Dealing w/ rude RNs

Nursing Students LPN-RN

Published

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?

Regardless, such behavior would not be displayed to her patients, so why is it permissible for her to take it out on the Nursing Student?

Nursing student does not equal patient.

Blowing up at people trying to help you just because you don't like their answer and were hoping to hear complete agreement? RUDE.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
And for the record, I get along great with all of the other nurses that I've worked with PRIOR. My people skills are excellent and I've gotten numerous positive comments from patients AND their families. SO Ruby, I really don't think MY attitude/behavior is the issue. This is why I came here for ADVICE, as this is the first time in my 5 years in the medical field that I've had to deal w/ such a horrible nurse. Get your facts straight before you start spewing such BS!

I hope you didn't intend for this post to be an example of your "excellent" people skills.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Nursing student does not equal patient.

Blowing up at people trying to help you just because you don't like their answer and were hoping to hear complete agreement? RUDE.

So is leaving out a lot of relevant background information and only adding it later to counter attack someone who responded based on the first post or 2.

And people wonder why more and more nurses "hate" working with students...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

As both a nurse and a nursing student I have a perspective on both sides. And all y'all can't say you didn't have that one nurse or two that treated you like a gnat no matter what you did. I have done the grunt work, asked what I could do, bathed 9 pts when I only had 1. I missed out on passing IV meds to help her because they had no aide so all the baths were hers to do. And 3 pts that weren't even hers cause other nurse was mad about not having an aide. I did them to help her and try to gain her favor. She still treated me like s**t no matter what. She still does. Some people are like that. Just like some nursing students are rude and entitled. I'm not. Don't you dare question my ethic or attitude. I'm always "Please if I can... Anything I can do to help, name it....Thanks so much for the opportunity to..... Still nothing. So yes I stopped and just did what was expected and didn't talk to her unless it pertaining to pt care. And before people say it was cause she was busy that day its everyday. Even the 6 days she had 2-4 pt when normal was 6-7 on that floor.

And to others: You're jumping all over the OP saying maybe nurse didn't want students that day, etc. Bull. You can't tell me you don't know when someone hates your f***ing guts with a passion. It happens sometimes and guess what? You weren't there and she was so maybe she knows more about what happened than you(who is reading second hand and jumping to conclusions)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

And people wonder why more and more nurses "hate" working with students...

...really?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
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 everyone's 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.

Unfortunately the world isn't perfect. Back in the prehistoric age when I was a student we were slave labor for the hospital and staff. I remember paying "lab time fee's" for hospital clinical and I know the nurses never saw a dime. Some people just shouldn't teach. Your clinical instructor should "screen" the staff that she is placing you with to give you the clinical experience you are paying for in school.

I have felt for sometime that the schools should ask the staff ahead of time and make sure arrangement and some sort of training/orientation be the school for the mentoring nurses should be given by the instructors and the school to those who mentor so the students can have the learning experience that you need to be successful.

Ruby Loves to teach but your initial post came off as.....aggressive and mean/rude. I hear and feel your frustration and I think schools are failing the students in many ways. I feel it is your clinical instructor job to be sure you are getting the experience that you need and intervene when it is no longer a positive environment for you. As an clinical instructor

(before I became ill) I spent a ton of personal time ensuring my students got what hey needed. I think your instructor shares the blame...it is what she signed up for.....it is what she wanted to do.

There is bad in every life experence. Learn from this and how not to be when you become a nurse.....:hug:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in icu,er,pacu.

you are the type of student that gives the seasoned nurse the rep of"eating their young" you come on the floor and expect everything to be about you. maybe the nurse you are talking about had a bad day or is very busy or just doesn't feel like dealing with a student on that particular day. also running to the charge nurse with every little episode you don't like,you're going to find many more nurses who"don't like students". i have been an r.n. for 35 yrs. get along wonderful with students and actually have them ask for me, so speaking from experience you might think about not being so quick to judge.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I had a situation where my clinical instructor advised me that I was being placed with a nurse that does not care for students. I approached the nurse, asked if I could do anything to assist her with her patients (not just the patient I was assigned to) and asked appropriate questions. By the end of the clinical day, the nurse told the clinical instructor (who also happens to be the OD for the department) that she would be 'stupid' not to hire me if I applied for a position. This was within the Critical Care Unit with high acuity patients. I believe it is all in the approach and letting the nurse know that you are there to assist them not hinder their day by slowing them down. Just my 2 cents.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D/NICU/Pediatrics.
you are the type of student that gives the seasoned nurse the rep of"eating their young" you come on the floor and expect everything to be about you. maybe the nurse you are talking about had a bad day or is very busy or just doesn't feel like dealing with a student on that particular day. also running to the charge nurse with every little episode you don't like,you're going to find many more nurses who"don't like students". i have been an r.n. for 35 yrs. get along wonderful with students and actually have them ask for me, so speaking from experience you might think about not being so quick to judge.
First off, thanks for the positive words of advice, hmm.. Secondly I didn't run to the charge nurse. She was covering for the rude RN while she was on break. Third, I was not quick to judge her.. As I said previously I've been around her for four weeks and she's like this everytime. Fourth, please don't label me as a student who gives nurses bad reps as you clearly don't know me.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D/NICU/Pediatrics.
I had a situation where my clinical instructor advised me that I was being placed with a nurse that does not care for students. I approached the nurse, asked if I could do anything to assist her with her patients (not just the patient I was assigned to) and asked appropriate questions. By the end of the clinical day, the nurse told the clinical instructor (who also happens to be the OD for the department) that she would be 'stupid' not to hire me if I applied for a position. This was within the Critical Care Unit with high acuity patients. I believe it is all in the approach and letting the nurse know that you are there to assist them not hinder their day by slowing them down. Just my 2 cents.
thanks for your reply. I along with the other students have approached her with such a positive attitude, but no change.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

ADPIE

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D/NICU/Pediatrics.
Secondly I didn't run to the charge nurse. She was covering for the rude RN while she was on break.
and I meant to add the charge nurse asked me specifically how it was going with that nurse..
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment