What exactly is "clinical prep"?

[Megs7617]

Hi everyone

I will be starting nursing school on August 1st. It is a diploma program at a hospital in my town. We havent had orientation yet, however the school did send a list of policies and procedures. It gives the guidelines as to what we are to wear to class, to clinicals, and also to clinical prep. Does anyone know what "Clinical prep" is? The guidelines are: clean, pressed lab coat over classroom attire, hoisery at all times or closed toe shoes, and id wearing the student nurse uniform to clinical prep, the student must adhere to the clinical attire guidelines.

Please dont think Im stupid ? Im just really curious.

Also, does anyone else have to wear dress clothes to their classes? I just assumed that we were going to be permitted to wear jeans, sweats, whatever to class. Am I completely naive for assuming that?

Thanks for any input!

[Imafloat, BSN, RN]

Our clinical prep is the preparation we have to do the day before clinical. It entails going to the hospital, getting your patient assignment, meeting the patient and writing down everything you need from their chart. We have to wear business casual with our labcoats to the hospital, no shorts, jeans, or capri pants.

The actual prep is a bunch of hoops to jump through, looking up patient meds, pathophysiology of admitting diagnosis, abnormal labs, etc...We get quizzed on everything, if you don't know it you stand the risk of being sent home. It may sound horrendous but it actually isn't. You usually know your stuff by the time the prep is done because you have so intently researched everything. I have learned a lot from my preps, things that have helped me in other classes.

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

We just have a preconference before we hit the floor for the day.

We also have to look professional for our lectures. I don't know where you are, but we're on a large medical campus, and the med students are running around in suits, the dds students are all in grey scrubs, and since there's a major hospital and several clinics, there are pts everywhere. Since we all have to wear our IDs visible at all times, they want all the students to look professional. They think it'll make the nursing school look bad if its students look too casual, I guess??

[Megs7617]

Ohhh, I see now. Thanks for your replies. And yes, I guess it does make sense that the school would want students looking professional since we are in a hospital setting. ?