Already been told I shouldn't be a nurse (Rant)

[misskayy]

So today I took a CPR course. I'm not in NS yet, but I decided to do it ahead of time. I've made amazing grades in all my prereq courses and every single one of my science professors has praised me as being one of their most hardworking students. I'm the first person in my family to go to college. I have a huge family, but no one works in healthcare so this is all new to me. You know, everyone starts at the bottom. I was looking forward to going to my CPR class and learning new things, but the instructor was ridiculing me the entire time. There were other students, but she only picked on me. To make things worse, everyone else in class was so knowledgable and knew exactly what they were doing. At one point she giggled and said "You're not doing it fast enough... I think you killed him... Yeah, you shouldn't be a nurse." Every 10 minutes she brought up to the class how I "killed" the mannequin. I got fed up and politely responded with "Hey, that's why I'm here... to learn how to do it correctly" she kind of backed off after that.

I know that this is to be expected in NS, especially at clinicals. I know. I will not allow anyone to get in the way of my dreams. I have thick skin. I've been talked down on when I was in high school and I proved all of those people wrong. I'm just astounded that it's happening this early on. When you tell someone they're in the wrong profession, before they've even started, is crossing the line if you ask me.

[Mary1227x]

Im a floor nurse in a hospital i blew a nursing instructor in for behaving like this to a brand new level 1 student.. the instructor approached me at the beginning of the day and said this one is trouble she doesn't think she should have to touch patient.. the poor kid was TERRIFIED trying her hardest to not make a mistake. The instructor came in a tore her apart in front of the patient and other students saying she didn't even know how to make a bed!! The poor kid just stood there fighting back tears same story, first one in her family going to college there on a scholarship.. only thing I could figure was the instructor didn't like her because she was black!!# so I pulled the student aside and said I will take care of it don't worry (the school is attached to the hospital where I work ) I went straight to her boss and blew her in and their response was we were kinda thinking this was going on but we really needed someone to witness it now we can address it thank you for coming to us

[kimandthekinks]

I became a cna when I was 18 years old. Still a baby” still very much looked like a baby but I loved my job and made great connections with my patients. There was one nurse who did not like me at all. She thought I was too young and didn't appreciate being assigned the same floor as me. One day I came into work and when she found out we were assigned together again, she clocked out and said she was not going to work with me today. Either I go or she goes. She knew I was in school to be a nurse just like her. It was heartbreaking to see a nurse that I look up to abandon her patients because she just despised me that much... she still kept her job as a fellow cna decided to switch halls with me as a solution. I was put off by that for a long time and ended up quitting my cna job altogether and never went back. I even ended up dropping out of nursing school. Long story short, I'm back in the running for my BSN and aspire to become a nursing manager. I do not want a nurse like her working in my facility. I'm tired of the negativity going on in the nursing field and I want to see a change. This dog eat dog scenario does not belong in a selfless compassionate field. So whoever that instructor was, please report them. I wish I had reported to Human Resources back then but I was so naive. Don't let that interaction stop you from becoming who you want to be in life.

[GaleSRN51]

Please don't let this person affect your decisions. You sound like just the kind of person we need in the Nursing profession. There will always be people in your life and in your career who will try and put you down. What this person did was bully you. Good for you for standing up to them. You will be an amazing nurse!

[IsmeAmanda, LPN]

I would have asked "so can I have my CPR card now?"

In reality many nurses really get better at CPR in the field watching other people. Because as long as you're not by yourself it's unlikely you'll run a code. Hopefully the first few times you'll observe someone else do it and hopefully they'll give deep enough compressions and fast enough.

Remember just because they're fast does not mean they're deep. They need to be fast and deep as well.

Ignore that CPL person and Just Keep On Trucking.

On a side note one time I was discouraged that my CPR would not be good enough. A doctor literally told me not to worry and to work on my skills and to remember that any CPR is better than no CPR.

[IsmeAmanda, LPN]

If you can't handle a little bit of banter in a BLS CPR class, how are you going to handle real criticism in nursing school?

How are you going to respond under real pressure of a code?

Oh Lord such an EMT mentality.

[RN-Shaw]

My whole family told me I shouldn't be a nurse. It took me years to finally decide to ignore them. My boss, coworkers, and patients confirm on a regular basis that I made the right choice. Don't let anyone tell you where you should be.

[allisonrh]

I had someone take a special interest in me at my initial CPR training class too. I am small boned, so I think she was worried I couldn't do it hard enough. Whatever, on my first day of nurse residency orientation we had to practice codes on dummies and the RN watching me said, "Wow, it's always the little ones that turn out to give really strong compressions!" It must be overcompensation :)

[TessLJ]

MissKay I applaud your cool-headed response, and that signals to me that you'll be able to keep a cool head in intense situations as a nurse. No one does all that well the first time they take CPR. It is certainly not expected that nursing instructors will put you down or be rude to you. What you can expect is for the instructors to challenge you to make sure you are prepared and can think on your feet. This CPR instructor did cross the line, and I hope you were able to provide feedback to their management.

[Nurse2BeCam, ADN]

That's ridiculously unprofessional. I would never return to that location for recertification. Let it roll off your back. Some people get a kick out of "having more knowledge" about a subject and make others feel like crap about it. That person shouldn't be instructing any course at all.

[Wbanks]

Sorry that happened to you. However, while you don't know what nursing school will e like do be prepared. I did go to one- 10 years ago with the bully culture, you just have to survice. Completely different experience getting my BSN. School was wonderful and supportive of undergrad and continuing student nurses. Just depend on who is running the school.

[Lauren Ross]

Ignore ignorant people. Work hard and prove them wrong!! You have what you need to succeed. Best of luck!!

[brandiep1982]

Just... no. This is one person. And this person obviously has their own issues. Brush it off and move forward. Now... if several people are telling you this, maybe ask yourself why. It does not mean you shouldn't be a nurse, just that you could figure out what the weakness is and strengthen it. good luck in nursing school and STAY POSITIVE!