Nurses on floor not very helpful or nice

CHATSDALE · Jan 20, 2005

students do not usually gain much by being assertive...find another nurse to follow...do you take report witht the nurses??if you do ask at that time if you can be with one...if you have a patient of your own...be ready to give a compresive report at the end of the shift...if yu do not have a patient and there is no one to shadow team up with the ward clerk for that shift...you will have your time sometimes it is very frustratiing and you feel like you are on the outside in the snow looking in but it will change good luck

Altra, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2005

Do you not have an assigned patient? This would make things easier, as it would establish what your responsibilities are. What you're describing, if I understand it correctly, sounds more like a very short-term shadowing experience. While this can be a good experience, in order for that to happen I think there needs to be some prior communication between the shadow-ee and the shadow-er.

Good luck to you. :)

manna, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2005

Do you not have an assigned patient? This would make things easier, as it would establish what your responsibilities are. What you're describing, if I understand it correctly, sounds more like a very short-term shadowing experience.

I'm wondering this as well. Surely if you're a nursing student, as your clinicals progress you WILL have your own patient.

I've been fortunate in my clinical experience that almost all the staff have been very receptive to students. For those few that weren't - well, I just tried to avoid them unless it was necessary to give them report, etc. Probably not the best method for handling it, but I can understand how it would be frustrating for a very busy, overworked nurse to have a student to watch over/answer questions for in addition to their many other duties.

Good luck! :)

HappyNurse2005, RN · Jan 20, 2005

ive run into some not so pleasant nurses, who are angry, not understanding of the fact that students dont know it all yet, etc.

ive also met a few great nurses. like one yesterday, who graduated from my school last may (im graduating this may). she remembers what it was like to be a student and specifically told me she had a neat dressing change and did i want to do it.

my strategy? just do what you are assigned to do and dont let them get you down.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jan 21, 2005

Funny that i saw this thread today. I had an LPN student who shadowed me yesterday. First thing i thought of was my rotation through the OR, and how rude the majority of people were (staring at me like i had a booger hanging out of my nose, rolling their eyes wen i asked a question, etc.). First thing i did was told the student the attire requirements, and asked her to come to Room 8. Then i explained what NOT to touch, don't reach over anything blue, etc. Then i explained that i didn't know where it would be best for her to stand to watch the procedure, until we were set up, and i said i would point to a good place to stand.

I didn't know that was her 3rd day in the OR, but she said i helped her more than the other 2 days combined. I said that i remembered how i was treated, and swore that i wouldn't do that to a student.

Morning-glory · Jan 21, 2005

My question in this situation would be "where is the clinical instructor?". I am a clinical instructor and my students do a buddy day (with specially selected staff) on the first clinical day and then progress from 1 patient to 2, and if I have a small group, and they have shown that they can cope with it, up to 3 patients each. Not all on the same day, because I want to know what each is doing and protect them from the nasties. Being a student doesn't mean that you can be abused. I run interference a lot, even when the floor nurses are generally a good bunch. I follow up on everything. I don't assign students to patients who have difficult nurses. Just makes sense.

If you are having issues with the staff, let your instuctor know. You are paying her/him to be there. Use them to your advantage. You shouldn't be floating around looking for someone to teach you.

loriangel14, RN · Jan 21, 2005

Do you not have an instructor that you can talk to about this? Remember we are supposed to be there to learn and we have paid for the privledge too. I start my first clinical next month and we are ASSIGNED to a particular RPN and they have voluteered for this. They recieve written outlines of the expectations from the instructor and we have been told to tell our instructor right away if we are not happy with our nurse. This way they ensure that our clinical time is not "wasted"( their words ). Best of luck in the future. :)

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Jan 21, 2005

Try to find a nurse that has graduated in the last few years - they are usually the most eager to teach because they remember what it's like to be a student. I think at every hospital you will encounter the "rude" nurses. Don't let them get to you.

RNSuzq1, RN · Jan 21, 2005

Hi Hoping, Before starting school I read many "horror story" posts about RN's giving Nursing Students a hard time during clinical rotations and (like you), I'm also an older student - so I was a little apprehensive about a Nurse young enough to be my daughter giving me a rough time. Last semester we spent our clinical rotation in a long term care facility and were warned ahead of time that many of the CNA's/health-techs at this place were very "territorial" and didn't like "their space" being invaded by a bunch of Nursing Students. Fortunately, most of the CNA's were very helpful and we learned a lot from them, but there were a few that made it crystal clear, they did not want our help in any way, shape or form. The few RN's on the floor however, were incredibly helpful and always willing to answer our many, many questions.

This semester we are in a hospital on a med/surg ward. So far, we've only been there a couple of days, but our first day there, when the CNA's found out some students would be taking over the "am" care for their patients, they "Literally" Vanished - after morning report, we didn't see them again (sucked into a black hole I guess). :chuckle The RN's and LPN's however were incredibly helpful to all of us. I asked the RN who was in charge of my patient if I could follow her around while she did her meds, etc. It was obvious that she was up to her neck in work, but let me tag along, told me what she was doing, why she was doing it - and mentioned many times that in the "real world" they don't always do things like we are taught in school.

One of the Nurses said she just graduated from my school last year and she was just so very nice and patient with all of us - willing to answer even the most silly questions we had. The one male nurse on the floor showed me around the med cart - I told him I felt stupid asking so many questions, but really wanted to know what I was doing and he reminded me that every Nurse was once a Student and to ask all the questions I wanted to. It was such a great learning experience and I'm so happy that for the next few months at least, I'll be working with some great, caring people.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2005

Do you not have an instructor that you can talk to about this? Remember we are supposed to be there to learn and we have paid for the privledge too. I start my first clinical next month and we are ASSIGNED to a particular RPN and they have voluteered for this. They recieve written outlines of the expectations from the instructor and we have been told to tell our instructor right away if we are not happy with our nurse. This way they ensure that our clinical time is not "wasted"( their words ). Best of luck in the future. :)

Unfortunately, this is not true of the vast majority of US nursing programs. In most cases, we have not volunteered for this privilege, we have it thrust upon us with no warning or preparation whatsoever. There are no instructions or written outlines given to the "preceptors, and many of them have had no instruction as to your skills.

You pay your school for your Nursing instruction. However, the staff probably get no money for what they teach you, and are given the extra work of teaching you. You are merely more work...and no matter what you do on the floor, it really doesn't help that much.

If you have difficulty with your staff nurse, you need to tell your instructor. And find out whether (from the staff nurse) they were prepped for you being there. It is your instructors job to teach you and to facilitate an eductional experience, and they get paid for that...the staff nurse does not. Chances are the staff nurses may not have even known you were coming. And though you are being "helpful", having a student is frequently a lot more work.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2005

Excellent response Carolina.

It's tough when you have a patient assignment and the nurse that has that patient isn't there for you.

But we all make it through somehow. We all were students once. Don't sweat it, and remember when you're a nurse you're never going to act indifferent, or too busy to teach a student.

Good luck!