Week by Week

I know many people wonder how it is that you can work, have clinical twice a week, and go to all of your classes and still find the time to study for your exams and get assignments done. Well procrastination has to be the first things that absolutely has to go out the window. I learned that I have to prioritize my time with everything, and here are a few things that I do that help keep me organized and making it through each week.

First, get a planner! In my planner at the beginning of each semester I look at all of my syllabi and I write all of my assignments and exams in my planner, both in the calendar portion, and on the individual day. This helps so that I don’t have to keep looking for my syllabus to figure out when my next assignment is due or when my exam is.

Next, I do all of my written assignment’s weeks in advance and have them checked at the writing center. Getting as much written assignment out of the way allows you to not only stay on top of your work but gives you more time to focus on studying.

Then we have working. I work only once a week, but I work on Saturdays, one of my only days off, and I work a double as a server. This allows me to get off early and still have the means to pay my bills and serving jobs, or restaurant industry jobs are usually very flexible.

Then we have clinical, I make sure I study the morning of clinical, sometimes I get to the site early so that I can study. I never plan anything else on the day of clinical so that I am not late, and I am also often tired from the day. If a care plan is due from clinical, I write down all of my data and get it started that same night or day so that all is left to do is references. If you see the pattern, submitting assignments early helps save you a lot of extra time to study.

Finally, I plan events weeks in advance. I put them in my calendar in my phone to remind me.  I study for my exams usually before class, and right after class since I don’t work. It allows me to be prepared for the exam, get enough sleep at night and not feeling like I have to cram.

So far, these methods are helping me get through each week of nursing school. Of course, it’s not fool proof, but it works for me, and I’m hoping some of it will work for you as well.

Clinical To- Do List

First Few Weeks of Clinical's, What Can I do to prepare?

Although from my first post you were all able to tell that I have now been in nursing school for one full semester, I wasn't until this semester that I have begun clinicals. Now it is time for me to apply all of the assessment skills I learned in both my assessment and pharmacology labs, and apply it to real patients. Although my abilities are limited due to my current year in nursing school, I still am responsible for my patient, and expected to know about their health status as well at their vitals just as their assigned nurse and the rest of the healthcare team. In this post, I would like to both share my experience during my first few weeks of clinical, how you can prepare, and some things you may expect.

First Experience

            On my first day of clinical I wasn’t early, nor late, but right on time. That was my first mistake, I wish I would have been at least fifteen minutes early so that I could find parking in enough time and get situated into where everyone was sitting in the cafeteria, and not having to rush in so quickly. Walking into the cafeteria, my peers and instructor were waiting for me. I got settled, we began pre conference where we were explained tasks for the day, and were assigned patients. After pre conference we were given a tour of our unit. This included bathrooms, where we could find everything we needed in supplies, as well as where to store our things and grab food during our break. At the conclusion of the tour, we stored our items and got ready to meet our nurses and patients. I introduced myself and got the patients narrative. I went in and immediately introduced myself to a patient, who was a child with sickle cell, and then did a head to toe assessment. During the assessment  I had my patient explain sickle cell to me so that not only did she feel like she was apart of the assessment, but so I could learn a bit more about her, her education level, as well as about the diagnosis. This consumed majority of my night. We ended with post op, and explaining what we learned. This was my first experience and although it sounds boring, it was intimidating and there were quite a few areas I wish I had prepared for and want to help you prepare for. Here are a list of things you can do before your first clinical.

1.    Learn the names of your unit staff members so you can greet them properly

2.    Be prepared for anything and everything

3.    Actively participate in pre- and post-conferences

4.    Show interest, eagerness, respect and appreciation in the clinical setting

5.    Communicate with your preceptor

6.    Get involved in other unit activities or help staff members or classmates

7.    There is no such thing as downtime

8.    Complete your day’s work

9.    Never do something if you are uncertain of your skills