Get on the same page with your preceptor (early!)

The nurses on the floor have no way of knowing what skill level each student is at or and what things he/she has seen or done.

Communicating what things you are already comfortable with and what skills you’re hoping to improve will help both of you focus and get the most out of the day.

Write down specific goals to focus on each day

Have specific goals that will push you to make sure you’re making the most of your time.  You know better than anyone else what skills you’re uncomfortable with, so don’t be embarrassed about getting your needs out there.  

Set goals for yourself ahead of time based on these things you want to get more comfortable with so you can be productive in a way that’s specific to you.

For a little extra push…

Share these goals with your preceptor, a fellow nursing student, or your instructor so they can hold you accountable!

Keep an eye out for “bonus” opportunities

Sometimes it works out that one nurse happens to end up with all the “fun stuff”…

…multiple foleys to insert, several IV’s to place, g-tube feeds, AND piggyback antibiotics!

On that same shift, just by the luck of the draw (or assignment), other nurses may not have any of those tasks. If this happens, make an effort to take ownership of your clinical situation! Look for ways you can get your hands on any experience you can and make the best of what’s available.

In many cases, other nurses on the floor might be willing to “borrow” you for a few minutes to help you get involved in a skill or opportunity you may have otherwise missed out on.

As long as the patient and the other nurse is okay with it, there’s no reason to miss out on an important clinical skill just because it’s not your “assigned” patient!

Keep a pocket note pad for jotting down notes/questions/skills

Trust me on this one…

Keeping track of these things in one consistent place will make your life so much easier! This is something I definitely wish I started doing in my very first clinical. By the time I did, I’m sure I’d already forgotten a lot of very valuable experiences and details.

If you implement this early on, daily debriefs will be a breeze and you won’t have any trouble coming up with something helpful to add to the discussion. You’ll also be able to keep track of topics you come across that you want to research more in-depth on your own later.

An added bonus: it will even help you with the job search process later on! When the time comes to write your resume and interview for positions, you’ll have a pre-recorded list of a ton of different experiences to brag about!

Push yourself out of your comfort zone

I can’t stress this enough…

It is SO much better to try something for the first time in the clinical setting in the role of a nursing student.

You can ask questions, learn from mistakes, and grow your clinical skills in a safe, supported environment.

Plus…

The more hands-on opportunities you grab in clinicals, the more experience you’ll have to draw from. Nursing interview questions are often hypothetical/anecdotal, so more opportunities in clinical = more “bragging” about all your experience to a potential employer later!  

Fake it til you make it

Be confident and smile! Most patients are willing to cooperate with having a student, but will be much more relaxed and comfortable if that student carries him or herself with confidence.

Once you get the hang of the flow, take the initiative to be the one to knock on the door and introduce yourself, rather than waiting for your preceptor to do it. 

Breathe!

Whether you’re poking your first IV, inserting your first foley, suctioning your first trach, or any other skill you’re developing…remind yourself to take a deep breath and take your time.

Remember: even the best nurses miss sometimes, and most patients understand this.  

This goes along with faking it til you make it…but this simple step can make such a big difference!

It’s incredible how a deep, calming breath can steady shaking hands and push forward a confident smile. 

Keep your end-game in mind

It may feel as though this time will drag on forever…

But soon enough, you’ll find yourself walking across your graduation stage, wondering where the last few years went!  

The experience you gather during this time is unbelievably valuable when you go to interview for your first position and especially when you’re on your own.

Stay focused on soaking up every experience you can, and remind yourself that every day you are getting a small step closer to (finally) becoming a nurse!

If I could do it over, I would make sure I kept these tips in mind, starting from the beginning of my very first rotation.

Please share any questions or advice you have for maxing out the clinical experience!