starting clinical in a week, need help finding info online

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I am starting clinical in a week in med-surg, starting in medical. When I start I will have one patient and will need to do a complete physical assessment and history, I will also have their info a day in advance so I know what meds they're on, issues, etc... What I am looking for and can't find is a site that gives sample case studies(?) providing information like patient CW is 55yr old male with (health problem), background info, what meds he's on, and any other pertinent information so that I can do research on the example patient and by doing so know where to look for the info before I actually get my assigned patient the day before my shift. I want to prep myself with as close a scenario to that which I'll be facing in a week or so... Does anyone know of a free resource I can tap into online?

Thanks! Carla.

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Specializes in none, still looking.

They didn't give you an example care plan to follow.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiothoracics, VADs.

It's hard to advise of a site that will answer all your questions, as depending on the patient's condition there may be different resources to obtain.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
I am starting clinical in a week in med-surg, starting in medical. When I start I will have one patient and will need to do a complete physical assessment and history, I will also have their info a day in advance so I know what meds they're on, issues, etc... What I am looking for and can't find is a site that gives sample case studies(?) providing information like patient CW is 55yr old male with (health problem), background info, what meds he's on, and any other pertinent information so that I can do research on the example patient and by doing so know where to look for the info before I actually get my assigned patient the day before my shift. I want to prep myself with as close a scenario to that which I'll be facing in a week or so...

This will be a learning experience ... just starting out, you'll be flipping pages a-plenty until you understand the organization of the patient's chart, and that's OK ... it's how you learn.

Your instructor should clue you in on specifically what he/she wants included or in what format.

Watch for meds that the patient has just started on or has just had dosages adjusted - this will probably give you a heads up on acute conditions that are going on with the patient right now. For example: if they're on an antibiotic, what is the source of the infection (pneumonia, UTI, surgical site infection, etc.)

This will also be the first time you'll get experience correlating the chart data with the real person. As a new student you may read a chart full of grim lab studies on a patient with ESRD but go in to meet a cheerful patient - it's old news to them.

Enjoy! :nurse:

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I did my orientation today and my anxiety has gone down quite a bit. Thanks for the advice MLOS. I'm getting a little ahead of myself and after being exposed to the environment I think I'll be ok now. lol They do give you the client information at least a day in advance, so I'll have adequate time to research relevant info.

Thanks ; )

Carla.

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