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Ashley
Student
Lynchburg, Virginia
1
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What are some tips about clinicals that could help me feel more prepared?
I am going into my first year of nursing school and begin clinicals in the fall. I would like to feel prepared walking into my first clinical and not like I am walking blindly. I would like as many tips as possible from people with different experiences to help me feel more confident during clinicals.
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1 answer
Atri Bhatt
Worker's Compensation Nurse Medical Case Manager
8
Answers
Alpharetta, Georgia
Updated
Atri’s Answer
Hi Ashley! It's so exciting starting clinicals-but also nerve-wracking! I remember being a first-year nursing student and feeling like I have no idea what to expect.
I think one thing I really want to make sure you understand, is the current climate of nursing. I am sure you are fully aware from what you hear in school, your peers, the news, etc. Nurses, especially bedside nurses, are feeling very burnt out. That being said, a lot of nurses really shy away from having students follow them. Do not take this to heart. I mention this because, when I was a bedside nurse I would always have students precepting under me, but alot of other nurses I worked with did not, so I know that it happens more often than not.
Now that being said, If you do find any nurses during your clinicals that loving teaching students, go ahead and put yourself under their wing from the get-go! What you will get out of clinicals is what you put into it. Assist your nurses, pct with different procedures, patient care. Talk to the patients as much as you can. You can learn so many soft skills over the course of your clinics. Additionally, you can observe the rapport that your nurse has with his/her patients.
Your clinical instructor should have access to the patient charts. Ask to look in these charts often. Patient charts are going to be your best friend. Look at labs, vitals, MD notes, treatment plans, medications, etc to help you paint a picture of what is going on. The more you read patient charts the better you will be able to apply what you are learning in class.
ASK QUESTIONS!! This goes for being a nurse in general. I cannot stress this enough. No question is silly. You would rather ask a "silly" question than be confused forever and potentially compromise patient safety. Lean on your clinical instructor. They are supposed to be your safe person during clinicals. If you have a good clinical instructor they will try to seek out things for you to do and see.
Take notes of the things you saw and did, that way when you go to your nursing residency (if that is the path you're taking), you will have some recollection of what you did.
This was just a few tips. I really want to reiterate that what you put into clinicals is what you'll get out of it. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and be eager to learn. Remember, people are observing whether you realize it or not! If you make your clinical a memorable one it also opens up doors for you to network with the unit management and leadership and you could even a secure an interview before you graduate!!
Good luck!!
I think one thing I really want to make sure you understand, is the current climate of nursing. I am sure you are fully aware from what you hear in school, your peers, the news, etc. Nurses, especially bedside nurses, are feeling very burnt out. That being said, a lot of nurses really shy away from having students follow them. Do not take this to heart. I mention this because, when I was a bedside nurse I would always have students precepting under me, but alot of other nurses I worked with did not, so I know that it happens more often than not.
Now that being said, If you do find any nurses during your clinicals that loving teaching students, go ahead and put yourself under their wing from the get-go! What you will get out of clinicals is what you put into it. Assist your nurses, pct with different procedures, patient care. Talk to the patients as much as you can. You can learn so many soft skills over the course of your clinics. Additionally, you can observe the rapport that your nurse has with his/her patients.
Your clinical instructor should have access to the patient charts. Ask to look in these charts often. Patient charts are going to be your best friend. Look at labs, vitals, MD notes, treatment plans, medications, etc to help you paint a picture of what is going on. The more you read patient charts the better you will be able to apply what you are learning in class.
ASK QUESTIONS!! This goes for being a nurse in general. I cannot stress this enough. No question is silly. You would rather ask a "silly" question than be confused forever and potentially compromise patient safety. Lean on your clinical instructor. They are supposed to be your safe person during clinicals. If you have a good clinical instructor they will try to seek out things for you to do and see.
Take notes of the things you saw and did, that way when you go to your nursing residency (if that is the path you're taking), you will have some recollection of what you did.
This was just a few tips. I really want to reiterate that what you put into clinicals is what you'll get out of it. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and be eager to learn. Remember, people are observing whether you realize it or not! If you make your clinical a memorable one it also opens up doors for you to network with the unit management and leadership and you could even a secure an interview before you graduate!!
Good luck!!