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All nursing programs consist of didactic and “hands on” experiences, which are called clinical sections. In my nursing school, every semester to includes lectures, simulation labs and clinical rotations. I have been lucky to have amazing experiences through clinical in the Texas Medical Center in many specialties such as psychiatrics, geriatrics, pediatrics, maternity and med-surg. This clinical rotation created so many opportunities for me to be better version of myself and helped me achieve one of the highest nursing student awards in my school.  

So how did I overcome all the long hours of tiring and overwhelming clinicals to obtain the most knowledge and make a good impression on my nursing staff and clinical instructors? Here are some tips based on my own experiences that are helpful for nursing students who want to be outstanding and ace your clinical rotations. 

1. Always prepare for the most difficult patients 

My preceptors normally have 3-4 patients per shift. Each patient is on different level of care based on their individual health conditions. I always first logged in to the system to read through the patient medical summaries, their latest vital signs, lab data and daily medications. I noted this information down and learned about my patient on my own while waiting for my nurse in the beginning of the shift. Patients with the most symptoms and medical diagnoses are always the ones who take up a preceptor’s time and keep you on your feet.  

It is hard to remember all patients, so I always picked one that represented most of them. I learned their medications by heart before entering the room, assessed them to see if any signs were different with their chart, and applied all the nursing skills that I could practice on those patients. At the end of the day, I already knew a lot about that most difficult patient, so I would pick them to do my care plan and save time on paperwork. 

2. Make good impressions with staff nurses and instructors 

Some of my clinical days were not busy. Sometimes, your slow days may be others busy days. When I finished all my assessments and had checked on patients and completed charting, I would have some free time. To make the most of that, I reached out to other nurses and charge nurses to see if they needed any help. Even if it was just checking patients’ vital signs, it was a big help when that floor was short on staff. This is not only a way to help people, but also a way to make a connection. I got several references thanks to being helpful. The charge nurses even sought out my clinical instructors to compliment on my willingness to help and work hard. 

3. Don’t be afraid to ask your instructors “dumb” questions 

A lot people think that clinical instructors are intimidating but at the end of the day, they are our teachers. They are there to teach, observe and guide you to success through nursing school. There are many health problems, pathophysiology, and diseases mechanisms that I do not know. When I could not understand them completely, even after researching, I did not hesitate to ask my instructors so I could learn more. Their experiences and stories helped me to understand tremendously and inspired me to be a great nurse in my future career. Do not be afraid to look “dumb”! Remember that you are still students, and asking is a way of learning.  

4. Share your experiences with your peers and learn from their experiences 

At the post conferences, my classmates and I always shared our experiences of the day together. I heard stories on what they had done for their patients, some of which I had not had the chance to do. Through the point of view of others, I could get more knowledge for myself and vice versa. Also, clinical days are not always smooth. One of those days may be a bad day for you, and for your clinical mates. We shared how rough it was and encouraged each other to do better next time. Through clinical, I made so many more friends who are now my second family. 

We never know what is waiting for us on a new clinical day. Maybe a good friendship, maybe heaps of useful knowledge or maybe a valuable letter of recommendation. I got all of them, plus an award nominated and voted on by the faculty. So, remember to always come prepared and take advantage of your clinical rotations.