Making the Most of Your Clinical Experience
The Clinical Exposure of a Student Nurse is an experience that is not to be taken for granted. It is as important (if not more so) than the classroom lectures. In the field, the student nurse is allowed to experience dealing with actual patients and witnessing medical cases first hand. That is the reason why it is imperative that the student nurse to make the most of his/her clinical experience.
Clinical Experience Tips
Here are a few tips that will help students make the most of their clinical exposure.
- Ask – This is the most fundamental thing that any student should learn. Don’t hesitate to ask when you are curious or are unsure about something. Your Clinical Instructor or some of the Staff would be happy to help you.
- Don’t Hold Back – Experience as much as you can when you are out on the field. If you encounter a new procedure or clinical condition, don’t be afraid to step up. Don’t worry about not knowing what to do. It is a learning experience after all and your Clinical Instructors are always on hand to help you.
- Practice Caution – Never be too arrogant. Make sure that you always practice caution in everything that you do in the field. Never move forward unless you are completely certain of what you are about to do.
- Keep Updated – Brush up on all the relevant topics and procedures before going to a certain clinical field. This will help you deal with you patient’s better.
Areas of Exposure
Nursing curriculums are required to expose their students to certain areas and they are as follows:
Wards – Ward exposure depends greatly on scheduling. Most students are fortunate enough to be exposed to a varied set of wards. They can go from orthopedics to pediatrics and gynecology.
Clinics – Clinic exposure can include private and government facilities. In these areas, a student nurse’s job ranges from taking Vital Signs and relevant data to assisting in procedures. The student Nurse may also be assigned to special clinics like Dialysis Centers or a College Clinic.
Community – This exposure involves a specific local that a student Nurse Group will be assigned to.
Psychiatric Units/ Rehab Centers
Special Areas – Special Areas of exposure include:
- Intensive Care Units - ICUs can be scary, but they are also enthralling. Here, students are able to experience assisting acutely and critically ill patients.
- Operating Rooms/ Ambulatory Surgical Units – there may be a whole lot of shouting and exasperation (mostly from the C.I.) when a student is first exposed to the OR. But, it all pans out in the end and becomes a learning and fun experience.
- Delivery Rooms/ Birthing Homes/ Maternity Clinics – Practices may differ from DRs to Birthing Homes and Maternity Clinics. Don’t expect Birthing Homes and Maternity Clinics to practice what you are taught in school.
Practicing-C.I./ Staffing – This clinical experience is the most dynamic one. For a few weeks, the student is given a lot more freedom than previously experienced. He/she gets to act like a real staff nurse or Clinical Instructors (with minimal supervision).
Published at: 05/22/2015
