The "Getting Ready for Clinicals" thread

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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?

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.

I agree- it's totally okay for us mothers/women to do something so great for ourselves. Families should be supportive and help. Even if we have to train them ourselves!!! Once school starts, I have a few chores to set in my husband course even tho he works 70 hours a week. I can't wait to teach him how to do my daughters hair, help us Lord! A mothers downfall is always that she takes on more than she needs to, always having that feeling that only they can do it right, and that they can do it quicker. I am a victim of this myself. I am learning that even tho it's not done the way I would like, it's still getting done and that is all I need.

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Specializes in IMCU.
I agree- it's totally okay for us mothers/women to do something so great for ourselves. Families should be supportive and help. Even if we have to train them ourselves!!! Once school starts, I have a few chores to set in my husband course even tho he works 70 hours a week. I can't wait to teach him how to do my daughters hair, help us Lord! A mothers downfall is always that she takes on more than she needs to, always having that feeling that only they can do it right, and that they can do it quicker. I am a victim of this myself. I am learning that even tho it's not done the way I would like, it's still getting done and that is all I need.

I too am one of those who tries to insist on doing things myself. It rarely works out for me. It is probably one of the things that has held me back more than anything. So I am really making a HUGE effort to deal with this now. Of course, change is bloody hard.

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Specializes in PICU/Pedi.
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.

I live with my mom, who does most of the work around the house. I try to help out as much as I can, though. I do some dishes, but we're using alot of disposables (which the environmentalist in me detests!!). I do my laundry and most fo my kids', but I've gotta tell you, the clean laundry basically just piled up last semester. I'm prepared to quit vaccuming my room and cleaning my bathroom. I have to help vaccum the house a little, though, because we have a dog that sheds some. I also have to help with him by taking him for a short walk every day and making sure he goes out to pee.

I do most of the cooking, because my mom works nights, but on clinical days, it's going to be take out or crockpot, I'm thinking. My mom is good about cooking when she is off from work, though.

I'm trying to stay in the habit of putting things away so I don't have to clean much, but I realize that I am just going to have to get used to a life of filth for the next two years! :(

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Specializes in PICU/Pedi.
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!

A little feng shui sounds great! What are you doing? I'm not real familiar with the practice, but I have a basic idea of what it is.

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Specializes in PICU/Pedi.
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.

I agree that you are doing them a favor. My mom spoiled us and didn't make us do much of anything, while she was a single parent struggling to raise us and do everything herself. When we became adults and moved out on our own, we didn't know how to do anything! My boyfriend makes fun of me because of things that I do or don't do regarding cleaning, dishes, cooking, etc. I'm like, "what do you expect? I had to teach myself everything!" My kids are definitely going to stuff to help out. They're only three, so there's not alot they can do, but they do some things.

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"A little feng shui sounds great! What are you doing? I'm not real familiar with the practice, but I have a basic idea of what it is. "

Basically, it's the solice of your home. It's the idea that if you wake up to chaos, (dirty clothes on the floor, dirty sheets, dirty dishes, CLUTTER) you will FEEL chaotic. There is nothing relaxing about that. Having too much to do can make you feel like doing nothing at all, wouldn't you agree? lol! I've just been focusing making my house an oasis of relaxation by removing clutter, not letting laundry pile up (even if I am only doing one load) and spring cleaing, making my house smell good and comforting w/ candles that I like, adding window treatments to my windows (finally). I've just been filling in the holes. If I see my daughter's room getting messy when I walk by, I stop in for a few minutes and pick up. I would rather take those few minutes, then to let her go at it for hours, b/c then it will take me 30 minutes to clean her room. I'm finding ways to avoid the mess's, like letting my daughter eat her cereal on the floor infront of the t.v. It's just a bad idea. It's easier for me to clean the table than the floor.

Now, I know I may not be able to keep up on this thro out school, but dang it I'm gonna try!!! I won't have the whole day to clean my home anymore so I choose to "keep up on it." I feel relaxed. My KIDS are so much more relaxed and behaved, it's awesome!!! I've found I can sit down and focus on NCLEX (getting a head start) w/o sitting in chaos and "thinking" about how I would like it to be. I can focus on things I need to focus on and not my house.

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Foralltherightreason - wow, you're actually lucky your kids are so old. They should be pretty self-sufficient and able to take over most all the household duties for you. My daughter is 10 and she is babysitting for her little brothers, getting their breakfast and lunch ready, does the dishes, mops, does her own laundry. She doesn't like it, but I pay her. There's no reason teenagers can't do laundry correctly and cook dinner - esp if you pay them. I tell my family everyone will sacrifice so that I can get through nursing school, but everyone will benefit when I get out and am working as an RN. I've promised all of them iTouches to keep them motivated LOL

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I didn't mean to make it sound like they don't do ANYTHING. They actually help alot. The boys take care of mowing, weedeating, shrubs, etc. They all pitch in and do the dishes, sweep and mop, clean the bathroom and kitchen, and vaccuum. Their rooms stay clean because it's always been that way. I've just been used to having a spotless house that people could drop in and I wasn't embarassed. My house stays picked up, but it's not like it used to be, you know what I mean? Summers have always been stressful for me, but now looking forwards and seeing myself in school for 2 more summers, I don't know. I know it will get easier the older they get. I'm just struggling because for so long I was the homemaker who drove my kids to school, picked them up and had homemade dinners every night. Last year I started working with my husband and adjusted to them riding the bus, not being there when they get home, and all the other changes. Now, I'[m going to school and working part-time, and stressed to the max. I also feel guilty because by the time I get done with school, my oldest will be graduating high school. But I take some comfort in the fact that I am showing them the importance of a college education. Except for my aunt and grandmother, nobody on my side of the family ever graduated college. My 13 yo daughter used to talk about being a hairdresser when she grew up, now she talks about going to medical school(and she has the grades for it) I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that they will appreciate the sacrifices, and not think I was a bad mom.:scrying:

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"I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that they will appreciate the sacrifices, and not think I was a bad mom.:scrying: "

They will. They just won't know it yet :-).

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foralltherightreasons, I can totally relate! I was a homemaker all these years too, always there for the family. (I had a job much of that time, but it was at home.) It was really hard when I first started school and wasn't there for them when they got up in the morning to help them. My 1st grader cried the first day or two because he missed me. Talk about feeling bad. Even though they all had some minor chores, I did all the major work and cooked a lot. Now we have a lot of frozen food. You're right, summer is so hard - even though I'm still home quite a bit I have to hide out in my room to study, constantly shooing them away. I was never a real perfectionist with my house like you so I'm okay with it being messy, as long as the kitchen and bathrooms are clean.

Like you, I also look at this as setting a good example. They see me studying all the time, enjoying school, and earning a degree. I believe they will reach higher than they would have if I would have never gone to school. Lecturing them about the importance of education just doesn't hold the same weight when you haven't gotten it yourself. We're doing what is best for ourselves and our families - forget about the dust bunnies!

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

This is a really good thread with some great tips. Although its not exactly a rock solid plan this is how I get ready for clinicals. I clean my car out (including the trunk) and get it washed. I have my clinical uniform cleaned and ready for day one. I turn my car trunk into a roaming library/nursing student storage unit. Basically this means that I put all of my books that I could need into my trunk and so wherever I go I will have my books (textbooks and ATI books) that I need for class and I can take out a few at a time as I need them. I also put a spare pair of scrubs in a bag in the trunk (for my job and emergencies) along with my school related supplies (blood pressure cuff, stethoscope etc.) It might not be for everyone but it works out for me really well. Most importantly before school starts up again I go out with friends for one night of drinking because it won't be happening again for a while.

!Chris :specs:

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Thanks ya'll. I needed that. I'm going to use the 10 days I have in between summer and fall semesters to get caught up on the heavy cleaning, spend some time with my kids and family, and catch up on my DVR watching. :wink2:

I'm also going to help hubby get caught up on office paperwork for real estate so he doesn't have so much to do the week I go back to school, and can help out more. I also need to go talk to the school I'm transferring to in Dec. and talk to the nursing counselor, and the registrar about transferring credits

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