[mario_ragucci]

Yesterday at clinicals I asked our instructor, at the end of the day's group meeting, what a nursing student should do if the nurses atthe rehab center I was at won't talk to you, when you attempt to obtain PT related information like meds... or anything. I know they can see my school patch I wear on my arm.

Anyway...someone heard me say this, and on my way out themeeting an unknown employee there, who said he/she was a employee there, and she knew who I was talking about, and she thinks I should watch my mouth ifi am gonna talk about someone. Jeez, she knew me and what sector i was in and I never seen her before.

I tell ya, I could not want anything less than for anyone to get negative with me, and I can communicate well and accept everything you say. During our exchange, he/she said "I'm tired of you -hospital nurses- coming here and talking down to us." Hospital nurses, wait, but I am a nursing student

Yesterday i wore my Long White Lab coat, and since i am a euro-caucasion american 38 yo male, I'm thinking maybe some people may bugout at this sight, or at least be INDIMIDATED by it.

Do "HOSPITAL NURSES" and "sniff NURSES" interact well? Do you automatically expect an additude to accompany a type of apparel? A long white lab coat? A nice looking woman in a business suit? Young? Old? Size? Gender? Plus, the way times are today, people make attempts to conceal their ID's, if they wear them at all, which makes having any conversation blocked.

What unknown animosity do RN harbor based on location.

[lvn2b2002]

I would tell you just from my personal experience at clinicals as LVN student, there are some nurses and floors that are not receptive to nursing students. In our case, we go to our instructor and our instructor talks to either the charge nurse or the nurse manager regarding the problem, and if we were to do something wrong, the same applies, they go to our instructor. Don't let it bother you, there is always a bad apple in the bunch, and what they aren't thinking about is you may one day be their co-worker...or replacement. Don't sweat it, you did the correct thing...

[baseline]

Mario...you are in for a long career if you don't learn to lighten up. Stop taking everythink so seriously and this thinking you intimidate is.......... well Im not sure.....Im grumpy...sorry...leaving now.....:-)

[fab4fan]

Agreed!

[mario_ragucci]

Thank you baseline and lvn2be

It bother me all day today and last night and put me at stress. When you say lighten up, do you mean for me to forget about it? I am trying to, but i am perplexed why people get all up and up as opposed to calmly talking. I don't know why it bothers me. I feel kind of threatened r/t (1)miscommunication (2)misunderstanding AEB negative verbal confrontation :-(

PS Fab4fan - "You tell me it's the institution, well, you know, you better free your mind instead"

[Pretzlgl]

I think lightening up means don't let it bother you so much in the first place. When I was in nsg. school and a nurse wouldn't help with info., I would just look in the chart and move on. Actually, we weren't supposed to ask the nurses in the first place - we had to find out the info. for ourselves. One of the best lessons I have learned as a nurse is to let things roll off your back - don't take things personally. Of course things happen and yes sometimes they still bother me, but take some deep breaths and move on. Focus on the patients. baseline is right that you will be in for a long career otherwise. I certainly mean no disrespect as you seem like a sensitive and caring person - just learn not to care what other people think/do/say behind your back. And your career will be so much easier for you. Peace!

[MSWhits]

I totally agree w/ pretzigl re: do not be concerned w/ other's opinions because you are only going to waste precious emotional/mental energy on areas that really don't matter. Focus on how you can communicate more effectively and if necessary you may have to speak one on one with certain individuals...so let it go and enjoy yourself. Keep a healthy sense of self and humor and you will be a nurse for many rewarding years!
Good Luck!

[NurseRoseBeetle]

Dear Future Nurse,
Get ready to enter the wonderful world of nursing. Your experience is mild compared to what s ahead of you. We are a nasty lot. If you survive nursing school and the rigors of the vile instructors, you will encounter a new form of "nursing nastiness " as a GN during orientation. I am a 43 yo Gn who is currently working as an ED nurse in a major city hospital. I thank my lucky stars every day. I have had some VEERY NASTY experiences. Yes, nurses DO eat their young, especially their old young and especially their old male young. Don't believe anything anyone tellls you, bring your drug book, and check EVERY med that you give at least 10 times. Nursing is politics. Don't tell anyone your personal business and they will like you better if they think your life is miserable. Learn from others nastiness and do not do as they do. Its up to us to change the way we treat each other. The patient comes first and should be treated with compassion. All of the BS (nastiness of the RNs towards each other is pure folly) Along with our clinical and academic knowledge, we learn to be ugly towards each other in nursing school. Believe what I tell you and watch your behind!

[SKM-NURSIEPOOH]

I too have to agree with Pretzlgl

My program doesn't allow students to ask the nursing staff for any information that can be looked-up first...that's why we have to do what is called patient research where we get our assignments the night before clinicals & look-up all of the dx, meds/tx, & labs. This way, we're prepared to care for the patients without losing valuable clinical time. You just have to feel-out those nurses whom are organized & on top of their game & whom don't mind answering a few questions while you either observe or assist. Most teaching hospitals encourage staff to help-out as much as possible with students...I guess it depends on the facility. If you find cranky, unorganized, & overwhelmed people all over....those are the ones to stay away from.

Another way to take the phrase: "Lighten-up" would be to just not to take everything personally or to just let some things roll off your back so to speak. You're definitely too busy to concern yourself with how other people behave...even when they're being sh*ty to you...you're just an easy target for their frustration!!!

Some people aren't good "people persons" & many have entered the nursing profession for reasons other than to care for the sick; e.g. I've heard former LPN students talk about how they couldn't wait to become a nurse, meet a handsome dr, get married, & only have to work in his office. Some people may think that nursing is glamorous & really don't realize just how unglamorous, back breaking, & stressful it is. I had friends say that if they become nurses, they would only works with children...people don’t realize how hard it is to see really sick & dying kids. Some think its a walk in the park to be say a school nurse...that job isn't easy either...there's a lot of stress when you're it for them & they completely depend on your assessment & expertise.

So...hold on my friend ...take several deep breaths when these sorts of thing happen to you in the future...for you know it will occur again....& let it be they're problem ...not yours.

Luv - Moe

[baseline]

Agree with all the above...pretzlgl said it very well....this is a rewarding but tough career choice....and a good sense of humor will take you a long way...You have enough to worry about without concerning yourself with small petty snips of someone you don't even know....