Student nurses etnphasize 'total client care' in clinicals I n one room, the heart monitor steadily beat, a constant reminder of life outside, as nurses and doctors rushed up and down the halls of Central Arkansas Hospital. Next door a patient lay awaiting the results of a cancer test, praying the doctor would utter the word "benign." Clinicals were a nursing student's opportunity to experience actual hands-on training from doctors and nurses at hospitals. Many people did not realize exactly what went into a day of clinicals for a nursing major until they had experienced it. Each student was assigned a patient and worked under the supervision of a registered nurse and the instructor. The students arrived at Central Arkansas Hospital at 6:30 a.m. and met with their instructor, Susan Smith, R.N., an instructor in the Harding School of Nursing, who gave them their assignment for the day. Before going to their designated areas, they listened to a report on the progress of their patients. The students experienced a lot in a day. Tracy had a patient who had just had her gall bladder removed and still needed to be watched very closely. In only one hour, Tracy checked on her five times, racing back and forth from the patient's room to the nurses ' station as she kept up with the patient and her charts. After checking on her patient, Tracy made rounds, meaning that she followed a doctor to patients' rooms and chec.ked the condition of each patient. Afflictions ranged from broken pelvie bones to fatal stomach cancer. Student nurses were not certified to do all that registered nurses were. They did not prepare patients for surgery, draw blood or give shots, but they knew how to perform these tasks. Smith commented on a Gregory Scott Fraley - Scottsdale, AZ. Marketing. Chi Sigma Alpha (Spring Sing Director), Ameri can Studies, Club Beau (Regi na), Dean's Li st, Delta Mur Delta, Intramu rals (A ll-Star), In te rcoll egiate Athletics (Track), FACT. Yvonne Rachel Francois - Livonia , MI. Nursing. David F. Frazier - Searcy, AR. Accoun ting. Kappa Tau Omega (Histo rian), Ame rican Studies, Dean 's List, Del ta Mu Delta , Pi Gamma Psi, Student Impact (Group Leader ). Richard Allen Frazier - Lathrop, MO. Elementary Education. Deborah Jean French - Bartlett, TN. Office Systems. Dactology Club (Secreta ry, Treasurer, Vice President , President) , Dean's Li st, French Club. Kevin Wayne Gann - Paola, KS. Accoun ting. Onetta Lyn Gardner - Andover, KS. Office Systems. GATA, Ame ri can Studies, Dean's List, Delta Mu Delta, Interco llegiate Athletics (Volleyball, Indoor Track), JOY, Student Impact (Group Leader) . Eugene Jay Garrison - Round Lake Beach , IL. History and Social Science. King's Men, American Studies, Campus min ist ry, Dean's List, Phi Alpha Theta, Resident Assistant. Rachel Ann Garrison - Bentonville, AR. Public Relations. Chi Lambda Chi, A Cappella, Band (Flag Corps), Bison Staff (Reporter), JOY, KCHA, PRSSA, TV-19. James Allen Gentry - Searcy, AR. Bible. Renee Lynette Gentry - Searcy, AR. Mathematics. Tony Lee Gentry - Troy, IL. Bible. Chi Sigma Alpha , Campaigns (Chorale), Choral e, Club Beau (Omega Phi) , Dean 's List, Outreach, Student Impact, Timothy Club , Universi ty Chorus. Alice Janell Gill - Allensvi lle , KY. Music Education. Regina, A Cappella (Women 's Ensembl e), Alpha Chi , Bell es and Beaux (Student Director) , Campaigns (A Cape ll a European Tour) , Dean 's List, Spring Sing Hostess, Student Impact, Unive rsity Chorus, University Singers (Secreta ry). Frank Riley Gill - Nashville, TN. Accounting. Kimberly D. Gilless - Memphsi, TN. Nursing. Tri-Kappa, Club Queen (Kappa Sigma Kappa) . nurse's job. "We take care of our clients, and we care for man's four dimensions: physical, social, psychological and spiritual. We emphasize total client care and help our students meet the needs in all four dimensions. We also teach them to focus on individual clients, but they can progress into group clients such as families because that's one of our main concerns." The students returned to campus at about 3:30 p.m., often both physically and STICK ME. Nursing students practiced on inanimate objects before they gained experience in a hospital. Renata Selvidge, junior, prepares to give a shot while Amanda Glidewell, senior, directs her. -Photo by Sharon Bowles. mentally drained from a grueling day. Although the work was hard , the students knew the practical lessons they learned would prove invaluable. -Caroline Pillay Seniors 229
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