The Importance of YOUR Clinical Skills!

You are entering a program that focuses on the care of others. You will gain new knowledge and insight to be able to handle yourselves in the clinical area.  In order to become proficient with your abilities and develop your skill set you must PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.  Even if you think you know what to do, going into the program act as if you know nothing, and learn from the beginning.  More knowledge is better than no knowledge.

Your skill sets will give you the abilities, knowledge, strengths and capabilities as an individual to care for your patients with the highest quality of care.  Find a partner practice every day.  Sooner or later the more you do it, they become a natural part you.  The indirect care behaviors will be enhanced every time you perform. When meeting your patients greet them by name and introduce yourself.  Hold their hand and check their ID bracelet, also asking for their date of birth. These are the patient identifiers for all facilities.  Patients need to know who you are. What you are able to do for them.  Explain what you will be doing.  Answer any questions they may have.  If you do not know the answer, tell them “I will check and get back to you.”  Remember to go back with the information. You are building trust.

When you are working you are following what is known as Universal Protocols which incorporates Standard Precautions and Infection Control.  Every facility has their own rules and regulations to follow.  You will learn from class the right way to perform your tasks.  Many things that you do throughout the day are repetitive, but that is how you become more proficient at what you are doing.  NEVER take any short cuts because you think it might be better.  Think again, you can put the patient or yourself at great risk.  Especially if you are dealing with isolation rooms.  If you are to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for specific isolation rooms you must wear what is the standard protocol.  I was actually exposed to a rare bacterium that resides for 12 weeks on services.  I had already been taking care of the patient for two days before the doctors were aware.  After that we had to gown up from head to toe and change our booties over our shoes before leaving the anti-room.  Thankfully the patient was able to get the right medication to help them before any further issues occurred.  I was fine and did not have any issues, but I always wore my gloves and washed hands in and out of my patients’ rooms.

There are many skills you may not come in contact with right away.  For insistence, foley catheter care. Practice in the classroom setting and never be afraid when in the clinical rotation to ask if you can watch or assist with another to learn. Shows initiative and that you want to learn.  Perineal care is a specific act of care.  Especially with women patients, you need to take care to wash from front to back never back to front. Wear gloves and if necessary, change your gloves.

One area that is very important to be aware of, is the measuring of intake and outputs.  Most times the Nurses and doctors rely on this process for medications or dietary needs.  Make sure you document after each patient’s meal, taking into account how much food the patient consumed.  Every facility has a form for intake and output. No guessing actual measuring is to be done.

Practice your vital signs. Use your lab partner. Learn to feel for the pulses in the wrist. Take a blood pressure and listen for the bounding sounds of the pulse to read your number. Takes PRACTICE to be proficient. Use each other for turning and positioning, assisting with each other getting oob. Even make a bed with your classmate in it.  How do you think I learned?

Never be afraid to ask questions or to assist another when needed. No question is silly or wrong.  Every person learns at their own pace. As long as you ask before doing you will be better for who you are.  By practicing and continuing to learn through educational training and building up your experiences, you will in time have a skill set of Competence, Strength, Expertise and Proficiency to give your patients high quality care.