clinical breakdown

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It said here that you can vent so I just want to do just that. Clinical rotation was really bad for me yesterday. I just can't seem to keep up with everything at the same time sometimes but the worst part yesterday was after the nurse in my team helped me with my medications before I passed them, she went to the nurses station and ranted about what is going to happen if all these new nurses are going in the workplace and they do not know anything? and how she would not want to be working with them but would rather work with seasoned nurses who she can ask questions with and basically know what they are doing. She was so fake in my face and was telling me the rest of that day , ok just let me know if you need anything and then talk to the people there of how i do not know anything. I asked her to check my medications before I pass them because that is what our instructors wanted us to do and then I asked about how they transfer their crushed pill from the mortar and pestle to give to the patient. My instructor talked to me and told me about how the nurse felt that I do not know which pills to crush and which ones can't be crushed. My medication was late and she just went through my meds for like several seconds and wanted me to know everything. That is why I am not yet a nurse, I am still in school!!!! I am learning..... Why can't they be all nice and helpful and encouraging? It was awkward walking around there knowing how she ranted about me in the nurses station of how incompetent I was but I just have to have a thick skin to survive. There, that feels better... thank you. :)

Specializes in ICU.

First of all, I can't believe your instructor did not check your meds. I'm assuming you are a first year. That's crazy to me.

Yes, you do need to know your meds. It's part of med administration. Have you had pharm yet? You should never administer a medication you don't know anything about. That's dangerous.

I understand being upset about overhearing the nurse rant. But it was not meant for your ears and she may have been frustrated that you didn't know the basics and they were wanting her to act as your clinical instructor.

One semester, when we had just started, I got a less than enthusiastic nurse, who definitely did not want students. I killed her with kindness but to no avail. My instructor ended up pulling us from the floor that day after she slammed a door in my face and would not allow us to see a skin assessment. Some people just are not good in the teaching aspect. That's ok. I have had wonderful experiences with every other nurse I have worked with from ltc, to ER, to medsurg.

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I think that the nurse complaining within earshot of any student was wrong. I'm sure it can be frustrating at times for nurses with students on the floor, but she should have waited until students weren't around or at least out of earshot.

However, I also think that their criticism can be very helpful. We might not want to hear it, but I think it's what can make us a better student.

Right after starting clinicals (I'm in my first semester still), a nurse mentioned to my instructor that my nerves were vary visible which made my patient very nervous. My instructor said something to me (nicely). I'm glad the nurse said something to my instructor because I didn't realize it. Since then I've been able to work on confidence and make sure my face doesn't show how nervous I am. It made me provide better care after I was able to correct that. If there is anything on my evaluation that says needs improvement and I'm not really sure what it's referring to, I ask because I want to correct it and avoid doing it again in the future or make progression on doing better.

It's really hard to hear negative feedback, but I think with this kind of profession it's essential. If we don't fix our mistakes now, besides not passing clinical, how can we practice safely as a new grad or nurse in general (if the nurses don't bring it to anyone's attention)?

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Specializes in Tele, Interventional Pain Management, OR.

Nurses are not expected to automatically know every aspect of every medication they administer.

But nurses ARE expected to consult available resources PRIOR to giving medications. You need to know WHY you're giving THIS med to THAT patient. Sorry to yell with all capital letters, but...giving meds without knowing why and being unable to explain side effects to the patient is irresponsible.

Simply completing the task (e.g. giving the med) is way less important than seeing the bigger clinical picture for your patient. Nurses have a reason for their tasks/interventions--they don't just complete tasks/interventions for the sake of completion and checking it off the list.

So, when in doubt--Call pharmacy. Consult your hospital's approved formulary. Look in a drug book. Med administration can't be taken lightly.

Learn this lesson now, and it will help your nursing practice in the future. I say this as a student nurse graduating in 26 days who had her final clinical shift TODAY and needed to call pharmacy for clarification about IV fluid/med compatibility. Pharm didn't really know so I had to run an antibiotic separately from the continuous IVF (0.45% NS). You really can't be too careful.

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Thank you so much for all your input. Appreciate it. I have learned from that situation. I just got done with my clinicals and will graduate this 9th of dec. Thank you. Have a happy thanksgiving.

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Thank you so much for all your input. Appreciate it. I have learned from that situation. I just got done with my clinicals and will graduate this 9th of dec. Thank you. Have a happy thanksgiving.

Gee -- two weeks ago, when you started this thread, you were upset about nurses at your clinical site expecting you to know medications you were giving, and complaining that it's unreasonable to expect you to know anything about medications or how to administer them safely because you're "not a nurse, I'm still in school" and now you're telling us that you are graduating in a couple of weeks? I'm sure the nurse who was concerned about you in clinical was aware of how far along you are in your program, and, frankly, if I had a senior level, about-to-graduate student at work who didn't know basic stuff about medications and how to give them safely, you can bet I'd be letting the instructor know, too. Wow.

(And, BTW, since no one else appears to have mentioned it, I will -- the TOS for the site specifies that you're not allowed to use titles in your username that you don't actually hold, so you should not be including "nurse" in your username.)

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Uh... You are graduating in a few weeks. That changed everything about your post for me. Frankly, I would be concerned about you. You don't need to know everything necessarily, but you need to memorize and know the key points of each medication that you are giving. Don't get to the bedside or get ready to administer until you have looked hem up. I STILL often look up unfamiliar medications.

Sounds like you told this preceptor you were ready and wanted her to check when you were NOT in fact ready because you did not know your medications. You should have looked that up and been prepared prior to asking her to verify your meds.

This far along, you should be almost entirely independent. Yes, you are still learning, but you are not long from being an independently practicing nurse on your own.

Her venting was not entirely professional, but I don't think you handled the situation correctly either.

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