clinicals, why are the nurses such *******.

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Many of the clinicals I have been to so far, the nurses have been complete *******. Now, let me say this, not ALL of the nurses have been, just a select few. My clinical nurses as of now, are completelyyyyy NICE and helpful!

I would like to think it's because we're "in their territory" but from what I've seen, the way they do their jobs (giving the meds 4 hrs late...) I really don't think we're in the way, I think we actually make the situation BETTER.

Any thoughts?

Specializes in IMCU.

I think this discussion has devolved into a tit for tat.

I am just really disappointed at the remarks from the seasoned nurses. I tend to associate "it isn't in my job description" remarks with government drones (or my cable company).

A couple of friends of mine got a similar attitude at work, towards teaching them, when they were new graduate nurses. It is a shame really.

This will just make me appreciate the nurses that are pleasant and welcoming even more. In fact I think I am going to start writing down their names and sending them thank you cards signed by all of the students or even sending a letter to their boss about what great teachers they were and how patient and welcoming they are to student nurses etc etc. In fact I think both.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatry.
I think this discussion has devolved into a tit for tat..

Dolce,

I agree with you. However, the title of this thread alone is enough to ruffle some feathers.

Peace,

Diane

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro.

It's not like she is complaining about all nurses. And if it makes you so upset why post? Other than insulting the students and making us feel like a giant pain in your ***, it doesnt accomplish anything productive. We are venting, as students we have the right to. I am sure that their are threads on the RN boards that allow you guys to vent about us. And if not, why not start one? That way we can be happy and enjoy allnurses and so can you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I thought as nurses we were all suppose to have one thing in mind.......Give quality care to our patients!!!! I'll be starting in the fall and love this site bc it has helped me be prepared for whats to come. However, I just don't understand why nursing students are all of the sudden pain in the asses???? You too were also in our shoes at some point or another and I'm sure you didn't like to be considered a pain for simply wanting to learn. It may not be in your job description, but we don't ask what day and time we want to go for clinicals, nor select what nurse we want to irritate their entire shift bc we are so eager to get hands on experience. We attend clinicals to learn how to tend to our patients and give them 100% quality care, since when is shadowing someone so annoying? When you think about it, would you want to try and help out a nurse while they're in school or not take the time to teach them and then pick up their slack when they're your co-worker bc they have no idea what to do? All I want to be is a great nurse, so why would someone give me grief about trying to be that? I'm not trying to be argumentative, but if nurses can't stand teaching students, why don't they tell their supervisor or switch to nights???

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I really don't think we're in the way, I think we actually make the situation BETTER.

Any thoughts?

Students make it harder not easier on the nurses. Once you are a RN you will experience more how they feel and see this in a totally new light. Many students feel like you do and understand better in time. Students add a lot of work. It's not the students fault either as they have to learn however it isn't the nurse's fault either as they have the added responsibility of a student on top of their already bogged down work load.

The staffing is a huge issue here and it all comes down to the almighty buck. If nurses that were training students were given a lighter load they would be able to better help the student. Unfortunately they just heap more on the nurse which hurts the patient, the nurse, and the student. The hospital doesn't want to pay additonal nurses to help train the students so everyone suffers. This is unfortunately an ongoing system issue.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in IMCU.

:deadhorse

Love these things.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.
Since when did a student work under the license of a staff member? I though it was the instructor's license?

Also, I have to say that if you want to "correct" what you deem to be misinformation I think it can be done without the unpleasant tone of some of the posts I have read. They are really only serving as an indicator of resentment.

say a student gives the patient a wrong dose of something, the patient codes and dies, and the family sues. the nurse who was assigned to that patient is not exempt from being slapped with a lawsuit. i would be standing in court next to the instructor and the BON would not hesitate to snatch both of our licenses.

i remember what it was like to be a student, i really do.... and now that i'm on my own with 7 or 8 patients on a progressive care floor, i understand why alot of them didn't have time for me.... i have never, ever been rude to a student.

perhaps the post title is what ruffled feathers.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Recovery (PACU)-11 yrs, General-13yrs.

I don't mind teaching, occasionally, but when we get a new lot of students through every week I get a little bit over it. And sick of the sound of my own voice.

Also I am a "head down, bum up" kind of worker so sometimes I'm so involved in what I'm doing that I forget to explain to the student as I'm going along, esp when it gets busy. But I think I've figured out how to deal with that-when showing them around the unit & explaining how things work I warn them that if it get's desperately busy or I am involved with a critical patient, I will forget about the student, but feel free to watch from no closer than the foot of the bed-not the head of the bed, and I will answer questions later. Seeing as I work in PACU I'm afraid the students needs are not always my top priority.

Most are interested, some just sit at the desk, most are intimidated by the unit, one was so over confident there was no way to pull him back, and even when trying to explain to him he just never listened because he already knew.

We all try to be kind to the students and help them along, but sometimes you just want to get on with your work. If I wanted to teach I would have become a teacher!

These may not be the things you want to hear, but just trying to put the other point of view.

And remember as you go through life 25% of the people you meet will love you, 25% will dislike you and the remaining 50% will be neutral.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If they really think they are "babysitting" student nurses that is completely insulting.

I agree. I would be so proud, when I'm a nurse, teaching a student nurse; although some students are really silly and do not seem to care (I'm not in NS yet, but my experience this year of prereq's, I am older than half the students in my class, though). Anyway, I can see where they might have a short fuse when that comes into play, but how cool to have the responsibility! To be a nurse, then get to show someone new all the tricks tried and true that you know, etc., like those nurses who can give a shot without you feeling it; there must be a "just so" way. My point is, what an awesome feeling to educate, and I would not feel like it was babysitting I wouldn't think. I am not in clinicals, so I don't know, but I would think if they are good enough to have a student nurse under them, they have been supervising to some extent already as far as CNAs or LPNs? I see those leadership requirements all the time when I check out job postings--way off but still on the lookout for requirements, recommended certificates, etc., so it seems they are the best ones for the job, but I guess some may just not like it? It seems silly to be a nurse who doesn't want to help . . . student or patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

At any rate, the hospital system I work for is a University teaching hospital, so there's no question that teaching is a part of the job description for the doctors, nurses, and pretty much all other staff people involved. If you get care here, you're pretty much going to have a student's involvement, and if you work here, you're going to be teaching students.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As I am a student, I have been very fortunate to work under mostly good nurses. 2 nurses even told me that they LOVED to teach.

However, most of my peers have experienced very nasty nurses. Some may have bad days, and I can respect that, but we have the same experience with the same nurses every week. It now causes our instructor to move students around when they are assigned to a PITA nurse (our assignments are done prior to the nursing assignments). These nurses are even cruel to our instructor who works full time at the hospital as a nursing supervisor!

I understand that maybe it causes more work for the nurse, but my god...give a student a break. We didn't ask to be assigned to you, at least we don't even get a choice in who we are assigned to. Every RN has walked a mile in our shoes..how did it feel to be not even involved with the patient yet, and a nurse says she doesn't give report to students? I guess maybe they expect help at the clinical hospital we work at because it is a teaching hospital, but come on...

I hope to God no nurses who give attitude to students, give the same attitude to the patient or families who rubs them wrong way.

I'm in the hospital right now as a patient...and every nurse I spoke to on this floor(not my clinical site) says that they love to help student nurses, because it DOES take away some of their responsibilities that are tedious...but can be a pain too. It's a catch 22...

So my question is...why make it more miserable than it has to be? I know I am a damned good student nurse, and I have had no problems, complaints or reprimands. In fact, every nurse I have worked with has given me great reviews. So why not give me a chance right off the bat to see how much hands off you can be with me? (BTW..or instructor double checks everything, including meds..procedures...etc. The nurses are told that they are more than welcome to double check the meds before we administer). Also, we are working under the instructor license, not the nurses. I realize it becomes tricky in court, but I am sure that your license would be a lot safer than an instructors license if a student makes a mistake.

Go ahead and flame me...because the attitude shown here has been so unbecoming and makes it clear that there is so much more to this story than what is being led on by some nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
No, we are not there to teach you. We are there to take care of pts. And everything else that goes along with it.

Student nurses NEVER make things better. It's an extra task to take on, extra work, more things to worry about and then you have to hope that you don't get the student who "knows the right way to do it" or who thinks she "can do it better than you" or will "never in a million years be like you".

So please, spare the criticisms. I completely and distinctly remember how painful it was to be a nursing student. I remember what it felt like to beg for the nurses attention, or to pass on pill and feeling like I had to wait all day to do it.

It doesnt' even remotely compare to the stress of being a nurse. Not in the least!! You have no idea of what it's like (and we do have an idea of what it's like to be a student)

A lot of SN's might want to take a quick check at their own attitudes too. Or are we going to pretend that it's 100% completely one-sided?

I'm just trying to get by, and maybe I can squeeze a pee break or an apple in my day. A student nurse does not make everything better.

Signed by someone who actually loves to teach, and doesnt' bully students-because I DO remember how it feels.

I know you said you love to teach, but it doesn't appear that way. I have a question; aren't SNs just supposed to watch, learn, jot questions down as they come, do something when asked to do it, then ask questions at end of shift, or am I totally off? I am quite surprised at the responses of the RNs and just trying to understand why a student would get in their way since the SN cannot do anything without their direction, right?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment