What to expect clinical wise for adn program, help????

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2009

Going back to school, transitioned into the RN program, can you tell me what your typical morning is like. What do you start off with. I work in the OR as an LPN as a scrub nurse, but going back for my RN. Regret not going to work on the floor after finishing the PN program. Too late, but it is a big regret...I start the ADN program in 3 weeks and I am nervous about the clinical portion of it...will start off with the 2nd yr students. Please someone reply and give me an idea of what to expect. don't feel prepared.

If you are able to skip right to the second year, you will probably have to deal more with the specialty classes. OB, Peds, psych, critical care, some combination of those would be my guess. You will probably also have some sort of senior nursing class that requires you to put in clinical hours working with a preceptor in a particular area (typicaly an inpatient area or ED).

XYcsccSN · Aug 3, 2009

Correct me if I am wrong, but I think you are asking what a typical clinical day is like in the RN program?

For me, a typical clinical day (Med-Surg) starts out with a short pre-conference with the clinical instructor handing out patient assignments. Then we get a report from the patients primary nurse and communicate with the nurse what we will and won't be doing (Example...some CI do not have us pass any meds before 9am, we will be off the floor at 3pm) I then take some time to look at the patients chart, see what medications are due when, check orders, and look at lab values. Usually next I will meet that patient and perform an assessment, help them with ADL, straighten up room, make bed. Chart the assessment then look up any meds that I am not familiar with and get meds ready for the first med pass. After that the day depends on what is going on with the patient, what needs to be done (IV site change, change tubing, dressing changes), and what nursing interventions are appropriate.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2009

I'm an LPN who currently attends an LPN-to-RN transitional bridge program.

In my opinion, the clinical rotations in my RN program are less rigorous and don't involve as much "hands-on" as the ones offered during my LPN program. I attended 3 clinical shifts per week during my LPN program which were 8 hours per day, so I completed the program with 954 clinical hours in 12 months. My RN program only involves 1 clinical shift per week in specialty areas such as pediatrics, OB, psych, community health, advanced med/surg, etc. While I did care-planning during my LPN program, it seems that the plan of care is the absolute focal point of the clinical rotations of my current RN program.

In summary, my LPN clinical rotations involved more procedural skills and hands-on care. My RN clinical shifts involve a little bit of bedside care and a whole lot of care planning, paperwork, and attention to assessment. This change is natural, because your nursing role will change when you become an RN. You will be regarded as a "manager of care," so the clinical rotations will reflect this.

zsbaby · Aug 3, 2009

I'm an LPN who currently attends an LPN-to-RN transitional bridge program.
In my opinion, the clinical rotations in my RN program are less rigorous and don't involve as much "hands-on" as the ones offered during my LPN program. I attended 3 clinical shifts per week during my LPN program which were 8 hours per day, so I completed the program with 954 clinical hours in 12 months. My RN program only involves 1 clinical shift per week in specialty areas such as pediatrics, OB, psych, community health, advanced med/surg, etc. While I did care-planning during my LPN program, it seems that the plan of care is the absolute focal point of the clinical rotations of my current RN program.
In summary, my LPN clinical rotations involved more procedural skills and hands-on care. My RN clinical shifts involve a little bit of bedside care and a whole lot of care planning, paperwork, and attention to assessment. This change is natural, because your nursing role will change when you become an RN. You will be regarded as a "manager of care," so the clinical rotations will reflect this.

This is great to hear!!

mamamiah · Aug 6, 2009

Thank you all for answering my question and not making me feel dumb for asking. any advice is gladly welcomed.