It's OK to Not Feel Ready (LPN)

00:01 Let's talk clinical.

00:03 It's scary or it can be.

00:05 But I think this is the best part of nursing school.

00:08 Clinical is where you finally get to do something other than just listen to a lecture or practice in lab.

00:15 You finally get real hands-on experience.

00:19 Clinical is where you get to connect all those things you've learned.

00:23 And what I like to tell students is you get to feel real "Nursey." Now, here's everything you need to know about how to be successful in clinical, and what you do when you run into conflict.

00:36 Let's start with something really important.

00:38 It's okay to not feel ready. No one feels ready.

00:43 View this as what it is. It's a learning opportunity.

00:47 So let's talk about clinical day.

00:50 This may be exciting and equally terrifying for most of you, and that is perfectly okay.

00:57 The one thing I love to ask a new group of students is "Hey guys, anybody nervous?" And I usually get a everybody look at each other and astounding, yes.

01:07 Just know, that know your faculty will never ask you to do something that they don't think you're prepared for.

01:14 And you're starting a clinical rotation that is equal to your level of learning at the time.

01:21 We're never going to ask you to perform something really advanced during for like example, your first clinical of the nursing program.

01:30 Your faculty will also give you objectives to help guide you for the day.

01:35 As an LPN student, you tend to have more hands on practice time with clinical skills than some more on students.

01:43 So you may be surprised at how much you know, when you actually get to clinical and perform a skill.

01:49 A great clinical experience starts the day before clinical.

01:54 This may sound odd, but if you have never been to the clinical side it's a great idea to do a dry run.

02:02 What I'm talking about is go actually drive to either the hospital or the clinical site.

02:08 Figure out where you should go and how to get to your unit.

02:13 You would be surprised how often this happens for students and it's super stressful.

02:18 You can really reduce your stress on the morning clinical, if you just make sure you know where you're going ahead of time.

02:26 Nothing is more stressful than getting lost because you don't know where you're going.

02:30 You're running late.

02:32 Honestly, it just doesn't make a great first impression at your faculty.

02:37 Now, a little preparation also the night before will help you start your day strong.

02:42 And here is a big tip. I still do it today.

02:46 Get all of your clinical equipment together.

02:49 Get your clinical equipment, your student ID badge is a must.

02:53 Get your scrubs out, all your paperwork.

02:55 Get it all ready.

02:56 Put it in your clinical bag, designate one.

02:59 just find a favorite the night before clinical.

03:03 Don't do this in the morning.

03:04 Way too early if you have morning clinicals.

03:08 Because clinical start time, if you're talking about morning clinicals it can be as early as 6:30am.

03:14 And this seems even earlier if you have a long drive to the hospital.

03:18 Then of course get a good night's sleep.

03:21 You may be nervous, but do your best to get a good night's sleep.

03:25 And eat breakfast.

03:27 Eat breakfast, yes.

03:29 I've had students faint in the operating room because they got too hot. They got nauseated.

03:35 They had gowns, gloves on, and their blood sugar was low, and they just slumped on the wall.

03:41 Not great. Please don't do that. Please eat. Take care of your body.

03:47 And two things you must do for every clinical.

03:50 Make sure you have all your equipment, and be on time.

03:55 If you forgot something like a notepad, a pin, a stethoscope again, this thing kind of leave a bad first impression the first time you meet your clinical faculty, or really anytime.

04:07 It just kind of looked at as unprofessional and really unprepared.

04:12 Be sure to have a backup plan for all possible problems.

04:17 If you have children, you want to make sure your backup childcare.

04:21 And if you're driving, have rides or if you have a car trouble, or a flat have someone to call.

04:28 This can even be another friend in the same clinical group that you can call for help.

04:33 This means that you can't leave last minute.

04:37 So, get to clinical in plenty of time to arrive so you don't have to rush.

04:43 You can get to where you're going and you can decompress before you start clinicals.

04:49 Show up early guys and come prepared.