worried about being eaten alive!!!!!

Blackcat99 · Jun 12, 2004

:chuckle I think the best thing to do is to pretend that you are a contestant on "Fear Factor." Keep telling yourself that you will win $50,000 if you stay in nursing school. That's what I did to overcome my fear of dogs and it worked. I went to th humane society to walk homeless dogs and I was scared stiff of the dogs. Each time I went into a different dog cage I kept telling myself I was getting closer to that $50,000. Now I absolutely love dogs and am not afraid of them.

Altra, BSN, RN · Jun 12, 2004

i'm starting my first clinical rotation in the fall...not sure what to expect. but what really has me worried is the spring rotation in ob/maternity nursing because it will be done at the hospital where i work as a unit coordinator on the ob/maternity floor.
i will be shadowing the nurses i work with now, some of whom are tough as nails, and give me a hard enough time now, as a uc...i can't imagine them accepting me as a nursing student. as it is, when the students come through during the school year, i see and hear the grunts and groans and rolling eyes of the nurses to whom the students are assigned. i am really dreading this, and i have been so excited about the ob/maternity rotation, i don't want this to ruin that experience.
most, if not all of the nurses i work with know i am going to nursing school, but they look at me as just the "secretary", and i don't want that to affect the clinical experience.
has anyone had this type of problem?? any ideas how to handle it??

I hear ya, Rsrn ...

Here's the good news: you know what to expect. Don't underestimate the value of that. Yes, it's a shame, and I really don't think there's any excuse for that attitude from professionals, but clearly it's been that way for a while on your unit, and I wouldn't expect it to change any time soon. (I'm not telling you anything you don't know already ... :rolleyes: :chuckle )

I don't know if this helps or not, but my honest advice is that you're just going to have to let this roll off your back. Learn all you can - be a sponge. Be assertive about what you need to do/see without being emotional or belligerent about it. I don't mean to sound harsh, but if you walk around looking like you expect to be yelled at at any moment, that's probably exactly what will happen.

I know as my first clinicals approached I was excited but also fearful of screwing up. Know your stuff, pay attention to details, and you'll do fine. Best of luck to you! :)

jonnygirl27 · Jun 12, 2004

I also work in the hospital where I do my clinicals--i've found that being a student has improved my relationships with the nurses here--they're all supportive of me and ask if I need help, etc... (then again, this hospital is really good about the student thing...)

suzy253, RN · Jun 12, 2004

In my experience I found the nurses to be very helpful. Sure a lot of times they were frazzled and a question from a student was the last thing they needed! Like others have said, just absorb everything....that was the best advice that one of my clinical instructors told me. Be nice as well. Don't have an 'attitude'. My 1st rotation was in Orthopaedics and I remember this really nice, helpful nurse on that floor--she went out of her way to help us learn. She was absolutely wonderful with a great personality. Another student now on rotation in Ortho described this nurse as treating her horribly...I couldn't believe we were talking about the same nurse. Then I took into consideration this student's general attitude--know it all, leave me alone I can do it myself--, etc. etc. Just something about this student that rubs you the wrong way! So I can see where this nurse was coming from may (Or may NOT) have treated her differently. Don't worry....I'm sure it will all be fine.

eleanorec · Jun 12, 2004

All they can do is admire you. They will be open to you as they would any other adult learner. Look at it this way, you know where to find any item that is needed. They might treat you like a bratty little sister at worst.

SCRN1 · Jun 14, 2004

Continue to be excited about it, think positive, and go in there with your head held high and proud to be a nursing student. ENJOY! Even though you've seen some of the expressions they've had with previous students coming in, maybe this time, they'll be different. YOU are one of their own and they will probably feel proud to see you coming in as a student.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2004

I had the pleasure of sharing my first med/surg rotation with a student who is a PCT on the same floor in the same hospital of our rotation. She felt like you. For the rest of us, it was a Godsend because she knew the flow of the unit and always knew where everything was. She became a sort of a liason between the student group and the hospital staff. It wound up working in her favor because she gained the respect of the students and the nursing staff. Since she was familiar with every aspect of the floor, she didn't fumble about as the rest of us did, giving her more time for patient care. Her clinical marks were the highest in our group.

Now I work as PCT on that floor and I'm praying that I don't have to do my Fall med/surg rotation there because I want to experience all of the hospitals in my area. But if I have to do it, I would consider it an advantage to know the nurses.

maire, ASN, RN · Jun 15, 2004

:chuckle I think the best thing to do is to pretend that you are a contestant on "Fear Factor."

ROFL! Without having to eat bugs at least! :chuckle

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Jun 15, 2004

So far I've worked with wonderful nurses and haven't had any problems with being "eaten alive". No problems what-so-ever. They actually really like having us there because it seems to take some of the work load off of them, same with the pca's.

rn undisclosed name · Jun 16, 2004

Wow! I am surprised you get to do your clinicals on the floor where you work. We are not allowed to do that at my school. If it turns out you have clinical on the floor you work you have to tell your instructor so you can be reassigned to another hospital.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Jun 16, 2004

Fear Factor! LOL!

Yep it sure fits!