Student Nurse--first clinical rotation on isolation floor?!

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Hi,

I am inquiring experienced nurses. I just started an ADN program Sept. 3rd. Oct. 1st will be my start of clinicals 1 day/week on an isolation unit. To say I feel unconfident is an understatement. I was told we will be using disposable stethoscopes, amongst other precautions. Is this normal, routine, or safe to have novice students in that environment? Please help. I feel like this program is rushed way too much already!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

You will find patients in isolation on pretty much every floor of any hospital. Nursing students provide these patients with exactly the same care that they would give other patients. The only difference is in how you protect yourself and other patients by adhering to isolation policy and procedure. It would benefit you to know this policy in advance.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

As long as you follow the guidelines for PPE use and hand hygiene there should no problem.You would run into patients in isolation on other floors as well. It doesn't take special training just follow the infection control procedures.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I agree with the previous posters. Follow the PPE guidelines and you will be just fine.

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

Our clinical instructors used to tell us that their job was to expose us to as many different situations as possible to prepare us for the real world. As long as you comply with universal precautions, you should be fine.

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Thanks everyone. As you can imagine as a new student I have a lot to learn...the first few weeks have been overwhelming to say the least. I thank you for your input.

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