I am really confused by the stigma and negative attitude towards new nurses from experienced nurses as I am a new nurse and just plain do not understand? aren't we all new nurses at one time, so why are "some" nurses (as I do not think it is an all inclusive thing) forgetful that they were once the person whom they reject or whatever they do? I am unclear on the reality of what transpires in reality, I just know what I hear and what I have gone through myself.
I am really curious as what the stigma is all about from real nurses and not just rumors? I have heard that an experienced nurse will refuse to help a new nurse in a situation where the new nurse does not know what to do and the experienced nurse does??? I have been told this but really this actually happens in reality? plus, who is the one who suffers in the end of a situation like that? I have a really hard time believing that nurses would do that to their own, and for what purpose or reason does anyone justify doing something like that? it was clear to me that when I entered the field of nursing that I would always be a teacher once I possessed something to teach because it is a field that is based on a foundation of knowledge in addition to experience that cannot be acquired any other eay than to be taught on a situation basis.
are the experienced nurses tired of teaching new grads or they do not feel that teaching is part of what they signed up for? are there such an abundance of new grads with the shortage that experienced nurses are overwhelmed by the new grads and their needs? I am not a twenty something new young nurse. I am a early thirties starting my career after children new nurse. I can understand from the point of going to nursing school with younger people that it is easy to be rubbed the wrong way by younger people with less life experience, is that the issue?
I can see new nurses in relation to the above statement not acknowledging the proper respect in regard to an experienced nurse, and I can see that as a big problem is this the issue? I know in my clinical experience I had great experiences with nurses that other students had poor experiences with because of the attitude for which they approached their clinicals. I met my nurse at the beginning of clinicals introduced myself and followed them everywhere they went except the bathroom all day long. we were always assigned to just one of the nurses patients, but I never met a nurse that said no to a student observing and helping with all the patients and why would I sit around while I the oppurtunity to learn just because I was only assigned the one patient. I have seen students get totally ignored because they don't act or they just don't put forth any effort. my first goal was to find and learn to do things that would be helpful to the nurse I was working with. I understood that I rank low and I do what is needed to be done and thats that, whatever it may be. I had to be cognizant of the nurse I was working with and their comfort level with me handling whatever I would handle for them. I always did things no other student did, I was trusted with more after time worked with the nurse, and I had really positive experiences and was always the person the other students went to because they didn't know how to do much or work the computer software. I was eager to learn anything I was offered, as the nurses saw my eagerness to learn they began teaching all through the day. one day, I was paired with a nurse that had 30 years of experience. I would have liked to spend a year with her, she was like my own private encyclopedia of secret information. I love to learn new things, anything new and so that drives me too.
I did face complete rejection from a whole er of nurses. our clinical instructor did not know any of the er nurses, so she stood there trying to get "noticed" at the nurses station for more than 20 minutes. even the nurses ignored her. she addressed the nurses working and said she had nursing students, and only one nurse acknowledged her with a so what and turned and walked away. our clinical instructor told us follow some person who did not acknowledge that we even existed as a human being in the world. we stood at the nurses station and when the new nurses arrived we were paired up with another nurse. I tried to plant myself in, but I kept following her as she tried to find places to use her cell phone and she kept exiting the area of er. she was not happy about my stalking her when she was doing what she was. it was the longest day of my life, I cannot do nothing but was forced to. I finally exited the nurses station and learned from the residents, as they were willing to teach me. I felt unbelievably uncomfortable because all of these nurses where aware we were students and refused to even speak to us, to say a simple hello to us. I mean we basically treated lesser than a human being by people that I had such a high regard for before I decided to become one. I felt awful that day truthfully because if this is reality for me, I don't want to be a person that treats people poorly ever. one nurse said she takes the students and set us up with a nurse that found us invisible, so we took one set of vitals and returned to stand at the wall. finally, one nurse acknowledged us that we were assigned to but she just wanted to get rid of us. it was the best day when that day was over.
I also was treated poorly in relation to an interview I want to get some opinions but I am too detailed and my posts are too long. I really just want to understand this and try to make sure I do not do any of the things that have created this stigma most importantly.
my biggest question is, when if ever will I be treated like a deserving human being in the eyes of the nursing world? a nurse told me that she likes new grads (yeah) during an interview and stated that nurses eat their young but I from what I see in relation to how nurses treat one another they are not partial they eat each other too. why are nurses not supportive of our own, and unified as one large force?
this is a real serious question, I just don't get it?
OMG ,what is wrong with me? YOU OBJECT TO TAKING A PATIENT TEMPERATURE? And your rationale for this belief system is?
Ok, first of all I did not object to anything I was asked to do that day. I did it all without complaining but I guess my point in telling my story was that the ER is not a good place for students. The ER I was in was not a highly acute trauma setting - and not busy with about 3-5 patients and 8-10 nurses, and most pts are non acute. I have no problems with cleaning, making beds, etc as long as I get to watch or participate in that patient's care. Basically my experience was getting tossed around from nurse to nurse because no one wanted a student and I felt like it was "What work can we give the student to do to keep her busy and out of my hair?" Believe me, I do not have a "sense of entitlement". I have never refused to do anything asked of me and I go above and beyond for my patients. I just thought I would share a little bit on my experience.
i am really confused by the stigma and negative attitude towards new nurses from experienced nurses as i am a new nurse and just plain do not understand?
it may be because of my age, but as a new nurse i have received nothing but a constant wave of praise, encouragement, support and constructive criticism and instruction from all my preceptors.
threads like this make me really appreciate how lucky i am to work where i do.
It may be because of my age, but as a new nurse I have received nothing but a constant wave of praise, encouragement, support and constructive criticism and instruction from all my preceptors.
Threads like this make me really appreciate how lucky I am to work where I do.
Same here. I'm 34, so maybe that makes a difference in how my peers relate to me, but even the nurses younger than me seem to fit in well. I've gotten nothing but good treatment from my coworkers as I've begun my new career. I've even floated twice now to two different floors in my hospital and been treated well on each of them. I feel very blessed that I work where I do.
It may be because of my age, but as a new nurse I have received nothing but a constant wave of praise, encouragement, support and constructive criticism and instruction from all my preceptors.
Threads like this make me really appreciate how lucky I am to work where I do.
Same here. I was an older than average new LPN (36 y/o) had was never treated bad. Now I'm an older than average BSN student (54 y/o) and I'm assuming things will be the same. You've just got to be open-minded and willing to learn.
You've just got to be open-minded and willing to learn.
I think this is the key. I've tried to approach my new career/job with both the realization of how much I know and also how much I need to learn, if that makes any sense.
I've had a great education and have more knowledge and skills than I can give myself credit for (I still feel very insecure at times). I push myself to be confident in what I do feel comfortable with, so I don't come across as whiny and needy, which would be a huge turn off.
I also ask questions of everyone whenever it's appropriate. I'm not afraid of admitting what I don't know. Everybody I work with--my much more experienced nurses, CNAs, RT, MD, etc can teach me something and I approach everyone with the same high level of respect for their knowledge.
So far this has worked for me. I feel like I'm fitting in at my facility, my coworkers treat me with the same respect I give them.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i feel like i'm fitting in at my facility, my coworkers treat me with the same respect i give them.
that's the key -- coworkers will treat you with the same respect you give them. often, we see posts from new grads who don't understand why the "ugly old hags" they work with don't give them more respect. if that's your attitude, it shows. that's why you don't get respect.
While I don't agree with the way new grads are often treated, i can say as others have said its not always willfull. As Nurses, we carry a huge responsibility, lives to preserve, and a license to protect. The stress of a the job, staffing cuts and then you through in someone who isnt well versed in the floor, or her new skills we can feel like we are doing the work of both people. You have to stay strong, and confident. Showing them you are willing to learn, and want to know how things are done there is a huge help! And then... kill em with kindnesss!!!
have worked with students once. and never would treat them the way I was treated as a student. personalities are different and some nurses do not like to describe every part of their day and can only handle the responsibility of patients and not add a student onto their plate. it is true that you are surprised with students and not told they are going to be with you. it is very hard to organize your day as is and then to have someone follow you when you don't know about it can be hectic. some nurses I work with would have an asthma attack if you told them they'd get a student. that's why some nurses think if they don't make eye contact they won't have to get the student. we try to put them with the designated preceptors
I love having students, because they need to learn how to be good nurses and if no one teaches them then how will they know. As i stated above, not everyone can handle it. Hang in there newbies!
I don't believe there is a 'stigma'. There is a Reality that SOME seasoned nurses eat their young. I don't believe it has to do with nurses forgetting what it was like starting, or lack of compassion, or whatever we have thus far thought might be 'lacking' in the seasoned nurses.
It's survival mode that happens in the hospitals...which are basically corportations...where it's dog eat dog (or in the hospital: nurses eat the young) in order to keep your job or to get ahead. Larges places of work breed this, and no matter what the hospital does to encourgage team playing, they can't stop the competition. Those who are highly competative or have a perceived threat, will do what they can to deflect negativity, place the negative light on someone else to keep their position.
The preceptor whose precceptee is struggling may not want to be known as the preceptor that isn't up to snuff, thus placing the blame on the idiot new nurse. The second shift nurse who has their hands full may place the blame on the nurse on the prior shift. The nurse who is feeling insecure about thier ability to step in as charge nurse may place blame on the new nurse. The nurse who is being challenged about thier performance may overhear others talking about the faults of a new nurse he or she isn't familiar with but knows if they throw dirt in their direction, it will take the heat off them. Although these actions aren't kind, compassionate, team spirited, etc...they go unnoticed...they are not intended to give the new nurse a hard time. The intention is all about survival.
I don't play that game and will never work on a busy floor again for this reason. Smaller units or nursing positions in small offices, businesses outside the hospital are much safer places.
RFRN
39 Posts
Ok, first of all I did not object to anything I was asked to do that day. I did it all without complaining but I guess my point in telling my story was that the ER is not a good place for students. The ER I was in was not a highly acute trauma setting - and not busy with about 3-5 patients and 8-10 nurses, and most pts are non acute. I have no problems with cleaning, making beds, etc as long as I get to watch or participate in that patient's care. Basically my experience was getting tossed around from nurse to nurse because no one wanted a student and I felt like it was "What work can we give the student to do to keep her busy and out of my hair?" Believe me, I do not have a "sense of entitlement". I have never refused to do anything asked of me and I go above and beyond for my patients. I just thought I would share a little bit on my experience.