Advice wanted, as an older RN student, what thing should I NOT do?

Whispera, MSN, RN · Dec 15, 2015

Does nagging ever work? Does offering un-asked-for suggestions, to anyone, ever work? Do the behaviors change or do you seem to be a pain in the neck? What in the world would lead you to do something with that result? Just STOP yourself when you get the urge to "mom" others. You can do it!

Neural · Dec 15, 2015

Be energetic, enthusiastic, and ask questions. Most instructors love that kind of behavior.

Im surprised so many posters are telling you to cower and speak only when spoken to. Remember, you're there to learn, not to please.

Think before you speak, but certainly don't be afraid to speak.

margin261 · Dec 15, 2015

I was in my 40's when I did my LPN to RN program. Even though we were in with the regular ASN students- the instructors knew which of us were LPNs.

I just wanted to reiterate what Horseshoe said.

-- Don't ever correct an instructor!! You never know which ones would take it okay & which ones would be passive/aggressive and target you during clinicals. If there's something you don't understand/agree with- ask, one on one, after class, and be very humble about it!

-- There will be many things that they will say/teach that is not what you've learned before and/or is certainly not like it is done in the 'real world'. I had a lot of trouble with this until I just let it go...answer the way they teach it and you'll do fine. Then after you get your degree & license, you can go back to doing it the way you know it's really done!

(No amount of arguing helps- learn from my mistakes!!)

Good Luck!!

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2015

You already know what not to do. Now go and (not) do it.

What to do:

1. Practice humility.

2. Be willing to learn about the strengths of the millennial generation. They are better at some stuff than we are.

3. Practice saying, "I don't know." Look in the mirror and do it. Shrug your shoulders. Let it feel like a weight off your shoulders.

4. When you are tempted to correct someone, make a decision to ask a question and learn something about that person instead. Turn it around. For example if you are tempted to tell a student that in order to get up at 8:00 she should make sure she gets into her bed by midnight... instead ask her, "If you could pick the times for all the nursing classes, what times would you pick?"

You need to be a learner.

Foster that.

Good luck in school!

joanna73, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2015

Focus on your own life and your studies. You will have plenty to do. Everyone needs to find their own path, their own way of doing things.

Keep quiet and learn as much as you can.

Susie2310 · Dec 15, 2015

In addition to this excellent advice, at the beginning of the term, when the clinical instructor may ask your group to introduce themselves, etc., say as little as possible, actually nothing if you can get away with it. Your age will be obvious and you can't know what bit of personal information might put you in the instructor's "don't like", "give this one a hard time", "failure material" mental grouping.

You have offered very good advice. Your point about saying as little as possible by way of introduction brought back memories of the class introductions that took place within the first few class meetings. We were told to tell the group about ourselves, where we were WORKING (the question was phrased in the present tense!), etc. An instructor accurately remembered details of my short account (which was just one of 40 plus students), and referred to what I had said at a later time.

SuperMomBob · Dec 15, 2015

Being an LPN in a bridge program, I have learned to keep quiet. My fellow classmates know, it eventually comes out. It is valuable in clinical, like I don't stress giving medications like some of the other students do. I have to bite my tongue with some clinical instructors. One told me I needed a to be better organized...it was my first day on peds. I just said thank you and I will do better tomorrow. A nurse I was following, not a clinical instructor, asked me if I was a "good LPN or a bad LPN". I rolled my eyes on the inside....I asked him to explain. He said "do you brag about what you have done or constantly talk about being an LPN?" I said "no I am a student". There are students in the class who do not work as a CNA and they struggle getting patients on the bedside commode and doing bed baths. I heard one student arguing with a 90 year old lady about putting her O2 on. The patient requested it and the student said "you are yelling at me, you don't need O2".....I wanted so badly to pull her out of the room and yell at her. It wasn't my place. Just keep quiet, you are a student. If it comes out, just say you are here to learn, which you are! Seek out new and different tasks you don't get to do as an LPN. I have taken the opportunity as a student to ask questions, do new tasks and really go through charts. I have learned more about medications and honestly it gives you time not being the primary nurse to do all that! Just be kind and quiet, help your classmates when you can. Most importantly...do not act like you know everything!!!

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2015

Most importantly...do not act like you know everything!!!

This is very important. You don't know what you don't know. Be open to learning. It will make you a far better nurse. There are LPNs on this forum who insist that the only difference between them and an RN is the ability to hang blood. That is a great example of the "you don't know what you don't know" concept.

allnurses Guide · Dec 15, 2015

I will be entering an RN program in the spring. I'm an LVN but I'm starting the program at the beginning, not a bridge program due to "stuff". I'm 45 and while I love my patients I'm not really a people person. I'm going into a program with mostly 20 something women and I'm concerned that I'm going to want to nag. I have 2 kids in that age range and while getting my prerequisites I noticed a near uncontrollable urge to parent other students and sometimes teachers. Some appreciated the advice, assistance and "Mom purse supplies" but most got a trapped animal expression and tried to politely chew their leg off and run. It turns out teachers don't like you correcting them either, (except one aspie microbiology professor who appreciated my pointing out a math error in the lab manual she'd wrote) I've accepted that I annoy the BM out of teachers and students but I'm hoping to start fresh in clinicals so at least someone will give me a recommendation when it's time to look for a job. The nurses in my lvn clinicals seem to like me but I think that was just because my anal attention to detail meant I didn't kill their patients causing them grief and paperwork.
Advice on how to not torture the poor RNs in clinical would be appreciated as well as any general advice.

I am going to 2nd what many have said here you are in the program to go to school. I also went back to school as an older student at 37. Though I had no children I did have two bachelor's degrees in Arts and Letters and History. I found the 20 something crowd to be very rude, obnoxious, and totally lacking in any ability to show respect to their elders. Still I just sat back and watched. I tried to lead by example and as much as I wanted to correct someone's grammar or tell them I thought they were a spoiled brat I refrained. I made some great young friends and we still talk today many years later. When it comes to teachers I would never think or correcting them or trying to show them up. I was there to learn nursing, not English, Grammar or History. Just settle in and learn what you are there to learn. No one likes a know it all. Now if your instructor who most likely knows you are an LVN asks you a direct question such as your experience with clogged G-tubes, by all means share your knowledge!

Even though I didn't have children then I have always been a bit of a mother hen wanting to tuck the lost under my wings - but I would never presume to do so unless someone came to me for advice.

Have fun you are in for quite a ride.

Hppy

LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN · Dec 15, 2015

While I do not feel the need, ever, to mother other students ( I have three kids and a husband, don't need another!) I do have to refrain from giving other students unsolicited advice like "Well you would not have failed had you come to class and studied". I am 28 and an LPN as well - I have done many group projects by myself (I even have a thread on it lol) during pre-reqs because I am generally in classes with 18-21 year olds. I am not in a traditional RN program, my college has a separate program for LPNs so I am hoping I will run into to this less when I start in July.

My advice would be just to mind your own business unless it's pertaining to patient safety. I have offered my genuine help to a few fellow students because I have done well in my courses. But I am only willing to help those who are actually trying. Other than that, I keep to myself.

As far as professors - I have had a few that leave a lot to be desired. I make professional, constructive criticism on their anonymous performance reviews. There is northing else I can do, I am not going to stir up trouble for myself.

Your in danger of being a know it all while will alienate your class mates and annoy your professors. You can be knowledgeable without being in your face about it. The best bet in nursing school is to play friends, keep your head down, and listen to your nursing instructors. Good luck.

starry01 · Dec 15, 2015

Keep an open mind. My coworkers (now RNs) started as LVN's and agree both programs are different in scope of practice. You are broadening your skills and critical thinking. There is always something new to learn. You do not want to start a program and think there is nothing more to be gained. You'd be starting off on the wrong foot and most importantly, the wrong frame of thought.

As far as the age difference from your classmates, you don't need to be best friends with everyone there. But you will need a small group of 2-3 people to count on, split assignments with, and study with as well.

If you need clarification from a professor, email them, go to office hours, or even wait between class breaks or at the end of the class to talk to them. Keep in mind the manner in which you come across. Don't correct them in front of fellow students. They'll appreciate it.

Lastly, think about the bigger picture. Professors and classmates will ultimately be your professional network. Professors will be writing you future letters of recommendations and appointing who they think best for a new grad job or internship at their place of work. Every exam, class discussion, office hour visit, volunteer opportunity, and even attitude will be your track record.

MinneNurse, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2015

My advice is keep your comments to yourself. Sharing tips/tricks/experiences is sometimes helpful, but correcting someone on anything other than patient safety should be avoided. It's nice for you that you have the experience, but not everyone else does and we are learning new things that might be old things to you. At one point in time you were new too and these were new things to you and I can imagine you wouldn't have wanted your peers pointing out all the things you do wrong. In nursing school we get corrected enough by professors, clinical instructors, and nursing staff. It's harder to have your peers correct you because it makes you feel inadequate and judged and like your behind the pack. If you see someone struggling with something, ask them if they need help - but don't jump in unless they want your help. Sometimes people need to figure things out on our own, thats how they learn.