Flora
At Decker, the Innovative Simulation and Practice Center (ISPC) will become your second home because that is where you will learn, practice, and master your nursing skills. During these labs, you are expected to pay attention and engage yourself in the activity because there will be a sign off for that skill!
Sign offs are hands-on, mini nursing skill quizzes that are conducted under the supervision of your clinical instructor. They strictly evaluate your competency of that skill because your instructor can only "sign you off" when they believe that you can safely and correctly practice that skill in clinical with real patients. Sign offs are usually pass - fail, meaning it is crucial that you practice these skills until they become second nature to you.
Here are some tips to ace your lab sign offs...
Before ISPC lab practice, be sure to watch all demonstration videos and read assigned readings pertaining to the skill of the week. By doing so, you are fully prepared for the skills that will be demonstrated and ready to participate when questions are asked.
Show up to ISPC lab 5-10 minutes earlier than the assigned lab time. Arriving early allows everyone to start on time, giving students enough time to practice all the skills.
During ISPC, stay engaged by using your critical thinking skills and utilize the skills checklist when practicing head to toe assessments, catheter insertions, medication administration, patient transfers, etc. with your lab partner.
Sign up for ISPC practice when you have extra time in your schedule to practice those skills with trained student staff. They are there to help you!
Keep practicing until you master those sign offs! Be confident because you CAN do it!
After doing all of that, it is finally time for you to show off everything that you have learned. Trust me, there is a first for everything and it can be nerve-racking, but take a deep breath and think critically by asking yourself such as... Did I perform hand hygiene? What should I do first to make the patient more comfortable?
Practice does make perfect (or close to perfect) so be sure to practice skills even after you get signed off. Best of luck to you!
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