinicals sites aren't always in the best shape either. The manometer may be fine, but the cuff may be ratty or the bladder messed up. Your better off with your own.
al7139, ASN, RN
618 Posts
When I was in school, my essential items were:
A clipboard
Calculator
Stethoscope
Hemostats
Scissors
Several black ink pens
Sharpies in multiple colors
A red ink pen
A highlighter
Post it notes
Note paper
I brought a drug book instead of a PDA, but your choice!
Penlight
Watch
and last but not least...
Breath Mints!
Amy