Starting Clinicals: How to Get Off on the Right Foot?

[Music in My Heart]

Hi all.

In January, I'm starting my DEMSN program and we begin clinicals immediately (which is why we must complete the CNA before we start). I just finished reading another NETY post about how poorly some students are being treated by the staff nurses and it makes me a little concerned. It's very important to me to learn as much as I can during clinicals and to hopefully make to help take up a bit of the slack.

Knowing that first impressions are lasting impressions, I've been giving a lot of thought about the first couple days of clinicals and how to get off on the right foot with the staff.

I'd love both some feedback as well as any suggestions.

1. Of course, be polite, be respectful, and be helpful (all of which are subjective, unfortunately)
   
2. Bring a nice bouquet of flowers for the nurse's station along with a "Thank You" card thanking the staff in advance for hosting me/us.
   
3. Bring in a box of bagels or muffins or something and leave it in the break room.
   
4. (Repeat #2 and #3 on a regular basis)
   
5. Make clear to the nurses that I'm there to learn and that I'm open to rebuke and correction.
   
6. Make clear that I'm willing to help out in whatever capacity is needed.
   
7. Make myself visible and look for the little things that I can do - don't hide out or congregate with the students in a chat session.
   
8. Don't interrupt.
   
9. Be very careful not to challenge how something's being done with what I've been taught or what's in the book.
   
10. Be cognizant of their time and their workload.

So, think about some of the students that you'd welcome back and some of those that should be tossed off of the third floor and let me know what you think.

I'm really looking for positive, concrete steps to take and things to keep in mind in order to help have a positive clinical experience (and hopefully, engender positive feelings in the staff regarding nursing students).

[Boston-RN, RN]

I'm assuming you'll have an instructor?

- be prepared, know what you're supposed to know before you get there

- be physically prepared have your supplies books etc what you need

- be alert when you get there some clinicals start early and the instructor doesn't want to hear that you had to work late

- if you don't understand something ask, don't fake it

- don't be offended if you ask a question and someone tells you to look it up...that means you should know it or know where to find out about it

- at the end of each clinical ask the instructor for feeback, good bad or indifferent it will prepare you for the next clinical

- DONT TAKE IT PERSONALLY

-also during my clinicals we were to ask questions to the instructor not the floor nurse directly unless it was during report or if we were working directly with the floor nurse at the time

- be confident not cocky

- show no fear/doubt instructors can smell it a mile away

Good luck

Oh and from the nurse perspective....love the food

[agent66]

Hi all.

In January, I'm starting my DEMSN program and we begin clinicals immediately (which is why we must complete the CNA before we start). I just finished reading another NETY post about how poorly some students are being treated by the staff nurses and it makes me a little concerned. It's very important to me to learn as much as I can during clinicals and to hopefully make to help take up a bit of the slack.

Knowing that first impressions are lasting impressions, I've been giving a lot of thought about the first couple days of clinicals and how to get off on the right foot with the staff.

I'd love both some feedback as well as any suggestions.

1. Of course, be polite, be respectful, and be helpful (all of which are subjective, unfortunately)
   
2. Bring a nice bouquet of flowers for the nurse's station along with a "Thank You" card thanking the staff in advance for hosting me/us.
   
3. Bring in a box of bagels or muffins or something and leave it in the break room.
   
4. (Repeat #2 and #3 on a regular basis)
   
5. Make clear to the nurses that I'm there to learn and that I'm open to rebuke and correction.
   
6. Make clear that I'm willing to help out in whatever capacity is needed.
   
7. Make myself visible and look for the little things that I can do - don't hide out or congregate with the students in a chat session.
   
8. Don't interrupt.
   
9. Be very careful not to challenge how something's being done with what I've been taught or what's in the book.
   
10. Be cognizant of their time and their workload.

So, think about some of the students that you'd welcome back and some of those that should be tossed off of the third floor and let me know what you think.

I'm really looking for positive, concrete steps to take and things to keep in mind in order to help have a positive clinical experience (and hopefully, engender positive feelings in the staff regarding nursing students).

Just me but I think #2 and #3 are heading towards the brown nosing side. The bagels are a nice idea but once would be more than enough, The flowers? maybe at the end of your rotation with a thank you card would be more appropriate. For me, a student that has looked up meds appropriate to the unit and shows initiative in helping out as part of the team, not just looking after their own patients is a big thing. And I certainly don't mind if you ask why I do something different to the way you are taught, as sometimes us seasoned ones need a gentle reminder to do things the right way. It sounds like you are definately enthusiastic so just be yourself and i am sure you will make out just fine!!