Clinical Tips – Top 5 Things Every Community Nurse Should Know!
Stepping into clinical rotations as a nursing student is sort of like trading your textbooks for scrubs — it’s where every shift becomes a lesson in compassion, critical thinking, and hands-on care.
As a nursing student, I felt excited, nervous, and overwhelmed during my first clinical experience. And those feelings made me wonder if nursing was right for me. However, as I gained more hands-on experience and knowledge, I gained more confidence, and my critical thinking skills improved.
Here are 10 tips for making the most of your clinical rotations and building that confidence you need.
1. Be prepared for anything and everything. Prepare for your rotations beforehand by studying and reviewing the theoretical and clinical knowledge needed for the day. You should already know what type of unit you’ll be working on and the common disease entities patients present with at admission.
Your clinical instructor might provide your patient assignments the day before so you can review the medical history, current conditions, and related nursing care. Discuss clinical skills you may perform in the skills lab and research any related evidence-based practices.
2. Learn staff members’ names so that you can greet them properly. This simple gesture makes a huge difference. All staff members are an important part of the unit, and remembering their names gives them the respect and recognition they deserve. Names can be hard to remember as time goes by, so write them down as a reminder if you need to.
3. Actively participate in pre- and post-conferences. Pre- and post-conferences are opportunities to reflect on what you’ve learned during your clinical experience. They will allow you to discuss with your clinical instructor what you’ve mastered and what you need more help with. This helps you gain a better understanding of nursing interventions and patient care.
4. Show interest, eagerness, respect, and appreciation. In your clinical setting, your enthusiasm to learn and willingness to offer a helping hand make a difference — for patients, families, and staff. For example, I recall encouraging an older patient as she worked with the physical therapist to improve her mobility. Your optimism and support can motivate patients to take that extra step in the recovery process.
5. Communicate with your preceptor. Take the initiative to convey your thoughts and perspectives regarding patient care to your preceptor. Or perhaps you can share whether you’re more of an auditory or kinesthetic learner.
Ask pertinent questions and welcome constructive feedback. You may encounter preceptors who may not be as interactive or outgoing as you’re used to, but as we all know, we need to learn how to work with people with different attitudes, personalities, and beliefs.