Dumbest thing a student/newbie ever said/did?

Nurses General Nursing

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What is the dumbest thing a student/newbie ever said or did??

I ask because I'm starting nursing school in May and want to know what NOT to do!:banghead:

I thought it could be entertaining as well if not for those of us that are saying "I don't get it...why was that dumb??" :confused: than for you more experienced nurses to get a chuckle!

Also if there is anything that a student did that isn't exactly dumb just a BIG no-no please please share!

Thx!

Hooked a FOLEY CATHETER instead of the NG to continuous suction.:uhoh21:

Yikes!!

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Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.

Stand around at or near the nursing station, propping yourself on it, and looking lost/tired/staring for 5-15 minutes at a time. This also applies to simply walking up and down the halls constantly or grouping up in the middle of a hallway chatting. Find somewhere else not so visible if you need to take a rest, wait for your instructor, gossip, or don't have anything to do. You make yourself look bad to the staff (even if you have a legitimate reason to be standing around, we don't know that). Believe me, staff notice that kind of stuff; it's our workplace; and will make mental judgements about it even if we don't say anything out loud.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

I think my best was sticking myself while doing a glucoscan....you see, you pushed the colored end of the lancet at work....and the colored end at the clinical hospital was where the needle came out. Had a good laugh about that one....

Also, I've done more than my share of issues....and found things that should have been taken care of long ago.....Just be polite, and always phrase things in question form....the demanding students are the ones who are singled out......

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Specializes in OB.

sit at the desk, stare off into space, doing nothing, taking the last chair while the RNs and Docs have to stand at the counter to chart. MOVE IT. Be aware of someone other than yourself. Trust me, there ARE things you could be doing/watching/learning and I shouldnt have to point it out to you.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

Don't make assumptions about whether or not people are related, or what the relationship is. :nono:

I had a female patient who was probably late 50's but looked even older (lots of wrinkles). I had heard that she had a grown son and daughter but had only met the daughter. I went into the room one day and there was a young man in there.

"Oh, is this your son?"

"NO, this is my boyfriend." She was not amused!:angryfire

Ooooops! He really did look, and probably really was, about the same age as her daughter. :uhoh3:

If the patient doesn't introduce you to the visitors, and you want to know if this is a family member, say something like "My name is xxx, and you are?"

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Specializes in Neuro, Cardiology, ICU, Med/Surg.
Don't make assumptions about whether or not people are related, or what the relationship is. :nono:

I had a female patient who was probably late 50's but looked even older (lots of wrinkles). I had heard that she had a grown son and daughter but had only met the daughter. I went into the room one day and there was a young man in there.

"Oh, is this your son?"

"NO, this is my boyfriend." She was not amused!:angryfire

Ooooops! He really did look, and probably really was, about the same age as her daughter. :uhoh3:

If the patient doesn't introduce you to the visitors, and you want to know if this is a family member, say something like "My name is xxx, and you are?"

Yes, I've been guilty of a similar faux pas before.... never assume relations. :uhoh3:

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I doubt you would ever do this but a student did just a couple of weeks ago. maybe he was told to ask questions which is a good thing. But some times you have to use a little common sense and respect.

He saw me open a file cabinet in the locker room. Acting like a big dumb over eager puppy he comes in behind me (I never saw him before in my life) and asks, " what is that? (the files) He asked like he thought he needed to know everything. I told him it was our mail boxes.

This was a file cabinet in the locker room, that is considered a private area for the nurses' personal items. You would think , he might have a clue. I found his manor rude. He seemed to think it was entirely appropriate. I wanted to take him aside and explain this to him but did not have the heart.

It would have been ok to ask but his manor was like I said a big dumb over eager puppy.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
We had a senior nursing student on our unit one day. Her patient had meds due at 9 am and 5 pm. After passing her 9 am meds, she asks, "what do we do now, just sit around until 5?" :uhoh3: She was informed that there are a number of things to be done like assessments, answering call lights, helping out with baths, taking off orders, ambulating patients, vital signs, etc.

What school did this girl go to??? how on earth did she pass her other classes:banghead:

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Specializes in CCU & CTICU.

Not being willing to learn or do stuff. Make use of your opportunities to learn.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

Horror story we got our first semester was about a student that accidenly gave potassium IV push instead of putting it in the I.V. bag (back before they didn't allow that of course) dead in a split second. He didn't pass.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, psych, 7 yrs EMT.

Currently have a student that constantly says, "That's not how they do it at such and such hospital" Well this isn't such and such hospital and we do it this way... Don't like it...Tuff!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, psych, 7 yrs EMT.
Horror story we got our first semester was about a student that accidenly gave potassium IV push instead of putting it in the I.V. bag (back before they didn't allow that of course) dead in a split second. He didn't pass.

:nono: That qualifies as a gigantic uh oh! :no:

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