As a nursing student, how can you tactfully and respectfully, talk to the nurses that
you shadow about procedures that are being done in ways that we've been advised against,
or not performed how we've being taught in school? I've been told that "this is the real world",and "nursing school only teaches you what you need to pass the boards". I don't agree with this, but as a student I feel like my opinion doesn't matter, and only causes problems, especially with those
whom I will be working with when I graduate. Any ideas please?
I've seen so many nurses palpate and then ausculate abdomens for bowel sounds. Drives me nuts. Would I ever call them out on it? Nope. I know that the real world of nursing is not much like what they teach us in school. I will do things the way I was taught, unless there's a safe shortcut or better way to get the job done :). Nursing school is for the boards, actual nursing is for the patients.
Do it how you need to do it to get your skills check off, but questioning an accomplished nurse on how he/she does a procedure is probably the worst thing you can do in clinicals short of choking your patient to death. Just shut up, watch, listen, act like you are interested, and thank them for all their help. You are a nursing student, no one is interested in your opinions on the floor
NoviceRN10
901 Posts
I've seen so many nurses palpate and then ausculate abdomens for bowel sounds. Drives me nuts. Would I ever call them out on it? Nope. I know that the real world of nursing is not much like what they teach us in school. I will do things the way I was taught, unless there's a safe shortcut or better way to get the job done :). Nursing school is for the boards, actual nursing is for the patients.