5 Tips For Nursing Students Starting Clinicals

Key Takeaways:

1. Your first nursing clinical rotation is a milestone. It marks the transition from the classroom and skills lab into patient care, and it’s normal to feel a mix of excitement and anxiety.
2. You’re not alone when you enter the clinical setting. Instructors, clinical preceptors, classmates, and the nursing staff at your site can provide guidance and support.
3. Rest matters before your first clinical day. Getting enough rest can help you feel prepared and ready to learn.
4. Trust what you already know. The nursing concepts you’ll use in clinicals are the same ones you’ve practiced in coursework and skills labs; clinicals give you an opportunity to apply that learning in a clinical setting.
5. Use your resources, including technology and your clinical instructor. Nursing apps can help you access useful information before and after clinicals, and your clinical instructor can be an important source of guidance.

Your first nursing clinical rotation is a major milestone in your education. It marks the transition from the classroom and skills lab into patient care. It’s completely normal to feel a mix of excitement and nerves. The good news? With a little preparation, you can walk into your first clinical with confidence. Below are practical tips to help you get ready, from getting enough rest to turning to your clinical instructor for help when you need it.

Here are 5 tips as you begin your clinicals:

1. You’re Not Alone: Lean on Your Support Team. When you enter the clinical setting, your instructors, clinical preceptors, and classmates can be valuable resources. They can help answer questions, offer guidance, and share their experiences. Nurses working with you are there to help.  
2. Get Rest Before Your First Clinical Day. Try to get enough sleep the night before your clinical rotation. Arriving well rested can help you feel prepared and ready to learn. 
3. Trust What You Already Know. You worked hard to get this far. Don’t forget that your coursework and skill labs have helped you build the knowledge and skills you’ll bring to your clinical experience. The same nursing concepts you’ll use in clinicals are the ones you’ve already been practicing. These concepts have not changed just because you’re beginning your first clinical rotation. The only difference is that now you’re performing these skills on a patient and not a SIMCARE CENTER™ patient simulator or your classmate. You can do this.
4. Take Advantage of Nursing Student Apps and Technology. Consider using nursing student apps to help you stay organized and motivated. If you have a smartphone or tablet, you can reference these resources before and after your time in the clinical setting. Remember to always follow the healthcare organization’s rules about smartphone or tablet use during a rotation.
5. Turn to Your Clinical Instructor for Guidance. Remember, you are not alone on this journey. Your clinical instructor can answer questions, provide guidance, and offer support.

Remember how far you’ve come. Your coursework and skills labs have helped prepare you for this next stage. With the guidance and tools you have at your disposal, you can start your clinicals with confidence.

Chamberlain University offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. With a growing network of campuses and robust online programs, Chamberlain continues to build on more than 135 years of excellence in preparing extraordinary healthcare professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I expect during my first nursing clinical rotation? 

Expect to observe and begin participating in basic patient care under the supervision of your clinical instructor and preceptors. You’ll have a chance to apply the nursing concepts you’ve learned in class, ask questions, and build your confidence in a clinical setting.

How do I prepare for nursing clinicals? 

Start by getting a full night’s rest, reviewing your course materials, and gathering any resources you may need. Follow your program and clinical site dress requirements and be ready to ask questions and follow the healthcare organization’s guidelines.

What should I bring to my first clinical rotation? 

Bring the materials required by your program and clinical site, which may include your student ID, necessary clinical paperwork, a notebook, and reference resources. Always follow your clinical site’s rules regarding smartphone and tablet use during your rotation.

Who can I ask for help during my clinical rotation? 

Your clinical instructor, clinical preceptors, classmates, and the nursing staff at your clinical site are all there to help. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Turn to your clinical instructor for guidance.

How can I calm my anxiety before my first clinical day? 

Remind yourself of the knowledge and skills you’ve developed through coursework and skills labs. Rest well, lean on your support team, and trust your instructors and preceptors for guidance when you need it. 
 

By Chamberlain University