Hovering (a tiny vent)

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2011

Don't run right to the instructor...unless she is doing something that is going to seriously compromise pt safety. Take her aside the next time you are paired with her and say "Look, I feel like you're holding back. Are you nervous? scared? worried you won't know what to say? etc." Let her speak...then address it with "I'm going to help you, but you've got to try. Introduce us when we go in, make small talk with the patient, let them know what we're going to do, and we'll get things done together. I'll talk too. It's a conversation."

Personally, some days its tough to even have that converstation with some patients. Even when they don't want to talk, you have to find a way to get across what you have to do and move on.

It sounds to me like you have a good handle on the personal part of nursing. Be an example and keep it up. Post back and let us know how this works out!

leslie :-D · Jun 8, 2011

personally, i'd likely be inclined to unexpectedly and abruptly, excuse yourself for a moment, announcing, "i'll be back on one minute"... and just leave.

she'd have no choice but to handle the situation.

leslie

babyNP., APRN · Jun 8, 2011

Yeah, don't even give her a choice. I work in a NICU and we have some scared parents who are afraid they will "break" their babies--even the older moms in their late 30s, early 40s! So, I don't give them a choice. If their baby is stable, I just plop the baby in mom's lap. I hand her the thermometer to take the temperature. I coach her on moving the infant around in the bed. I point blank ask, "Are you afraid that you're going to hurt her/him?" Use the opportunity to work through fears.

Of course, it's not a patient, it's a classmate, which could be more annoying since you're not supposed to take charge of her. But you can step up and just be more forceful. I was a nervous student once as well. She may feel dumb if you bring it up point blank (like I had), but it's to help her growth. Good luck.

Chin up · Jun 8, 2011

I definitely agree that you need to be direct.
I took CNA clinicals twice (once was a couple years ago, the most recent one was to refresh those skills).
The first time...I was that girl.
I do have compassion for her because I know how awkward it is to approach strangers assertively, especially when that means pulling their drawers down or something. She may already know what she's doing, at least to a degree, and feel bad about it. I know I did; it made me feel like crap.
But never did anyone really kick my butt. They "hinted" a few times, but that was it. I finished the clinical feeling guilty and mediocre.
The second time, I still felt very shy and nervous, but took so much more initiative - this time, it was for real, and I had to be strong enough to overcome that shyness and insecurity. It worked. A few embarrassing moments, sure, but I came out with more confidence.
She may not feel that way - she REALLY might not feel that way before the end of the class. It's imperative that someone tells her in blunt terms what the problem is. Not only is it going to be best for you and your classmates and the residents, it will be better for her! This is a learning experience, so she should learn from it!
If you are able to explain to her the reason why you're confronting her this way - because she's not learning what she just paid money to learn - this should sufficiently soften the blow. You ARE looking out for her, even if you are also looking out for yourself.

You can't get better advice, than from someone who has been there. Excellent post, I hope she reads it. Peace!

brillohead, ADN, RN · Jun 8, 2011

My classmates (in the first year of an ADN program) all think that I have already been a healthcare provider, b/c of my confidence level. I tell them, point-blank, "Oh HECK no! I'm just REALLY good at acting like I know what I'm doing, and that's half the battle right there!"

Maybe someone just needs to tell her that nursing school is kind of like being a Hollywood actor, and sometimes you just have to fake it until you make it!

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Jun 8, 2011

My instructor stresses to us (CNA students) the importance of being assertive and confident when dealing with residents, co-workers, and family members. Last night during clinical, I was paired with a young lady who was very passive and she hovered. I cannot deal with hovering. She was clinging on to me for dear life.
Now, I am not one to complain about a problem and not be part of the solution. I tried to coach her and help her start a rapport with the residents and the staff at the facility. Unfortunately, that yielded no positive result. To make matters worse, she was a bump on a log until our instructor came into a room to observe. :smackingf
I know an important part of nursing is being a team player but it was just frustrating.
That is all.

I'm not a leader. I am a follower.

In nursing school clinicals I was paired with a student who was the same way. He was basically a bump on a log. I had to be the leader and lead pretty much everything when it came to our patient/assignments. Until one day I was sick of it and "vented" in front of the instructor when I told her what was going on. She told me to confront him about how I feel and let him know what he was doing. So I did and he was pretty upset I didn't go to him first. I apologized for going behind his back to the instructor and not letting him know how I felt first and thats totally understandable. He was fine after that. He actually ended up dropping out of the program but.. it wasn't because of that situation.

I suggest you definitely let her know how you feel before you go to your instructor. See if she improves. Tell her you have to be a team and you want her to succeed and the way shes "taking a backseat" shes never going to learn the skills needed to pass the CNA practical exam.