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campusreview.com.au
Theory to practice
Surviving clinical placements:
tips from a student nurse.
By Ayelet Dahan
T
he nursing clinical placement is
an essential part of the nursing
degree and is an opportunity to
solidify clinical knowledge and to get real
life exposure to clinical settings.
For almost all students, the transition
from university-based learning to the
real clinical setting is both fascinating
and challenging. And for many students,
it will be their first exposure to highly
vulnerable patients and the complex
multidisciplinary ecosystem of a
hospital setting.
It takes some time to understand
the relationships between the various
members of the multidisciplinary
team, the doctors, the allied health
professionals and the array of staff in a
hospital setting.
Indeed, there is quite a gap between
theory and practice, and it is essential
that students traverse this gap and
develop a nuanced understanding of
how clinical knowledge is applied to real
people in clinical settings.
The following are some suggestions
and recommendations for students
beginning their first nursing placement.
Have realistic expectations: Learning
the complex psychosocial clinical
skills of being a confident nurse takes
time and involves being exposed
to challenging and stressful clinical
situations. So, it’s important to have
realistic expectations when embarking
on your first clinical placement and not
to expect it to be easy. Remember, you
are not expected to be a fully qualified
nurse as a student; you are always
encouraged to ask questions.
Be prepared: Read up about the
clinical field into which you are being
placed, and speak to other students or
nurses that have worked in that clinical
setting before. Make sure you have the
right equipment with you: comfortable
closed shoes, a stethoscope, a watch
and perhaps a drug directory so you are
prepared.
Be professional: One of the biggest
changes moving from a university-based
setting to a clinical one is the importance
of the professional persona, keeping in
mind that patients often hear and see
the behaviour of the professional staff
and students. This includes maintaining
a respectful and formal clinical style
and ensuring you are punctual and
considerate throughout your clinical
placement.
Be safe: Take seriously the scope
of practice and be aware of the legal
requirements of a student. In other
words, know what you can and can’t do
in your student role. Never do something
you feel unsure or uncomfortable about
– always speak up. Be meticulous with
PPE (personal protective equipment),
using appropriate attire such as gowns,
gloves, goggles and shoe coverings
when necessary.
Also always remember the Five
Moments of Hand Hygiene:
1. Before touching a patient
2. Before clean/aseptic procedures
3. After bodily fluid risk/exposure
4. After touching a patient
5. After touching a patient’s
surroundings.
Safe practice not only protects the
patient, it also protects you.
Self-care: When embarking on a
career as a nurse, it is important to
get into good habits of self-care that
will help you to maintain your overall
wellbeing throughout your career.
These include getting enough sleep,
eating a well-balanced diet, exercise,
debriefing with a trusted person if you
are exposed to something confronting
or upsetting (always being mindful of
patient confidentiality), and getting into
the habit of unwinding properly after
being in your professional nurse role.
As a student, be aware that you can
always contact your supervisor if dealing
with more serious problems or stresses
that you feel you need assistance with.
The student placement is an essential
part of the nursing curriculum, and
having realistic expectations, being
prepared and professional, and being
safe and looking after yourself, is a great
way to begin a fulfilling nursing career. ■
Ayelet Dahan is a final-year student nurse
at the Australian Catholic University.
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