rude nurses

[sziq1]

OK I have had just about enough of rude nurses. I have just spent 7 weeks on my psych rotation and there are 2 nurses there that have made it clear that they do not want us there. One of them said, right in front of us "not of day shift" when we announced that we were there. and the other one literally told me that "she didn't have time to follow around the nursing students" and shooed me away with her hand when I told her that we were missing one of our classmates (on a psych unit). I wasn't asking her to find her I was just asking if anyone might happen to know if the classmate went somewhere.

I have told my instructor about one of the nurses and the instuctor took care of it as best she could but now I feel like I will sound like a whiner if I tell about the second nurse.

If a person hates to teach others and is so miserable then maybe they should get a new job. At what point as a student is it ok to stand up to the rude behavior and bring it to the rude nurses attention? I do not question if I am cut out to be a nurse but all the rude nurses that we are so dependant on as students is making want to pull my hair out.:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire

[santhony44, MSN, RN, NP]

I just want to comment to remarks that have been made about nurses who have certain "looks" on their faces that might lead you to believe they are angry or disgusted with you. My sister and I both by genetics and probably from conditioning tend to get a look like a scowl when we are deep in thought. It happens to me a lot and I had to listen to people complain to my bosses about this again and again and get pulled into confrontational meetings about this one very single thing in the early days of my nursing career. The thing is that these people who complained never said anything to me nor did I say anything to them to indicate that I was mad or angry at them. They just went to the boss. They just didn't like the look on my face or were scared away by it. I also, as a rule, don't engage in chit chat or gossip while I am working which sometimes gives other people the impression that I am kind of aloof. I am totally focused on doing my job as a nurse. As a result, I now preface all my introductions to people with, "if I look like I am angry or scowling, do not take it personally. I am probably deep in thought. If I am upset with you about something, believe me, I will tell you with words, not looks. If you think I am upset with you about something--ask me. I will answer you and try to make sure I'm smiling while I'm doing it."

I have the exact same issue in some situations! I like your way of handling it; I will probably adopt something similar. The more focused I am, the harder it is for me to remember to "smile and look pleasant." And, I think sometimes what I assume to be a pleasant look must be different on the other side of my face!

To the students: you will undoubtedly encounter rude nurses while you are a student. However, don't always assume that everyone who isn't sugar-sweet and smiling is being rude. Some of us are just focused; maybe there are things going on you don't know about that demand our attention. Remember that the patients come first and the person who is "rude" may be trying to avert some imminent crisis. It's also not safe to assume that everyone who is sweet and smiling is your friend; some are really good at doing that while the hand you can't see is stabbing you in the back.

When it comes to dealing with the ones who are truly rude, there is not a lot that you can do about it as a student. Mention your concern to your instructor and let him or her handle it from there on out. Giving a staff member a piece of your mind will probably only backfire on you.

Just remember how it feels when in the future you're the staff person dealing with students!

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I've been pretty lucky with the staff nurses on my med-surg rotations. I'm actually amazed that they put up with us at all. After all, if they'd wanted to be teachers they'd be working at a school. Instead they come to work and get stuck with us.

This is what i think every time i see someone post on this BB "nurses are there to teach us."

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

However, don't always assume that everyone who isn't sugar-sweet and smiling is being rude. Some of us are just focused; maybe there are things going on you don't know about that demand our attention. Remember that the patients come first and the person who is "rude" may be trying to avert some imminent crisis.

Exactly.

[WDWpixieRN, RN]

I just want to comment to remarks that have been made about nurses who have certain "looks" on their faces that might lead you to believe they are angry or disgusted with you. My sister and I both by genetics and probably from conditioning tend to get a look like a scowl when we are deep in thought.

Oh, wow, I could've written this!! My kids even tell me I just look mean, lol!!

For the OP, after just finishing my 3rd semester in clinicals on med/surg units, I will just tell you that you will find all types of staff wherever you are assigned. There will be mean, nasty clerks, techs, RNs, etc. You will also find the ones who will bend over backwards to help you.

In either situation, be careful not to take advantage. Stay away from the nasty ones, and don't bombard the terrific ones. Use some common sense about what you need to be approaching your instructor for and what absolutely needs to be discussed with the RN or another staff member. Your instructor gets paid for what she's doing; the RNs, etc. have another job and have to squeeze us in while they're doing that job.

Best wishes!!

[mturner88]

Its sad how some nurses seem to "forget" that they were once students themselves. I have had encounters with rude nurses and fabulous nurses who LOVE students. Just continue to smile in their face. When you get on the floor as a full-time RN, you'll run into all kinds of BS with attitudes, its all on how you deal with it. Good luck with the rest of clinical. I hope your experience with your psych rotation isn't all bad.

[amzyRN]

How to handle rudeness with anyone requires effective communication skills. Direct communication with the person who is rude first, then if unresolved, consulting a superior would be appropriate. If someone is "shooing" you away, you can politely state, "with all due respect, I'm here to learn and I would like some help, please don't shoo me away." It takes practice, but in the moment or close afterward, in a kind and empathetic tone, assert your right to respect and instruction. If your respectful requests are met with more disrespect and animosity, tell a supervisor. You have the right to respect and to respectful instruction at your school/training program etc. You pay for instruction and you have the right to get what you pay for, additionally. It's good to practice assertive communication skills, they come in handy and become second nature after a while,

J

[sziq1]

well thanks for everyone's advice. I did finally tell my instructor and she is going to bring it up with the director of nurses there at the facility.

It is just so hard to learn anything when everyone is so darn nasty to students.

Thankfully I am done with that rotation now and I am on to mother baby. Everyone there so far is very nice and even thanks us for our work there. They seem to actually like having nursing students there!

anyway, thanks again for everyone's input! :roll