Clinical rotation
For clinical rotation, I have my student paired up with the employee in the facility! They shadow them what the employee is doing and probably assisting the employee with their task! As an instructor, I'm making my rounds making sure the students are doing their procedures/skills that they learn from class and not violating any rules/policies like infection control! And if I know that one student is not being productive, I worked with that student and focus on her/him making sure he/she will learned the skills/procedure the right way! And if I know that the students is doing well, I just checked on them every now and then making sure they keep practicing on their skills! This is my routine for the clinical rotation!
One of my student asked me in a sarcastic way "What did you do for the day like your agenda for the day? Did you just walked around the facility?"
Am I doing the right thing? Or do I need to change my practice of teaching in clinical rotation?
Mariko,
The more you can provide them with real world experiences the better prepared they are going to be upon graduation. You are doing such with your letting them take charge effort.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As a clinical nursing instructor, I totally agree with how you are teaching/supporting your students. I had to laugh when I read your student quote to you because I think we have all had students who don't see the whole picture of our role and it probably does look like we are "just walking around the facility"
You might want to let your students take on a kind of charge nurse duties, so that they can actually see that what you as the instructor are having to do to to ensure safety, learning, and keeping organized with everything that needs to be accomplished each clinical day.
I feel this is the best way for students to learn. I have to place my extern students at several different clinical sites. I make regular site vistis to make sure they are attending and learning and doing ok. I also make suprise visits to make sure they are on site and let them know I am always checking on them.
I think you are doing the right thing. That particular student may need some extra attention.
I would take enough time to evaluate the site employee before assigning a student to follow them. Sometimes I decide against having a student follow a employee and may not in fact have any of my students assigned with their staff. I always take enough time to properly evaluate the staff member before agreeing to have a student follow them.
As a clinical instructor, I would be cautious in having an institutional employee to a "clinical task" with a student without you being present, due to liability purposes. How can you be sure the clinical person assigned to oversee the student is doing the task appropriately?
Evelyn,
Good way to support your students. You are available as needed so the students know they can depend on you for support when such a situation arises.
Gary
