3 Tips to Better Manage Clinical Placement As a Student Nurse
>> May 31, 2019
Making the
most out of clinical placement is extremely important for student nurses. It is
the first step toward being a part of the cycle of care provision, where they
get the chance to experience medicine from ground zero.
Placements are
typically designed not only to give the student the chance to apply the
theoretical knowledge gained so far, but also to better understand what it
takes to run a ward and how to succeed at the non-medical side of nursing as
well. It is truly a unique opportunity to hone and develop skills and make an
important decision for the future.
Nonetheless,
clinical placements come with its own unique challenges and there are a
number of things every nursing student should know and apply to ensure they
make the most out of it. The work can be exhausting and even distressing some
times, but there are few occupations that are as crucial and rewarding as being
a nurse.
To begin with,
every student must put in place a placement management plan of their own. This
will entail everything from schedules and rotations to managing patients and
their case. As many students have revealed, it’s not at
all easy to stay on top of things. Imagine that many of these future nurses
have never interacted with a real life patient with a real life problem. Having
another human being ask you ‘Am I dying?’ or witnessing a patient pass away or
being in pain can threaten emotional and psychological health if one is not
fully prepared. On top of things, having to fill out, submit and update what
seems like endless amounts of documentation on a regular basis can leave many
overwhelmed and unable to do their job.
There are a
couple of tricks and tips that every nursing student can benefit from, namely:
·
Become a
master of time management
Nursing
courses paired with practice and outside of work responsibilities already
sounds like a recipe for disaster. Former students and specialists emphasize on
the importance of managing time effectively and planning ahead. Keeping a journal and a constantly updated
agenda can make a huge difference, while leveraging the potential of technology
can smooth things even further. Apps such as Rotation Manager have been developed
exactly with this objective in mind – to make nurse students’ lives easier.
·
Be
constantly curious and never afraid to ask questions
Stress and
frustration can often build up as a result of insecurity and fear of asking for
clarifications and explanations. It’s important to keep in mind that in such
settings, the student is accountable for their own learning. Exploiting the
knowledge and experience of mentors and long-standing staff and having a
natural curiosity for procedures and processes will not only make the placement
more enjoyable, but it will ensure a robust learning experience.
·
Understand
that it will be a lifelong learning journey
Nursing
school and clinical placement are just the tip of the learning iceberg. There
isn’t really a point throughout where learning will cease. As times are
changing and there is constantly something to discover and master, it is
important to not establish a finishing line. Health care is going through
immense and exciting developments and fostering a growth mindset, always
thirsty for more knowledge is the way forward.
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