[softstorms]

Before I became a nurse......I worked as a gas station attendent.....Yep......washed your window and filled your tanks (many years ago) Then as a Waitress......(can I help you and what dressing would you like with that?) So.....now.... Do I eat my own?.....
Depends on what I see. NOPE...If you are new to this field....I will help you....If you are new to everything? I will try. We are so challenged to keep up with everything that sometimes we forget you are new.
If this will help ..... pay attention, act like you want to know.....step up and take a hand in what is going on. Take notes, and remember what is important. Don't act like you have never seen this before, because you will again. LOL
LAUGH, because this job will never change, but you will.

[Katie91]

Originally Posted by Ginger45

I don't know what to say. I am disgusted that she would behave in such a manner. We were all students at one time or another. I always enjoyed the students. It was alot of help actually.

I can tell a funny story. The first time I was in nursing school (1980), there was a really mean nurse with hair so stiff with hairspray that it did not move. Another student and I were standing at the nurses station, the nurse was charting. Someone moved the chart rack which was round (circular) and a chart caught in her hair. She never even noticed but it made her hair stand straight up on one side when the person forced the rack to move. She walked around that way all day.

LOL Ginger!!

Thank goodness the 80's mile high hair is a thing of the past, although some feel the need to desperately hang on to the look

[nanacarol]

Annie09, you are right, the instructor should have spoken up to the nurse manager, but since she was afraid and unwilling to do so, there are things you can do. Friendly, in your face questions like, "Oh, you must have forgotted to give report to the covering RN about us students, I am sure it is easy to forget us since the general concensus of some of the RNs is that we are in the way thank goodness you aren't one of those". I've got your back next time, okay? Have this conversation in front of another staff RN so that she has to confirm her appreciation of appear as an A.. It is amazing how effective this kind of "innocent" response is. And it can be used in patient care situations as well, you say something like, " oh mr. so and so, I apologize for not introducing my self I am the budding student and nurse such and such has agreed to show me the ropes, doesn't do a fantastic job?" Never blink or give any indication that she has just put you down. She ends up looking like a fool and will back off after the 2nd or 3rd time of being put on front street. Good pickings. I've been there and done this. Nanacarol

[kimbacats]

Boy, I'm sure feeling that way right now! I am two years out of school, just moved to a new state and could use some advice. I went straight from school to doing the intake and referral for a hospice and home health agency (in hindsight I think I may have cheated myself a bit), but after working in a hospital for 20+ years as a unit clerk/CNA, (as you can see I was an "older" student) decided that was not the place for me. Anyway, my husband and I just moved, and the job I was offered was on an acute care ward in a very small (24 bed) hospital. I was very up front with the DON and told her I didn't have any clinical experience to speak of, and she assured me that I would have a preceptor during my 90 day probationary period. Well....let's just say she and I were from different worlds. (the preceptor, not the DON) I can get along with anyone, and believe me I tried! I'm sure she meant well, but she was very....blunt and aggressive towards me. After two months, the DON sat me down and we had a lengthy discussion, mutually deciding that acute care wasn't the place for me. She was very nice and actually offered to write a letter of recommendation because she felt I worked well with the patients, just didn't have the "speed" needed for that setting. (I agree, I'm 47 and not the healthiest thing) I didn't feel comfortable with my limited skills (aside from the unpleasant preceptor), and my priority is of course my patients safety. I truly love spending time with patients, hospital work just isn't my cup of tea. Does anyone have any suggestions? I feel I am more suited for paperwork, but after this (I basically feel as if I've been fired), I am quite down on myself and wonder if I should just give it up? Sorry this is so long, but it's good to get it off my chest...

[nanacarol]

Have you considered MDS, just to become familiar with the needs of the patients in particular long term care environment and the parameters for payment. You could then move to a more patient focused area but you would bring an understanding of the financial mandates from nursing. There are so many areas available to the RN, don't give up, It does not sound as if you had the support you needed. Nanacarol

[kimbacats]

Thanks so much-and I hate to sound dumb, but what is MDS? I really appreciate your input- I hate to throw in the towel this soon!

[kimbacats]

I've often wondered about psych nursing, although I don't know much about it. I do like spending time with patients and talking to them. I am at such a loss right now! (Down but not out!) Anyone with ideas on this?

[Miami NightNurse]

Originally Posted by kimbacats

Boy, I'm sure feeling that way right now! I am two years out of school, just moved to a new state and could use some advice. I went straight from school to doing the intake and referral for a hospice and home health agency (in hindsight I think I may have cheated myself a bit), but after working in a hospital for 20+ years as a unit clerk/CNA, (as you can see I was an "older" student) decided that was not the place for me. Anyway, my husband and I just moved, and the job I was offered was on an acute care ward in a very small (24 bed) hospital. I was very up front with the DON and told her I didn't have any clinical experience to speak of, and she assured me that I would have a preceptor during my 90 day probationary period. Well....let's just say she and I were from different worlds. (the preceptor, not the DON) I can get along with anyone, and believe me I tried! I'm sure she meant well, but she was very....blunt and aggressive towards me. After two months, the DON sat me down and we had a lengthy discussion, mutually deciding that acute care wasn't the place for me. She was very nice and actually offered to write a letter of recommendation because she felt I worked well with the patients, just didn't have the "speed" needed for that setting. (I agree, I'm 47 and not the healthiest thing) I didn't feel comfortable with my limited skills (aside from the unpleasant preceptor), and my priority is of course my patients safety. I truly love spending time with patients, hospital work just isn't my cup of tea. Does anyone have any suggestions? I feel I am more suited for paperwork, but after this (I basically feel as if I've been fired), I am quite down on myself and wonder if I should just give it up? Sorry this is so long, but it's good to get it off my chest...

I don't know Kimbacats There are small towns up in that area where people treat outsiders strangly to say the least-maybe that was the problem with the preceptor. With you not having experience in acute care you needed a good perceptor!!! Don't be down on yourself you didn't have a chance if your preceptor wasn't working well with you and this includes getting along well with he or she.

[Spectre]

Originally Posted by wyoming

Any "seasoned" nurses out there with advice for getting along with the R.N.'s , L.P.N.'s during clinicals?

This will annoy the crud out of you, but act dumb, really really dumb. And refuse to take any initiative. its a horrible suggestion i know, but trust me, it works. I went from an advanced LPN to an RN, and in the 3 years of uni never learnt one single new skill, and on pracs i wasn't allowed to do dozens of things that i did every day at work. and when i showed initiative within my very limited boundaries (like doing the obs round without being told) people would freak out. but when i started to just sit around waiting to be told to do everything the nurses preceptoring me were happy as.

pathetic i know, but welcome to the industry. just be careful, if you get a decent nurse who actually likes students, playing dumb will annoy her. but lets face it, in your entire time learning, you'll probably only ever come across 2 of them.

if you're really lucky you'll crack a nurse who actively goes out of her way to teach students, but they are few and far between, most nurses that have the skills and time management to be able to spend the extra time teaching are usually the ones who go around finding faults with others.

[Miami NightNurse]

Originally Posted by Spectre

This will annoy the crud out of you, but act dumb, really really dumb. And refuse to take any initiative. its a horrible suggestion i know, but trust me, it works. I went from an advanced LPN to an RN, and in the 3 years of uni never learnt one single new skill, and on pracs i wasn't allowed to do dozens of things that i did every day at work. and when i showed initiative within my very limited boundaries (like doing the obs round without being told) people would freak out. but when i started to just sit around waiting to be told to do everything the nurses preceptoring me were happy as.

pathetic i know, but welcome to the industry. just be careful, if you get a decent nurse who actually likes students, playing dumb will annoy her. but lets face it, in your entire time learning, you'll probably only ever come across 2 of them.

if you're really lucky you'll crack a nurse who actively goes out of her way to teach students, but they are few and far between, most nurses that have the skills and time management to be able to spend the extra time teaching are usually the ones who go around finding faults with others.

Where are you people working???? Every nurse on my 51 bed floor
is willing and happy to teach the new nurses. And acting dumb would not thrill me. People didn't make it through nursing school being dumb so I'd be curious where this person came from. Did this nurse know you had been an LPN?? Because if I didn't know the new nurse had been an LPN I might not like her taking the initiative to to things that I feel the first time should be done with a perceptor. But if I knew you had been an LPN then I wouldn't care, in fact I'd be happy if you took the initiative.