Following a nurse during clinicals :(

[Turtlepower]

So, I'm starting this topic bc I believe that many of us have crossed paths w/ nurses who are downright mean and unhelpful. Today was my 1st day @ clinicals where we all received our for 1st patient. I introduced myself to the nurse I was following and he instantly gave me the cold shoulder, and wouldn't even shake my hand. He continued what he was doing on the computer and turned his back towards me... very awkward. When it came time to do shift report, I listened in on what the night nurse had to report to the day shift nurse, half of the things she was saying about the patient I have never even heard before. I was out of my element and completely nervous. My nurse I was following wasn't very helpful at all and just basically said "do what your instructor has assigned you to do" with a straight up attitude. I asked him if he needed anything and he told me "no" He then proceeded to ask me how long I was following him in a tone and manner like he was fed up that he got stuck with a student nurse which was the case...hahaha)

I later decided just to ask if the other girls needed any help with their patients and they were happy to share their patient.

What have you student nurses in the past done to get through a situation like this?

[jodispamodi]

So you have to understand that the nurse on the floor has a job to do, and often many tasks. My suggestion for next time would be to introduce yourself, no need to shake hands really, ask the nurse if its ok to shadow them (sometimes nurses are having a hard day) and if they say it isnt have your instructor find someone else. pay attention in report but if you havent heard of something, don't interrupt or ask what it is, write it down go on a computer and try to research it, you have to realize that the time spent answering costs the nurse time as well. Follow the nurse but dont be a literal hound dog pup give them some space. Lastly when I was in clinicals I always tried to find something positive to say to a nurse I was with, it really helped rapport. I've always enjoyed students but a couple of times with a challenging day or patient or whatever have had to say, give me some space for a bit. Don't take it personally.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I like the above advice to follow your assigned pt -- practice your assessments/therapeutic communication/bedside manner. Give the amazing ADL care that staff doesn't always have time for (when time allows I love to fix hair and do foot care!) Use downtime to throroughly researd the pt's conditions, labs, and meds. Consider what nursing dx are applicable, and consider what interventions are appropriate. Observe non-nursing interventions such as procedures, tests, and therapies. Practice collaboration by teaming up with your fellow students.

Direct questions to your clinical instructor. The staff RN is being paid to care for the patients; your CI is being paid to instruct at clinical. Would you direct microbiology questions to your English prof, or your pharm questions to your micro prof? Of course not -- you would ask your micro and pharm profs, respectively. Likewise you should direct your clinical questions to the clinical instructor.

Maybe this RN was a jerk, but you don't really know him. He could be going through a divorce. Daycare is ready to drop him as a client if he's late to pick his child up. Maybe he's been counseled about incremental OT. And now he's expected to do the CI's job for her for free, while the CI is getting paid to NOT do hers. Sometimes giving someone the benefit of the doubt helps me feel better about tough situations.

Years ago I precepted some LPN students in sub acute. Now I do enjoy students and teaching... but it does slow the nurse down. For med pass, the student would literally say out loud: "John Doe, metoprolol 25 mg PO at 0800, hasn't been given, isn't expired. John Doe, metoprolol 25 mg PO at 0800, hasn't been given, isn't expired. John Doe, metoprolol 25 mg PO at 0800, hasn't been given, isn't expired"... for Every. Single. Med. It typically took her 20 minutes to administer meds to a single pt. Once during low census on the OTHER subacute floor -- a full floor had 20 pts; my unit had 17, the other had 8. Since the TOTAL census was under 30, each unit was staffed with one nurse and one TMA. I was the lone licensed caregiver for 17 subacute pts -- not LTC residents. The icing on the cake was I also had to write a review after each shift -- when I was supposed to be on my way home. Speed/efficiency is a learned skill; lack isn't your fault. It is what it is. However it is also not the fault of the staff nurse, but yet it does negatively affect the staff nurse.

Finally, yes I do remember that I was a student myself -- anyone who doesn't remember that needs neuro/psych consulted. The difference is it never would have occurred to me to expect the staff nurse to teach me; I rightfully expected my teacher to teach me.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

Understandable ya'll don't want a student, you were once a student also, but you are 'paid' by the hospital and work for someone else who DOES accept students. The nurse really doesn't have a 'choice' not to take a student. I am always grateful when the nurse teaches me something, and I do catch up to them and let them work.

I've been a nurse for 16 years and have worked in many places. I have NEVER been forced to take a student and, YES, I have always had a choice whether or not to accept a student. 99% of the time I would but don't ever think that we don't have a choice in the manner.

Yes, our facility allows students to do their clinicals on site. We are not staffed to allow extra time to teach you how to be a nurse. Years ago when I went to school we were not assigned to a nurse. We were assigned to patients and our instructor did all of our 'nursing' duties with us for that patient.

Do do you really know if your nurse had time to 'catch up' before the end of their shift? I ask because I have never seen a student start at 6:45am and leave when the nurse is actually finished. On a bad day, I've left close to after 9/10 pm...my student is never there observing me chart because I spent time explaining things to them and then got slammed at the end of the shift with three admits when I still had other paperwork from earlier in the shift to wrap up.

Look back on your comment after you've been a nurse for a while. Your viewpoint will probably be different.

[student_B, ADN, RN]

My first day shadowing an RN started out similar, with the nurse seeming unhappy about dealing with two inexperienced students on top of her daily workload. It was quite awkward in the beginning, however by staying out of her way and approaching the situation as guests in her house she quickly warmed to us and happily began explaining what she was doing and why. By the end of the day I was able to independently go into a patient's room, empty & rinse his urinal, and then report the I/O to the RN as 300mL yellow, clear, odorless. She gave me a huge smile and it made my day!