Question from a nursing student

Davey Do · Apr 19, 2012

I just want to know what are things that nursing students do that irritate the RN staff and things that you like that get students on your good side.

Nursing Students who have vision like wild horses wearing blinders stampeding to the chart rack and going at the charts like wild dingos at a feeding frency in order to get whatever their little ADHD minds desire don't get a lot of my respect.

I would take a bullet for those Nursing Stuidents who introduce themselves and make it known that they are on the unit to learn and to help.

Thanks for asking, sairybear. Your action shows some concern, so I have some respect for you. Not enough to take a bullet for you; not yet. But maybe enough to take a bee-bee.

mindlor · Apr 19, 2012

Nursing Students who have vision like wild horses wearing blinders stampeding to the chart rack and going at the charts like wild dingos at a feeding frency in order to get whatever their little ADHD minds desire don't get a lot of my respect.
I would take a bullet for those Nursing Stuidents who introduce themselves and make it known that they are on the unit to learn and to help.
Thanks for asking, sairybear. Your action shows some concern, so I have some respect for you. Not enough to take a bullet for you; not yet. But maybe enough to take a bee-bee.

I hear ya Davey, I really do. However, please understand that many times our clinical instructors often have very specific objectives for us to accomplish in a very short amount of time.

It would be great if our only objecive was to be on the floor and learn and help, but there is always that lingering nagging school stuff that must also be tended to......

Davey Do · Apr 19, 2012

I hear ya Davey

Then hear this: I didn't ask why Nursing Students act the way they do sometimes. I merely answered sairybears enquiry to an RN.

I would encourage you to stay focused and drop the rationales, mindlor.

Submitted with all due respect.

mindlor · Apr 19, 2012

Wow......let me get you some coffee m8.......

mindlor · Apr 19, 2012

I have addressed this via PM and will have nothing more to say on this matter in a public forum.

AnonRNC · Apr 19, 2012

So, getting back to the original question.

Students should:

* introduce themselves & briefly state what the instructor expects the student to do

* be respectful and be on time

* be prepared, but not think they know all the answers

* preface questions with: "Do you have a minute for a question?" - and try to direct questions to the instructor if possible

* communicate with the nurse about what tasks will & will not be done

* communicate with the nurse about times that the student will & will not be present (breaks, post-conference, etc.)

* communicate with the nurse about the patient's status

* offer to help if the opportunity arises

Students should NOT:

* ignore every patient except their own

* take up all the workspace/computers

* act bored

* roll their eyes

* be a know-it-all (even if you do know something, nod & smile & thank the nurse for sharing her knowledge with you)

It never hurts to bring a batch of cookies and a thank-you note.

gmarks · Apr 19, 2012

I will be a nursing student come this fall and I would like to thank you nurses for this information. I would have thought to stay out of ya'lls way, but now I will FIRST introduce myself, and then I will do my best to keep the nurses on the floor informed of what I am doing, and ask to help with ANYTHING that is in my power/ability so that I will learn from those that actually know what they are doing. And I will bring DONUTS, COOKIES, whatever I have to to make their day pleasant with me in their way :)

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Apr 19, 2012

One more thing: if the nurse to whom you are assigned has a task to do, something that you have already done and the nurse is ASKING if you've done it, the best answer is NOT "Oh, I've already done that, I don't have to do it again". Really not the best answer.

If you've already say, inserted a foley, your instructor has passed you on that skill, and the nurse is asking if you can do it, the best answer is "Sure! I'll get that for you." Assuming, of course you ARE allowed, etc etc.

That nurse will remember you as helpful, a team player. But go ahead and let her know that while you COULD do that you don't HAVE TO do that, you have other things of a higher priority, such as reviewing what normal labs are in your textbook, and you can be sure you're on a hit list.

allnurses Guide · Apr 19, 2012

Don't chatter nonstop, ask nonstop questions that if you stopped and though about it you already know the answer to. Clarification is good, ask short to-the-point questions.

If you aren't sure about what the nurse is doing in a room, don't attack her in front of the patient, wait until you both step out and then ask. Undermining your nurse in the room is a bad idea. "What is this for?" is okay, "why on earth are you doing that!?" is not. "How do I describe this wound?", not "is it supposed to look that bad?".

It's okay to say you are first semester and still very new, not "I don't want to do that, I've already checked it off and only want to do something new". Ask "is there anything I can do to help you with your other patients, I"m caught up on mine"

Answer call lights. It is okay to say "I'll tell your nurse" if you can't do what they need.

Open, eager, helpful is good. Good luck! and welcome to the funky fantastic fabulous and infuriating world of nursing!

Goldenhare · Apr 19, 2012

Don't announce a list of things you need to see, ie wound care, or things you need to do, like place a foley, have me acknowledge that 'yes indeed, you can come with me this and do these things', and then DISAPPEAR OFF THE FLOOR! If you no longer want to do those things, then tell me!

ounsrey · Apr 19, 2012

Don't be afraid to ask your nurse questions. You're there to learn and observe, to be hands on.

I agree you should first introduce yourself and what your objective is for the day. Ask if she minds a student nurse. Introduce yourself to the tech assigned to your patient as well. Nursing is about teamwork too.

Also, don't take it personally. All days can be different. If it's a really hectic patient load, your nurse might not be able to teach you as much things as she would like to.