I am not sure if it is true or not, but I heard that RNs get a little extra pay when they work on a day where nursing students are present. If the charge RN assigned a student to an RN, then they get the extra pay.
I am talking about college nursing students not training a new employee.
It just came on top of my head because I have been assigned to lousy RNs during my clinical rotations and it feels like they should be more engaged with students
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
OP, there have been quite a few debates about nursing students, pay, etc.
I'd suspect that people being paid to take a nursing student is very, very rare. My facility doesn't.
Most of the time, we're just told "oh, you have a student today."
Also, it would be interesting to hear your definition of what a lousy RN is.
What I actually am finding downright fascinating is how a bad mood from a nurse automatically turns into a "s/he doesn't like having students" vibe for said students who post about all that on here. Can't poeple even think that maybe, just maybe, it isn't about them? It's a whole lot more likely that the nurse has had a bad day/week/month/whatever. Or a resting b face, even.
Nope, no extra money. My assignment isn't any lighter, either.
I can be fairly certain that when my father was dying, I had to take care of a mother with Alzheimer's, my dog was dying and I was undergoing cancer treatment, I wasn't in a very good mood. It had nothing to do with the student I wasn't asked if I would agree to teach but rather stuck with, until that student started complaining about the "lousy nurse" he got stuck with to his peeps -- loudly enough for me to hear him down the hall.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Were you too not a nursing student once? Who taught you? Yes you are busy we as students get that. I'm so tired of hearing about how terrible it is to have to have us nursing students on your shift! We are there to learn and we are eager to learn just like you were when you were a student! Every day nurses are complaining about being short handed. Quit acting like having an extra person there to teach is such a big deal. It does not take that much effort to explain what your doing whe your doing it!
I'm sure you won't believe this, but I remember WAY back to 1975 when I was a student. I remember it vividly. My clinical instructor taught me.
And yes, it does take a lot more effort to explain what I'm doing while I'm doing it. It triples or even quadruples my work load to have to slow down and explain things to a student.
I remember being a student, but you have NO idea what it's like to be a nurse with an heavy assignment being tasked with teach a student as well. Especially a student with a lousy attitude who isn't GRATEFUL for the opportunity but instead feel entitled to my time.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I don't think nurses get paid for having students on the floor for only one day, but they get extra pay if they preceptor a student. My preceptor in my pre-grad got paid $0.65 per dollar more when I was with her. I live in Toronto, Ontario (Canada).
She was wonderful and loved to teach. I don't think the incentive is much but it shows some sort of appreciation I guess ...
It made me sad to read so many negative comments on this thread towards teaching nursing students.
I understand we are swamped with work but it's not students' fault, they are just trying to learn.
I graduated not long ago and if I were to tel you the horrible experiences I had with mean nurses ...you have no idea how your negative attitude affects nursing students. Before you are rude or mean to one of them, let your supervision know that you do not welcome nursing students and believe me, they'll find someone else who is more willing.
Most of the negative attitudes toward teaching nursing students come from having been saddled with students who weren't grateful for the opportunity but rather felt entitled to the nurse's time and attention. And I cannot believe how many students respond to any feedback they deem as negative with nasty attitudes or denial. If you cannot accept criticism, how do you expect to learn?
Letting my "supervision" know that I do not welcome nursing students won't have any effect at all on whether or not I am forced to work with one. Where on earth did you get the idea that it would?
I'm sorry some of you missed the sarcasm in that, I don't actually think students should get paid.
Let me go into more detail for those of you who are so appalled and "embaressed" by my post:
I had six days of clincals, each day I had a different patient and a different nurse. Technically we had a patient who had a nurse. I didn't ask a bunch of needless questions regarding mundane things. Most of the time, I was just observing. Sometimes I'd ask a question or two but I have enough common sense to know if I was being a bother. I was mostly trying to focus my energy on the patients and how I could help them, even if it was small or insignificant. For instance, the first day the nurse seemed very, very busy so I mostly stayed out of her way, asked a few questions here or there and just watched. The sixth day, the nurse there was busy but she seemed more open, and like I said, she was willing to have me do some small things. Do I think I rescued her and made her life 20 times easier? No. But I beleive that me being there may have made her day a little easier, not harder. Is that such a misguided thought? I think some of you are taking specific situations you've had with students and applying it to me.
Roser13, feel free to actually respond because I really don't consider that a response. Seriously, I appreciate the feedback. If you've been a nurse for even a day or a week, that's longer than me. Oh and feel free to correct my spelling again. I'm not going to copy and paste this into microsoft word so if you want to waste our time, go ahead.
Horseshoe, you just sound like a intolerant, bitter person. Is it so horrible teaching students? I could see how some students who are ignorant and insenstive to the workload of a nurse might be a pain the butt. I didn't get that feeling though during my clinicals. My nurses all seemed courteous, kind and willing to teach. Most of them were teaching without us asking; yes, on top of their patient loads. So what is your actual attitude when you have a student? I hope I never get to the point where I resent my students. Educating people is part of being a nurse, isn't? We have to educuate our patients on self-care, do we not? I'm just a student though. But please educate me some more..
Nope, no extra money. My assignment isn't any lighter, either.
I can be fairly certain that when my father was dying, I had to take care of a mother with Alzheimer's, my dog was dying and I was undergoing cancer treatment, I wasn't in a very good mood. It had nothing to do with the student I wasn't asked if I would agree to teach but rather stuck with, until that student started complaining about the "lousy nurse" he got stuck with to his peeps -- loudly enough for me to hear him down the hall.
Oh gosh. So feel you on one level. Chronic pain means that there are some shifts that I can barely smile at my patients, let alone be sweetness and welcoming to students. (Doesn't matter what type; I just know that I'm going to be in there for ages while the student does their assessment when all I want to do is sit down and get ice back on me.) Combine that with fertility issues, being told that if I'm not careful, I'll be in a wheelchair by the time I'm 50, and other problems? They're lucky to make it out alive!
Now there's a thought. Should have a "Dear Students" letter/article, so that when a student says that it's our "duty to teach" and such a privilege to have them on our unit, they didn't show up to learn how NETY and they really do make our lives easier, we can just say "read this. Think about it. Then come back and say that we are mediocre nurses who don't care about our patients or the student nurses." Hrmmmmm...
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I'm sorry some of you missed the sarcasm in that, I don't actually think students should get paid.
Is it such a misguided thought to think that I was being somewhat helpful to the nurse in my unit? She had seven patients, two of them were on different pods. There was some things that needed to be checked on, simple things from the other pod. She had me check the bp of a patient who was getting dialysis a few times.
Geeze you people are ruthless on here!
I meant to hit "quote" not "like"
Yes, it's misguided. Students do not relieve some of the burden. They add more. That is, if the nurse is actually doing a good job of teaching. Sure, there are ****** teachers out there. But that just proves the point that nurses should not just be assigned. They should volunteer and WANT to teach.
As an introvert, I can tell you that I am absolutely EXHAUSTED at the end of the day when I have a student. All the talking and conversation and explanation is incredibly draining. But I still do it because I enjoy teaching and I'm good at it.
Most of the negative attitudes toward teaching nursing students come from having been saddled with students who weren't grateful for the opportunity but rather felt entitled to the nurse's time and attention. And I cannot believe how many students respond to any feedback they deem as negative with nasty attitudes or denial. If you cannot accept criticism, how do you expect to learn?
Letting my "supervision" know that I do not welcome nursing students won't have any effect at all on whether or not I am forced to work with one. Where on earth did you get the idea that it would?
When I was a student I never felt entitled to any attention from nurses, if anything I knew they were doing ME a favour by teaching me when they had the time.
When I was in clinical, my CI knew which nurses didn't want students, so she would make sure we weren't paired with them.
I understand we are overworked and having someone following us all day expecting to teach them can be an extra stress, but let's not forget how that student feels.
Students see these nurses as role models, and want to learn from them. If you are having a bad day, try to make arrangements so you can get "rid" of the student, most facilities ask you before you take anyone ( the ones I know ) . It's better to do that than to make the student feel awful for trying to learn.
This entire thread shows how nurses "eat their young". Sad to see because as a new grad myself, I have nothing but admiration and respect for older nurses.
I learned most of my skills and "critical thinking" from amazing nurses on the floors, who opened up to me. They helped me gain confidence and I will forever be thankful.
Also, we do have a responsibility towards nursing students (not only patients). They are the nurses of tomorrow, and it would be a shame for them to see how much separation and anger we have among each other .
Yes, it's misguided. Students do not relieve some of the burden. They add more. That is, if the nurse is actually doing a good job of teaching. Sure, there are ****** teachers out there. But that just proves the point that nurses should not just be assigned. They should volunteer and WANT to teach.
As an introvert, I can tell you that I am absolutely EXHAUSTED at the end of the day when I have a student. All the talking and conversation and explanation is incredibly draining. But I still do it because I enjoy teaching and I'm good at it.
On the last day of clinicals, I left my pod and made sure to say goodbye to my nurse. She looked at me with total sincerity and said "ahhhh, sorry you guys are leaving, we appreciate the help". Ok, maybe that's not what she said word for word but it was something along those lines. I'm a relatively sensible person, I could tell she was being sincere. There was three of us by the way, and we were all trying to focus our efforts on being helpful.
I just think you guys might be generalizing a little. You're taking your perspective and YOUR experience and applying to every situation. If you're an introvert and get irratated by having to teach, that's fine, I get it. It's totally understandable. But don't discourage other students by telling them that we're a burden all the time.
When I was a student I never felt entitled to any attention from nurses, if anything I knew they were doing ME a favour by teaching me when they had the time.
When I was in clinical, my CI knew which nurses didn't want students, so she would make sure we weren't paired with them.
I understand we are overworked and having someone following us all day expecting to teach them can be an extra stress, but let's not forget how that student feels.
Students see these nurses as role models, and want to learn from them. If you are having a bad day, try to make arrangements so you can get "rid" of the student, most facilities ask you before you take anyone ( the ones I know ) . It's better to do that than to make the student feel awful for trying to learn.
This entire thread shows how nurses "eat their young". Sad to see because as a new grad myself, I have nothing but admiration and respect for older nurses.
I learned most of my skills and "critical thinking" from amazing nurses on the floors, who opened up to me. They helped me gain confidence and I will forever be thankful.
Also, we do have a responsibility towards nursing students (not only patients). They are the nurses of tomorrow, and it would be a shame for them to see how much separation and anger we have among each other .
All the facilities that I did my clinical rotations in, and all the facilities that I have worked, there was no asking about taking a student for less than a day. Just telling. And in theory it's easy to adjust things so that a nurse doesn't have to take a student, in reality it becomes a lot harder. Because hey, I'm the only one qualified to take patient X, who is critically ill. And oh! The student has that patient also? Ah well. Suck it up Buttercup, you'll just have to figure out how to balance the student's needs with the patient's needs and the patient's family's needs...and here, have these other two patients!
And hey, my current facility? We don't really have that luxury. If you're a bedside nurse, you have a full patient load. Even the C-suite nurses will sometimes roll up their sleeves and jump in.
Secondly, it is beyond rare that we wake up thinking to ourselves "you know, if there are nursing students today, I want to make one cry." (Personally, I wake up and ask where my glasses are. Sometimes to the cat.)
And when it comes down to the student or the patient, who will win? The patient, every time. No ifs, ands, or buts about it - a student saying that we were mean to them, didn't let them do anything, or ignored them won't cause nearly as many headaches for us, our coworkers, and the hospital itself than if a patient said that we ignored them, missed a medication...so yes, we do have a responsibility, but it has to be folded in with the rest of our duties, and assigned a prioritization level.
Finally, if some of us seem to be coming across as being mean, or supporting the whole NETY argument? Please, stop that thought in its tracks. Being blunt and honest is not supporting lateral violence in any way, shape, or form. (And I'd also toss out there that it is happening in increasing amounts in reverse. New nurse comes on board, ink on the diploma barely dry, and tries to make big changes in their department. The other nurses push back. New nurse becomes passive aggressive about things, other nurses get fed up and seem to gang up on new nurse and nobody is happy in the end. Or the degree level comes into play. New nurse has a BSN. The only other BSN on their unit is the unit manager. So new nurse feels superior because hey, BSN. Not an ADN or diploma. So they must be smarter than the other nurses!
And no, I'm not angry. I'm not yelling. I'm tired and sore.
Mavrick, BSN, RN
1,578 Posts
Of course they (Oh'Ello) were. It's obvious from the context of the post.