To all of you nurses or advanced nursing students

liljsmom02 · Feb 25, 2006

give the heparing on the side of the abdomen that has the least little purple bruisies. remember to think about and address these patients emotional states. they are cancer and are more than a disease. my best advice about clinical is to be assertive. instructors love that stuff and you benefit too. it's a win win situation. do the things you are most scared of. the more you do things the easier they seem and the more confident you are. the first foley i started was on a female. she looked like an octopus before i got one in. i have never missed a foley on the first try since. (i don't think that patient will ever forget me).

good luck.

JR816, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2006

Hi, I also lack confidence in some areas. I have never worked in a hospital setting before. So this is all very new to me. When I started my first IV, my knees were shaking and I my mind went blank. I have recently decided that I need to put my nerves to rest. It's not rocket science, millions of people before me figured it out so I can too. I started my second IV last week and it was perfect. I was very calm and just thought about the next step. My patient was also on heparin. I inserted the needle in the belly and rotated quadrants from one day to the next. Easy as pie......Next step, OB..... I am very excited about this!!! Good Luck to you.

stressgal, RN · Feb 25, 2006

My advice is to be prepared as much as possible. Make yourself a chart that works for you while taking report. Something that organizes info. Be ready for report when it is given. Set yourself a timeline for when you would like to have tasks accomplished. Shift assessment charted by 0800, first med pass by 0915, so on and so on. This will assist you in keeping on task. I also walk myself mentally through a new procedure prior to going into the room. This way I'm a but more confident.

Good luck!

Lurksalot, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2006

My advice to be a good student:

1. If you don't know the answer to something, use all your resources to find out the answer before you ask your teacher or another RN. Use your unit procedure manual, use your med book (a PDA w/your med book and lab book downloaded is a godsend), use the unit computer if it has procedural information on there or teaching info. When you have exhausted your resources, then approach your instructor or RN for advice. (Of course, if you have an emergency or something that needs immediate attention, just ask!)

2. Know what the meds you are giving do, and what side effects to look for. Know interventions to take, and teaching to give. Yes, it is difficult to remember all that stuff, especially at first, but each semester you will probably split up your clinicals into seperate areas, so categorize your meds to learn them. Like, when if you'll be on a tele floor, make a list of the categories of cardiac drugs and study them. Bring a little cheat sheet with a quick reference, break it up like "beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, ace inhibitors, etc." so you will know them. Your teacher will be really happy when she asks if you know your drugs without much prompting, and she will know that you've done your homework.

3. I learned this by observing others....just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth. I keep my mouth shut unless I know what I am talking about, and I don't ask the RNs questions that at an attempt to show them they are doing something wrong. Too many of my classmates ask the RNs questions like "shouldn't you do that THIS way, this is what I learned in school," or similar, and it doesn't make people want to help them.

4. Be professional at all times. You never know who is listening or watching, and you are building your reputation even while you are a student.

I think when teachers see a student who is thoughtful, uses resources, and tries to problem solve before going for help, the teacher will appreciate that and be happy to help you out. The instructor will see you as a pro-active member of the team. In addition, you'll become much more independent and confident.

DecafMom · Feb 26, 2006

My advice to be a good student:
1. If you don't know the answer to something, use all your resources to find out the answer before you ask your teacher or another RN. Use your unit procedure manual, use your med book (a PDA w/your med book and lab book downloaded is a godsend), use the unit computer if it has procedural information on there or teaching info. When you have exhausted your resources, then approach your instructor or RN for advice. (Of course, if you have an emergency or something that needs immediate attention, just ask!)
2. Know what the meds you are giving do, and what side effects to look for. Know interventions to take, and teaching to give. Yes, it is difficult to remember all that stuff, especially at first, but each semester you will probably split up your clinicals into seperate areas, so categorize your meds to learn them. Like, when if you'll be on a tele floor, make a list of the categories of cardiac drugs and study them. Bring a little cheat sheet with a quick reference, break it up like "beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, ace inhibitors, etc." so you will know them. Your teacher will be really happy when she asks if you know your drugs without much prompting, and she will know that you've done your homework.
3. I learned this by observing others....just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth. I keep my mouth shut unless I know what I am talking about, and I don't ask the RNs questions that at an attempt to show them they are doing something wrong. Too many of my classmates ask the RNs questions like "shouldn't you do that THIS way, this is what I learned in school," or similar, and it doesn't make people want to help them.
4. Be professional at all times. You never know who is listening or watching, and you are building your reputation even while you are a student.
I think when teachers see a student who is thoughtful, uses resources, and tries to problem solve before going for help, the teacher will appreciate that and be happy to help you out. The instructor will see you as a pro-active member of the team. In addition, you'll become much more independent and confident.

I agree with most of what you said - especially number four! However, I don't think it's a bad thing to lean a little heavier on the instructor. I ask all kinds of questions, and I know it is not interpreted as a bad thing. If it's a simple question I look it up on my PDA, but a lot of questions aren't simple questions. I guess I have not been too concerned with what my instructor thinks of me - it could be a difference in our instructors as well. Ours elicits questions from us, so it's to be expected.

CrystalClear75, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2006

Thanks for your replies guys, great advice!:)