Nursing Clinicals: What Every Student Should Know

When you enroll in an accelerated nursing program, such as Felician University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN), you’ll work through a blend of coursework and in-person learning activities, including nursing labs and nursing clinicals. What are nursing clinicals, and how do clinicals work in nursing school?

Clinicals are essential to nursing education because they bridge nursing theories and knowledge with hands-on experience. In other words, they prepare you for the real-world challenges you’ll encounter in your career. Learn all about clinicals here.

What Are Nursing Clinicals?

To better understand clinicals, it can be helpful to see how they fit into the larger picture of the nursing school curriculum. In Felician’s ABSN program, you’ll learn all about nursing concepts and theories in your coursework, which can be completed online or onsite.

Then, you’ll learn hands-on skills in onsite nursing skills labs and apply them to nursing simulation labs. In these labs, you’ll participate in various patient care scenarios in a simulated setting, using life-like medical manikins that mimic patient responses.

Finally, clinicals are where you apply everything you’ve learned in a real-world healthcare setting. You will be immersed in patient care, working directly under the supervision of nursing instructors and preceptors. You’ll gain invaluable experience providing hands-on care.

In Felician’s ABSN program, you complete your clinical rotations with the Atlantic Health System and other leading healthcare providers.

Nursing clinicals also allow you to develop a good bedside manner. You’ll practice communicating with patients professionally and learn the ins and outs of working in a fast-paced healthcare setting.

When Do Nursing Students Start Clinicals?

In most ABSN programs, students start clinicals in either their first or second semester. At Felician, you’ll have your first practicum in health assessment in your first semester. But don't worry — you won’t be tossed into patient care scenarios you aren’t prepared to handle, and your nursing instructors will be by your side.

How Do Clinicals Work in Nursing School?

Nursing schools like Felician forge clinical partnerships with local healthcare facilities. These partnerships enable nursing students to be placed within real-world healthcare settings, where they can apply their nursing skills and knowledge and learn to provide excellent patient care.

These nursing clinicals also enable students to refine important soft skills for their nursing careers, such as communication, analytical reasoning and critical thinking.

Learning how to become an effective nurse requires a blend of theoretical coursework and practical application. Clinicals provide students with opportunities to practice applying nursing theories.

How Many Clinical Hours Are Required for Nursing School?

All states require prospective registered nurses to complete a minimum number of clinical hours; however, the minimum number varies. Additionally, some schools establish higher clinical hour requirements than the state minimum. Regardless, you can expect to complete hundreds of hours of clinical experience by the time you graduate with your Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Types of Clinical Rotations

You can expect to complete each clinical rotation in a different nursing specialty. Completing rotations across a range of specialties gives you a better understanding of what it’s like to work within that nursing area. This can inform your career plans after graduation.

At Felician, we place our students in diverse clinical settings so they gain exposure to a wide range of nursing challenges, solutions and patient care scenarios. You can expect to work through the following clinicals:

• Adult Health: This is an exciting rotation because it offers exposure to various medical conditions. You’ll work with patients of various ages, from young adults to seniors.
• Maternal — Newborn: This rotation can be particularly meaningful for many students. It allows you to support the care needs of patients going through labor and delivery. You’ll also learn to provide care to newborns and postpartum moms.
• Mental Health: Mental health challenges affect many Americans, and here, you’ll have opportunities to see how a proper nursing treatment plan can help patients work toward wellness.
• Pediatrics: Children aren’t “little adults.” They have unique healthcare problems and needs. In these clinicals, you’ll learn to assess development and address health concerns.
• Long-Term Care: In this rotation, you’ll care for older adults and individuals with disabilities.
• Population and Community Health: This is a public health nursing clinical that allows you to see the impact a nurse can have on an entire community.

How to Prepare for Nursing School Clinicals

Now that you know the answers to questions like, “When do nursing students start clinicals?” and “How many clinical hours are needed for nursing school?” you’re probably eager to start. No matter which type of clinical rotation you complete first, the following steps will help you prepare:

• Present a professional appearance. Make sure you’re dressed appropriately with scrubs in your school color, wearing comfortable, closed-toe shoes and name badges from your nursing school and medical facility.
• Have the right mindset. Remember, this is a learning experience. Be humble, ready to learn from your mistakes and accept feedback.
• Review your nursing school coursework materials and notes that apply to the clinical area.
• Bring a notepad and pen. You’ll want to jot down questions as they occur and take notes.

At Felician, our faculty goes the extra mile to prepare students for clinicals and provide hands-on mentorship during rotations. Plus, you'll have ample time to prepare for patient care scenarios in nursing simulation labs.

What to Expect During Nursing Clinicals

You can expect to be busy. Nurses are on their feet for much of their shift, and as a nursing student, you will be, too. You'll work with a team of nurses while your nursing instructor or preceptor provides direction and guidance.

Again, remember that this is a learning experience. Keep your eyes open, stay engaged and enjoy the practical experience of applying the nursing process.

Generally, nursing students may do the following tasks during clinicals:

• Record patients’ medical histories
• Perform assessments
• Obtain and record vital signs
• Make patient beds
• Help patients with the activities of daily living (ADLs)
• Help patients ambulate
• Administer medications
• Assist with treatments

How to Succeed in Clinical Rotations

At Felician, you’ll find a supportive learning environment that facilitates student success. Here, we encourage academic inquiry and hands-on learning to help you make the most of your experience. To take full advantage of clinicals, try these tips:

• Always arrive early for each shift.
• Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor.
• Stay engaged and remain aware of what's going on around you. Be observant of what other nurses do, and, when appropriate, ask about their reasoning for their clinical decisions.
• Never hesitate to ask questions. If the time isn't right for a question (e.g., you're at the patient's bedside), make a mental note of your question and ask the nurse later.
• At the end of each shift, reflect upon what you learned.

Connecting Nursing Clinicals to Your Career Goals

The point of nursing school is to prepare you for your future career, so it shouldn't be surprising that it may also influence your career pathway. There are plenty of nursing specialties to choose from, and you'll get a firsthand look at several of them during the various clinical rotations.

Even if you already have your heart set on a particular specialty, it’s worth keeping an open mind. You might fall in love with a different specialty while on a rotation.

Jennifer, a graduate of Felician’s ABSN program, reflected on nursing clinicals. “I have been to med surg floors, psych floors, pediatrics and labor and delivery. It was really exciting. I have seen a baby being born. I have performed a lot of the skills that I have done here in our lab on manikins on real people. It really gives you a better idea of the day-to-day of nursing.”

Moreover, your clinicals can help you build a professional network that may lead to post-graduation employment. Another Felician graduate, Rachell, noticed that many of the nurses she worked with during rotations had also graduated from Felician. “I started looking for jobs and quite often I did see that a lot of previous graduates had gone on to work at very important hospitals, and they’re bringing in recruiters to make sure that we’re able to get a good job once we do finish here, so that was really great for them to offer.”

Begin Your Path to Nursing Success at Felician

Your nursing education is vital to your success as a nurse, and clinicals are essential to your academic journey. At Felician University, you can begin working toward your dream career in nursing.

You can choose from two ABSN programs: our Hybrid ABSN program, which offers online coursework, or our On-Ground ABSN program, which offers onsite coursework. Whichever program you choose, you can graduate with a BSN in as few as 16 months.

Contact our admissions counselors today to take the next step toward your future in nursing.