Nursing clinicals are supervised sessions in real-world health-care settings where nursing students can apply their knowledge and skills. Clinicals are the nursing equivalent of internships and residencies for doctors, and they are an important part of medical education because they allow nurses to work with real patients in a supervised setting before being thrust into real nursing work without instructors or guides to help them.
Nurses are assigned to work with patients in a variety of departments during nursing clinicals, and they usually work alongside nurses who have completed their training, as well as instructors, doctors, and other health care providers. Nursing students rotate through a variety of settings, from intensive care units to outpatient clinics, to interact with a diverse range of patients and see a wide range of health-care interventions and situations.
Students must complete a set period of classroom training before being allowed to participate in nursing clinicals. During this time, they will gain the book knowledge they will need to be successful nurses. This knowledge ranges from common nursing interventions used in specific medical situations to ethical issues that nurses may encounter during their work. Students also have the opportunity to work in lab settings and “treat” actors who have been hired as model patients.
Nursing clinicals are used teachers to evaluate their students in addition to providing educational opportunities. Students are expected to do extensive research on their patients and be prepared to answer questions about patient care, the patient’s history, and other topics. Supervisors will also look at how the nursing student interacts with the patient; for example, is the student cold and unfeeling, despite the fact that the patient is receiving excellent medical care? These observations are used to guide the student and determine the student’s final grade.
Many nursing schools have affiliated hospitals where students can complete their clinical hours. Nursing clinicals can also be done at regional and community hospitals if the nursing program has an agreement with them.
Nursing clinicals can be intense for students because they are their first chance to interact with real patients and make decisions that have very real consequences. Students should keep in mind that they are there to learn, and they should never be afraid to ask questions or express concerns if they don’t understand something or don’t feel comfortable performing a procedure without assistance or direction.