Starting clinicals, no experience! HELP!

melmarie23, MSN, RN · May 26, 2009

You are going to be nervous the first day, no way around that one. I was so scared and worried that I wasnt going to do anything right. I kept going over what we did in lab and all the steps to this and that and replaying my nursing DVDs in my head that I was literally dreaming these in my sleep. But once you interact with your first patient...it gets easier from there, I promise. You will find your own method to the madness and get into a groove and it will just come together.

Volunteer for whatever you can. If you have one or two patients for the day, and find yourself with a bit of free time, go around and answer call bells. As the other staff nurses if they need an extra hand with anything. Keep busy. Soak it all in. And most importantly, try and have a bit of fun! My first clinical rotation, all the patients loved us students. Chat them up, hear their stories. You are in for a wild ride!

Good luck!

2BSure · May 26, 2009

Don't worry about other people's experiences at clinical. This is your clinical and you will do fine. Get proper sleep the night before and eat something just before shift.

I hope you love it!

9livesRN, BSN, RN · May 26, 2009

I just finished my first semester in NS...did well, 3 A's and 2 B's.. I'm taking MedSurg over the entire summer and will have my first taste of clinicals! I have no hospital experience,

... I did not have any either, on the first day when i heard: "now go to your pt's room" i thought to my self and say what???? and do what??? i blanked lol - but then, it all came together, i left the room quite quicky and returned with a lot of confidence

but know this is what I want! I just can't get over my nerves,

same here, but it goes away, it happens whenever you come across something new, like your first wipe, the first diarrhea on you and so on... the first pt that pulls on the PEG tube and stuff comes out like crazy... the first oone that attempts to jump out of bed to make it to the bathroom, (already pooped on, with the bed high cuz you were cleaning them...) the first contact, when you gown up and sweat like you were on the steam room...

I feel like I don't know anything lol...

... you do, it will come together as you go, is just the fact that you can't "flip the page and read your notes" it is all going to be exciting believe me!

even though I learned so much this semester! What can I expect over the summer?

... you will see lots of things that it is not what you learned in the books, people doing stuff that makes you go "hmmmm", and lots of fun, you will have so many stories to come tell us!!! expect the unexpected (that is, there is not out line of the day, nor powernotes before clinicals lol)

How do I get over being so nervours? Any tips??

... just chill and have fun, research your pt and his condition, get familiar, you you can get the most of your clinical experience, be ready to assist your nurse, and or a classmate in need... (it happens!)

And since I have no hospital experience, I feel like I will be way behind the others who do!

... i find that the ones who ahve experience, are not so far ahead, since they might do stuff on a different way, and carry on shortcuts that your instructor may not aprove. also if they are techs not LPN's they wont be much far ahead, since you guys are learning the pharm/pato and interventions all together!

What are clinicals like? HELP ME LOL!

..at the beginning we were not so busy, we just did ADL's, bed making, diper changes, hygiene, assessments, and things like that, but then you will be passing meds, taking care of PEGs charting a whole lot, doing your patient teachings, on top of all you did but dont worry, you are there to learn, not to be wiping all the time, you have to use that time to learn about the patient, practice what you have been checked of on, and learn, you are not a clerk, although help your nurse, give report, help the tech and they will be real nice to you!!! even the nastiest ones!!! it never fail, kill them with kindness!!!

- over all have fun and be a team player (that is, YOUR stuff come first, and if you can spare time that is nice, always report to your clinical instructor, they love to know that you are on top of the game... i usually give 2 min reports q2hrs.)

kdsrn · May 26, 2009

You will be amazed at how much you really know. Don't worry about the other students and "what experience they already have". Most students don't have experience. Just prepare for your clinical the day before by reading up on the diagnosis your patient has and what to expect. Read up on your meds, etc. Each day you will feel a little more comfortable. As a clinical instructor, I don't expect my students to know anything when they first start. One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is watching as my students grow throughout the semester. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

boggle, ASN, RN · May 26, 2009

No previous clinical experience can be an asset- you don't have to "un-learn"' any incorrect techniques that experienced students may have been doing for years on the job.

You bring experiences of life with you. The nursing part you can learn!

Best wishes to you!