A pat on the back does wonders

[sharann, BSN, RN]

I was the assigned nurse for the RN Student (again) and I love working with most students for the day (and my co-workers are all burned out and have no patience for them anyhow). So after providing her many oppurtunities to "perform" her skills and teaching as much as I could, I told her she did very well. The look I received was worth so much. She looked as if I just told her she won the lotto. We must remember that the students need to be acknowleged for good work as we do. Now, if she was a snotty know it all type, she wouldn't make it in our department or with me past lucnh.

[Chad_KY_SRNA]

I know what you mean, it feels good to have your hard work acknowledged.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Now I am patting YOU on the back for a job well-done. It's too rare we recognize people for what good they do----you made that person's day. You deserve to be patted on the back, also, for recognizing it and taking the opportunity to say something good to someone that encourages, rather than hampers their development. Way to go!

[sharann, BSN, RN]

Thanks!

[SmilingBluEyes]

you are more than welcome, Sharann!

[jschut, BSN, RN]

It sure does feel good to have someone acknowlege your hard work....all too often we only receive the griping and harping about what we did wrong.....

I'd love to work with you! Sounds like you made quite an impression on this young lady!

[mlolsonny]

We are a teaching facility for PN students, and remembering what that was like not so long ago, I love to get the students in on as much as we can.

Our DON has flat-out told them that their Clinical experience will be what they make it. If they are interested and want to participate with things and aren't afraid to get their gloved hands dirty, they can see some useful skills and have the opportunity to do some critical thinking about things (how they may have done things differently, if it doesn't go according to the book, more efficient ways to do things, etc.)

We have some students that are so excited to get in to observe a foley change, while others are totally uninterested. I usually ask for volunteers, if they're interested--they'll volunteer, if they're not, they'll sit and watch "Days of Our Lives" while pretending to look at a chart.

She looked as if I just told her she won the lotto.

We have to at least try to nurture the ones that take responsibility for their own learning and attempt to perform skills or help us. Even a "Thank You" can go a long way.

You get a pat on the back for going against the stereotype of nurses "eating their young." (Can I shadow you as a student?)

[RN92]

I HAVE PRECEPTED MANY NEW NURSES. ALL OF THEM WERE VERY COMPETENT, EXCEPT FOR ONE. SHE DIDNT LISTEN. ITS LIKE SHE WOULD GET OFFENDED. ALSO, SHE COULDNT KEEP UP WITH Q2HR VS, LABWORK, ETC, ETC....i TALKED TO THE cHARGE NURSE AND nURSE MANAGER. THEY DIDNT CARE. SHE WAS TURNED LOSE TO WORK ON HER OWN. wHATS THE PURPOSES OF PRECEPTING NEW NURSES, IF THEY ARE GOING TO LET THEM GO ANYWAY? MAINLY, THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE YOUR CO-WORKERS. TEACHING THEM THE "RIGHT WAY" IS GOING TO EFFECT EVERY OTHER NURSE ON THAT SHIFT.

[Eilana]

It's not just nursing students who need a pat in the back, but nurses themselves whether it is from a patient or from a fellow cowokers. It takes a pat, a smile, or even a simple thank you and hello that can brighten up someone else's day!