I am starting nursing school clinicals on Tuesday!!!!!!

[Steamboat Girlie]

I am really nervous! Any nurses or nursing students out there to help put my mind at ease?

 

[MagicalMom]

I am really nervous! Any nurses or nursing students out there to help put my mind at ease?

Good luck! I know clinicals can be really nerve wracking. Just remember to use each exerpeince as an opportunity to learn. Before preforming each new procedure in front of your instructor, take a deep breath & go over it real quick in your head.

It's nice to keep an extra pair of gloves in your pocket. It can be so easy to forget the simple things when someone is watching your every move.

And always remember, never, never recap a needle! I know it sounds silly but in lab we always recapped our needles because they were used over & over again fopr practive. It was hard going out on the floor & remembering to never, never recap. I remember one of my friends getting in so much trouble for accidently doing in.

I know you'll be fine.

 

[ilovepcot]

Clinicals! Experiences that will last a lifetime! I remember my first patient.....a 300 pound angry man that I was terrified of! I broke out in a horrible sweat when I had to go into his room for vitals. He grunted at me! Most of the patients are amazingly nice and try so hard to help you. Several of my former patients actually came to my graduation! It's hard ( no doubt!) but you're going to love it and carry the information to build on over a lifetime.

And....by the end of clinicals, you'll have enough "interesting" information to write a bestseller!

 

[DisneyJen0504]

Best of luck!!

 

[wdwgirl03]

I'm not a nursing student, but 2 of my good friends are. One started her clinicals last semester and the other will be doing them over the summer. Good luck!!

 

[wilderness01]

You'll do great. Just remember to take the most out of each experience, both good and bad. Always remember to double check the patient identifiers, especially when giving out medications. Have a great time. You will have memories to last you a lifetime.

 

[taximomfor4]

Good luck! I know clinicals can be really nerve wracking. Just remember to use each exerpeince as an opportunity to learn. Before preforming each new procedure in front of your instructor, take a deep breath & go over it real quick in your head.

It's nice to keep an extra pair of gloves in your pocket. It can be so easy to forget the simple things when someone is watching your every move.

And always remember, never, never recap a needle! I know it sounds silly but in lab we always recapped our needles because they were used over & over again fopr practive. It was hard going out on the floor & remembering to never, never recap. I remember one of my friends getting in so much trouble for accidently doing in.

I know you'll be fine.

My second shot (given to a live patient, lol) a recapped my needle. I was HORRIFIED! So was my instructor. We did it that way over and over and over in the skills lab at school, so I guess my nervous mind went on autopilot. I truly believe they are doing us a disservice by having us practice with the recapping.

Also, the first time going through a procedure on a patient, see if your instructor is willing to talk you through step by step. My instructor and I had issues for most of the semester because she assumed I was a know-it-all. In truth, I didn't know I was allowed to be talked through the procedure. Thought we were 100% responsible for KNOWING how to do it, since it had already been taught in the skills lab.

I start back to nursing school tomorrow. I will not lie, I am completely dreading it. It is very nerve-wracking and I get stressed. Doesn't helpe that my life is already very hectic and full. Most of us (the evening-weekend students) have found that a full-time job PLUS nursing school PLUS children at home is a terrible mix. I just quit my job and will have to struggle the rest of the way. My mom is treating me to a 3-day jaunt in WDW over Spring Break, and DH is quite supportive of my skipping town for that afew days to have some relax time.

Just remember -- you are a student. You will make mistakes. Just run thjrough things in your mind before starting them, remember safety (yours and the patients).

Beth

 

[Dan Murphy]

Good wishes, you'll do great.

 

[mannasn]

Good luck! Don't worry - it'll go by so fast and be over before you know it!

How's it going so far?

I graduate with my BSN in May! I can't wait!

 

[spoon full of sugar]

No advice just goodluck and thank you for taking on a tough and essential job.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Just remember your 5 rights and 3 checks, and you will be fine! .
I taught nursing at a small Nazarene University, the week prior to clinicals we had a consecration prayer ceremony at the weekly Univeristy chapel. I know it calmed my students down to know people were praying for them.
Now i am CNO at a hospital, and still interact with a lot of students.(BTW I have that Kinkaide picture hanging in my office ) Use the staff as a resource, read and look up policies prior to approaching your instructor, when asking a question preface it by what you do know before you go on to ask what you don't know.Most of all keep your focus on helping the patients and it is harder to walk around nervous.

 

[jennobrn01]

The #1 thing to remember: pour yourself into your patient. Give that person the best care they have ever received. Give them a good bed bath (if needed), rub their back with lotion, look them in the eye, sit down with them, walk in gently, talk slowly and quietly. Some of your very best connecting with patients will come when you are Student Nurse. It's all about making that person lying in the bed feel more in control, cheered, and comfortable.

(can you tell i am idealist? )

Welcome to the field of nursing! It's an amazing ride!

 

[Poohnatic]

Good luck!

Suzanne

 

[chell]

Try not to worry. If it will make you feel better I can worry for you. I'm VERY good at it.

I bet you will be terrific!

 

[mickeymousefan]

I made it through two years of clinicals... you will be fine. Just remeber to be nice!!! Right now I am preparing to take the NCLEX.... now that is nerve racking!!!
Good luck!!

 

[taximomfor4]

I made it through two years of clinicals... you will be fine. Just remeber to be nice!!! Right now I am preparing to take the NCLEX.... now that is nerve racking!!!
Good luck!!

I am hijacking this thread for a sec, another student nurse (2nd semester) ADN. For me, the patient is the EASY part of clinicals. Overall, though, I am admitting that I HATE CLINICALS. One of the instructors told us that those of us who hate clinicals are pursuing the wrong field. But my mom, and RN for many years, assures me that she hated them too. It is just the stress of the semester that I hate, I think. And the clinicals are on Saturdays and Sundays. DH and I never catch a break, have no time to ourselves, and are stressed day in and day out.

The tests are the EASY part of school. The return demonstrations are the worst part of school, doing even the easy patient care with the instructor at my shoulder is the worst part of clinicals. Oh, and I don't like giving shots. I am NOT NOT NOT looking forward to starting IVs in a couple of weeks. I hope I get over that! I just don't want to hurt anyone!!

I really think I will love being a nurse though, just had to get that said!

 

[mickeymousefan]

I too hated clinicals. My whole group did. I agree that it doesn't have anything to do with being a good nurse.
You will run into some "not so nice" people. Don't let it bother you. Just use it as an oppurtunity to learn as much as possible and make sure you see everything you can.
I passed the NCLEX and I start my job as an RN in 12 days. I am really nervous now, but I learned a lot in school and I am confident that I can do it.
Stick with it through the ups and downs, because it is really worth it.

 

[taximomfor4]

I honestly cannot believe how much we have learned in nursing school so far. Actually, I never realized how much technical knowledge nurses have to have. I always wanted to be a dr. because I love the scientific patho + treatment stuff. But I am glad things worked out differently in my life, and I "settled" on being a nurse 10 yrs later!

It's funny, we got a new skills lab instructor who works at a University Hosp childrens hospital...she is already asking me if I want to work there. And tells me that with how my mind works, I should try to go on and become a nurse-anesthetist. I KNOW I will get a Masters at some point -- I am very good at school and love learning more and more. And I love that some of the instructors are so positive. (Others are pretty negative, though).

Gotta get started on my semester Care Plan...
Thanks for the positive words, and thanks to all the nurses already out there and those future ones still in school. It's a tough job, and very very necessary.