Clinicals

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Oct 30, 2013

How unfortunate you are experiencing this.

Know that there are many areas in the US where African American and Muslim nurses are successful in this business.

I'm not sure if it is related to your race and religion, because I wasn't there, but I won't discount it either.

You will learn to approach people assertively in terms of "setting the tone" meaning, approaching people, letting then know that you will be working with them, any questions, and guide your personality and you practice guide you, even as a student. :yes:

elkpark · Oct 30, 2013

Where was your instructor during the day? Were you communicating with her/him about the situation? I know that I have been in situations as a clinical instructor in the past in which I quickly learned which staff nurses on a particular unit were interested in having students and helped provide good experiences for the students, and which staff nurses I should avoid because they definitely were not interested in having students around, and I made my student assignments accordingly.

On the other hand, I have to question your comment that you were "cheated out of my clinical experience." There is always something to be learned in most any clinical experience and whether or not a given day/experience is a worthwhile experience for the student is, to a large extent, the responsibility of the student.

I encourage you to talk with your clinical instructor, if you haven't already, about your experience and work with her/him to plan for future clinical days to make sure you will have a different experience next time. Best wishes!

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Oct 30, 2013

so sorry you ohad that experience. It would not be tolerated in my facility. May occur, but would not be tolerated. Please do not assume everyone will be that way. I wish you good luck in your career

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 30, 2013

I'm not sure if it is related to your race and religion, because I wasn't there, but I won't discount it either.

I agree. You stated that you were ignored. Like elkpark asked, did you tell your instructor?

I have had students in the ER. The ones that were visible, introduced themselves and took an active part in expressing the desire to learn, I would grab and give them exposure to the patients.

I love having students around and get a kick out of teaching them new things, however, I do not have the time to hunt them down and find them.

Once, we had three students who decided to sit in the back break room with their phones out. I advised them that if they wanted to see and do things, they would need to be visible to the nurses so we could grab them when needed. They continued to sit there and not interact with any of the nurses. They were escorted out of the ER by the charge nurse and told not to return.

How did you interact with the nurses?

YasminLassiter · Oct 31, 2013

I have never been a person to sit around and do nothing. When I first arrived I introduced myself with no response in kind. I followed the nurse even when she would attempt to shut the door on me. At the facilities request we have been asked to come later in the day for l&d so the instructor had already gone for the day. I absolutely do not use my phone in clinical so there is no way to keep up with teachers at the time.

kaydensmom01 · Oct 31, 2013

Your instructor wasn't there while you were in clinicals?

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Oct 31, 2013

When I first arrived I introduced myself with no response in kind. I followed the nurse even when she would attempt to shut the door on me.

That has happened to cohorts of mine that were not African American or Muslim-I am in an urban area, and I'm African American; it's a contrast to your area, but seems there are similar behaviors that some nurses do have in this business.

Did anyone else in the unit treat you the same way? Is this your first clinical? If not, have you been treated that way at previous clinical sites?

Your instructor wasn't there while you were in clinicals?

^THIS as well.., why is there no clinical instructor present to help buffer this issue; how is your relationship with your clinical instructor?

elkpark · Oct 31, 2013

It is even allowed for students to be in clinical without an instructor present? I didn't think facilities or the BON would permit that.

rubato, ASN, RN · Oct 31, 2013

I can't believe you would be allowed to be at clinicals without an instructor. Whose license were you there under? Your instructor's job is to make sure you are being provided learning opportunities.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Oct 31, 2013

There are always multiple perspectives to any situation - one for each participant in addition to the "truth". Let's imagine the staff nurse's perspective. She is expected to not only do her own job, but also take on the role of a clinical instructor - most likely, for no additional salary or acknowledgement. No one asked her if she was willing to do this. She sees the student as 'just one more thing' to add to her workload. It's easy for us all to say she needs to understand the 'big picture' and support nursing education. Metaphorically, we are sitting comfortably in the stands - shouting instructions to the matador who actually has to deal with the reality of the angry bull. We expect staff to take the high road, providing empathy and support to students - but do not treat them with the same consideration.

Add me to the list... none of our facilities allow students in house without a clinical instructor on-site. It is part of our contractual agreement with each school.

ruralnurse84 · Oct 31, 2013

A note on being at clinical sites without an instructor. At our school, half of our time is spent on the med-surg floor with the instructor, the other half is spent at ancillary sites, which may or may not be at the same hospital where the instructor is. We are allowed to do anything under our skill set under the supervision of an RN at that particular clinical. There is just no way the floor would allow the instructor to have 8 or 9 students with her every week.