Clinical Day Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Each student received an equal assignment of three (3) patients.  Each student was responsible for complete patient care, vital signs, accu-checks, charting, and medication administration with the instructor.  All students were fully aware of the expectations and no questions or concerns were offered at the time the assignment was provided. 

Each student was required to research the medication information (i.e. drug class, therapeutic use, etc.) for all medications scheduled for 0800 and 1000 prior to administration with the clinical instructor on this clinical day.  

Amber approached me during a medication pass with one of the other students. She appeared anxious, frustrated, and overwhelmed.  She verbalized concerns about the unavailability of i-touch references in use by other students.  I advised her to utilize the medication books available at the nursing station as well as the micromedex available on WBGH’s computer system.  Amber demonstrated increased frustration, and became agitated.  Amber demonstrated unprofessional communication and behavior with the instructor as witnessed by others on the unit.  Amber mumbled comments under her breath as she walked away from the instructor in the opposite direction of her assigned patients and the nursing station.  Amber was found assisting one of the other students with patient care when other students were visibly available to assist. 

Amber was counseled in accordance with the Standards of Clinical Performance and Policy on Professional Conduct and Accountability.  Amber was advised to focus on her patients and her assigned tasks as she was clearly not in a position to be assisting other students at this time.  Amber promptly returned to attending to the care of her patients for the remainder of the clinical day without further incident.

In a second meeting with Amber at the end of this clinical day, she identified the inappropriateness of her behavior and apologized. Amber and I discussed the need to remain professional in communication and action at all times.
