Patient Quantity Progression

In 1st semester, our goal was to be able to do full patient care on one patient plus everything after morning med pass on a second. In second semester, the goal was to do full patient care, all day, on 2 patients, including double morning med pass. In this, third semester, our goal is full patient care on 3 med surg patients including triple morning med pass.

Last time I was at clinical, two weeks ago, I had two patients, and felt like I could easily handle a third. I was planning to start out the day with three today, and see how it went, but when I got there in the morning, my nurse only was assigned three patients total, and their 0900 med lists looked pretty intense. In retrospect, I probably could have done it, but in the moment I panicked, went for two, and added in a 3rd later on in the day when there was an admit (but lost one to discharge shortly after, so I only had 3 patients for a short time).

I'm going back to clinical tomorrow. My same staff nurse won't be there, but I'm hoping to continue with the one patient I had today that will still be left, and add in two more. I can do more of a focused assessment on the guy I saw today, and fuller assessments on the other two. It's going to be awesome. I'm nervous.

My teacher was testing me more than usual today, pushing me just a little beyond my comfort zone with questions. It's good...I learned stuff...but of course I get a little nervous. She still kept it balanced out with encouragement though.

We've got two more big tests this week. I'm semi-prepared for one and not very prepared at all for the other. Luckily, I've got tonight to study, and I'm not completely wiped out from clinical yet. Today was doable.