Starting clinical tomorrow... Tips?

[vregino36]

I'm starting clinicals tomorrow in the hospital any tips to help the transition easier? Also my scrubs seem to be very loose im worried im going to look very unprofessional but are scrubs usually loose? And one more thing when you went through nursing school what was the first thing you learned the "hard" way that i can avoid?

[EuropaRN]

I would so much rather have loose fitting but modest scrubs than all your bits hanging out. If they are clean and not wrinkled you'll look fine. This doesn't apply to men, but I hate this trend of messy buns to clinical/work. Totally fine if you're running errands or whatever, but this is our work environment. No one would go to an office with their hair piled on top of their head.

Always listen to the nurse you're following, even if you think he or she is an idiot (lol). Always volunteer to practice skills and even though it's hard, don't congregate with your clinical mates when there are things you could be practicing. Don't let the nurses or aides bully you or make you do grunt work. Certainly volunteer to get so and so off the bedpan, but that isn't why you're there. If you plan to do a care plan on that patient tell the nurse up front that you will need some time to go over the chart but don't go hide with it. Ask questions, there are no stupid questions. There are always two right answers: the right answer and "I don't know, let me look that up" then make a note so you don't forget!

Don't forget that some people just have bad days. If you aren't clicking with a nurse, go to your instructor and try to resolve it. Clinicals are what you make of them. Good luck tomorrow! It's scary and exciting.

[Kuriin, BSN, RN]

It's his first clinical rotation...he most certainly is there to be getting patients off bedpans. Try and learn as much as you can, volunteer for everything that you possibly can.

[PaulBaxter]

I'm five weeks into my clinicals myself. So far the most challenging thing has been learning the computer/documentation system.

At least in our program we start with pretty limited expectations as we start clinicals. Things we've been doing are: practicing our assessment skills; figuring out where everything is on the floor; reading charts and other patient documentation; looking up patient conditions and labs in our texts; writing care plans; following the nurses around and listening and helping as we can; and taking vitals.

I suppose the big concepts are to do what your asked to do and to keep your eyes and ears open (but maybe not your nose) to everything around you.

[Kuriin, BSN, RN]

Gotta be able to smell that C.diff!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

How did it go? What are your first impressions of clinical?

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

I went through clinicals in 2006. Most important is be professional and polite. Also have some humility and understand where you. When a nurse is helping you...pay attention and be polite. I have helped students who have been staring off into space. They get one chance with me and then adios....you don't want to listen then good luck to you. However the vast majority of students are great and really want to learn.

[zmansc, ASN, RN]

Did clinicals many years ago. Many of my classmates tried to avoid working during clinicals, they would hide out, whatever, just to not do anything more than the minimum. I looked at it the other way. I volunteered to help the nurses anyway I could. I tried to make friends with them, help them with easy tasks and soon they would start having me help out on more advanced tasks.

I'd say do as much as you can, see as much as you can. This is where you get to learn how to be a nurse. You have to be there for x hours anyway, so make the most of them. It will help you with your learning, and it will help you when it comes time to apply for a job.

[RyanL2]

How did it go? One thing I learned the hard way, taking the spike out of the IV bag while it was still hangnign semi-full and having NS go all over the floor.

[Pilot2FNP]

How did it go? One thing I learned the hard way, taking the spike out of the IV bag while it was still hangnign semi-full and having NS go all over the floor.

Lol. I remember doing that too. I think many of us experienced this sort of thing when we first start. Hope it's all going good for you. Learn as much as you can during clinicals....it's really a great experience.