Clinical Tips!

Since last week the juniors started clinicals, I figured now would be a good time for some tips and tricks. Clinicals can be very nerve racking and can cause a lot of stress. So here are some things to hopefully help lower that stress level.

1. Pack everything the night before. I know this might seem like somethings a little kid would do, but it really does help. My first semester I had to leave Pittsburg at 5:30 in the morning. Finding things that early in the morning is no easy task so having everything ready can be really helpful.
2. Eat breakfast. This is especially important for those people that are observing surgery. Surgery is a lot of standing and blood sugars can lower fast without breakfast which leads to fainting. No one wants to faint in the operating room (OR) or even on the floor caring for patients. Some tacks can be a lot of physical work so a good breakfast is really beneficial.
3. Breathe. Everything will be fine. You will not be required to do anything that you haven't been taught about. Your clinical instructor or another nurse will normally always be by your side. No one is comfortable on their first day so know that you are not alone.
4. Be proactive. Some clinicals locations will use clinicals times as a sort of interview. So seek out new experiences. This will also be the way you will learn best. Some nurses if they see you are actively wanting to learn they will seek you out when something cool is going to happen on the floor.
5. You never master a skill. Never think you are above learning - even as a nurse. There will always be new things to learn and new ways to do things. Even things like communication can always be changing. You will eventually be comfortable with tasks, but healthcare is always changing and evolving.

This is an example of an IV that just got started on a patient.
This photo belongs to morguefile.com.

Testing!

Since this week the juniors have their first round of tests and both halves of the senior class does as well, I thought I would give some advice.

1. The instructors are human. They do make mistakes when keying in answers or computing dosage calculations. It happens. Be nice about it and talk to them and they normally are willing to give points back - some do before you even get results back.
2. Always look over your tests when they hand them back. They are great learning tools for the final and for NCLEX (the exam you have to pass to get your nursing license).
3. Study as you go. Most professors have large amounts of material for each exam and there is not way to cram in one night. Study a little every day and it won't be so daunting.
4. Read ATI (a company that offers tests and books to go with nursing school and to prepare for the NCLEX) and do the questions. I suggest reading the book as well, but if you don't have time for that supplement with ATI. ATI has the cliff notes version of the book with NCLEX style questions and answers at the end of each chapter. They also give you rationales.
5. Rationales are your best friend. Not only does it help to understand why another answer is better than another, it also gives you additional information sometimes that is useful knowledge. 
6. Pick the most correct answer. Some nursing questions have all technically right answers, but the answer they want is the most correct. Meaning the one that has the most evidence based practice, you would do first, etc.
7. Keep all of your powerpoints and handouts. They will be very useful for the final studying as well as resources for studying for NCLEX. 
8. And finally BREATH... I know testing is stressful, but to perform at your best relaxing and taking a break helps your brain to soak up the information. A big thing is breathing and calming down your nerves.

An example of the difference in size between ATI books
and textbooks.Utilizing the ATI books help point out
the important information in the unit.