Tips for a Successful Clinical Rotation

Hello future interns! For many of us, our clinical rotation will be the most challenging portion of the internship. I am now 5 weeks in and I can say that I’ve never been in position to learn so much in such a short period of time. This our opportunity to finally apply everything we were taught in our classes and it is a h

uge step toward what we’ve all been working so hard for. As challenging as clinical can be, it is important to maximize this incredible experience, and trust me it flies by. Here are some tips that will hopefully set you up for success and help you get the most out of your clinical rotation:

To Prepare

Revisit Your MNT book

At Larkin, you have the chance to work with patients with a wide-range of chronic and acute illness with important nutritional ramifications. It is important to have a strong understanding of these disease states beforehand. Some key illnesses to brush up on are: Diabetes, chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, encephalopathy, and GI disorders.

Know your Medical Abbreviations

An important part of your day in clinical will be pre-charting your patients before you evaluate them in person. To do this you will be reading many notes and reports written by physicians, nurses, and other members of the multi-disciplinary team. You will also be using medical terminology and abbreviations in your note. Know the abbreviations used in our field in advance so you don’t waste time researching them and feeling in the dark.

Review Nutrition Diagnoses and Practice Writing PES Statements

Choosing and correctly phrasing a nutrition diagnosis for initial assessments and follow-ups is an integral aspect of our position. Feeling prepared and familiar with using these correctly will go a long way. The Nutrition Care Manual is a great resource for determining the best nutrition diagnosis for any given nutrition related ailment.

To Organize

A Binder is a Must Have

When I first started clinical I thought I’d be fine with just a notebook and a small folder- I quickly realized I was wrong. Our preceptors at Larkin do an amazing job at providing us with excellent resources and reference materials during the rotation. There are plenty of papers involved and you’ll want a binder to organize everything.

Use Folders and Plastic Page Covers

There are several documents that you will need to refer to constantly. Your formulary, standards of care, nutrition diagnoses sheet to name a few. Slip these into your binder in a clear plastic insert to protect them and to access them faster and easier. You won’t want to be digging through a thick stack of papers all the time.

Get a Clip Board

You will also want to make sure you are as organized as possible when you go to visit your patients. Having a clipboard to write on easily and to keep your patient information, diet surveys, and other materials organized and accessible is extremely helpful.

To Do

Take Notes when your Preceptor is Reviewing Assessments and Follow-Ups

In the beginning of the rotation you will probably be a little unsure of your initial assessment and follow-up notes. Will you miss calculate a patient’s needs, phrase a diagnoses wrong, forget the correct intervention? You will- and it’s ok. After all, we are here to learn, and growing from mistakes is one of the best ways to that. Take notes about the changes that need to be made to your recommendations to avoid making mistakes twice and to remember important information.

Talk to Previous Interns

I was lucky to start my clinical rotation just as the previous interns were finishing staff relief. This was a great opportunity to ask questions and get some valuable training from them. If your clinical rotation doesn’t overlap with other clinical interns you will still have the opportunity to get to know interns that have completed clinical during your didactic hours.

Don’t Get Stressed

If you’ve never worked directly with patients and other health care professionals in the hospital setting, it may take a few weeks to get comfortable. There is a lot of new information to digest and understand as well as getting acclimated to the work environment. Do not worry. Most interns feel this way at first, give yourself a little time and you’ll be a pro before you know it. Good luck!