[Angie O'Plasty, RN]

Originally Posted by augigi

Are you serious? Who penalizes students for accidents?

Of course I'm serious! Those were the rules at that time--no needlesticks, no med errors, no IV pushes, no giving meds without the instructor present.

No exceptions.

They figured if you, a student, are being as careful as can be and this stuff happens in a monitored clinical settting, what'll happen when you're on your own?

Like I said in my earlier post, things have obviously changed since I was in school.

[JentheRN05]

I think if it were me - I'd put aside my pride and apologize. You are in nursing school. It is a dog eat dog world that doesn't take much to lose your place. In the end by putting up an arguement about this you are pulling much attention to a subject that is sensitive in nature and should not be allowed to continue because if it does you will get 'labeled' as a problem child.
You don't want that label in nursing school because after that - the wrong move will send you out of the school. Instructors talk - trust me it's a fact. You need to put this behind you - whether you were right or not - and move on. Dragging this out is only detrimental to you - and your school.
So put your pride aside and do what must be done - or risk the consequences.

[ktwlpn]

Originally Posted by Diahni

Hello All,
Thanks so much for all the feedback. Can anyone tell me...
1. Can you grow "thick skin"? The personal qualities required for a nurse are a real conundrum - nurses should be very sensitive to the needs of patients, and overlook some real nasty stuff thrown at us.
2. I thought "harrassment" means "the repeated taunting" of another person.
About gossip - I thought the privacy agreement we all have to sign is as important as HIPPA, though it is not a federal mandate.
Some pals who are nurses at the hospital told me I oughta report her, but I chose to contact her directly. I just don't see how it is harassment.
Diahni

You called her at home and threatened her-what don't you get? She should have kept her mouthshut but you never should have called her at home.As others have said you need to let it go.Be the bigger person,suck it up and apologize.But remember -in any facility you work in the future whenever you make a mistake people are going to talk. posts show that you are not ready or willing to learn from this experience.I think you need to mature as a nurse....good luck

[Avelinne]

The CNA was out of line. You became a patient the minute that you got stuck. SHE violated HIPPA, I would report her. The fact that you were used as the "joke of the day" and that the instructors did not squash this from the minute that they became aware of it happening tells me that both the staff and instructors are not being positive role models for the nursing students. Your "mistake" can have life-long health issue implications for you. Where is the compassion shown to you, their fellow nurse? The instructor could have turned this incident into a "what NOT to do if this happens", all of us nurses are vulnerable to an accidental needle stick.
I would not apologize to the CNA, her insensitivity to you is an example of what kind of nurse she will become. Ignore the request to apologize, and as you continue in clinicals remember that the power of gossip only has power over you if you allow it to.
Good Luck to you and I pray that you stay well!
Avelinne

[PeaceonearthRN]

Review the words of Eleanor Roosevelt:

Great people talk about ideas
Good people talk about things
Others talk about people.

You cannot control what others do; you can only control your response.!! Believe me, I know this well! Try not to allow other people's need to avoid their own inadequacies infiltrate your soul.

[barefootlady]

Both of you deserve a dose of discipline.

Act like professionals.

[PeaceonearthRN]

As a new graduate, I have seen a lot worse beheavior than gossip or rumor spreading.

I would love to see people 'act' like professionals. It would make my new role a lot easier.

[Batman24]

I would let it go and consider it a lesson learned for the future. Chances are this will all blow over in a few days and I'd let it. If she shares private info again I would take it up the proper chain of command. And I wouldn't address a work situation outside of the hospital/school again. It's not a good practice.

[K98]

Originally Posted by Diahni

Greetings All,
I've never started a thread, but this is a doozey, and wanted adivice. I am an older last year RN student. In my clinicals I slightly stuck myself while giving an insulin shot. I reported it immediately. The next day in class, a 2nd year student says the first year students were "buzzing" about how I messed up, i.e., the lights were too dim in the room, I didn't have my teacher right there, etc. I determined the source of the story, a cna who was working on the same patient. I called her and said I was doing her a favor by calling her instead of reporting her. I basically told her she's shouldn't be talking about things that go on in the hospital. She then called my clinical instructor, whom she knows, and told her to tell me she was going to complain to the school that I "harassed" her. What a joke! To add insult to injury, my clinical instructor told me I should swallow my pride and APOLOGIZE to this girl. Unreal. I refused to do so, as it was she, and no I who violated the privacy statement we must sign to work in the hospital. I am tempted now to report her. Advice please! (I'm a little upset my clinical instructor, who is a dear person, seemed more concerned about the cna than me - the patient has MRAS and VRE, and I'm going through the blood tests, etc.)
Diahni

Put a hand on each of the CNA's shoulders, look her right in the eyes, and head butt her on the bridge of her nose. When she comes to, she will see the light. Next?

[cherrybreeze]

I don't believe you were in the right calling her at home, and one of the keys to that IMO is your statement to her that you were "doing her a favor"....that sounds threatening.

Not trying to pick on you, but I read several of your posts in another thread about dropping out of a nursing school because of how the instructors treated you, etc....do you think maybe the biggest part of the problem is your perception of other peoples' behavior? Seems like everyone has it out for you...