So, after years of hard work, you have finally landed in your dream nursing school, but what next? It’s only natural to fear the unseen. You must be worried about your clinicals; when do they start? And how to get the most out of them? 

Fear not, for we are here to answer all your questions and remove your doubts, so let's get started!

What are clinicals in nursing schools?

Gone are the days when books were enough to study any subject. It is as important to get practical knowledge as to get theoretical knowledge in modern times. 

Most nursing schools start giving clinical education to their students during their first or second semesters, where they continue to study both theoretical and practical education side by side.

Nursing education is divided into three main types:

• Theoretical education takes place inside the classrooms.
• Clinical or hands-on education in professional settings, where the students shadow a senior nurse.
• Simulation lab education where the students face real-life problems but in a controlled and safe manner.

What is the importance of clinicals in nursing schools?

Hand-on experience is very beneficial for nursing students, where one wrong move can be the difference between life and death.

Theoretical education without practical knowledge is incomplete, and therefore nursing students are required to join hospitals and other institutions for their clinicals. Since students are exposed to different specialties within the health care facility, they can decide whether nursing is the right choice for them and which sub-category they wish to start their professional career.

Here is the list of various options for them to choose from:

• Emergency
• Psychiatric
• Medical-surgical
• Pediatrics
• Geriatrics
• Psychiatric
• Labor and delivery
• Critical care

What happens during the Clinicals in nursing schools?

Since not all of the students go to the same kind of health care facility, we can’t generalize the outcome of their experiences. Nursing students may go to hospitals, nursing homes, or mental health institutions, providing them with enough options to choose their future careers.

Most of the time, students are an aide to a registered nurse who has to supervise them while the students try and learn the art of nursing from them. Students during their clinicals learn the art of physical assessment, administering IV medications, giving the patients a proper dosage of drugs, critical thinking skills, and other basic and advanced nursing skills.

Tips and tricks for clinicals:

It is perfectly alright to be nervous during the starting days of your clinical rotations, but you should quickly get comfortable in your role so you can get the most out of this learning opportunity.

Here are a few tips that may help you during your clinical education in the nursing school

1- First impression matters:

2- How to conduct a complete patient assessment

Conducting a full-body assessment for the first time can be quite an intimidating task, and therefore, we are here to guide you through this.You will be starting your patient assessment from head to toe. This is why it’s popularly called a head to toe assessment.

There’s no better way to do a head to toe assessment than to actually see it done. Attached below is a great resource to learn how to perform a good assessment on patients. Take a look and learn to get yourself prepared before your first clinical rotation. 

3- Learn your surroundings:

Most hospitals are gigantic, and losing your way while walking around them is not an unusual thing. You need to get familiar with the whole setup right from the start, which can be done by asking for a map or walkthrough of the entire place and asking for help when required. But remember to be friendly and polite, and you will quickly get from point  A to B in no time.

4- Don’t be afraid!

Most of the students are afraid either because they are too conscious of what others might think about them or they just don’t like to ask questions. Don’t be such students if you want to make the most out of this learning opportunity.

 Always be confident whether you have a question or simply don’t understand a concept. You must speak for yourself and clear all your doubts, and this will improve your skill level and help you in your grade assessment. 

If you think someone is a little short on staff, volunteer! Even if you don’t want to, this is the time to stand out from your batch mates and make a name for yourself. You must develop good connections, and they will surely help you in the later stages of your professional career.

3 Things you must always have in your nursing bag:

Your nursing bag is your primary source of supplies inside the hospital, and since you can’t carry everything literally inside it, you must carefully choose the items.

Here is the list of must-have items in your bag:

Note pad

You must never forget the old fashion note pad, which can be very handy from time to time. Its services might be required while jolting down important points, which one can easily forget by the end of the day, any specific instruction by your supervisor, or note some questions running through your busy mind.

If the patient is suffering from a wound, you must document all the details in your note pad such as the size, location, color, odor, and bleeding status.

Multiple pens

Always carry your own pen and avoid the risk of missing important details just because you forgot to bring your pen that day. You might be wondering why not note down the points on your mobile phone. You can’t always have a mobile device with you, and it is also considered impolite.

Medical coursebook

In the age of the internet, you may think that you are good to go without any physical book but let me tell you, nothing helps like your books, which you can always rely on and look for help.

 The whole point of clinical education in nursing schools is to mix theoretical and practical knowledge. Still, if you can’t remember the theory, you must at least carry your book to refer to if you come across a new term or want to revise your concepts.

Penlight

A penlight is very useful as medical professionals use it to check small body parts such as the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. It is commonly utilized for the pupil test, a physical examination method that determines whether pupils constrict or remain dilated in response to light. You must carry a small penlight because you never know when you might need it.

Stethoscope

The stethoscope is one of the most integral parts of any health care worker's gear, and you can’t deny its importance. It is always better to invest in a high-quality stethoscope once and live a tension-free life.

Your favorite snacks

You might have enough energy at the start of the day, but the long tiring day of work running from one corner of the hospital to the other can be very exhausting. Be sure to add some good snacks such as cookies or chocolate bars in your bag to never run out of energy. 

Scissors

One of the most used instruments by any nurse is a scissor, and you must always have one in your bag ready to cut whatever hurdle that may come your way.

Summary of Clinicals in Nursing school:

Clinicals in the nursing schools provide the students with a chance to get hands-on education and also have one final opportunity to rethink before they embark on their professional journey. They get a birds' eye view of how things are done in a health care facility and what are the duties of a professional nurse. The world is full of competition, and If a student wants to stand out from his peers, he must follow the tips and tricks shared in this guide.