What to Expect in Nursing School Clinicals: Top Questions, Answered

Written by Mariam Yazdi from Nurse.org
Nerves…confusion…chaos…all of the above?!?!
Your first time in a hospital for clinic rotations can be daunting. While pulling up to the hospital parking lot at the crack of dawn, your mind might be racing — “Where do I show up…what do I bring…what am I going to be doing…who is going to be my nurse…are they going to be nice…how do I not make a fool of myself?”
The first and most important thing to remember is this — giving in to the nerves of your first day at clinical will only cloud your thinking and could give you a negative experience. If your thoughts start getting the best of you, take deep breaths and remember — everyone starts right here!
What Are Nursing School Clinicals?
Nursing school is typically divided into three major components: didactic, simulation lab, and clinicals.
- Clinicals are the , hospital-site, “on-the-field” portion of nursing school.
- The didactic segment of school or the in-classroom lectures, provide a fundamental layer of knowledge for students to apply in the actual hospital setting.
- Nursing programs use the simulation lab or a pseudo-clinical experience, to allow for future nurses to practice the various skills and tasks they need, in a safe, non-risk environment before touching real patients.
How Do Nursing School Clinicals Work?
Clinicals are organized through your nursing program. You will have a clinical instructor (who may or may not also give lectures in class) and they will be on-site with you for part or all of the clinical rotation. This clinical instructor is your liaison between the hospital and school.
Your clinical instructor is there to assist you with any questions you may have, but they are also there to grade you on your performance and effort. You are not shadowing your clinical instructor, as they are not directly caring for patients. You will shadow one of the staff nurses who has a patient assignment.
Will I Have My Own Patients?
In the beginning, no. This takes time. By the end of the program, however, there is usually a final practicum or preceptorship, where you will spend upwards of 180 hours dedicated to one unit and one nurse. In this time, you may be given the responsibility of a small patient load by yourself (with the assistance of your preceptor, of course.)
How Are Clinicals Graded?
Every school has its own system of grading the clinical portion of the program. Typically, clinicals are graded on four things:
- Attendance
- Participation
- Preparedness
- Homework
Homework will generally consist of care plans. Care plans are a way for you to connect the patients you see with the nursing process:
- Assessment
- Nursing diagnosis
- Plan
- Intervention
- Evaluation
Schools will require at least one to four care plans per clinical rotation. And speaking from experience, don’t procrastinate! Finish those care plans as soon as you get out of the hospital, while the information is fresh in your mind.
What Happens If I Fail A Clinical?
Clinicals are a subjective experience, and it’s not very common to fail clinicals because there is a lot of support and interaction with the instructors. If you put in the effort — you’re on time, you complete your care plans, you ask questions, and you’re engaged — you will not fail clinicals.
If, however, there is a circumstance where you could not complete your hours, or your instructor determines that you should not pass clinicals, it is important to assess the situation and determine what is preventing you from passing. Have a conversation with your clinical instructor and with your program director if needed. Coming together and forming a plan on how to best move forward will help you get through a sticky situation.
What Do I Wear To Clinicals?
Your school will give you a list of guidelines on what to wear to clinicals. Usually, these guidelines consist of the mandated school uniform and badge (remember that your badge is an absolute must…don’t get caught without it!). Comfortable shoes are important, and if you find it difficult to be on your feet for long hours, compression stockings are definitely a plus.
In your pocket, you should have at least a couple of pens, pencils for care plan drafts, and maybe even a highlighter. A small notebook for notes will be useful throughout the day. And of course, a stethoscope!
What Specialties Will I Observe During Clinicals?
Clinicals serve as a way for nursing students to get exposure to different specialties in healthcare. Clinical rotations will typically include:
- Medical-surgical
- Labor and delivery
- Pediatrics
- Geriatrics
- Perioperative
- Critical care
- Emergency
- Psychiatric
- Community health
How To Use Clinicals As A Powerful Networking Tool
You may not feel drawn to every specialty you are exposed to but you should always try to make a good impression. Even if you feel invisible as a nursing student, you are still leaving an impression with those you meet, particularly other nurses and managers.
If you stay engaged, keep a positive attitude, and take the extra step to introduce yourself to the manager or charge nurse, you will be remembered when it comes time to complete a job application. If this makes you nervous — even better! Challenge yourself to introduce yourself to a manager, even if you know you don’t want to work in that department. This will help you practice pushing through those nerves.
The Dirty Secrets Of Clinicals
Being a student is a difficult time in the lifespan of a healthcare professional. Going into a hospital as a nursing student, you would think that the nurses around you are excited and supportive of your new journey — and don’t get me wrong, a lot of them are. However, hospital settings can have very tense and stressed energies, and this can be reflected in the attitude of the nurses that you are shadowing or interacting with at the hospital. Unfortunately, you will likely encounter nurses who are seemingly not pleased about having you around and may not readily include you in the day’s activities.
Every student in the medical field will feel this to a degree, and it doesn’t do much for fostering a positive environment or cultivating relationships between nurses and students. But there is always a way to handle this.
First, remind yourself that you cannot control how other people feel or act. You can only handle yourself and your own emotions — and it is NOT worth it to have a negative clinical experience due to the attitude of others. Begin by taking deep breaths when you find yourself becoming overwhelmed by all the unknown factors of a clinical experience. Then remind yourself that you are an intelligent person worthy of being in this clinical rotation.
Remember that you are doing your very best, and just because you don’t know how to start an IV today, don’t know what labetalol does, or feel terribly awkward talking to patients doesn’t mean it’s going to be this way forever. You are at the beginning of your journey, a gorgeous and beautifully blooming one. One day you will look back at this time and say — wow! I’ve come such a long way!
Honor HealthCare Heroes – National IV Nurse Day
INS celebrates IV Nurse Day each year on January 25th, to recognize the decades of continuing education, advocacy, and professional development that have driven the…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Enroll Now in our Phlebotomy Tech Program
Have you been dreaming about a career working in healthcare? Sumner College Arizona can get you there with classes in Phlebotomy Tech, Medical Assisting and…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
2023 Nurse Appreciation Calendar
Enjoy The DiversityNursing.com, 2023 Nurse Appreciation Calendar and remember to honor our healthcare heroes for their dedication to our health and work in our world.…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Honor our HealthCare Heroes – National CRNA Week
A Celebration of CRNAs Since 2000, National CRNA Week has been our annual celebration of the nearly 59,000 practicing nurse anesthetists in the U.S. From…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Laboratory Phlebotomist Projected Growth in the US
Research Summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that: Salaries have increased 11% for laboratory phlebotomists in the last 5 years…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Mobile IV Nursing Is Trending Due to Earning Potential
Mobile IV nursing is growing and offers nurses the opportunity for higher pay and a flexible schedule. Explore this popular career. Mobile intravenous (IV) nurses…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
How You Can Set SMART Goals for 2023
Did you know 91% of people don't reach their New Year's goals? Dive into how SMART goals for nurses may increase your potential success. SMART…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
How the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act Impacts Nurses
The Improving Care and Access to Nurses legislation significantly impacts nurses and their patients. Consider seven ways to advocate for improved access to care. The…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Dream It. Do It.
If healthcare is your passion, and a career in the field is your dream, it is time to look at Sumner College. 2023 nursing classes…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Happy New Year!
Make way for 2023!…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
The Future of Oregon’s Nursing Workforce: Analysis and Recommendations
The Oregon Center for Nursing recently published "The Future of Oregon's Nursing Workforce: Analysis and Recommendations The Oregon Legislature directed the Oregon Health Care Workforce…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Happy Holidays from Sumner College
…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
What’s the work environment for a Phlebotomy Tech?
Phlebotomists work mainly in hospitals, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and doctor’s offices. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Phlebotomists held about 135,500 jobs…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Holiday Break – December 19 to January 2nd
There will be no classes at Sumner College during Holiday Break - December 19th thru January 2nd.…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Expert Simulation Educators Across Oregon – OCN
Sumner College's Simulation Lab provides a comprehensive learning experience for our students. As nursing education and professional development needs evolve, schools and healthcare systems are…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
2022 Holiday Greetings
Sumner College President, Joanna Russell, shares a big announcement for our nursing school happening in April 2023 and wishes a warm holiday greeting to all…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Finding balance around the holidays
The holiday season can be a stressful time. For years, I allowed this time of year to completely take over my mind and wellbeing because…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
It’s a good time to pursue a career in healthcare. Joanna Russell and Nicole DeCosta discuss nursing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GQA8dkHbFc…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
RN Well-Being Project
The well-being of all licensed LPNs, RNs, and APRNs, as well as their certified and unlicensed support staff, is essential to Oregon's health [Article shared…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Oregon Facing Nurse Shortage by 2025
With demand for registered nurses in Oregon continuing to grow, Oregon is facing a nursing shortage by 2025, according to The Demand for Nursing Professionals…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Occupational Outlook Handbook – Phlebotomists
Sumner College's Phlebotomy Tech classes are held in Mesa, Arizona Next classes start in January 2023 Quick Facts: Phlebotomists 2021 Median Pay $37,380 per year…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Professional Nursing Organizations
There are more than 100 different national and international nursing organizations, many of which have chapters in Oregon. You may want to consider the benefits…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
How a nurse is improving health equity with a touch of a button
This article is shared from Johnson+Johnson's Nursing website. LINK Watch a special TODAY show segment featuring nurse innovator Bre Loughlin, MS, RN This segment features…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Now Hiring – Assistant to the President
Sumner College is accepting applications for the position of Assistant to the President. Visit the Careers at Sumner page for details on the position and…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Now Hiring – General Education/ Science Instructor
Sumner College is accepting applications for a general education/science instructor position that is part time and hybrid. Job Description - General Education/Science Instructor - Part…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Bringing Well-Being into the Workplace
For healthcare to work, it takes a thriving nurse workforce. From nurse-led solutions to evidence-backed guidelines, innovation in workplace well-being isn't just possible, it's happening.…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Thanksgiving Memorable Recipes from Sumner College’s Team
Thanksgiving is a time to show gratitude for friends, family and business associates. This year, the Sumner College team is sharing a few delicious, must-have,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Why Phlebotomy is a Good Career
Entering this field as a phlebotomist offers one of the fastest entry routes and is one of the few positions that does not require a bachelor's…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
5 Ways to Reduce Test Stress
Article shared fro GreatSchools.org Does your child get stressed about taking standardized tests? Follow this checklist to help ease their worries. In many states children…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
# Hiring – Accreditation and Compliance Officer – Remote
Sumner College has been educating leaders in workforce for almost 50 years in the Portland metro area. Join a team that is passionate about educating…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn