Dealing w/ rude RNs

Nursing Students LPN-RN

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How do you guys deal with RNs who hate having students? I had this one nurse who said maybe 10 words the whole night, disappeared frequently, would give me one word answers when I had questions, would not let me pass meds, etc!!! I was so frustrated I just ended up not even bothering with her. Another student had this same nurse who was the same way with her. What do you guys do in these situations?

This problem could be solved with some lateral violence, and perhaps pillow-case and baseball bat.

Nursing students vs. Rude :madface:Nurse.

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Specializes in L&D/NICU/Pediatrics.

I agree, Thank you so much for your insight.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

You may not have learned anything from the nurse you were assigned to that day, but in 3 short posts WE have learned a lot about you.

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Specializes in L&D/NICU/Pediatrics.

Kteacher2nursing: Thank you so much for your post! It's nice to know others have experienced this same issue. I agree that clinicals are great learning experiences, it's such a shame others don't see it that way. This is my first rotation as an RN student and have learned a great deal thus far. I was just so disappointed/ angry with that one nurse- thanks for listening.

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You may not have learned anything from the nurse you were assigned to that day, but in 3 short posts WE have learned a lot about you.

Okay? you go...on with your bad self!

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.
Okay? you go...on with your bad self!

Oh good Lord. I can just about guess your age. Off to find the ignore button....

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Kteacher2nursing: Thank you so much for your post! It's nice to know others have experienced this same issue. I agree that clinicals are great learning experiences, it's such a shame others don't see it that way. This is my first rotation as an RN student and have learned a great deal thus far. I was just so disappointed/ angry with that one nurse- thanks for listening.

Ruby is a smart competent nurse. Starting the post with "dealing with rude nurses" already set a defensive tone. It could have said.....how do I engage the RN when she doesn't like to teach/or want students. Your quick knee jerk response to Ruby's comments to the defensive won't play well when trying to "get along".....it's the same response that nurse gave you is what you gave Ruby. Always try to take all advice whether you agree with it or not to try to come up with the best solution for you in your situation.

There are nasty people everywhere. There are nasty nurses. Those who don't teach well shouldn't take students if they have nothing to share. Some nurses are just insecure. Some don't like students because they don't have the answers and they can't help you and it makes them mean. Some are just mean and you won't be able to change them.

Nurses on the floor have a full work load plus you and they are not compensated for teaching you...whereas your instructor is. Nurses have plenty one their plate without trying to check up on and follow a new student to be sure she is following proper procedure as you are working on her license, some days even the best mentors get annoyed at being crapped on and just don't have the reserve to give more. Never forget nurses have personal lives and no one knows what her burdens are.

My suggestion is to call you clinical instructor and ask to not have her have students. I also think we all need to be responsible for our experiences and to make the best out of it even when the experience disappoints us. Ask to follow another mentor, but I would refrain from calling this nurse out on her behavior. Just consider the source and what can she give you when she probably doesn't know herself.

When I am confronted with difficult personalities I try to engage them, find out how best to let them know I'm willing to listen and learn. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.........and you'll get mote bees with a little sugar.

Good Luck in school.

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Specializes in L&D/NICU/Pediatrics.
Ruby is a smart competent nurse. Starting the post with "dealing with rude nurses" already set a defensive tone. It could have said.....how do I engage the RN when she doesn't like to teach/or want students. Your quick knee jerk response to Ruby's comments to the defensive won't play well when trying to "get along".....it's the same response that nurse gave you is what you gave Ruby. Always try to take all advice whether you agree with it or not to try to come up with the best solution for you in your situation.There are nasty people everywhere. There are nasty nurses. Those who don't teach well shouldn't take students if they have nothing to share. Some nurses are just insecure. Some don't like students because they don't have the answers and they can't help you and it makes them mean. Some are just mean and you won't be able to change them.Nurses on the floor have a full work load plus you and they are not compensated for teaching you...whereas your instructor is. Nurses have plenty one their plate without trying to check up on and follow a new student to be sure she is following proper procedure as you are working on her license, some days even the best mentors get annoyed at being crapped on and just don't have the reserve to give more. Never forget nurses have personal lives and no one knows what her burdens are.My suggestion is to call you clinical instructor and ask to not have her have students. I also think we all need to be responsible for our experiences and to make the best out of it even when the experience disappoints us. Ask to follow another mentor, but I would refrain from calling this nurse out on her behavior. Just consider the source and what can she give you when she probably doesn't know herself. When I am confronted with difficult personalities I try to engage them, find out how best to let them know I'm willing to listen and learn. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.........and you'll get mote bees with a little sugar.Good Luck in school.
Thank you for your post and advice. I don't doubt Ruby is a great nurse, I just thought it was a little insensitive for her to assume I didn't know what I was talking about that's all. I don't always " jump the gun" and think everyones being rude. I do understand nurses aren't paid to teach students. However, you have to remember us nursing students don't get paid during rotations and we have crazy busy lives just as anyone else does. I just wish all nurses were like the ones I've had in the past, but in reality it will not happen. It's intimidating going into a place where you are unfamiliar and I just wish the "experienced" nurses could go back and put themselves in the students shoes.
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Specializes in L&D/NICU/Pediatrics.

Thank you for the advice.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Don't take it personally.......Im not a big fan of having students.... It takes more time, and 75 percent of the times they aren't even passing meds...... The students I love and will bend over backwards for are those that take initiative to seek me out and are pro-active in telling me what they are envisioning they will do that day. When i went to nursing school our program had us doing everything from day one but i was in a different type of program so when different programs come in the rules are totally different and i never know 'what ' they are going to be doing, by being pro-active it really helps me know how to support you as a student.

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Thank you for your post and advice. I don't doubt Ruby is a great nurse, I just thought it was a little insensitive for her to assume I didn't know what I was talking about that's all. I don't always " jump the gun" and think everyones being rude. I do understand nurses aren't paid to teach students. However, you have to remember us nursing students don't get paid during rotations and we have crazy busy lives just as anyone else does. I just wish all nurses were like the ones I've had in the past, but in reality it will not happen. It's intimidating going into a place where you are unfamiliar and I just wish the "experienced" nurses could go back and put themselves in the students shoes.

You know, there can be huge misunderstandings between people when they are talking face to face and even more so when there are only written words to go on. Anyway, the fact that you aren't paid and have a busy life is nothing to do with anything. That has to be put away when you walk in the door. Yes, it's intimidating going into a workplace as a student. I don't know that anything can be done about that. The workplace is there to care for patients, not to help students learn. That's unfortunate for the students but it's the truth.

There are less than wonderful people everywhere and we all have colleagues we consider rude and are difficult to work with. It's just the way it is and part of becoming a professional in any field is learning how work with people you don't like. My heart sinks some days when I walk in and see who I'm working with but I just have to get on with it. I have to admit that sometimes my heart sinks when I see I have a student with me. I do my best not to let this show but I suppose it might sometimes. It's rarely anything to do with the student personally - it's to do with knowing my already heavy workload has just increased.

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PlumeriaSun:

I'd bet my bottom dollar that it was not your fault about the conflict with the RN while training; you have shown grace and patience replying to some of these posts, showing more self-restraint than I think I could have mustered. We are here to help each other. There really are some people who are hard to work with and the blame shouldn't be placed on you for not jumping through hoops. You are paying for your education and if some of the RNs aren't able to teach for whatever reason---whether it be because of personal problems, too much work, or previous bad experiences with students---- the facility should assign someone else. Best of luck to you in your career.

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