Crossing the line of professionalism

Nurses General Nursing

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Is there anything wrong with becoming personally involved with a client? How do you as a nurse maintain professional relationships with your patients? What are some warning signs that the professional relationship is becoming unprofessional?

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

well then, let us make her aware. That was what I tried to do, nicely.... I did so in my first post very POLITELY, If I say so myself. I was not rude, or nasty. But the posts I am getting back really kinda shock me. I am not even angry at the OP, but the responses from people who have seen my posts time and again and KNOW me better. That is what is getting to me, here. But hey, it's a free speech society here. And I like the idea of a etiquette reminder.....it would save misunderstanding such as this. If I am in the wrong, here fine. but let's not get silly w/assumptions.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Wow! Has this thread taken an interesting turn!

Here's my $.02.

I don't mind anwering students' questions sometimes, but I think they should be up-front about who they are and why they are asking. That gives me the opportunity to make up my own mind about joining or not joining in. In this particular case, I believe the student asked politely and didn't mean any harm: she just didn't think to let us know the situation.

In the related issue about students using "us" to do much of their work ... I, too, have sometimes felt used and abused by students -- not just on this website, but in my work environment. My colleagues and I (in advanced practice and hospital education roles) regularly get requests from students to do their homework for them. It happened again just yesterday.

Most often, students call asking if we have articles etc. on topics of interest to them. Before spending an hour or two trying to help them, I have now learned to ask questions such as, "Have you done a computer search? Have you looked in any books related to your topic? Have you been to the library?" etc. You'd be amazed at how many nursing students students tell me they have NEVER been to the library and don't know how to do literature search. Apparantly, they would rather call someone like me and ask us to donate our time to doing their homework for them. I send those people to the library.

When I taught at a university a few years ago, I was amazed to have a junior-year student tell me that she had never been to the library before. And she wasn't the only student in the class who was overwhelmed at our assignment to go the library (in the same building as class), look at a few nursing journals (we gave them a suggested list) and write 3-4 pages on any topic that interested them. A few told us they had never had to write a paper before and they appeared unable to construct a simply paragraph.

It worries me that so many nursing students are failing to learn the basic academic skills of looking up information, interpreting it, organizing it, coming to conclusions about it, and communicating their findings and impressions. If students don't learn those things in school, how can we trust them to be good consumers of the nursing literature in the future?

I guess it's just easier to ask other people what they think and write down what they say than to actually do the work yourself -- and unfortunately, too many faculty members let them get away with it.

That's why I am cautious about helping students and would like to know under what conditions I am giving away my thoughts -- the products of my intellectual efforts. I don't mind helping students who have done their part and need a little assistance. I do mind being pestered by students who are using me because they are too lazy to do the work themselves.

llg

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Originally posted by llg

Wow! Has this thread taken an interesting turn!

Here's my $.02.

I don't mind anwering students' questions sometimes, but I think they should be up-front about who they are and why they are asking. That gives me the opportunity to make up my own mind about joining or not joining in. In this particular case, I believe the student asked politely and didn't mean any harm: she just didn't think to let us know the situation.

In the related issue about students using "us" to do much of their work ... I, too, have sometimes felt used and abused by students -- not just on this website, but in my work environment. My colleagues and I (in advanced practice and hospital education roles) regularly get requests from students to do their homework for them. It happened again just yesterday.

Most often, students call asking if we have articles etc. on topics of interest to them. Before spending an hour or two trying to help them, I have now learned to ask questions such as, "Have you done a computer search? Have you looked in any books related to your topic? Have you been to the library?" etc. You'd be amazed at how many nursing students students tell me they have NEVER been to the library and don't know how to do literature search. Apparantly, they would rather call someone like me and ask us to donate our time to doing their homework for them. I send those people to the library.

When I taught at a university a few years ago, I was amazed to have a junior-year student tell me that she had never been to the library before. And she wasn't the only student in the class who was overwhelmed at our assignment to go the library (in the same building as class), look at a few nursing journals (we gave them a suggested list) and write 3-4 pages on any topic that interested them. A few told us they had never had to write a paper before and they appeared unable to construct a simply paragraph.

It worries me that so many nursing students are failing to learn the basic academic skills of looking up information, interpreting it, organizing it, coming to conclusions about it, and communicating their findings and impressions. If students don't learn those things in school, how can we trust them to be good consumers of the nursing literature in the future?

I guess it's just easier to ask other people what they think and write down what they say than to actually do the work yourself -- and unfortunately, too many faculty members let them get away with it.

That's why I am cautious about helping students and would like to know under what conditions I am giving away my thoughts -- the products of my intellectual efforts. I don't mind helping students who have done their part and need a little assistance. I do mind being pestered by students who are using me because they are too lazy to do the work themselves.

llg

And I leave this thread in total agreement w/this post. You said what I wish I had in a much more eloquent way. Thank you.:kiss

It does seem that students today expect experienced nurses to just give them the answers. There was another post a while back asking for a list of nursing dx for a pt wiith certain illnesses. I suggested that she think (God forbid) about all the problems that could arise with the various dx...it really would not have been difficult to come up with 3 dx. I got a reply somewhat along the line of, "Give me a break, I'm a new student...yada, yada, yada."

Well,...we all were new students at one time, and most of us experienced nurses managed to do fine without the help of the internet. If you are constantly asking for other people to give you the answers, you never develop your critical thinking skills; when you are in the clinical setting, you MUST have these...lives are at stake.

I don't believe in hazing/eating our young, but sometimes these students bring some of the hostility on themselves. I would be happy to help any student, but I do want to see that the student has made some effort to find the answers before asking for help. I don't think that's unreasonable.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

You know, guys, I got a nice PM from the OP and she did say she was sorry to have mislead anyone. I think her intentions are good, like others said, and I for one, wish all students well. I have no problem helping students (and without a consult fee even)! Just ask is all I say. Everyone has the right to know when they are participating in a study or project here, is just my belief....but....No harm was done in the long run and like I said I am not even upset w/her, just the reactions to my original request for honesty.:rolleyes:

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
Originally posted by fab4fan

There was another post a while back asking for a list of nursing dx for a pt wiith certain illnesses.

I remember that question. As you can imagine, I chose NOT to get involved in that thread.

llg

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

one word : DOENGES. rofl.

DOENGES?? Translation please...LOL!

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

the author of THE definitive nursing care plan book that got me all the way thru nursing school. no internet for me; just Marilyn Doenges.

Well, bottom line for me: We are not here for students to "download" our knowledge/experience. I will gladly help someone who has done the footwork but needs some help pulling it together. I will not help someone who doesn't feel the need to do that basic groundwork.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

ahhh careful fab4 you are eating your young now...rofl.

Well...it is lunchtime, after all!

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