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Where does a nurse get their clinical experience?
#nursing #medical
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Cinthya’s Answer
In nursing school you do rotations called Clinicals, where you are going into hospitals/facilities and learning hands on. Kind of like an internship. And every class that has a clinical you get Lear and put to use what you learn in lecture.
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Judy’s Answer
Part of the last 2 years in nursing school (any degree program) is having "Clinical." During my clinicals, I had patients assigned to me (under direction of a nursing instructor) at 2 large public hospitals in the local community, a large Veterans Hospital and a Psyche Veterans Hospital. The last 6 weeks of my program ended with 6 weeks of preceptorship where I was under the direct supervision of a full time RN where I followed her full time schedule. In my personal experience, I was on an inpatient Oncology unit which cemented my earlier decision to seek that aspect of nursing. Four patients died while I was there during that 6 weeks which was not easy for me but it let me see how I could handle that and still be there for the family. It is now 25 years later and oncology is still my calling.
After I started my first job, orientation with another RN lasted for 6 weeks and I started on my own with a small patient load and probably drove people crazy with all my questions. During the 13 years I was at the "first job" institution, I changed roles several times gradually taking on greater responsibility and precepting many nursing students and new RN's. By the end of that time, I graduated as a NP for which I had to have hundreds of hours of clinical preceptors (MD's or NP's) which I was fortunately able to acquire fairly easily based on my experiences in the hospital where I worked.
Don't worry, you will have plenty of clinical experience by the time you graduate. Still though, it won't be until you are working full time that you will get the experiences that will make you the nurse you want to be. Good luck with your professional journey! Judy
After I started my first job, orientation with another RN lasted for 6 weeks and I started on my own with a small patient load and probably drove people crazy with all my questions. During the 13 years I was at the "first job" institution, I changed roles several times gradually taking on greater responsibility and precepting many nursing students and new RN's. By the end of that time, I graduated as a NP for which I had to have hundreds of hours of clinical preceptors (MD's or NP's) which I was fortunately able to acquire fairly easily based on my experiences in the hospital where I worked.
Don't worry, you will have plenty of clinical experience by the time you graduate. Still though, it won't be until you are working full time that you will get the experiences that will make you the nurse you want to be. Good luck with your professional journey! Judy
Updated
Daysi’s Answer
Hi Jessica,
Nurses begin their clinical experience in nursing school during clinical rotations. You rotate in different units through out your program. Depending on your program, you may rotate by the emergency room, intensive care unit and other areas of the hospital, in both Pediatrics and Adults. My advice is to speak to your professors if you have an interest in a specialty and the experience maybe facilitated even if it is not a rotation for that program/semester or school.
You may also learn about a variety of clinical areas by volunteering. Depending on the hospital or institution, you may look into variety of programs for students . This provides an opportunity to observe the health care team work with patients, allows you to network and have the the ability to meet the team and ask questions.
Once you complete your nursing program, you will be placed in an on boarding program to set you up successfully to care for patients.
Best of luck,
Daysi
Nurses begin their clinical experience in nursing school during clinical rotations. You rotate in different units through out your program. Depending on your program, you may rotate by the emergency room, intensive care unit and other areas of the hospital, in both Pediatrics and Adults. My advice is to speak to your professors if you have an interest in a specialty and the experience maybe facilitated even if it is not a rotation for that program/semester or school.
You may also learn about a variety of clinical areas by volunteering. Depending on the hospital or institution, you may look into variety of programs for students . This provides an opportunity to observe the health care team work with patients, allows you to network and have the the ability to meet the team and ask questions.
Once you complete your nursing program, you will be placed in an on boarding program to set you up successfully to care for patients.
Best of luck,
Daysi
Updated
Louisa’s Answer
Depending on what school of you are attending If you attend a university with a major medical center you will most likely be there for your clinical experience. A smaller college or a university with no affiliation to a specific hospital you will go a variety of settings. Hospital, Skilled Nursing Facility, community health services i.e. home health agency, psychiatric setting. This is such a great time to really see what a variety of settings you can work. Some may surprise you and you may end up in an area you never thought.
Good luck.
Good luck.