Carle Foundation Hospital Participative Observation Details

Time: 6:30 am to 2:00 pm; Be prepared to stay on campus for lunch. The cafeteria will be open and there is also a microwave there for use but no refrigerator.

Directions to Carle in Urbana: Take 1-74 East to Urbana to Exit 183 for Lincoln Ave. Turn right onto N. Lincoln Ave. Turn left on W. University – you will clearly see the hospital. You may park in the SouthParking deck which is located on the south side of University Avenue, off McCullough street.

Important: Do NOT park at the county fairgrounds. There is no shuttle service on the weekend.

Your instructor will meet you in the “breezeway”. This is not the “main entrance”. If you have been to Carle before and taken the shuttle it is where the shuttle pick up and drop off is located. It is a fairly long walk from south clinic parking but totally “inside” walking which is nice if the weather is bad. It is a little faster if you decide to walk outside to the hospital.

The pediatric unit is a “locked” unit and you will need a badge to enter. I will have badges for all students and will distribute in the breezeway. Once everyone is gathered we will go to the unit located on the 8th floor of the north tower. Please do NOT be late!

What to wear: Dress appropriately in MCN uniform, lab coat, ID tag and hair pulled up. Be sure you don’t have anything on your hairband or name badge that might fall off.

What to Bring:

  • Your stethoscope, wristwatch, penlight, black pen and clipboard.
  • A copy of the CHOI/Carle peds mini-assessment care plan for documentation
  • Personal items are not locked so bring minimal cash.
  • No computers and absolutely NO CELL PHONES on the pediatric floor. Please give family members the main phone number to Carle: 383-3311 and tell them to ask to be put through to the Pediatric unit if there is an emergency need to contact you.

How to Prepare:

Look up: RSV, Reactive Airway Disease, Cerebral Palsy, Sickle cell anemia, Cystic Fibrosis, and Fractures. Be prepared for LOTS of respiratory issues. Review in your Nursing Care of Children texts: Vital Signs and basic assessment of children under 5 yrs. old: See &

Take time at the simulation lab to practice taking blood pressures on a child mannequin.

Growth and development: be familiar with stages of growth and development – allowing for any deficiencies related to disease process, genetic, trauma, or metabolic issues. Must know how to approach and communicate with your patient on a developmentally appropriate level. Bring any handouts or books that may help with this.

Preconference:

We will meet before going on the floor. There is a lovely conference room just outside the unit that I have reserved for our use. At that time you will receive your patient assignments and the name of the nurse caring for that patient. You will also receive the needed codes for accessing the med room, snack room, dirty utility room, etc. You will be expected to meet with your nurse and get 0700 report.

During clinical you will do the following:

  • 1:1 with RN caring for your patient—you will be assigned to one pediatric patient to focus on. More than one student may be with a nurse, so your focus is on your assigned child, with the understanding that you will maximize your learning for this observational experience by telling your primary nurse that you would like to go with her for any med administrations, g-tube feedings, TPN feeding assessments, central line dressing changes, etc.
  • One physical assessment (or more if possible) will be done with your clinical instructor.
  • Completion of the Mini Peds Assessment and Care Plan which will be submitted under NUR 317 Assignments in ReggieNet. Your clinical instructor will grade and return to students electronically.
  • Shadow clinical interventions or processes of care
  • Feedings
  • Med Administration
  • Admissions and Discharges
  • Respiratory Treatment
  • Assist with feedings under supervision (RN and/or clinical faculty member)
  • Provide diversion and comfort with child
  • Response of child to hospitalization
  • Developmentally appropriate diversion
  • Learn the role of the child life specialist
  • Other appropriate learning opportunities as clinical instructor deems appropriate

What students will not do:

  • Give medications unless specifically with clinical instructor
  • Document in the health record other than vital signs.
  • Administer treatments alone; you may assist with a treatment
  • Do procedures (e.g. start an IV)
  • Do patient and/or family teaching, you may assist with teaching

If you are ill or have an issue, please contact your assigned faculty member. You will also need to notify your America’s Promise instructor via e-mail the same day. Make ups will be arranged by Mary Volle Cranston, clinical course leader

Carle Clinical Faculty Member Fall 2017

  • Michele Spading, MS, RN
  • Cell: 217 898-9668
  • Email address: or