Just wondering, I am in a clinical group for the summer for clinical 3 days. There is a clique of girls in this clinical group. I went into the break room at the end of clinical and one of them was hitting my bag. My bag is a trendy bag which a lot of ppl carry. When I saw the girl hitting it I picked up the bag and said "That's mine" then sat at the table. The girl said "Oh I thought it was Kate's" (Kate is her friend who is in the click and has a bag similar to mine, since it is a trendy bag. Kate was standing there however.
I am worried about the safety of my personal possessions at this time since I have clinical with this group 3 days a week (its only the third week of school). Should
I let this slide or bring it up to the course coordinator? I am graduating next semester and don't want to make any waves. But, there is palpable tension between me and this group, so I don't want to let it go then have it blow up.
You get a lunch break? How lucky!! I don't. I think you just need to suck it up and move on. What are you going to do if you have coworkers who act like this? You can't go running to your boss every time someone you don't like does something you doing like. It seems likes you are being just as childish as they are.
I never brought a bag to clinicals with the exception of a handful of times when I knew we weren't going to be on the floor or it was in the hospital where I could stash stuff in my personal locker in my department. People can break into locker rooms and steal crap out of them. It happens all the time. If you want to keep it, then don't bring it.
Heck, half of the locker rooms have simple codes like 321, 123, 456, department phone number, etc. You know those ER doors? Most of them are 911, 911*, *911, #911, 9911, and sometimes it is the phone number. Want to know why? Because ambulances may have a four or five hospitals they have to go to and most of the time they don't want the hassle of remembering different codes. One time I was at a hospital as a private that I didn't go to and a RN and a paramedic were from my fire department. They messed with me and wrote it on my hand because I forgot the number twice because it was the phone number (rural hospital that my fire department rarely went to since there were closer ones so I only went there when I worked as a private). Same with doors. A bunch of people have to get in there to clean so they try to keep the codes similar.
Whatever you do, don't bring anything valuable including textbooks. If you bring textbooks, someone could steal them and resell them.
I had a few catty classmates and I wasn't part of their clique. I just ignored them.
I have to agree with other posters that your immaturity about a seemingly harmless episode of horse playing will reflect badly on you - and you alone - should you report it to a clinical instructor. If you're so worried about people messing with your things, simply leave them at home or put them somewhere safe. I'm more concerned with your inability to deal with petty drama more than the "personal property" aspect. I would definitely think about how you'll deal with any future coworkers who do things you don't like before doing anything else!
I will be honest though if it was my bag, I would be furious if someone was punching it. That particular student is lucky that it was yours and you were not an employee who would have probably reported it the instructor and the school. If I walked in and saw a student punching a bag, I would probably ask them to stop.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I did not have anything expensive in the bag. I will bring a cheap bag next week. It is that she was hitting it which is of concern to me. Who is to say she won't go into the cheap bag and do something like break a pen or something of this kind? I also bring textbooks to study during break, who is to say she won't decide to throw the textbooks out.
We actually began arguing in the break room, me and 5 other girls (they are younger than I am). I realize if someone overhead this it would make our school and ourselves look really bad to the hospital.
But, how am I supposed to handle catty comments, rudeness, and someone hitting my bag? Am I supposed to just ignore it? I am very close to graduating.
Yes you ignore their immature attempts to irritate you. why does this bother you so much? The smart one of all of you is the one who left the room.
Since one girl said she was getting up to close the door and another girl left the room (the girl that left the room is not in the clique). I actually stopped saying anything out of concern for this.
If I was your instructor and I got wind of this behavior
I then said something in the elevator (where noone would hear) when we were leaving. After we got out of the elevator one of the clique said something really loud in the lobby. It makes us look bad.
You all would be in my office discossing professional behavior/conduct unbecoming...especially with you ALL so close to graduation.
I have no idea what a long champ bag is and I consider myself pretty on top of it fashion wise. I would not take an expensive bag to clinicals if I was having problems with people. There are cliques at every single school, work, or organization that you will be a part of in your life. I'm guessing your pretty young because in the bigger scheme of things someone hit your bag. Think about this, someone hit your bag. They didn't hit you, not a child, they didn't kick a puppy. They hit a bag. Something that will be out of style in 6 months anyway. Here is my advice, Get over it and find something else to complain about. Nursing school is not a popularity contest. You are there to get a degree, nothing more. This honestly sounds like high school. You are an adult now. Do not engage. Let it Go.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I've never heard of that brand.
But anyway... Are you in nursing school or high school?? So they were punching your bag, it doesn't have feelings. That should be a red flag to NEVER bring your purse/bag to clinicals/work. I never brought anything of value to clinicals or work. Don't even bring your books! If you're afraid of some one stealing/bothering your belongings, LEAVE IT AT HOME! It seems pretty weird to bring your books to clinical. It's not a time to study, it's a time to practice.
It seems from your attitude that this "fight" is not one sided. Why say anything at all to them? If they are being the aggressors (it doesn't seem so) when you snap at them you are only giving them what they want, a reaction. Don't talk to them, at all, unless you have to for school.
With your disparaging comments about their looks, grades & behavior I'm just shocked. You need to buck up buttercup & learn how to deal with people better. You're going to be a nurse & have to work & deal with people you just might not like.
Honestly? By being professional yourself. The reason why you are getting so much aggro on here is because of the way you responded initially. You may not want to hear it, but bringing people's grades into it isn't exactly the paramount of professionalism either. By mentioning grades of other people and using it to speak of a persons standing and/or value, you are putting them down. Their behavior is unprofessional sure, but you can either ignore it, respond in a professional manner, or sink to their level.
Ignore any snarky comments, keep your head down, and keep your good stuff bags and otherwise either on your person or at home/in car. Someone mentioned using a plactic bag to bring your lunch; that would probably be your best bet.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I forgot to add, I was in an LVN program with people younger than me (I was 20/21 at the time). There was a clique but no drama & even the young ones never acted like that. Sheesh.
Specializes in Critical care, ER, stepdown, PACU, LTC.
Wow. Just looked at the website for those bags to see what the big deal was. They have some nice looking bags, but who in their right mind brings a bag that costs $400+ to clinical where it can't be locked up?? And how on earth do you afford a $400+ bag while in nursing school? When I was in nursing school just getting to order a pizza was a real treat most of us couldn't afford to do very often!
springchick1, ADN, RN
1 Article; 1,769 Posts
You get a lunch break? How lucky!! I don't. I think you just need to suck it up and move on. What are you going to do if you have coworkers who act like this? You can't go running to your boss every time someone you don't like does something you doing like. It seems likes you are being just as childish as they are.