The "Getting Ready for Clinicals" thread

Published

Specializes in PICU/Pedi.

I start my first clinicals this fall, and have been trying to get things ready for them. I am cleaning and organizing my house and car, and cleaning out my backpack and nursing kit. I'm going to get my stethoscope engraved (A Littman Master Cardiology that my sister gave me). I went to the store the other day and bought tons of frozen dinners, veggies, breakfast stuff, etc for clinical days. I got some of those frozen crockpot meals that you just throw on in the morning, and figured I would start one before I leave on the mornings of clinicals, and then we will have something ready when we get home. I prefer to eat fresh food, but I have this funny feeling that I'm going to have to let that go!

When I get paid next, I'm going to get an oil change so that I don't have to worry about that during the semester.

I'm going to buy a hanging closet organizer that has at least 5 shelves on it. That way I can get my kids' clothes together for the whole school week on Sunday night, and put clothes, shoes, accessories, underwear, etc. all together and not have to go looking for them in the morning. Now, if only I could organize my OWN stuff that well!

I had this idea today when I got to work. I keep forgetting to take out my nose ring for my job, but I don't get into big trouble for it if they notice. However, I know this will not be the case in NS. I thought it might be a good idea to make a check list of things to do the night before and the morning of clinicals. I could make lots of copies, and use a new one every week that I have clinicals. It might have things like, "Take out nose ring, tongue ring, and earrings", "Have clinicals supplies ready to go", "Trim fingernails if needed", etc. etc. Then I could check off each one as I get them done and stay on track of everything. I'm going to try to put one together in the next few days. Anybody have any other ideas for it?

What are YOU doing to get ready for clinicals?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm just trying to get rid of all the clutter I have so I can have more room for nursing school stuff. I might have to get another one of those plastic drawer sets from Walmart.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh Lord! I have been doing EVERYTHING under the sun I tell ya! Even down to spending more quality time w/ kids and hubby:devil:. I am also organizing everything in my home. I won't have time to look for things!!! So, I've spent a small fortune on organizer's. I re-organized my childrens playroom, (exhausted). I threw away like, 22 bags of trash from my home just trying to pitch the clutter. I wish I could have a yard sale, but don't think that is gonna happen. I am fixing things that need fixin'. I am creating good feng-shei (ms?) in my home. I am canning and freezing my meals, (chili, soups, stews, casseroles). And, honestly, I'm doin' a little of this:cheers:. The most important thing we can do right now, is let our minds relax and little and not think so much. Enjoy your home, your kids, your husband, friends, family, YOURSELF!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

On this note, how do you keep the house from going to **** while you're doing nursing school and clinicals? I have a very supportive husband and 4 kids. I'm still doing pre-req's, but going to school full-time, and working part-time. My house is falling apart around me. I do 8-10 loads of laundry on my days off from school, I can either cook dinner, ask my husband to cook dinner, buy fast food, or let my daughter ruin dinner, then have to buy fast food anyway. My husband helps when he can, but he works full-time as a realtor, and frankly, we need all the business we can get right now, so he's not home most of the time. I do believe in the almighty Crock-pot and the grill, but never have the time to go grocery shopping anymore. So far this summer, my kids have broken 2 almost new leather recliners, 3 of my dining room chairs, knocked a hole in the door to the laundry room, and costs us about $800 a month in groceries. OMG, I just realized this turned into a vent. DOES IT GET BETTER WHEN THE KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL TOO? I've always considered myself a great mom, but now when I come home, all I want to do is run away, and I'm terrified of what will happen when I'm in nursing school with clinicals. BTW, my kids are 15, 13, 11, and 9(3 boys, 1 girl) and one teacup yorkie, that everyone "forgets" to take outside for potty when I'm not home. Does anyone have suggestions? Oh, and laundry by anyone other than me is out of the question, it's not worth the shrunken hand-wash onlies and pink stuff that should be white.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in IMCU.

If you have artificial nails...get 'em off now!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

foralltherightreason- Good Lord Honey! I DO understand. I only have two children, ages 4 and 2. I start NE in 2 weeks!!! I have had days just like the one you have described. Basically right now while I'm on break, I'm smoothing the chaos in my home. I don't believe we always create chaos, but do believe we allow it, lol. I hate that feeling like you are exhausted only from just thinking of what needs to be done. I got really tired of feeling like all I DID was THINK of the things I should be doing. Having my house all torn up just sucks the life out of me. So, I decided while I had break was to pitch, pitch, pitch! I even tossed toys I was getting tired of picking up. I'm fixing all the things that need fixin'. Organize everything! Go thro my crock pot, soup and stew, and casserole cooks books and plan meals to FREEZE! You can freeze meals for up to three months. I bought a ton of those metal cake pans to start. I also have a pressure cooker to can. These are crazy expensive but my mom had bought me one a few years back, whew! Hopefully, it will stay this way. I find it's so much easier to pick up and clean your house 30 minutes/day than have it CRAZY all the time. I used to tell myself I didn't have the 30 minutes but I do. And it feels good.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

:chuckle I don't have fake nails, never liked them. They look pretty, but they're nasty!(JMO) Food gets stuck under them, plus I have a vegetable garden a flowerbed and mend my families clothes and I don't like to wear gloves while working in the dirt-it's therapeutic for me. I had them taken off 8 years ago while hemming a pair of pants, the needle hit the nail and split it-OWWW! We don't have alot of toys in our home, I hit on that a long time ago, the kids would pull 'em out to play, and 15 minutes later, I was picking them up. We bought a trampoline and Wii instead. Thank God my DH is so supportive, we married when I was 18 and got pregnant with our first, he told me as soon as the kids could take of themselves, I could get my degree(we made very good money up 'til 3 years ago and I never HAD to work) I just sometimes feel like a bad mom, all I do is gripe. I'm hoping it will get better when they go back to school, they start the same day I do(Aug 24th) Has anybody found healthy snacks for school that don't make you hungrier? I spend $1.25 on granola bars out of the vending machine at school, but when I buy them at Wal-mart, the kids cash them before I get 1 pkg.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

www.flylady.net

great site for organizing your life and it is all free. breaks your house into zones and helps you learn how to do laundry so you don't have mount washmore as she calls it. i learned so much from this site and i think it is why i am able to handle as much as i do these days.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I really enjoy FiberOne bars. They keep me full for a long time!!! But- I WARN U- let your body adjust to them a few days before going out on the road w/ them. Our bodies aren't usually use to that much fiber. Heehee.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in IMCU.
:chuckle I don't have fake nails, never liked them. They look pretty, but they're nasty!(JMO) Food gets stuck under them, plus I have a vegetable garden a flowerbed and mend my families clothes and I don't like to wear gloves while working in the dirt-it's therapeutic for me. I had them taken off 8 years ago while hemming a pair of pants, the needle hit the nail and split it-OWWW! We don't have alot of toys in our home, I hit on that a long time ago, the kids would pull 'em out to play, and 15 minutes later, I was picking them up. We bought a trampoline and Wii instead. Thank God my DH is so supportive, we married when I was 18 and got pregnant with our first, he told me as soon as the kids could take of themselves, I could get my degree(we made very good money up 'til 3 years ago and I never HAD to work) I just sometimes feel like a bad mom, all I do is gripe. I'm hoping it will get better when they go back to school, they start the same day I do(Aug 24th) Has anybody found healthy snacks for school that don't make you hungrier? I spend $1.25 on granola bars out of the vending machine at school, but when I buy them at Wal-mart, the kids cash them before I get 1 pkg.

I tried those Kellog's protein shakes. They are handy but better if cold. They are not exactly great but they are portable.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in IMCU.
On this note, how do you keep the house from going to **** while you're doing nursing school and clinicals? I have a very supportive husband and 4 kids. I'm still doing pre-req's, but going to school full-time, and working part-time. My house is falling apart around me. I do 8-10 loads of laundry on my days off from school, I can either cook dinner, ask my husband to cook dinner, buy fast food, or let my daughter ruin dinner, then have to buy fast food anyway. My husband helps when he can, but he works full-time as a realtor, and frankly, we need all the business we can get right now, so he's not home most of the time. I do believe in the almighty Crock-pot and the grill, but never have the time to go grocery shopping anymore. So far this summer, my kids have broken 2 almost new leather recliners, 3 of my dining room chairs, knocked a hole in the door to the laundry room, and costs us about $800 a month in groceries. OMG, I just realized this turned into a vent. DOES IT GET BETTER WHEN THE KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL TOO? I've always considered myself a great mom, but now when I come home, all I want to do is run away, and I'm terrified of what will happen when I'm in nursing school with clinicals. BTW, my kids are 15, 13, 11, and 9(3 boys, 1 girl) and one teacup yorkie, that everyone "forgets" to take outside for potty when I'm not home. Does anyone have suggestions? Oh, and laundry by anyone other than me is out of the question, it's not worth the shrunken hand-wash onlies and pink stuff that should be white.

Darlin' you need to get the kids on board and let go of some stuff. Seriously, the kids need to learn to do laundry and cook -- consider that you are doing them a favor. Keep your laundry separate from theirs (if you must) and if they ruin their own clothing then too bad. They will only do it once. Also, they are old enough to be able to cook -- teach them a recipe and have them make it once a week or something. If the daughter burns stuff have the boys cook and she cleans up. Also, send the kids to the store for a bag of groceries once and a while. Maybe your hubby will have to take over grocery shopping.

Delia Smith does a good line of basic cook books (includes how to make toast -- no kidding).

My mom raised 4 kids while working and going to school with no husband around. We had to clean our own room and one other room every week or we did not leave the house except for school. End of story. As soon as we could reach the top loader washer we did laundry. End of story. If we couldn't walk, take a bus, ride our bike or get a ride from someone else -- we did not go anywhere.

Have a family team meeting and ask for help. That is what families do for each other.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm in clinicals-and 12hrs a day on Med-Surg. My piece of advice is don't stress! Know your anatomy and you'll be fine. Critically think and you'll be fine. Eat before you get there, because youll get tied up in something. This is an amazing experience, the last thing you should do is stress and over prepare.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion