Would you want your classmate as your RN?

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Do we all have some classmates about whom you think "I would never want her to be my nurse!"? Is that mean? I try not to be judgemental, including someone's nursing style. But there are a rare few that I really think are a danger.

Two in particular who just happened to have failed the mid-term. Honestly, I'm glad. :chair:

The one has a hearing problem that she refuses to treat. She can't here BP's, lung and bowel sounds. Now, you can use a dynamat for a BP. But I want my nurse to be able to hear through her stethoscope. :smackingf Maybe I'm a mean person, but have you ever worried about some one being a patient for a student you know?

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Specializes in Mental Health, & Internal Mmed.

Hey i understand where you are coming from.

I had a student in my class, she is a lot older than the rest of us, and she stood out...but man she really stood out when it came to clinicals at the hospitals..!

She has all the book knowledge you could ever want, just ask her a question or a lab value and she will throw the anwser in your face, but tell her to to an assessment on a patient, and you have to remind her each and every time how to use the b/p machine, we had to constantly tell her that she had to wear gloves, wash her hands, she came to clinicals for 3 days without a watch or a stethoscope!:uhoh21:

we were having a discussion in the cafeteria one day and our instructor asked: what is a sign of lasix toxicity? the student told her--FLUID OVERLOAD. I swear I almost sucked a hot wing down my throat whole!:rotfl:

lord help the patients where she gets a job, i hope to never have to work with her again!:eek:

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

I don't think it's mean, as long as the opinion isn't based merely on an issue of personal style. We all know people we find grating, but that doesn't mean they're not effective.

I can think of 2 in my class that I would have a problem with caring for me or someone in my family. :stone

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

We've had several in my class, but luckily, we're in our last semester, so only one of those few remains. We had one who asked if you could feed babies (maybe 6 weeks old or so) CHEESE BISCUITS!!!! Needless to say, she is no longer in the program. Another was the type who could have the book smarts, but when it came to clinical skills, I didn't want to be around her. She was in my EMT classes (she didn't start her IV's on me) also. I would have refused care. So yeah, we've had those, but it was a decision made on their skills and knowledge level, not because "it's mean". -A

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
Maybe I'm a mean person, but have you ever worried about some one being a patient for a student you know?

That's why you're students. You all have weak spots, you all have a lot to learn. The students who turn into really awesome nurses actively make themselves improve their weak spots.

I use a very good stethoscope because my hearing is not what it used to be. I try to concentrate on being organized because I have a short-term memory like a sieve.

However, I'm very good at starting IVs and Foleys, diagnosing lung problems, have a very broad knowledge base medically, can fix any machine from the toilet to the computer, and I don't mind helping others out and cleaning up whatever the other shifts couldn't get to.

And I'll just keep working on the weak spots till I get really good. ;)

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Oh yes, it's nothing against the way they look or or their personality. I think it bothers me that I've seen at least 5 instructors try to talk to her about her hearing problem. She actually needs an aid, but refuses to address it. Among other things, I would be just be scared if she were to care for me, my family or really anyone besides the nursing mannequin. We can't all be Super Nurse and lord knows I have to work on some things, which is why I feel a little guilt.

I don't think it's mean, as long as the opinion isn't based merely on an issue of personal style. We all know people we find grating, but that doesn't mean they're not effective.

I can think of 2 in my class that I would have a problem with caring for me or someone in my family. :stone

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Specializes in ED.

Yeah, I've got one of those. He said in the peds class this week that you can't assess pain in a child under three. Flat out can't do it. He is always trying to prove the professor wrong about stuff and rude as all hell. His clinical practices are ok and tests must be fine otherwise he wouldn't be here but I wouldn't want someone that rude taking care of my family.

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Hi Fraggle,

Your classmate and I should get together! We would be one dyanmic duo! :chuckle

In the first skills class when I could not hear a thing through my stethoscope, my instructor told me to go and see so-and-so to get information about not hearing well. It was the Access Program director and he took the time to welcome me, explain the whole concept of being deemed a disabled student, and off I went to have my hearing examined. He did provide me (free) with an amplifying stethoscope that has made all the difference. Turns out I'm not impaired enough to benefit from a hearing aid yet (shoot!) so I just have to make the best of things until I do get there. Now I tell everyone I don't hear well so please face me when you talk. And let me sit up front in the first row.

It's all about fear, you know. I guess some folks think about getting old. Maybe she just needs to come around on her own, since it sounds like her instructors have done what they could. Or maybe it will take a caring, patient classmate to help her see that not hearing well is not the same thing as being old and helpless.

Best of luck.

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Specializes in L&D.
That's why you're students. You all have weak spots, you all have a lot to learn. The students who turn into really awesome nurses actively make themselves improve their weak spots.

I use a very good stethoscope because my hearing is not what it used to be. I try to concentrate on being organized because I have a short-term memory like a sieve.

However, I'm very good at starting IVs and Foleys, diagnosing lung problems, have a very broad knowledge base medically, can fix any machine from the toilet to the computer, and I don't mind helping others out and cleaning up whatever the other shifts couldn't get to.

And I'll just keep working on the weak spots till I get really good. ;)

I LOVE this response!!

I would have to say, I don't know anyone in my program that I wouldn't want to be my RN. They're all students and will ALL be able to work on their weak spots. :)

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Specializes in NICU.

hee. I just went to my 5-yr HS reunion, and ran into this girl I remember as being very book smart, but also a drunk. Needless to say, she was trrrashed at the reunion, and I said "oh, I'm going to Columbia nrs school" and she says she's also going to nursing school. Thank god she was so wasted, or the look of horror I'm sure was on my face would have really offended her! :uhoh3:

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There is only one person who scares me. She tried to pour liquid meds into a patient's trach instead of their G tube. This was after being in clinical for several months. The problem isn't that she makes mistakes, it's that she refuses to take responsibility for her mistakes and thus never learns from them. I really hope she doesn't graduate. I think she is one of those nursing horror stories waiting to happen.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I'm still working on prereqs, so the nursing part I don't know of yet.

However, just from medical assisting school, I know exactly what you are talking about!!

There were a few students I wouldn't let touch me with a needle, at school or on the field.

I don't know what happened to them, but I pray they got better after I graduated. (It was an open enrollment.)

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