[Kiren]

As a nursing student I am having a hard time understanding why a good number of nurses are so nasty to nursing students. Don't they realize that we are the people who will help fill the shortages in their facilities making their jobs easier? Don't get me wrong, I have worked with some great nurses who have been very helpful to me during my clinical rotations. However, the nurses who "eat their young" should know that nursing students compare notes. We warn each other about facilities or units where the nurses have treated us poorly and do not apply for jobs in those places. If your facility has a staffing shortage, being nice to student nurses may help fill the gap later on.

[crissrn27]

I think we have covered this sufficiently in several other threads. Nurses do NOT hold the monopoly on being rude to people. Every profession has some jerks. Just gotta deal with it. Hopefully by being assertive and professional yourself. You aren't anyones "young" but your parents, you are an adult, they don't let children into nursing schools. If someone is being rude/abrasive/mean act like an adult and tell them so (nicely, of course)!

I am always nice and helpful to students, I know who I will be working with one day!

[oneLoneNurse]

Originally Posted by Kiren

As a nursing student I am having a hard time understanding why a good number of nurses are so nasty to nursing students. Don't they realize that we are the people who will help fill the shortages in their facilities making their jobs easier? Don't get me wrong, I have worked with some great nurses who have been very helpful to me during my clinical rotations. However, the nurses who "eat their young" should know that nursing students compare notes. We warn each other about facilities or units where the nurses have treated us poorly and do not apply for jobs in those places. If your facility has a staffing shortage, being nice to student nurses may help fill the gap later on.

I agree with you Kiren. I don't know why they do that. Nurses just do not consider it part of their job to train people. They figure you should grasp it, first time around. That to me is not training.

Good luck to you in your future studies and please don' t let them get to you.

[queenjean]

But they're so tasty....

[MedSurgeNewbie]

There are people who just dont play well with others, be they nurses or what ever. I had an instructor once tell me that rude nurses will teach ya just as much even if its just how you don't want to be. Sometimes it helps just to figure that "mary" must be having a bad day. Good luck in your future studies, I am sure you will meet better people, I work now with a nurse I met 1st semester who I admire and still try to model my self after

[canoehead]

I think there's ignorance on both sides of the issue. Your instructor should be able to mediate major conflicts, but keep in mind that some people are just jerks (students AND grads).

[crissrn27]

Originally Posted by canoehead

but keep in mind that some people are just jerks (students AND grads).

Exactly!! Also, lots of other people in the world besides nurses.

[Donnetterr]

When I was in nursing school, I met a nurse now and again who seemed determined I should "pay my dues" just like she had to, in the sense that she had a miserable beginning as a nurse, and so should I. I finally spoke with one of them directly and explained a bit about my life and why, as an over 30 college student, there had been plenty of dues paying in my life and childhood. She relaxed and I hope I helped her to judge people less harshly. I found that some nurses who are nasty to the newbies are just exercising the small amount of power they perceive they have, in a unit that has been nasty to them, or in a hospital where management doesn't appreciate nurses at all. I have found that the direct approach works best. I asked one nurse, "What can I do to make your day easier? I am here to help you, even though I sense you see me as just another irritation in a bad day." She ended up showing me a lot of things.

[Cattitude]

Originally Posted by Kiren

As a nursing student I am having a hard time understanding why a good number of nurses are so nasty to nursing students. Don't they realize that we are the people who will help fill the shortages in their facilities making their jobs easier? Don't get me wrong, I have worked with some great nurses who have been very helpful to me during my clinical rotations. However, the nurses who "eat their young" should know that nursing students compare notes. We warn each other about facilities or units where the nurses have treated us poorly and do not apply for jobs in those places. If your facility has a staffing shortage, being nice to student nurses may help fill the gap later on.

Hi Kiren,

You bring up some valid points. I would like to give you some information that may help you if you have a little time. If you use the search button at the bottom of this page and type in "nurses eating young" or something like that, I'm sure you will get some of the recent threads that we have had. Many of us contributed thoughts, the threads got quite lengthy and it may help you to read some of it.

Good luck in your futrue endeavors and post often!

[SmilingBluEyes]

There are a lot of threads on this subject here at our site. I would encourage you do a search and you will find a lot of interesting and educational reading.

I also encourage anyone feeling "eaten" gain skills of self-assertion and if truly being bullied, seek help. Here is a resource for you to help you cope with bullies in all walks of life:

www.bullyonline.com


remember, in so many cases, half of any equation like this is YOU....you can change a few things, mainly, your attitude and how you react to such people who give you a hard time. I wish you good luck. Hang in there.