Many of our accelerated nursing students have spoken with us, and they all concur that the clinical rotations are their favorite part. Clinicals are a series of closely supervised encounters with patients in nearby medical facilities. During the 588 hours of clinical practice that they complete as part of their program, students work in various specialty fields. Clinical experiences ensure that nursing students are prepared to handle actual patient care situations. The short response to “what exactly do students do in clinicals” is that they observe a nurse. The extended response is that they put what they’ve learned both online and in the nursing simulation lab into practice. You see, clinical rotations are where it all comes together for many of our accelerated nursing students because our accelerated online BSN program is not entirely online.
The ABSN program at Utica College allows students to interact with patients as early as their first semester, which is extremely advantageous for many of them. Early on in the program, they decide if a career in nursing is really the right choice for them. For Chandni P. The fact that Utica College students begin interacting with patients early was a huge plus, said, Utica College ABSN student.
Our accelerated nursing students complete more than 580 clinical hours at some of the best healthcare facilities in the area, giving them the opportunity to work with potential coworkers and get a real sense of what life is like at their potential employer before accepting a position. Students “find their fit” in the nursing profession by experiencing a variety of nursing specialties during clinical rotations. Our students complete clinical rotations in the following specialty areas:
What Nursing Students Do In CLINICALS! First-Semester
Why are nursing clinicals important?
Clinicals are a crucial component of all nursing programs, and without them, you won’t receive a thorough education. Consider these benefits of clinicals:
Provide practical training
Clinicals are crucial because they let nursing students practice important abilities before they work in the medical industry. Everyday activities at a hospital or clinic offer opportunities for practice applying what you’ve learned in class and in the lab to real patients. Your coursework and this practical training typically align, so if you are studying pediatrics, for instance, your clinicals might happen in a children’s hospital. You can learn the procedures for carrying out your duties for extended shifts in actual medical settings.
Demonstrate career options
Additionally, many nurses discover that clinicals aid them in deciding what specialty within nursing they want to pursue. Nursing clinicals are conducted in various medical facilities so that nurses can gain as much experience in various positions as possible. After a clinical in a particular area, you might discover that you are more interested in training to be a nurse in that field.
What are nursing school clinicals?
Clinicals teach nurses fundamental bedside techniques and a range of specialties. Nurses gain experience with a variety of nursing tasks during clinicals, such as:
What is the time commitment for clinicals?
Typically, each clinical shift is scheduled for eight to twelve hours each day so that you can gain experience as a full-time nurse. You can experience various patient needs at various times during these long shifts, and you can learn how to control the physical and emotional strain of nursing. How long clinicals last and when you start them may be determined by the nursing program’s schedule. They frequently start during your first or second semester and last until the end of your program.
How are nursing school clinicals structured?
Nursing clinicals prepare students for a career as nurses by following fundamental structures. You may move from one facility to another quickly as you complete your nursing clinicals or train in one location for an entire semester. You have a specific area assigned to you, and you must report to training on the designated day and time. After a shift, you’ll take a test to determine your level of expertise in that nursing specialty.
Nursing students can take clinicals in almost any medical setting. Nursing educators or clinical instructors provide the initial instruction for clinicals, but experienced nurses also supervise the training of nursing students as they complete clinicals. Students observe their nurse mentor and get coaching as they provide patient care both with and without the professional’s help. Nursing students work with a small number of patients during a clinical shift to hone their bedside manner and concentrate on learning.
Nursing clinicals can take place in the following areas:
How are nursing school clinicals graded?
Clinicals are usually graded on a pass or fail standard. Clinical grades represent the effort of a nursing student as they practice caring for patients and providing medical knowledge, and are more subjective than tests for lecture-based classes.
After a shift, students frequently compile a patient study as part of their overall evaluation. Writing assessments for a nursing clinical may also be necessary, requiring students to consider their experiences over the course of a day or a semester. After a clinical rotation, some clinicals may include tests to gauge your understanding of a particular medical subject.
What do you wear for nursing clinicals?
Most nursing clinicals require medical scrubs. Plan to wear your hair in a style that can be easily maintained throughout a long shift and is out of your eyes and face. As long as your field of practice permits these accessories, you can typically wear basic jewelry such as a watch, a wedding band, or simple earrings.
To meet the requirements of both your school and the medical facility where you complete your clinicals, make sure your uniform is tidy. Don’t forget to adhere to the facility’s and your school’s dress code by wearing comfortable shoes.
Are nursing clinicals a paid position?
You will not be paid for your time or receive a salary because clinicals are a required component of your educational training to become a nurse. However, the knowledge and experience you gain from nursing clinicals is a form of payment that will have a long-term positive impact on your nursing career.
5 tips to maximize your nursing clinical experience
The following suggestions will assist you in acing your nursing clinicals:
FAQ
How long are clinicals for nursing students?
Depending on your chosen nursing track, clinicals start in the first or second semester and are a required component of your core nursing classes. They are made to give students real-world, hands-on experience caring for patients in hospitals and clinics, among other healthcare facilities.
What year of nursing do you start clinicals?
The length of nursing clinicals varies depending on the school, but it typically ranges between 120 and 140 hours per semester. You’ll spend four to six hours at the hospital once or twice a week for the majority of the semester (sometimes more, sometimes less).
What are nursing clinical rotations?
Some programs expose nursing students to the real hospital environment as early as the first semester, but other programs do not offer clinicals until the second semester. Clinicals, if they are included in your program’s first-semester curriculum, will typically take place in the second half of the semester.
