Clinical preparation requirements are written and specified by the faculty member and the course objectives. Preparation includes collecting information regarding the assigned patient/client(s). This includes demographics, allergies, medical and nursing diagnoses, history of the current problem, medications, activity level, laboratory and diagnostic data and current treatment orders. Students are expected to utilize the nursing process in planning patient/client care and identifying patient problems.

When obtaining patient/client data during periods outside the actual clinical lab time, students must wear name pins, dress professionally and identify themselves as GCC nursing students to unit staff. Clinical preparation time is not included in the scheduled clinical time. Students may be expected to be at the clinical agency up to one hour prior to the beginning of the clinical day.

Students are expected to begin clinical on time. Students who are late for clinical will be excluded from patient care until the instructor is satisfied that the student is adequately prepared. Continued inadequate preparation will result in dismissal from clinical day. Specific clinical sites do not accommodate a late clinical arrival. This information will be communicated to students.

Practical Nursing Clinical

Written clinical assignments are essential assessments of the student learning outcomes. Written clinical assignments must be submitted according to assignment guidelines. All clinical assignments must be handwritten. See the Written Assignment Policy in the Practical Nursing section for details on grading and submission requirements.