STOP! Or somebody's going to get hurt!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello everyone! I am in need of advice from nurses who have spent a lot of time with nursing students. I am beginning a BSN program next week and would like to know:

1) What are some things that nursing students do that annoy you?

2) How can we help you best?

3) What is the one thing we should never say or do?

Thanks guys!

Specializes in Cardiovascular, ER.

One of the most annoying students I had was an EMT that had worked in the ER. Please do not try and take the nurse's pt over and show the nurse up in front of the pt. Even if you have some medical knowledge, it is different than nursing knowledge - and it is better to be respectful to the person trying to teach you, and not undermine the nurse/pt relationship to show off.

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Wow! I cannot believe some of your stories! What kind of person calls another's job boring? Or tries to show up a nurse when they are an EMT (almost the very bottom of the medical chain)? What nerve!

Thanks for all the advice. Keep it coming because there are probably many students out there who need to hear it. I look forward to learning from great nurses like you!

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

The LTC where I work has ADN students come in for clinicals. The most annoying thing I have ever heard (only one time) was " what can I learn by shadowing her- she is a LPN. I dont know if this student made it through school or not. But, even after you are licensed, believe me, you can and will learn from others! Heck, I have been doing this for more years than I care to count- and I still learn things every day! So, my advice is- keep an open mind, and an open ear! Never be afraid to ask questions to any of the staff! In LTC, if you have a question about med admin, go to the LPN, if it is about TPN or something of that nature, go to the RN, if it is about how to properly use a mechanical lift (or something like that) go to the CNA. Nursing is a team! Good luck in school!! And, enjoy those clinicals! I love having students!!! There eagerness keeps me focused on why I became a nurse!!

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Remember you're a guest. We're working 12+ hours, most of you are only there for a few hours, and for half of that you're "debriefing" and thus, sitting. So don't take all of the chairs. (That's my only big pet peeve.)

But mostly, just show up on time and act like you're interested in learning.

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LACA - unfortunately, we will not be doing clinicals with school nurses. Would love that though!

LouisVRN - someone actually did that? Hilarious, but scary!

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Specializes in Tele Step Down, Oncology, ICU, Med/Surg.

PLEASE don't sit yourself down on all the prime charting spots for more than 5 minutes at a time. Those of us working 12 hr days seldom get a moment to sit and chart and it sucks when two nursing students are sitting there right near my charts having a conversation or checking cell phones.

And for those of you who are more considerate and take the charts to a less busy spot, please remember to put a sheet in the chart slot indicating you've taken it so I'm not spending valuable time looking all over for a missing chart.

Be willing to help me with all my patients, not just the one you are doing a care plan on; and be willing to help with the most mundane of tasks as you will be surprised what you will learn.

Do not come at shift change and bother us at a very busy time asking us who we think a good patient would be for you to work with tomorrow.

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i'm not a nurse, but as a CNA and a nursing student who is also SURROUNDED by other nursing students when i'm at work, i've learned a few things.

first, i had an instructor tell us before i had ever hit the floor, "you're going to see people doing things differently than what you've been taught. that doesn't mean they're "wrong". that was true for me and i kept my mouth shut and learned a few things by doing so.

i was getting vitals on a patient (keep in mind, this is real life) and i was getting them on an ill patient who had been sleeping so it was dark, i was trying to be quick, efficient and effective, etc. so i put the pulse ox on, then the blood pressure cuff (on the same arm as the pulse ox) and took the temperature. i made a mental note of the 02 sat and the pulse and THEN hit the button which starts taking the blood pressure. the nursing student who was watching immediately said, "you're supposed to do that on the other side." okay, annoying. technically, yes - it would be best (and textbook) to put the pulse ox on the opposite side of where i was taking the blood pressure, BUT since i was getting the pulse and 02 reading BEFORE starting the blood pressure, it doesn't affect the reading and therefore doesn't matter! not to mention, textbooks don't mention how you'll be entering dark rooms where bedside tables and IV poles will be in the way and the cords only give so much slack. they don't mention that you'll be doing this on patients who have a sleeping relative on the opposite side of the bed and it's not realistic to turn on the lights, wake them up, and move furniture so you can check the pulse on one hand and the BP on the other. furthermore, don't be so cocky to think that just because you're LEARNING to be a nurse that you can TELL a CNA who has done actual hands on work for much longer than you how to do things.

lastly, i get interrupted 1500 times a day to answer questions like, "where are the water pitchers?" so when i ask you to come and help ME do something don't hesitate. don't say, "uhh, umm. err." DO IT - if you're smart. it'll make your life easier.

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