Clinical questions

[Kim62]

Several of my friends that have been in the clinical portion of the program, have made comments about how some of the nurses were "mean" or "rude" to them because they were students. One of my friends dropped out of the program because she said it was so bad. I told her that maybe the nurses are testing them to see how they react under adverse situations. If they can't take it from the nurses, then they probably aren't going to handle pts very well either. She didn't like my "reasoning" and was convinced that some of the nurses were just mean to student nurses.

What have your experiences been both as a student and as a nurse working with students? I am waiting to be accepted to the program, and any help you can give on what I as a student can do to fit in with the nurses would be greatly appreciated. I don't have a problem with a nurse "testing" me (if that is what in fact happens), but if there is anything I can do to help the clincials go smoothly, I am open for any input you have.

Thanks,

Kim

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

I am a relatively new ADN instructor and from my experience, it depends on the floor and the climate of the hospital. Most of the nurses have been nurturing and welcoming to the students (there is always one or two nurses out of the crowd who are stressed, hyper, controlling, or just plain having a bad day). One floor, however, was just like a snake pit. I have never, ever witnessed such venomous people in my whole career of nursing. This, fortunately, was the exception. A lot of the floors are staffed with new grads (due to high turnover) and these tend to be very welcoming and empathetic to the students.

[BMS4]

Originally posted by Angelica

I just graduated and I can honestly say that I have not had any bad experiences with the nurses I have worked with. Maybe I was just lucky.

Same here. The nurses during clinicals were fine. They were either very helpful and friendly or they just didn't have anything to do with us. Which was fine.

As for the nurses I work with now, I can truly say they are a wonderful group of women (and three men). :) I suppose I'm very lucky too.

[Mkue]

Fortunately I've never had any bad experiences at clinical sites. I did have some fellow students who ran into some nastiness towards students. We did see a lot of nurses complaining about ea. other but I guess that's in every profession.

[rdhdnrs]

I agree with everything AndyLyn said, and would add one thing: don't try to impress your nurse with your knowledge---the nurse will always know more than a student. There's nothing that turns me off about nursing students more than one who tries to correct me. That said, I love students, especially their energy and the fresh approach they have. They remind me of the reasons I am a nurse.

[EricTAMUCC-BSN, BSN, RN]

Kim, I would not worry about those nurses. Yes, like any other organization you will run into negative people. Smile and go about your business. Just focus on being the bigger person if you come across a situation. Clinicals dont parallel the real working environment but they do assist in the transition from school to hospital. You'll do great!

[Desert Rat]

25+ years ago in a BS program, I found definite bias from AD and Diploma nurses against us. They would belittle us verbally and push us back to encourage the AD students. I have tried to do my best to encourage any students because of this. Hope it is not still happining.

[Agnus]

I love students. Then I was a new charge nurse and I had the job of taking on students. I was only out of school one year my self. It was too much to handle. Working with a student takes a lot of time.

As a student there are some things you can do. One is if you find a real witch let your instructor know so she can see other students don't get her. Then be as helpful and considerate as you can. And stay out of her way. Make sure you send a small token of appreciation when you finish working on a floor.

Most nurses want you to learn (IMHO) but it is a big job for the staff nurse.

So when ever possible get your instructor to accompany and supervise those things that you are not yet allowed to do on your own. Do little extras, like make beds and such for the nurses. Every little bit of courtesy on your part helps. Ask how you may help her.

You are not there to be her handmaden you are there to learn. However, you must keep in mind students are guest at any facility today. So pitching in and showing you are willing to work and not just take goes a long way. Smile don't just hang around. Find something to do. Don't bother her with questions if she is bussy find someone else to ask if your instructor is unavailalbe. If she has a moment and is willing ask away. Then listen.

You may run into someone who will insist you do a procedure the WRONG way. Don't argue. Just tell her you have to have your instructor with you for this and then find your instructor.

Your instructor has the final word on what you do. The staff nurse has the final word on The patient. Do not confuse this.

Chances are if you go in with a good attitude and a spirit of helpfulness you will not have problems. Recognize the nurse's stress and acknowledge it. Try not to increase it, try to ease it. You will meet some great teachers out there in the staff nurse. You will meet some that well..... They will be teacher too of a sort. You will learn what not to do from them. You may learn more than that.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I love students too. Don't have any on nights. But I'm also good to new grads.

Don't have anything to add to the above. Some units to have a "culture" of negativity. I worked on one just recently.

Fortunately I had good experiences, but for one snotty nurse.

I find it hard to believe that your friend quit because the nurses were so mean. She/he is definately not in the right profession if that's all it took for her/him to quit. You've gotta have real thick skin to be a nurse. Surely if they all are so mean, the school should take a look into having clinicals elsewhere.

[gizzy76]

Hate to say it, but some people are just plain out rude or mean when it comes to students. I think a lot of these nurses have forgotten why they got in to the profession in the first place and how it felt when they were a student themselves.

When I was doing my practicums I found nurses who were amazingly helpful and nurses who didn't have the time of day to answer my questions. It's a sad thing.

As an RN now, I make sure that any undergraduate nurse or nursing student who is working with us gets their questions answered no matter what they are asking, and they also get hints and tips but are encouraged to develop their own ways too. I hope that I have helped some of them along because lord knows I sure needed the encouragement some days!

I have also noticed that some environments are more negative than others. Not sure if staffing was the issue though. I think the LPN's were 'ruling the roost" so to speak on this floor b/c what they said went and they'd been there for about 100years each. It was sad that the teamwork between all professionals wasn't evident on this particular floor. I definitely wondered if that was what it was like in other places because that site was my first practicum when I started school.

[Kim62]

Thank you all for your responses. You have given me some great advice and I will use it when I start clinicals. There are "bad apples" in every industry. I have thick skin so I am not too concerned about anyone hurting my feelings. I was looking for the reasons behind the "meaness" and things I could do on my part to make clinicals go smoother. You all have helped me on both of these issues and I appreciate your advice.

3rdShiftGuy - I agree with you about my friend's motives for quiting. My personal opinion is that she was having a harder time with the program than she would admit and she used the "mean" nurses as an excuse. I don't believe all the nurses were mean. There may have been one or two, but if she couldn't handle that, then she doesn't belong in nursing and that is what I told her. Bottom line is she was looking for an excuse to drop out and she found one.