FURIOUS at RNs at school

[2bRNifitkillsme]

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.

[schnookimz]

My only insight is that you might want to learn to make nice because I'm not sure where else you'll get hired with only a diploma when there's a ton of BSN grads clamoring for jobs.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

I am sorry you are going through this and I the end you will make it through. Remember how people made you feel and stop the "paying it forward" cycle.

That being said, time for the objective and honest truth, so you can try and make something from this experience:

Being reported once is an isolated incident. Being reported twice is some bad luck. Being reported three times makes one wonder if there isn't something of a trend here.

[2bRNifitkillsme]

My only insight is that you might want to learn to make nice because I'm not sure where else you'll get hired with only a diploma when there's a ton of BSN grads clamoring for jobs.

Honestly, not too worried about that. The school is very reputable and I've built some very valuable connections. I can deal with objective criticism, but as far as someone saying something totally untrue... no.

[truckinusa, BSN, LPN, RN]

I suffer from ADHD also. I say things that are misconstrued now and then. Once in clinical I happened to mention I had prostate problems in a conversation where the nurse said that her grandfather died from prostate cancer. It got back to the clinical instructor and she was a real jerk about it. I saw the nurse later on and she couldn't believe such a big deal was made about it.

My attitude from now on is to only speak when spoken to and keep draw as little attention to myself as possible while I am still in school. Once I'm out I can just look for another job if I have a problem.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Are you the only one being reported or is the more? If there are more students being reported to the professors I would group together & get something done. But if it's just you then just have a sit down with your professors before it gets too late & they think you're doing something.

[2bRNifitkillsme]

I am sorry you are going through this and I the end you will make it through. Remember how people made you feel and stop the "paying it forward" cycle.

That being said, time for the objective and honest truth, so you can try and make something from this experience:

Being reported once is an isolated incident. Being reported twice is some bad luck. Being reported three times makes one wonder if there isn't something of a trend here.

I agree with you -- and if I saw it from a recruiter's perspective, I'd think the same thing. But I have never met a select group of nurses so eager to throw students under the bus. Is it something that's encouraged? I've done clinicals in other hospitals and worked in other clinics and had ZERO problems.

[2bRNifitkillsme]

Are you the only one being reported or is the more? If there are more students being reported to the professors I would group together & get something done. But if it's just you then just have a sit down with your professors before it gets too late & they think you're doing something.

No idea. This stuff is kept private. I hear about it occasionally from other students though.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

I agree with you -- and if I saw it from a recruiter's perspective I'd think the same thing. But I have never met a select group of nurses so eager to throw students under the bus. Is it something that's encouraged? I've done clinicals in other hospitals and worked in other clinics and had ZERO problems.[/quote']

It could be you. Once you develop a "bad reputation" then it tends to follow you around a hospital. It also follows you when you apply for jobs, so if that the case, make it right.

It could be your school/program. When nurses have bad experiences with students all from a given program the common denominator becomes the program and they get jaded. Perhaps your program doesn't have the stellar reputation you think it does and you are suffering as a result.

If could be the nurses that are overworked and don't suffer the added responsibility of having students.

[elkpark]

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.

This caught my eye. Nursing instructors typically bend over backwards to be as sensitive, gentle, subtle, and supportive as they can be about giving student feedback about personal qualities (and, in my experience, they don't get into personal qualities unless there's just no way around it). If every instructor you've had has mentioned something along these lines (that you "can be very excitable" and "can work people up"), that seems like a big red flag to me. Obvioiusly, it's not "endearing" (who are the "most people" who find it so? Your family and friends, or people who have to work with you for eight or twelve hours?) -- it's something you need to work on.

Best wishes for your journey!

[DatMurse]

Meh, I am sorry to hear this. I havent had a preceptor do this over my 675 clinical hours. They have always been very thoughtful.

I have said plenty of jokes to patients in front of them, but you have to read the nurse and the patient.

I dont know the full story.

BTW I am ADD as well. I can control it in a hospital based environment because I am in surrounded by the focus. I am actually better at working off of my medication. I study on my medication(Been diagnosed since I was 7).

I get excited to learn new things, I dont get overly crazy but I have alot of interest.

I try to help the nurse in every way I can possible. Sometimes you have to prove to the nurse that you are ready to kick some butt and they will know that you are eager to help.

There are multiple things that can come from a student nurse.

1. You can be a liability for the nurse.

2. You can be something to pass the time.

3. You can be something useful and a helping hand.

I had a nurse tell me "You think you dont do anything while you stand here and watch me do this procedure, but I am grateful that you are here. If I drop something you can run out and get it for me."

We can be a safety net for some nurse's as well.

Edit:I just saw that you are a 36 year old man, I am sure that you know how to act according to the situation. Maybe the nurse was just in a bad mood or miserable at her job, idk

Ill be graduating in December. I would never be rude to a student in my life. Kind of being a hypocrite if you treat them like dirt because they are a "hassle"

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

OP, you have had a few nurses offer criticism on a few units, I would hardly write off the whole hospital. However, as others have mentioned, since you have received a couple different complaints, you may want to take some time to self reflect and evaluate what you could be doing differently in clinical. If you have a faculty member that you are closer to you could try asking them for help.

BTW: from the way you write I am almost certain I graduated from the same hospital based diploma program. You must be in the home stretch and are so close to graduation, so just keep your head down and keep pressing forward