Some thoughts from a new nursing student

nicurn2083 · Feb 2, 2009

Thank you for reminding us all of this. Congrats on being in nursing school, welcome to a great profession. Hope things go smoothly for you!!!!! Never give up your positive attitude.

Koyaanisqatsi-RN · Feb 2, 2009

Thank you for reminding us all of this. Congrats on being in nursing school, welcome to a great profession. Hope things go smoothly for you!!!!! Never give up your positive attitude.

Thank you! It was extremely tough to get in, so at this point I assume that all my classmates are at the very least competent. I find that when you assume good things in people, that you are not always dissapointed. Even if they aren't good, you didn't waste your own energy being aggravated at someone else. It's exhausting.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2009

I have to admit, your post does come across as a tad sanctimonious. I, too, have had many life experiences prior to becoming a nurse. I earned my first college degree when my children were still in diapers, I worked (and excelled) in a male dominated industry in order to provide for my family, I volunteered for search and rescue as a K9 handler, training two search and rescue K9s to detect lost human beings and the remains of deceased human beings, I raised my children, gave up my family wage job to become a CNA in order to get into nursing school, and graduated at the top of my class in a nationally ranked nursing program while working full time as a nurse's aide. I, too, can toot my own horn.

I do not see any more hostility in my career as a nurse than I did in my previous career. Maybe I'm just fortunate to work in a unit where we try to support one another, not tear each other down. However, if I do complain about a coworker doing a less than stellar job (cough cough), it is because I think that every patient deserves not just a competent nurse, but an excellent one. I have high standards not only for myself, but for those that I work with, upon whom I depend as members of a team. When one team member is not pulling their weight, it affects everyone, and that can be incredibly frustrating. Maybe it's because I'm in a specialty area and I feel that there is no room for mediocrity when working with the patient population that I work with.

I recently had a second year nursing student ask me where to find the Solumedrol for the patient (they only allow second years on our unit, for obvious reasons). I told her it would be in a little glass vial in the patient's med drawer. She picked up the little glass vial of Nitroglycerin and asked me "Would it be in a vial marked "Nitroglycerin?"

I admire your readiness to rise above pettiness and the behavior of tearing one another down that is not endemic to nursing only, but rather, is inherent in American society in general (IMO). However, as admittedly a new nursing student, my advice to you would be to keep an open mind about why people can get so angry about mediocrity when lives are at stake.

Congratulations on getting into nursing school! I know from my experience that this is an accomplishment in and of itself.

SweetLemon · Feb 2, 2009

I think your points are very valid... why are we so mean are harsh on those around us in our field. I will start by saying I am a very new nurse only have been out of school since May and do not profess to know all but I think a lot of the intensity and emotions originate from wanting to provide the best care for our patients. Often times the way to execute the care for a patient is not cut and dry and their are multiple ways to go about it. If their is not always unity in the way care is provided people get frustrated. Do to the nursing shortages nurses are often times asked to take on more patients then they can really handle and this is when corners begin to get cut. If you feel like a patient is receiving less the adequate care its more then likely going to strike a nerve (not that cutting corners is ever right, but we have to admit it does happen). Especially if this is causing an overall detrimental effect to the patient.

With that being said, its important that we keep our attitudes in check when approaching people that we feel may still have some learning to do. The truth of the matter is as a new grad coming out of nursing school you (me included ) have so much to learn that cannot be taught until your feet hit (usually running!). We need to give people the benefit of the doubt, start by assuming that they too want whats best for their patients and just don't yet know how to provide that care. Their are amazing ways to encourage and motivate people that not only help them change specific behaviors but also make them want to strive to provide their best every time.

To the more seasoned nurses out there I want to say thank you for taking us newbies under your wing and teaching us all the things we should have learned in school and didn't, for teaching us your cool tips and tricks, and for giving us a shoulder to cry on when we feel like we are a bit over our heads. I promise someday when I get a chance to teach I will try my best to be kind and remember these days.

ukstudent · Feb 2, 2009

Not trying to be one of the mean ones. But in none of your other jobs have you had the ability to kill people. The stress level from your previous jobs is going to seem small compared with when you become a nurse. In none of your previous jobs has the incompetance of others, or just a simple error made by others had the ability to get you fired. And not just fired, but with your license taken away so you do not have the possiblity of getting another job doing the same thing.

The above stress is an everyday thing, even with adequate staffing and supportive co-workers around you.

Koyaanisqatsi-RN · Feb 2, 2009

I have to admit, your post does come across as a tad sanctimonious. .

Why?

I, too, can toot my own horn.

I think I'm confused...what part of my post did you construe as 'tooting my horn'? Are you referring to my experience? I mentioned it only because I have a versatile frame of reference when I say that there appears to be an aspect of nursing that is, to me, nearly unique to nursing.

. However, if I do complain about a coworker doing a less than stellar job (cough cough), it is because I think that every patient deserves not just a competent nurse, but an excellent one.

Have you read the threads I mentioned? I am not (and specifically did not mention) talking about having issues with a co-worker who is not pulling his or her weight, or is dangerous to their patients. I am not talking about the admittedly many people we do and will come across who make the job very difficult. It's how we handle those people that matters. Some of the things said here, and that I have heard are downright cruel, and reduce the person in question to nothing more than a target for some of the worst vitriol. That's uncalled for, and specifically what I was referencing.

Maybe it's because I'm in a specialty area and I feel that there is no room for mediocrity when working with the patient population that I work with.

Again, I'm not sure where I was endorsing mediocrity. Maybe I misunderstand your point here?

However, as admittedly a new nursing student, my advice to you would be to keep an open mind about why people can get so angry about mediocrity when lives are at stake.

I am extremely open minded about people's varying situations. What I am questioning, is why is anger an acceptable response to that? (your own words!)

I have worked and been around countless incompetent people in my life. I will work and be around many more. What can I do? Report issues when applicable, be supportive of fellow human beings, and keep my patients safe and comfortable. Any more than that is extra-curricular activity and I am NOT interested.

Congratulations on getting into nursing school! I know from my experience that this is an accomplishment in and of itself.

Thank you! As I said before my only hope at this point is that it's been at least somewhat of a filter for people who don't really want to be here. Just a few weeks in and of course I can already tell that a few have slipped through. Again though, that's not my problem, and I don't know their circumstances. Hopefully either my impressions are wrong, or they can turn it around! If not, those are the types of problems that often resolve themselves. If not, there's only so much one can really 'do' about it.

Mommy_of_3_in_AL..RN · Feb 2, 2009

Why are so many of you so hateful saying things like 'schools these days are just churning out the worst grads ever!'

I havent gotten a job yet, as i am set to take my boards tuesday..but i can agree with that statement, because i dont think that the schools themselves should be blamed for the bad nurses out there. Schools try as best they can, with the resources they have, and the staff cutbacks many are experiencing right now. My school did everything in its power to educate great future nurded. The ones that came from that school that will be anything less, can only blame it on themselves. Those that skip out on lecture, dont attend study sessions to help prepare for a test, and talk about the other students and teachers, very badly i must say, are the ones that will know nothing when they get into the real world. The students that cant handle the stress and the drama they encounter in school, are going to be in for a rude awakening when they get out into a real nursing job..and may or may not do so well.

Just my :twocents: worth

Koyaanisqatsi-RN · Feb 2, 2009

With that being said, its important that we keep our attitudes in check when approaching people that we feel may still have some learning to do. The truth of the matter is as a new grad coming out of nursing school you (me included ) have so much to learn that cannot be taught until your feet hit (usually running!). We need to give people the benefit of the doubt, start by assuming that they too want whats best for their patients and just don't yet know how to provide that care. Their are amazing ways to encourage and motivate people that not only help them change specific behaviors but also make them want to strive to provide their best every time.
.

Please understand that I agree with this 100%

I would never suggest that, with regards to nursing, I know already 'how it's done'. I have no idea at this point. I am still very new and learning every last thing I can.

But what I do know, is people and how they react to the type of outrage and anger and rumor mongering and other things that I have witnessed. That's never a good thing for yourself or your co-workers, regardless of where you work or what kind of work it is.

Not trying to be one of the mean ones. But in none of your other jobs have you had the ability to kill people. The stress level from your previous jobs is going to seem small compared with when you become a nurse.

I'm sure this is entirely true. It's not mean to point out that nursing is a field where tensions run high. But to me, that is all the more reason to band together to work the problem, rather than trying to work over each other.

I don't think I've ever denied that this will be the hardest thing I've ever done.

The above stress is an everyday thing, even with adequate staffing and supportive co-workers around you.

So I guess my question to you is this: do you believe that it's inevitable that people will attack each other, just because they are under stress? Again I didn't once suggest that stress isn't in nursing or shouldn't be in nursing. I'm talking about the management of that stress, and what it does to the nursing profession (and in turn, to the patients).

I'm sure most of you have been in that bed before as a patient, and when the nurses hate each other, or there is resentment, you WILL feel it. No matter how well they think they are hiding it.

SunnyAndrsn · Feb 2, 2009

You're right, you caught me, I'm the jerk! I thought I could just keep spreading the rumors and hostility, and the grumbling too...I guess I'm busted.

So, I'm sure many of you have read the various threads around here such as:
1. Things you'd like to tell your co-workers/fellow students/charge nurse etc.
2. Do nurses eat their young?
3. Drama at work
I'm a new nursing student as of this semester, and between reading these types of posts, talking to my sister who is a nurse, and spending time at the hospital, I believe I might have gained some insight as to why some people view the field of nursing as so vicious and hateful:
Everyone thinks the other people are causing the problem...never themselves!
Has it ever occured to you, that the people griping about all the 'dumb' and 'worthless' people they have to deal with at work and school might be talking about you? It never seems to be the case in these threads. Everyone spends post after post talking about how everyone sucks but themselves, and never considering that they are speaking about fellow human beings who are just as worthy of compassion and understanding as our patients.
P.S. Plato reminds us, "be kind...for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle".

HotDrew · Feb 2, 2009

If I'm being honest, you've entered the world of women. All your past jobs seems like they would be predominately men or a good mix. In nursing, its 92% women. You put all that estrogen in one space and it can get explosive. It almost hearkens back to evolutionary biology where females must compete with each other to be the queen, and sometimes the gloves come off and they will do everything in their power to destroy the competition. Don't get me wrong, men are competitive as well. But typically we do it overtly, hit each other :), literally make it a competition and talk about it, whereas women often are sweet and cheerful to your face only because society has told them it isn't proper for a women to be that aggressive. At any rate, there are d-bags in every vocation! Just gotta learn to ignore em and move on!

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Feb 2, 2009

You bring up some very valid points. Nursing is also a second career for me. I graduated from nursing school when I was 31. By that time I had already been married twice, divorced twice and had two children. I had also already graduated with two BS degree's and worked as a licensed professional. I mention this for the very reason you did,..life experience. I mean absolutely no disrespect to any 20 something year old who graduates and becomes a nurse, but people in their 20's are much different than people in their 30's or 40's etc. Life experiences teach you lessons, and give you skills.

I think another issue is that when you work in a hospital setting, you are working with many, many other people who while they also work in the hospital, may have very different jobs than your own. When you work closely with several hundred other people that have different job descriptions, different expectations, and different requirements you are bound to "butt heads" occasionally. Again, life experiences teach you how to more tactfully deal with those differences, and honestly, how not to allow those differences to ruin your day!

My career in the "medical field" started in a large, non hospital based, medical laboratory, (at the tender age of 19). I've also worked in a hospital based lab, an OB office, a neurologists office, a family practice office, a peds office and a very busy urgent care that specialized in work comp injuries and DOT physicals. I've worked in one small ER and two very large trauma centers. I've spent time on a med/surge floor, a cardiac step down unit and CCU. While all these jobs had many similarities, they were all very different jobs with different requirements and expectations. What was the "norm" at one place was severely frowned on at another.

I had to learn new things, break old habits and "change hats" with each new environment I found myself in. It wasn't that one place was doing things wrong where someone else was right, it was just different. I'm currently in the ER and the policies and procedures are different than at other ER's I've worked and even from other units I've worked on with in the same hospital.

Policies and procedures also change with in the same facility over time. Medical research changes, technology changes and we change to keep up. I remember a time not that long ago that Diprivan was the drug of choice used to sedate dislocations. I pushed it many times a week,..not allowed in my ER any more and so I change again and move on.

I'm happy to hear/read your enthusiasm for your chosen career. I love my job. This is what I'm supposed to be doing, and for the most part am very happy with it. The issues and frustrations I find are generally with the system itself or specific groups of people that I'm sure aren't pleasant people in any aspect of life, not just when it comes to health care. Those people will always exist in the world and over the years I have learned to deal with them the best I can and move on. I do of course find it very therapeutic to log on to allnurses and vent:bugeyes:

I hope you're happy on your new path and am sure you will bring valuable, practical life experiences with you on your journey. I can tell by your posts that you won't be the new grad who knows it all and is sure the rest of the hospital is lazy and stupid and can't do their job nearly as well as you can! :icon_roll

Best of luck to you!