After 10 weeks, my biggest fear has come true...

Nursing Students General Students

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I had a patient that went completely bonkers on me.

Now don't get me wrong - I expected this at one point, I understand that this job isn't pretty all the time, but the way I'm feeling after today's clinical is almost hard to put into words.

So obviously, I'm a first semester student and as a lot of first semester students are, my confidence levels while in the clinical setting are pretty "derp", for lack of a better word. I don't show this to the patient or my instructor, but the things going on inside my brain...

Anyways, I knew this time would come. I'd mess up and get yelled at, or I'd just do something totally wrong.. but, that's not what happened actually... I'd almost rather that had happened. I had a patient go nuts at the fact that I was a student, and nothing more. All I was going to do was maybe give him a bath, take vitals and give him his meds (Which I told him). And he completely flipped on me. And this is something I've honest to god feared the entire time, someone telling me to **** because I'm a student, and you know I'm sure it happens, but I feel so discouraged right now. I don't ever want to go to clinical again.

My confidence was already low, but now every time I walk in a patient's room I'm going to be thinking "Do they not want a student? Is this person going to yell at me because I'm a student?" This guy was so mean to me throughout the day, both my instructor and the RN apologized to me like five times each. My instructor said if I would have mentioned how bad it was earlier she would've had my patient changed, but I didn't want to seem like a cry baby or something so I didn't really go into detail on how things were. She ended up telling me to just do "the bare minimum" and "get in and out as fast as you can" and I did.

I don't know even know what I'm looking for while posting this. I just wanted to rant I suppose and see if anyone has any advice or had a similar situation.

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Specializes in Psych, Case Management, Care Coordination.

That HAD to be tough. I feel for you. You have to wonder how he thinks his regular nurses/staff got to where they are now...by being students. At the same time...I wonder if he's just feeling...vulnerable...it can't be easy being a patient, either.

And with all of that being said...maybe he's just a jerk.

Hope things go much better for you from here on out. We start clinicals next week and I'm anxious as all get out.

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The patient sounds like a total jerk. Some patients are and you shouldn't take it personally. They are in the hospital for a reason; they are sick and probably not feeling well. Some patients have anxiety issues with hospitalization and take it out on others (it's not right, but it happens). Also, some people don't want a student, plain and simple. Some people are just grumpy and are never happy... not much you can do about it. Just hold your head up high, be the bigger person and try not to bug them too much.

As for losing confidence about caring for other patients... don't think that way. For the most part, patients LOVE students because they get so much more attention. You waite on them hand and foot, give them a thorough bath, you sit and talk with them, etc, etc. So don't feel that most patients don't want a student because it isn't true. Just remember to be friendly and confident and you will be fine.

Also, try to control your anxiety around your patients. Your patient will pick up on it and it will make them nervous. :unsure:

Good luck!!

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

I find the best thing you can say is "I understand being hesitant having a student nurse. However, I've been trained in administering patient care and I'm confident in providing your care. Most certainly you may request another nurse."

Usually, they'll say "that's ok, go ahead". This happened a lot when I did my phlebotomy externship. No one wants a student poking them for a blood draw! The more confidence you project, the more they're usually willing to let you work with them.

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Katie92 kudos to you for sticking it out! Your instructor and nurse, by constantly apologizing to you, acknowledged that you were in a tough situation. I have been a nurse for over 30 years and people can be jerks about so many things. What the guy didn't realize is that most of his care is probably being rendered by student physicians.

Hold your head up high and enter your next patient's room with a smile. You did nothing wrong. Good luck to you!

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I find the best thing you can say is "I understand being hesitant having a student nurse. However, I've been trained in administering patient care and I'm confident in providing your care. Most certainly you may request another nurse."

Usually, they'll say "that's ok, go ahead". This happened a lot when I did my phlebotomy externship. No one wants a student poking them for a blood draw! The more confidence you project, the more they're usually willing to let you work with them.

Very well said^. OP, look at that- you dealt with a fear you had been worrying about, very well. I wouldn't be worried about encountering it again- you already know how to deal with it! I also want to thank you for posting this. I have my first clinical in a month and never even imagined that scenario. Now I will be prepared should it arise. Keep on keepin on!

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Happened to me with my first patient in Med Surge.

I walked in, introduced myself as a nursing student with my pleasant smile and had my patient dismiss me. " I don't want a student taking care of me." I cringed internally but smiled and said, "Ok." and walked out. I told my clinical instructor who said the same thing and walked me back into the room, introduced herself and we turned her, took her vitals and she assured the patient that I was being supervised and that she would always receive quality care.

She didn't seem to mind much after that. :)

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I'm a student too, and in my second clinical rotation, so I can relate to your nervousness and worry about what to expect from patients. Having heard from so many of my colleagues in our post-clinical discussions now, I can say that what you experienced is rare - not unheard of, but certainly not the norm, either. So don't let that experience get you down or color your attitude. So much of nursing requires appealing to the "healthiest" side of our patients, especially those who have some psychosocial or behavioral difficulties. We are there to model good social interactions. It's much easier said than done, especially when you are surprised, but for me it's an awareness that makes me stronger in my core and able to roll with the punches better. Your confidence will grow; don't worry. Even in a matter of months I can tell a big difference in myself. You handled it well, so learn from it and keep on.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I'm really sorry that happened to you -- it's so normal to feel that way! I just have a few thoughts to offer...

If it were me I'd actually be happier if the patient just said they didn't want a student (*any* student) because you know it wasn't the direct result of your actions, like yelling "OW!" or even ask you if you're really sure you are pursuing the right line of work? :-/ I think all of us have been on the other end of an angry, critical comment - it's how patients blow off the pressure of the stress they're under sometimes.

The only other thing...it sounds like you were put in the position of caring for the man after he said he didn't want a student. To me that just isn't right. The patient should have the right not to have a student even if the reason sounds irrational. It smooths the waters if you and the nurse or instructor cheerfully enter the room and get the patient's OK first.

I really see this as a system failure that you shouldn't take personally at all. Best wishes!

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I had a patient in the ER when I was a student give me a hard time the entire shift. One instance I walked in with dilaudid for her prn and she gave me flak yet again. I laughed and said make fun of my student status all you want but I am the one here in control of your pain meds...( pretty sure she was a narc seeker anyway with the impromptu fibromyalgia dx)...she didn't make fun of me anymore.

Don't let it get to you or they win.

Oh and for you judgy judgersons out there yes of course I gave her the meds...

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I had a patient in the ER when I was a student give me a hard time the entire shift. One instance I walked in with dilaudid for her prn and she gave me flak yet again. I laughed and said make fun of my student status all you want but I am the one here in control of your pain meds...( pretty sure she was a narc seeker anyway with the impromptu fibromyalgia dx)...she didn't make fun of me anymore.

Don't let it get to you or they win.

Oh and for you judgy judgersons out there yes of course I gave her the meds...

Not judging your personal style......however.....I am sure that baiting a patient and communicating with them on their level is NOT the best advice to give anyone...especially a student.

I have been a nurse for 35 years....all critical care and emergency department. I have dealt with every walk of life, level or intoxication, mental illness, and personality. I became a nurse at 18 (child prodigy) .....I have had my fair share of dumb blonde, get me the real nurse, you are too young, "head nurse", dirty knee jokes and racial slurs...to last a lifetime.

Never, and I mean NEVER, regardless of the socioeconomic or health status/problem, have EVER I baited a patient by inferring I would with hold their treatment/meds in order to gain cooperation or to control their behavior.

OP....welcome to nursing...((HUGS)). You will be working with the general public, sigh, and meet all kinds of, shall i say, personalities and preferences. Step away, don't take it personal, and realize you will NEVER make all the people happy all of the time, you can't fix stupid, and some people are just jerks...defecation occurs....((HUGS))

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Specializes in kids.
Not judging your personal style......however.....I am sure that baiting a patient and communicating with them on their level is NOT the best advice to give anyone...especially a student.

I have been a nurse for 35 years....all critical care and emergency department. I have dealt with every walk of life, level or intoxication, mental illness, and personality. I became a nurse at 18 (child prodigy) .....I have had my fair share of dumb blonde, get me the real nurse, you are too young, "head nurse", dirty knee jokes and racial slurs...to last a lifetime.

Never, and I mean NEVER, regardless of the socioeconomic or health status/problem, have EVER I baited a patient by inferring I would with hold their treatment/meds in order to gain cooperation or to control their behavior.

OP....welcome to nursing...((HUGS)). You will be working with the general public, sigh, and meet all kinds of, shall i say, personalities and preferences. Step away, don't take it personal, and realize you will NEVER make all the people happy all of the time, you can't fix stupid, and some people are just jerks...defecation occurs....((HUGS))

well said....

defecation occurs! :poop: that is priceless! :roflmao:

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