Clinical: having THAT nurse

nalie2, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 25, 2017

If they are getting in the way of your learning then tell your instructor. I have dealt with unfriendly, rude, and uncaring nurses during clinicals but very seldom would they interfere with my learning. Can you give examples of what they do that makes your day difficult? If they are just rude then I suggest you just deal with it. You are going to come across rude nurses that you'll have to work with so start growing thick skin!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2017

NUrses that are unwilling to teach nurses are passive aggressive because they don't ant everyone to know how little they know themselves.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Mar 25, 2017

NUrses that are unwilling to teach nurses are passive aggressive because they don't ant everyone to know how little they know themselves.

That is an unfair generalization. Some nurses just don't want the extra workload having a student entails. And many programs expect these non-volunteers to teach their students in addition to their already heavy patient assignment. Students need to understand that having a student does NOT lessen a nurse's workload, but increases it substantially.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2017

I don't think OP provided nearly enough information to make the assumption that the nurses on the unit don't teach because they possess inadequate knowledge. I agree with meanmaryjean that it's rather unfair to say in this scenario, or any other. OP didn't actually say that he/she was assigned to a nurse on the unit who refused to teach. The statement was:

I'm only 2 days in and I really dislike the way the nurses have approached having students in the unit.

This makes it sound like the issue is more about unit culture, not individuals. With only two days experience, OP certainly hasn't had enough interaction with the nurses to generalize that all of them are unwilling to teach. My guess is that this a unit that is feeling understaffed and overworked. They may have had poor interactions with clinical rotations in the past. Notice, I didn't say poor interactions with nursing students, though that may be a possibility as well. Not all nursing instructors are good at communicating with the floor nurses. I've seen instructors show up with a class, assign the students to patients and send the students to start their daily tasks without ever checking in with the floor nurses. The floor nurse doesn't find out until a couple hours into the shift- when she has already started planning her day and pulling up medications- that a student wants to assume partial care of that patient. Or it could be that this particular unit gets clinical students from four different nursing schools throughout the week and is simply burned out from being asked to constantly accommodate nursing students without any compensation or recognition for the extra work it adds to their day.

SRN2018, my advice to you is to communicate clearly and respectfully with the nurses on this unit. Introduce yourself in the morning, explain your role and your goals for the day. THANK HER for the opportunity to be on her unit and ASK HER to let you know if you can help her with something or if there is something you may benefit from watching. Even if the nurse doesn't teach you directly, observe her practice, listen to how she communicates with patients and physicians, write down questions to research later, and make yourself available. When you're finished your assigned tasks, check in with her to see if you can help. Don't be caught sitting at the nurses station or chatting with your fellow students. If you can't find a nurse who needs/wants help, ask a CNA. They are a wealth of information for a new nursing student and often very grateful for the help.

elkpark · Mar 26, 2017

NUrses that are unwilling to teach nurses are passive aggressive because they don't ant everyone to know how little they know themselves.

Oh, please. As meanmaryjean notes, plenty of nurses simply resent being expected to do the school's job for it on top of their regular heavy workload. Not to mention the entitled attitude displayed by so many nursing students these days (since we're all slinging around unfounded sweeping generalizations ...)

Wuzzie · Mar 26, 2017

I am totally open to trying anything to get the most out of this experience!
Thanks!

Well, first try dropping the whole NETY thing because it will get you nowhere (here or anywhere else.)

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2017

How has your group approached the nursing staff, on whose unit you are guests? Are you allowing them to their work flow with limited interruptions? Directing the bulk of your questions to your clinical instructor? Likewise, approaching your CI when you require observation? Showing appreciation for any time they give you, and never entitlement to it?

If not, that might be a good place to start.

Remember your faculty are the ones hired to teach you-- not staff nurses who are likely working VERY hard at doing THEIR job. I'm sure you can understand how doing the jobs of TWO people could wear on a person.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 27, 2017

NUrses that are unwilling to teach nurses are passive aggressive because they don't ant everyone to know how little they know themselves.

WOW! That's as unfair as saying that "nurses eat their young." Working with a student triples or quadruples and already tough workload, and most nurses aren't asked if they're willing to take it on or given the chance to refuse. I know that it's a popular misconception that having a student around lessens the nurse's workload "because the student is doing all of their work for them" or because "the nurses told me I was so helpful!" but the opposite is really the case. Teaching a student is, if you're doing it right, very hard work. Unfortunately, some nurses just don't have it in them to work with a student AND give their patients their best. When something has to give, the patients need to be put first. Some nurses are going through very difficult circumstances at home, and don't have the extra energy for a student NOW, even though they may have loved to teach (and been good at it) last month -- before Mother had her stroke and moved in, before her husband had that heart attach that has him in the ICU right now, being worked up for a transplant, before developmentally delayed child started beating up on his siblings . . . you get the picture. And some nurses may still be new in the job and need some time to perfect their own practice before they try to mentor a student. To say that being unwilling to teach is "passive aggressive" is patently unfair.

wantobern01 · Mar 27, 2017

The majority of nurses I have met so far on my clinical are supportive. Maybe I've been lucky. Just like yourself they can have a bad day or can be going thru a difficult circumstance at work themselves. So be patient and kind, 2 days, things will change.

murse0604 · Mar 27, 2017

I'm currently in my last semester of nursing school. I would have to agree with some of the comments on this thread. Take a step back and asses the situation. The nurses probably have 5-6 patients, some probably have a mile long list of medications due at 0900, while another has to have a procedure done at 1000, and another patient's family member is asking for the nurse. What I'm trying to say is that nurses are busy and most of time are not asked if a student can be assigned to them.

What I have found works best is do as much as you can for nurse as you can at the beginning of a shift. This is an absolutely hectic time. Anything that you can do to take some of the workload off will help in the long run. How do you that? Well you HAVE to be assertive with your nurse! Once your nurse comes on shift introduce yourself. "Hi, my name is _____ I'm a nursing student at ______. I'm able to take vitals, fingersticks, assessments, and give medications. I can take care of patient A and patient B today and will report to you of any changes." This shows your nurse that you a willing to be a member of the profession. So they might not be teaching you a lot in the morning because they honestly do not have the time, but when things slow down they will probably be more than willing to explain things to you. However, YOU must take the initiative; nurses are not going to explain things to you if just follow them around like a puppy. You need to ask questions, be assertive, and show that you want to be there.

caliotter3 · Mar 27, 2017

At one clinical site, my preceptor nurse was cold, aloof, and clearly disinterested in me or the process. She didn't have extra work because of me. I steered as far away from her as I could get. I only regret not saying something to the instructor. After all, I paid dearly to walk around that hospital floor for the allotted time.