How to Make the Most of Your Clinical Rotations
![A student nurse and nurse preceptor speak with a patient during clinical rotations.](https://www.intelycare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/clinical-rotations.jpg)
As a nursing student, starting your clinical rotations can feel both exciting and nerve-wracking. This is an opportunity for you to translate your knowledge from class into practice — but it may also be your first exposure to real patients and care teams. Fundamentally, it’s important to remember that rotations are a safe space for you to observe, learn, and grow under direct supervision.
The more effort you make to embrace learning opportunities as a student, the better prepared you’ll be when it’s time to go out on your own. In this article, we’ll provide tips for getting the most out of your rotations so that you graduate feeling confident and ready to be a nurse.
What Are Clinical Rotations in Nursing?
During a clinical rotation, nursing students get placed in hospitals and deliver patient care under the supervision of a clinical instructor. Students generally “rotate” in and out of units to learn about different specialties and start developing essential nursing skills. These include things like head-to-toe assessments, placing IVs, and medication administration.
Are Clinical Rotations Paid?
As a student, you will not be paid during rotations because they’re a part of your education. The purpose of rotations is to give students a chance to take what they learn in class and apply it to real-world practice. Students are able to interact with patients, observe how hospital teams work together, and start getting comfortable with a range of hands-on care tasks.
How Long Are Nursing Clinical Rotations?
On average, four-year bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs consist of roughly 600-800 clinical hours. Some schools start rotations as early as year one, while others start them after year two. Clinical schedules generally get more intensive as you advance in your program. For example, in year one, you may only be in the hospital for five hours a week. But by year 4, you may be going in twice a week for up to 12 hours at a time.
These exact hours can vary from school to school. Your instructors will likely provide a nursing clinical rotation schedule sample during orientation so that you can get an overview of your school’s requirements. The structure of your program will also play a role in helping you figure out how to list clinical rotations on resume drafts as you approach graduation.
5 Ways to Make the Most Out of Your Rotations
While you’ll have a specific skills checklist to complete with your instructor during each rotation, you can always find additional ways to stay engaged on the floor. Below are five tips for optimizing your time and learning as much as you can while you’re a student.
1. Say Yes to New Opportunities
During your rotations, you’ll be working alongside a range of staff, including nursing assistants, techs, registered nurses, and doctors. It’s actually quite common for these staff to approach students and offer them the chance to either observe or participate in their work.
If a staff member approaches you and their request doesn’t fall outside of your program’s rules, don’t be afraid to say yes. The more you embrace these opportunities, the more you’ll be able to learn. As long as you’re not hindering patient care, staff who take initiative to engage with students are usually happy to answer questions and walk you through their process.
2. Learn the “Why” Behind Medications
Medication administration is a skill that you’ll be developing throughout your rotations. However, it’s important to avoid simply going through the motions. Rather than handing your patients their medications and moving on with your day, take extra time to really understand what each med does and why it was prescribed.
This will give you a more well-rounded picture of your patient’s condition, strengthening your clinical knowledge and decision-making. It will also better prepare you to educate your patients and answer any questions they may have.
3. Use Down Time to Help Others
Sometimes, you’ll have a lot of down time during rotations, especially during the earlier years of your program. But rather than waiting for opportunities to appear in front of you, be proactive and use this time to help others.
If one of your peers is changing bed linens, ask them if they need a hand. Or, if a nursing assistant seems overextended, offer to deliver meals and give bed baths to their patients. This will help you develop your skills and meet some of your more personalized goals for clinical rotations. Additionally, staff will always appreciate the extra help.
4. Actively Engage With Your Patients
As a nursing student, you’ll typically only be assigned one patient at a time. While your nurse will be busy tending to multiple rooms, this gives you a unique opportunity to spend more quality, one-on-one time with your patient.
Of course, it’s important to ask for your patient’s preferences first and follow their energy. But if your patient seems to be enjoying your presence, take advantage of the extra time you have to practice your therapeutic communication techniques. Many patients appreciate the company and opportunity to discuss their condition.
5. Study Patient Charts and Notes
If it’s a slow day on the floor and you’ve already made your rounds offering to help staff out, you can also make use of your time by reading your patient’s chart. This will help you learn more about their condition and what’s informing their care plan. This is also a great way to see how different nurses approach note-taking and documentation.
Get Ahead of the Job Search With IntelyCare
After you’ve completed your clinical rotations, you’ll have a fairly good idea of what specialty suits you best. Get ahead of the job search and learn how IntelyCare can match you with openings that align with your skills and preferences.