When getting pt. info day before clinical...

[MikeyJ]

When I go to the hospital the day before clinical's to get information on my patients, I typically take their chart and start filling in the pertinent information so I can go home and type up their care plans.

However, last week our clinical instructor asked us if we went into our patients room and chatted with them before heading home to type up our care plans. I didn't even think we were allowed to step foot near our patients until clinical day.. but I guess I was wrong. I asked her why she wanted us to go in there, and she said "...to chat with them... get to know them...". She made it clear that we do not touch the patient until clinical day... but I know for a fact if I step foot in that room and talk with my patients, they are going to ask me to do something which would be me in an akward position.

Does anyone else here go into their patients room the day before to chat with them and check up on them?

[momathoner09, BSN, MSN, APRN]

We don't have to but we can go in if we want to. We usually pick up our assignments in the afternoons though so if i peek in and see the pt sleeping I am surely not going to wake them up!

[luvs2readlotsRN]

First semester we didnt go to the facility till the day of clinicals. We were given medical info, with no identifying info attatched, so that we could prepare. Second semester we were encouraged by our clinical instructor to go and and introduce ourselves. But we were not to do an assessment or give any care...alert appropriate personel if something was needed. I rather like introducing myself to the patient beforehand. The next morning we all seemed to feel a bit more comfortable with the day!

[NurseKatie08, MSN]

I've never gone to meet my patient the day before. In fact, the only courses we even got info the day before was in Fundamentals (where I would have been too terrified to even enter the room) and in Med/Surg (where our assignment often changed the next day, if we were going to surgery, or to PACU, or if the patient was discharged, etc)

In Pediatrics, and in Maternity, I did twelve hour days, and we did not know the patient that we were assigned to until the morning of clinical, which was stressful, but actually easier, because as a nurse, you don't always know who you'll have the next morning (of course, unless it was a patient who has been on the floor for a long time, frequent flyer, etc.) And of course, in Maternity, since they always tried to give us new mothers, or mothers who were PP day 1, how would you know who was actually going to deliver? In my experience, I think it's easier to just go in and meet the patient when you will be the one providing care. As a student nurse tech in a hospital currently, it would be so frustrating to me to talk to the patient when I was getting clinical information, and have them ask for something simple like a bedpan, etc, and not be able to do it, because my instructor wasn't there.

Personally, I like finding my assignment out the day of--it leaves an element of surprise, and allows you to think on your feet.

[shleynic]

We were required to do pre-clinical. We had to fill out a form about various things such as IV, O2, ect. We were required to go in and introduce ourselves to the patient. I actually prefer this since I would always go in and introduce myself and asked if they had any questions about what I would be doing as their student nurse. I know if I was a patient (and I have been one) and a student nurse were going to be involved in my care I would want to know exactly what they are going to be doing.

[RNBSNGRADUATE]

I have gone in and introduced myself to the patient and family, ever-so-briefly, the night before. It is a quick in/out-type thing. Just so they know who I am, etc. If you make it clear that it's just a simple introduction and "I look forward to working with you TOMORROW"-type thing, you're not likely to run into them asking you to do something. And, if they do -- you can go out and tell his/her nurse what they need. I mean -- if it's something as simple as ice water, of course...but ANYway. That's my take:)

[Bonny619]

We always introduce ourselves to our patients the previous day. If they ask you for something, tell them you'll get their nurse, no big deal.

eta, we have done prelab the day before with all clinicals except mother/baby and peds.

[momx4]

We are required to go in the night before annd interview the patient and get their history. That is how we were able to get all subjective information to finish our care plans. I think by speaking to the patient you begin to build a trust and you can find out the patients expectations for their care. For the objective information we used the charts and kardex.