Nurses are critical to the success of the health care industry—and they serve as one of the largest groups working toward public and personal health and wellness in the United States.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), nursing is the largest profession in health care, and nurses represent one of the largest segments of the entire U.S. workforce. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis reported that, as of 2023, there are more than 4 million registered nurses currently working in health care in the U.S.

Given the key role that nurses play in achieving positive health outcomes, it’s crucial that they receive high-quality education and training. A pivotal component of the education and training process is nursing clinicals. By completing clinicals, both aspiring nurses and nurses who are pursuing advanced education have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world health care settings.

Clinicals provide students with invaluable experience as they practice carrying out the tasks they’ll perform in their careers. Because this is such a formative phase of a nurse’s education, prospective and experienced nurses alike should be sure to prepare adequately for nursing clinicals to maximize what they learn.

Whether students are taking on-campus or online nursing classes, their educational programs will require them to complete clinicals, which are also called clinical practicums or preceptorships. To prepare for this part of their education, students must understand what clinicals entail.

In performing clinicals, nursing students can apply practical and theoretical nursing knowledge in real-world scenarios. This experience helps enable them to understand the disease process better, strengthening their ability to assess patients’ needs and develop appropriate treatment plans. Clinicals also allow students to learn about the types of nursing in which they prefer to specialize and to develop relationships with potential employers.

Although nursing students frequently complete clinicals in a hospital setting, other locations can offer opportunities for clinicals. For example, clinicals can also take place in:

• Community clinics
• Long-term care facilities
• Mental health facilities
• Surgical centers

This diversity in setting gives prospective nurses the opportunity to experience the nuances, challenges, and benefits of participating in the profession working with new patient groups and considerations.

Regardless of the setting, a typical day in clinicals is likely to follow a similar structure with similar activities and duties required, according to the nursing advocacy group ANA Enterprise. This usually involves a combination of:

• Participation in clinical pre-conferences to review plans and patient assignments
• Provision of hands-on care to patients
• Participation in clinical post-conferences that serve as debriefings in which students can discuss the care they provided to patients

Clinicals allow nursing students to gain hands-on experience in providing direct care to patients under the supervision of experienced nurses. For example, students may be asked to perform any or all of the following patient-focused duties:

• Administer medication
• Assess patients
• Assist other health care professionals with medical procedures
• Help patients maintain hygiene
• Record patients’ medical histories
• Take patients’ vital signs
• Draw blood
• Insert catheters
• Start intravenous lines

For students enrolled in advanced nursing education programs, nursing clinicals are an excellent opportunity to refine decision-making skills and work within their chosen specialties—or explore new areas of nursing. For example:

• Clinicals for students in a family nurse practitioner program may involve conducting a physical exam, rendering a diagnosis, and developing a care plan.
• Clinicals for students in a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program may entail participating in patients’ medication management and therapy sessions. Students could also gain exposure to the process of triaging psychiatric emergencies.
• Clinicals for students in a pediatric nurse practitioner program may involve conducting child wellness exams, screening for childhood illnesses, and providing immunizations.

Thoughtfully preparing for clinicals can help nurses maximize what they learn during this crucial phase of their education. The information below outlines tips for nursing students getting ready for clinical rotations.

Before starting clinicals, it can be helpful for students to:

• Form goals for what they hope to achieve during clinicals
• Cultivate a mindset in which they focus on learning during clinicals and try to set other concerns and distractions aside
• Develop an attitude of learning and focus on clinicals as an opportunity to gain new skills and insight
• Prepare to volunteer for responsibilities if opportunities arise

Students should think in advance about questions they may want to ask. For example, students might want to know basic information, such as the following:

• What is the process for accessing medical supplies?
• How does the health care facility handle patient meals?
• What is a student’s role in disposing of medical waste?
• How does the health care facility handle patient call lights?

It can also be helpful for students to consider how they’ll answer patient questions, including those they may not have the answer to—even if that means telling them they don’t know the answer but will find out and get back to them.

Students can enhance their learning experience by researching the facilities in which they plan on completing clinicals. For example, they can research the following:

• The rating and strengths of the facility in which they plan to complete clinicals
• History of a health care facility
• Overall aspects of a health care facility, such as the patients it serves and the services it offers
• Specific medical area of a health care facility where students will be working (e.g., a clinic or an emergency unit)

Students can also prepare for nursing clinicals by considering practical items such as:

• Bringing a notebook to take notes during clinicals
• Ensuring that they have appropriate attire for clinicals, including finding comfortable and water-resistant shoes
• Planning for getting adequate rest and nutrition
• Bringing a water bottle to stay hydrated

It can also be beneficial for students to reflect on each day during clinicals, noting things such as:

• What they learned
• Any questions they still have
• Lessons from any mistakes they may have made

Students should also plan to carve out time to decompress after clinicals. For example, they can perform self-care activities like exercising, meditating, or spending time outdoors.

Nursing clinicals represent a tremendous opportunity for students to acquire practical experience in providing care to patients. Preparing for clinicals can help students get the most out of this experience and set themselves up for career success.

Individuals interested in advancing their nursing careers can explore Regis College’s online Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing program. The Regis College program offers multiple nurse practitioner specializations, including women’s health and psychiatric mental health, setting the stage for what can be rewarding work in advanced nursing practice.

Start on the path to a nursing career today.