Kaylee
In the middle of your junior year at the Decker School of Nursing, you reach a milestone in your nursing education: the ability to begin clinicals! Clinicals are the most hands-on component of nursing school, in which you are able to apply the knowledge you’ve learned in lecture to real-life patient care in a variety of healthcare settings and specialities. Clinicals are a great opportunity to practice your nursing skills with the help of your clinical instructor and the other nurses working on the unit. You also get a closer look at different nursing specialties so you have a better idea of your post-graduate nursing interests. While you may think clinicals sound stressful, this couldn’t be more false, as the clinical setting is where you truly get to grow as a student nurse. Wondering how you can make the most of your clinical experiences? Read below to hear my best tips for clinical success!
1. Soak up the experience!
There is always something to see or do at clinical, so maximize your clinical day by getting involved wherever you can. If you hear a nurse talking about a procedure or assessment they’re about to perform, it’s best to introduce yourself and politely ask if they would mind having a student observe them. Most nurses understand your drive to learn as a nursing student and are willing to teach you about what they’re doing as they complete it. Always remember that the worst they can say is, “No.” Staying busy throughout the clinical day displays a commitment to learning, which is extremely important in the nursing profession.
2. Step out of your comfort zone!
As I said earlier, clinicals are the best place to grow as a student nurse. Everyone has at
at least one skill that intimidates them when they first begin nursing school, but the only way to move past this fear is to practice that skill every opportunity you get. Great things never came from comfort zones! Always put yourself out there, even if it may make you temporarily nervous. You are capable of more than you think and there are so many people, from your clinical classmates to other nurses on the unit, that will be willing to help you if need be.
3. Get to know the nurses on the unit!
You are typically on the same unit throughout your entire clinical rotation, so it’s a good idea to get to know the staff while you’re there! Nurses are often willing to help nursing students by telling them about learning opportunities happening on the floor and giving them advice for their future careers. It’s exciting to hear about being a nurse and what it entails from people who have years of firsthand experience, especially if it’s in a specialty or hospital that you’re interested in working in. This is also a great way to network, as you never know where you’ll end up after graduation and will have these connections to help you find post-graduate opportunities.
Overall, it’s most important to try your best and have fun in the clinical setting. You have the potential to really make an impact on your patients’ lives and to evolve as a student nurse. You’ve worked hard for two and a half years to get to this point, get out there and go be great!
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