FURIOUS at RNs at school

Nursing Students General Students

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Hello,

I am in my second year in a diploma (soon-to-be degree) program based at a local hospital. The two-year program is very reputable, but very challenging. I am 36, a man, married with two kids and working part-time at a methadone clinic. My goal is to work with drug addicts and/or acute psychiatric patients upon discharge.

Right now, I'm in a very intense med-surg course (both for classrooms and clinicals). I didn't do well on the first test, so now I have to study like crazy. My clinical professor is very thorough and meticulous and I'm grateful for that -- although it makes for a lot of work.

My anger -- and no, it's not just frustration, it's ANGER -- lies at the RNs at the school's parent hospital. Some of them are wonderful, helpful and kind, but others seem to bring all their baggage with them and take it out on YOU. It seems like many will do ANYTHING to throw a student under the bus. In 201, I was written up for having a food stain on my pants (THEY'RE WHITE -- things happen!) and a scraggly beard (it was just growing in -- it couldn't be scraggly). In 203, a nurse actually complained to an instructor that I was ANNOYING her with communication about stuff I was INSTRUCTED to communicate to her. I wasn't breaking any policy or even usual practice. Just being annoying. This same nurse is celebrated with her picture throughout the hospital with a recent special award for treating her patients "like family." Yeah, maybe, but she treats her students like dirt.

Which leads me to today. At the end of my clinical rotation in peds, my instructor said that somebody had reported me referring to a narcotic painkiller with the words "that's the good stuff" in front of a 16-year-old patient. Not only did I not say that -- I would NEVER say that. It's unprofessional and foolish. I do sometimes use the phrase "good stuff" as words of encouragement in my daily conversation, but I would never say it to glamorize a drug. I vehemently denied using that terminology and I think the instructor believed me -- because she said she'd leave it alone. She did mention (as every other instructor has), that I can be very excitable (lifelong ADHD) and can work people up. So what? Most people find that endearing. Maybe these nurses don't.

Anyway, these interactions have left me with a very bitter taste in my mouth. I don't even want to apply at this hospital anymore, despite the advantage they give to graduating students. I feel like I'd tell off these nasty ladies in my first few days. And if I was going to work in a hospital, it would be the ER, psych or peds. But I wonder what/who I am that is so off-putting that someone would just assume the worst about me -- including a misheard "inappropriate" comment that wasn't.

Very frustrated right now. Insights are certainly appreciated.

I am pretty sure the OP is in PA where there are a large number of diploma programs. This area of the country is unique in the hospitals still give preferential hiring to graduates of their own diploma programs. Assuming the OP can graduate, finding a job shouldn't be a problem

Thanks for all your help, guys. I'm actually in CT. I do indeed have a bachelor's in another field and plan to go for my masters after working for one year. My hospital diploma program is affiliated with Yale-New Haven and has a good reputation, so I think I should be OK. At least that's what I've seen amongst recent graduates.

I am certainly better and appreciate all the encouraging replies -- and the critical ones too.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Oncology.

To the three people who wrote responses saying "well that's just how women are, catty"...SHAME ON YOU. He said he's been to other institutions and had no complaints so it's not a "female" issue and it disgusts me that there are still people that think this way. Clearly we have a long way to go. There are many cutthroat professions. I used to work in male-dominated corporate america that was just as rough and no one blamed it on men.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
To the three people who wrote responses saying "well that's just how women are catty"...SHAME ON YOU. He said he's been to other institutions and had no complaints so it's not a "female" issue and it disgusts me that there are still people that think this way. Clearly we have a long way to go. There are many cutthroat professions. I used to work in male-dominated corporate america that was just as rough and no one blamed it on men.[/quote']

:inlove: with this post!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I was called "Overbearing" by an instructor during clinicals. My reaction was similar to yours. I called shenanigans on it. I felt I was being persecuted for coming from a different culture. I lived most of my adult life in NYC. New Yorkers are just different from people in the town where I live now. We're more direct more energetic. We talk faster. We tend to talk more. There is one thing my instructor said during that conversation that really helps me in my practice today. She said, "These are sick people." I AM charming. I DO work people up, in a good way. I encourage them to take responsibility for their own outcome. I give them information that the doctor doesn't have time for (appropriately, without stepping outside my scope, and in line with their ability to understand.) I encourage them to fight, if that is what they need to do. But with a sick person who is scared and tired, and hurting, I do none of these things. I sit quietly and hold their hand. I listen to whatever they want to talk about. I validate them. The thing that teacher taught me (without meaning to) was that in a hospital setting I must park my personality at the door and be whatever the patient needs that day, that time, in that situation. It isn't about me. It's about the patient. Sometimes one has to read between the lines of narrative to learn a lesson that the teacher doesn't know she is teaching. You can learn from anyone, even if what you're learning is to avoid being like them. You're in school to learn. Focus on that. Turn your anger into opportunity. [/quote']

Ok

Please print this and keep it as a reminder OP. :yes:

Glad you are doing well and continuing to learn! :up:

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Insight:

Dude, let it be...

this is nursing school and it can be arbitrary and capricious... and you can have your plan derailed for no reason better than the wrong person doesn't like you.

Suck it up, shut up, keep your head down, and do your time... just like we all do/did.

If you were ever in the military then think of it like boot camp... fly below the radar.

This, too, shall pass.

{And for goodness sake, shave your facial hair. You're creating unnecessary problems for yourself and your personal expression can wait.}

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I am pretty sure the OP is in PA where there are a large number of diploma programs. This area of the country is unique in the hospitals still give preferential hiring to graduates of their own diploma programs. Assuming the OP can graduate, finding a job shouldn't be a problem

Hmmm, I live in PA, and the diploma schools have been shutting down over the last decade. There are a few, yes, but very few. The hospital I worked for had a diploma program that now is an ADN program with an option to go an additional 2 years for a BSN. They won't hire any of their grads from the ADN program. The other two diploma programs in the area closed close to 20 years ago. Maybe out in the Pittsburgh area you can find a few.

​Setting aside the educational part of the discussion, jobs are few and far between here, too.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

Hmmm, I live in PA, and the diploma schools have been shutting down over the last decade. There are a few, yes, but very few. The hospital I worked for had a diploma program that now is an ADN program with an option to go an additional 2 years for a BSN. They won't hire any of their grads from the ADN program. The other two diploma programs in the area closed close to 20 years ago. Maybe out in the Pittsburgh area you can find a few.

​Setting aside the educational part of the discussion, jobs are few and far between here, too.

Yeah I went to a diploma school in Pittsburgh and there were at least 5-6 diploma programs still in existence there. There are still 100 diploma programs open for operation for RN students nationwide

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

I agree with elkpark. I am an RN and have been for about 7 years. I would say "most people" is not a term you want to really use in a hospital setting. Stop for a second...think...LEARN. Patterns are usually not coincidence. You assume "most people" like you "excitable"? So you will never try to change? Then you will never grow. Take a deep breath and try to learn from these situations instead of anger. To succeed in a hospital you will have to deal with lots of personalities. One way is to be professional. Do I disagree with people at work from time to time? Sure. However I respect their opinions and maybe I can learn from them. You are in nursing school and then you will need time to become a skilled nurse. You will need those people to succeed. Good AND bad. If someone does something you do not like then hey..learn from it.

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