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nursing student help---please!

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nursing student help---please!
Hello everyone, I am a nursing student and new to this forum.....I am a mother of 4 and finally got things rolling again for nursing school!!!

I am beginning my 2nd semester in the nursing program and our clinical experience will be in the Med/Surg area in the hospital.......my question to all is: What should I be aware of when being in this area?? Our educators leave us in the dark until we are almost doing it then slam, they hit us with all this stuff!! ......I really just wanted a 'heads up' as to what to expect in this field of clinicals?

Thank you all for any replys.....I look forward to hearing from anyone! Rolling Eyes

hello everyone---just me again! .....any response to my question would be GREAT!

....thanks again for any replys! :wink:

Hi

I've just finished my first placement and that was on a surgical ward. We had a lot of bowel surgery - not sure if that's the case on most surgical wards or not, though!

I was taking out clips, catheters, dressing wounds, escorting patients to and from surgery (even stayed to watch a patient having a nectrotic piece of bowel removed and resectioned - brilliant!), admitting/discharging patients, general 'nursing', really. I even assisted in Last Offices for one of our long term patients. It sounds corny, but it really was like a 'closure'. There was quite a bit of barrier nursing, too, as we had a number of side rooms that other wards wanted their c-diff patients transferred to.

I thoroughly enjoyed it there.

Good luck,

Tig

thanks tig--

now, i have an idea as to what i might be doing ----thank you for the insight it helps alot!!!

good luck to you as well!!!! Very Happy

Re: nursing student help---please!

krispymommie wrote:

Hello everyone, I am a nursing student and new to this forum.....I am a mother of 4 and finally got things rolling again for nursing school!!!

I am beginning my 2nd semester in the nursing program and our clinical experience will be in the Med/Surg area in the hospital.......my question to all is: What should I be aware of when being in this area?? Our educators leave us in the dark until we are almost doing it then slam, they hit us with all this stuff!! ......I really just wanted a 'heads up' as to what to expect in this field of clinicals?

Thank you all for any replys.....I look forward to hearing from anyone!

Reply: You should be aware of everything the instructor teaches you in the area of med/surg. Know all about your patients before you see them. Know what meds they are on and why they're on them. Know each of the meds and the purpose of each. Know also about any allergies that the patient may have and why he or she is in the hospital. Consider the whole person's health status, not just one thing. In other words, if he or she has as lower leg edema is it because it might be due to poor circulation, or CHF? Are there any other medical problems the patient might have or be vulnerable to as a direct or indirect relation to his present condition? Know your nursing diagnoses and which ones would apply to the patient. Pay attention to when you pour meds and the 4 R's. Know the proper locations of IM and SQ injections and how to properly give them. There's more, but you get the drift. Bottom line: know what you're doing, how you're doing it, and who you're doing it for. If you lack any one of these last three, then you're very likely to make an error. It sounds a lot harder than it is. Just be careful and diligent in your assignments and never be afraid to ask questions if you're not sure of anything. That's what the instructor is for. He or she would rather you ask if you're unsure than for you to go doing something you're not sure of without asking. Double check yourself if you have to. You should do fine if you follow these little pointers. Best of luck to you. You're on the way to becoming a member of the noblest profession in the world. Ken P. , RNC, MFS

What can I say, that was some awesome advice....I could accually see myself doing all that stuff......thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I am looking forward to this semester... and even more now after your suggestions and advice!! my first clinical day is February 5th, wish me luck!!!! thanks again Smile

glad to help

krispymommie wrote:

What can I say, that was some awesome advice....I could accually see myself doing all that stuff......thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I am looking forward to this semester... and even more now after your suggestions and advice!! my first clinical day is February 5th, wish me luck!!!! thanks again

you're quite welcome. glad to be of help. feel free to e-mail me if you have further questions later. I was once a student so I know how it is.
my e-mail is [email protected]. did some teaching in the past and enjoy it. once again, good luck to you.

Re: nursing student help---please!

krispymommie wrote:

Hello everyone, I am a nursing student and new to this forum.....I am a mother of 4 and finally got things rolling again for nursing school!!!

I am beginning my 2nd semester in the nursing program and our clinical experience will be in the Med/Surg area in the hospital.......my question to all is: What should I be aware of when being in this area?? Our educators leave us in the dark until we are almost doing it then slam, they hit us with all this stuff!! ......I really just wanted a 'heads up' as to what to expect in this field of clinicals?

Thank you all for any replys.....I look forward to hearing from anyone!

If my memory serves me well I think 2nd semester was all about assesment and care plans. Being prepared with clinicals is a key factor in the survival plans of a student nurse. Know your patients pathology,medications and history. Just keep asking your instructors questions and don't give up. I graduated with an Associates in 1994 and then went on and completed my BSN and Masters at OU here in Oklahoma. Good Luck! Renea Currie RN,MS

Thanks rcurrie--i am going to keep all of what you said in mind and never, never give up !!---thank you for the encouragement! I feel ready now Very Happy

Re: glad to help

kpassan wrote:

krispymommie wrote:
What can I say, that was some awesome advice....I could accually see myself doing all that stuff......thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I am looking forward to this semester... and even more now after your suggestions and advice!! my first clinical day is February 5th, wish me luck!!!! thanks again

you're quite welcome. glad to be of help. feel free to e-mail me if you have further questions later. I was once a student so I know how it is.
my e-mail is [email protected]. did some teaching in the past and enjoy it. once again, good luck to you.

that is soooooo helpful!! ......i will keep you in mind with other questions....THANKS!! :wink:

Brilliant! When I went through clinicas it was fantastic. occasionally gross, but well worth the occasional odd smell. Don't be afraid to do the dirtiest of jobs, that's what you are there for, to get "hands-on". I also got to see a CArdiac Catheterization, a Ceasarian section, perform several urinary cath procedures etc. It was the most interesting thing I've done in years! Very Happy

awesome!!! I do hope that i have the opportunity that you had; it all sounds truly interesting! yes, maybe smelly at times but that comes with the territory, right?!
---thanks! Smile

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