help with interferring classmate

[SC APRN, DNP, APRN, NP]

Yesterday my pt was not voiding, and was closely being monitored. While I was helping one classmate another decided to help my patient to the bathroom by herself. She is an assist of two and her output was not measured or recorded, and nobody was informed. It was a big mess later in the shift. This student knew where I was during this. I am furious, but my instructor did nothing, as far as I know. The student was already on clinical warning. Is it even worth discussing with my instructor, etc?

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

What do you want to discuss with your instructor? Based on your post, it sounds like your instructor already knows what happened.

[NikkiJo]

I have a similar situation in my institution - I think the faculty is much more adept in their perceptions than they allow us to realize and it is just their method to not show that these things are being picked up on, or to not address such things in a public capacity. This particular student is already on clinical warning which means they're on the faculty's radar. I'd just trust in the process filtering the weak out.

[llg, PhD, RN]

What exactly do you want to discuss? As others have said, your instructor is already aware of the problems. So, talking to her would do nothing to change that.

However ... if you want to talk about some other related issues, then it might be useful. For example, you might want to talk about how nurses can best handle it when they see/experience problems with co-workers. Or perhaps a good topic for a class discussion would be, "How to help each other out SAFELY and EFFECTIVELY" etc. Teamwork is important in nursing and nurses work together and should help each other out on a regular basis. We learn each other's strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes, we have significant problems with each other.

Learning how you can best handle such situations would be a topic worthy of discussing - either privately with the instructor or as part of a group. But simply telling the instructor something she already knows would serve no purpose -- and might make you look bad in the process.

So ... what exactly do you want to talk to the instructor about?

[SC APRN, DNP, APRN, NP]

I don't want to tell my instructor anything. I want to discuss the situation. I have no doubt the student will fail out, one more clinical error and she's gone. In the meantime I don't want her near my patients. She had a huge med error, and put a high fall risk pt on the toilet and walked away resulting in a fall. Should I have faith and patience in the system or mention my concerns now?

[NikkiJo]

That's a tough decision. If I did decide to have this conversation with an instructor, i'd be sure to approach it 100% from the standpoint of patient safety and not allow any personal opinions about the other student to trickle into the convo. Maintaining a professional environment sans cattiness can be overlooked in a clinical setting but I personally think that it is very important to maintain a professional rapport at all times. Tense situations can only lead to error, uncomfortable situations for all people on a unit including patients, and headaches.

This situation will probably serve as an excellent learning tool for your future nursing career. I am sure there are going to be interpersonal conflicts that come about that will result in your having to go to your Nurse Manager and this situation is one that will allow you practice your own communication skills to ultimately get what you want in the professional setting: That woman away from your patients.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Is it possible your classmate was just trying to help? Maybe the classmate noticed the pt walking to the BR without assist and ran in to prevent them from falling? This is may not have been the case, and she was guilty of sloppy work again, but initially I am going to give her the benefit of the doubt.

[caliotter3]

I would be thankful the instructor did not find some reason to fault you.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

I don't want to tell my instructor anything. I want to discuss the situation. I have no doubt the student will fail out, one more clinical error and she's gone. In the meantime I don't want her near my patients. She had a huge med error, and put a high fall risk pt on the toilet and walked away resulting in a fall. Should I have faith and patience in the system or mention my concerns now?

Your concerns are the same concerns of your instructors, so you wouldn't be telling them anything they don't already know. I suppose you could tell your instructor, "I don't want her near my patients."

Good luck with that one.

At any rate, you aren't the instructor; you are a peer to the other student. Don't try to be the instructor. It doesn't make you look good; it makes you look arrogant.

[SC APRN, DNP, APRN, NP]

What is it you think I did wrong?

[SC APRN, DNP, APRN, NP]

Ok let me clarify a little. She thought my patient was cute, and walked in to say hello. The fall risk signs were up, fall risk bracelet, we all were at report and it was clear she was an assist of 2. She went in to her room just to chat, my pt told her she wanted to try voiding. The student had the pt get out if bed. the only reason I wasn't there is because my instructor told me to assist a student with her pt.

[SC APRN, DNP, APRN, NP]

I'm not trying to be the instructor, if so I would have said "stay away from my patient". I said nothing at all. I sincerely believe I am failing my patient if standby and do nothing. I also do not want to create conflict. That is why I am on here seaking advice (from complete strangers online). I've decided to let it go.