What are clinicals like??

Study24/7 · Dec 11, 2009

First, know you get out of it what you put in to it.

For us we meet on friday afternoon and get out patient information and introduce ourselves to our patient.

Friday evening you go home and write up med-cards, these cards contain iformation about the meds your patient is taking, halflife, side effects, client teachings......

prepare a care plan with three nursing diagnosis according to NANDA

Saturday

Meet instructor and classmates at 6:30am, at 7 we are with the nurse assigned to our patient listening to the night nurse give report.

7:20am review client chart for information added during the night. Review labs

By 7:30 we give our patients a full head to toe assessment

8am bed baths

8:30am breakfast for patients, assist if needed

8:45 Check for new labs on patient before administering 9am meds.

9am we give our meds.

10am chart , ambulate patient

11am reassess patient

12:30 head to recap meeting with instructor and classmates

One thing I try to do is listen to as many patients lugs as possible, old, young. Especially if they have any respiratory issues such as pnemonia. Its the best way to learn. I listen to everyone's lungs not just those patients assigned to me.

Good Luck

emsboss · Dec 11, 2009

Clinicals... In a word... SUX... Not sure if I can use that word here, but, that was my opinion of them. Two of my instructors made them interesting, but, overall, they sucked badly. Did NOT prepare me for the real world.

debi49 · Dec 11, 2009

I remember my first day of clinicals (15 years ago), I had to give my first IM injection. We'd given them to oranges but this was my first time to stick another human being with a needle. We were on a med surg floor and the guy was young (35-45) with well developed biceps. He was in for a simple operation, appendix, gall bladder, something like that and was ready to be discharged and since he hadnt had a tetorifice shot since college the MD wrote for a booster. So my instructor and I got it ready (she, as well as all my instructors were wonderfully nurturing and patient) which took me about 10 minutes cuz I was so ackward. Anyway we go into the room and this guy knows he's to be my guinea pig and was fine with it. So my instructor was chatting him up and I cleaned the arm, stuck the needle in, checked for blood return, and just FROZE. i could not remember what to do next. So im standing there like an idiot witha needle in the the guys arm and my teacher looked over at me and just said,"push the medicine in, and pull the needle out,Debbie" and went back to talking with the patient. :) I've given a million shots since then but i do remember my first one. :jester:

Get prepared for care plans, tho. You'll most likely have to complete one on each patient you care for.

maccully · Dec 11, 2009

Clinicals are basically whatever your instructor thinks they are. I like to shadow the nurse on her assignment and help out when I can. Some people will "take a patient" and just focus on that one all day- eating, cleaning up, meds, dressings, whatever needs doing. It truly depends on the expectations of your instructor. Each semester you get more permission though: last weekend I was giving IV meds and working a trauma in the ER. My first day I was filling up water pitchers and taking vital signs.

I had a rotation at an elementary school this semester and we measured heights and weights and looked at sore throats. Another group got all bundled up and scoured alleys and bushes for IV drug users to provide health care to them. During psych rotation we had "therapeutic communiation" and played rummi. Clinical activities are diverse.

maccully · Dec 11, 2009

and walking into the room the first time was embarrassing cause you feel like you have no business being in there cause you feel like you have nothing to offer them. AND you HAVE to ask them a million horrible questions for your insanely stupid careplan- like "what are your food preferences?" you suck it up and recognize that its your "job" to just do it.

just remember that for some people any human interaction is a gift- especially the older patients. they are grateful for anything you can do for them- tissue retrieval or a glass of water. and they dont care who it is- just to talk is enjoyable.