Hopeless

Published

Hi all, I'm new to the forums and I hate to post of a thread of me complaining but I really need some advice and strength. I'm on my third rotation, in LPN school, on a med/surg floor. The previous floor I was on was awesome and was everything I thought it was going to be when becoming a nurse. The nurses were great, and cheerful, and came up to you to talk to you like a pal and just give you advice when you don't ask for it. They said I was wonderful and they've never seen someone work as hard as I do and for me to call them when I graduate because they will make sure they have a job in line for me (it was a resp. care floor).

Now, today is my first day of my second week on this floor. So far, everyday, I have come home in tears. These nurses are so rude and so mean to me that they literally destroyed any desire and passion I had for nursing. I don't want to go back tomorrow. I want to quit (I graduate in JUne). After an RN ripped me for asking for her help and then continued to tell me that the patient who was NPO could have what ever he wanted and she didn't give a crap if he dropped dead because she just truly didn't care (that's her potty mouth, not mine). She said this in front of 2 other nurses and an aid. They said nothing. I told the nurse director on the floor who then told me that I was very rude and unprofessional for talking bad about the nurses on her floor. (Whaaaaaaaat?) Apparently, they've had a number of complaints and it's just like no one seems to care.

The nurse director must have told the other nurses that I told her what happened and it's like they are "gunning" for me. They are constantly complaining to my clinical instructor about me. They tell her that I didn't do the things that I documented (bath, ambualte an umph amount of feet, and even my accuracy of my I&O's). I didn't falsify anything. I never saw my nurse. I was left on my own and I was fine with that. My patient has a traumatic brain injury and is very disoriented. It's not like my clinical instructor could have came in and asked if she had a bath earlier in the morning. I'm constantly helping my classmates (who noticed the nurses are ganging up on me) but that turns around into "she's goofing off and not providing patient care". My clinical instructor yelled at me, so loud and so viciously, that all the doctors, nurses, and patients heard. Yes, it was unprofessional of her but I understand her anger. I would be angry too if one of my students was goofing off, docuementing stuff she did not do, and was always trying to find a hiding spot. I try to tell my instructor I am not doing these things, but of course she's going to believe the nurses that she knows over me that's why I don't fight it.

I'm broken. My passion has died. I want to quit. Why are these nurses doing this to me? I feel alone. I can't stop crying because this was something I was so proud of doing and I'm letting these nurses take it away from me. I'm just feel dead inside.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I know that these were some very rude and vicious nurses, but my advice is that you should not go to their supervisors with your complaints. Take them to your clinical instructor and then, pull back. This is only one semester, and the next rotation is not guarenteed to be better or worse. You are under the direction of your clinical instructor...not them. She will be the one to pass or fail you in this area.

Also, what happens is that clinical sites are very hard to come by. Schools have to do all sorts of bartering to gain these spots and if they get too many complaints and are booted out, then, they have to start all over again to find another place to accomodate them; and this can be in the middle of a semester, leaving many students in a compromising situation. Your clinical instructor may be a weak person who does not wish to make waves because she has been in nursing for years and knows how horrible things can be. I have seen the best as well as the worse in clinical instructors...believe me! Some don't know much more than you do, others are working other jobs (clinical instructors don't get paid very well) and are tired-just wanting to go home. I had one that used to call us up and cancel several times. I just took advantage of that time to study well and practice skills.

Believe me, I am not defending their behavior...they are wrong, wrong, wrong!! But, also, what you are seeing is real world nursing. While not every place you work may be this way, if you continue to read the posts here in allnurses, you will see that toxic environments are not that unusual. What you have to do is survive this school experience so that you can get where you want to be in your life. If you have a problem, take it to your instructor and ask her how to handle it. She is responsible for guiding and advising you. You can try another school, but you are really close to finishing this one. Again, I am not supporting the actions...just telling you to make it out of there and be the nurse you want to be.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Hi, there! Here's a hug for all that you have experienced. (((hug))) :icon_hug:

My first piece of advice is to stop crying. The cold reality is that none of these people are shedding any tears over you. None of these rude people are going to be losing any of their precious sleep over you. They don't give a rat's crap about you, so it makes no sense to be consumed by them.

Secondly, you are to never approach the nurse's supervisor about ANYTHING while you are a visitor in their place of employment. You approach your clinical instructor with all concerns. If you skip the chain of command, you will be protrayed as the little troublemaker. Sorry, but nursing can be very permeated with politics and passive aggression.

Also, it is wise to refrain from bothering a nurse at your clinical site who does not want to be bothered. Not all of the nurses there are willing to help students, and it is actually not even in their job descriptions. It is actually the job of your clinical instructor to help you when you need it. It is nice when the nurses at a certain clinical site are helpful, but don't add fuel to the fire if you receive a batch of nurses who don't want to help.

Lastly, do not bring any unnecessary attention to yourself. Since nursing school can be very political, it is best to blend into the background and keep your mouth shut until the graduation date arrives and passes. A devious clinical instructor can conjure up any reason to fail you.

Good luck to you. Don't give anyone else the power to destroy your dreams.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MPCU.

Here's another thread https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/survey-do-nurses-eat-their-young-15543.html.

I have my opinion, check out what others think.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I have noticed that things like this bring unnecessary attention to many; the clinical instructor, the school, other students and the like. It is a hard, cold fact. I really feel for the OP, however, I have also seen these things go from very bad to a vicious alligator fight where the student, can, unfortunately, lose.

I have seen some clinical instructors give passing grades on clinical assignments to some of the students they like (who they know are clearly failing) in order to boost up their grades and for those that are doing quite well, shave off points for very petty reasons. Some clinical instructors know they are doing poorly and do things to boost up their clinical groups from giving them answers to tests before hand to covering for blatent absences/latenesses.

Nursing school, for me, was a very wild experience, one that I never wish to repeat. I am so glad it is over that I can scream. Now, it did, though, prepare me for the real world...which, depending on the circumstances, can be worse. I've been fortunate in that thus far, I have been on the winning end of the stick.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi all, I'm new to the forums and I hate to post of a thread of me complaining but I really need some advice and strength. I'm on my third rotation, in LPN school, on a med/surg floor. The previous floor I was on was awesome and was everything I thought it was going to be when becoming a nurse. The nurses were great, and cheerful, and came up to you to talk to you like a pal and just give you advice when you don't ask for it. They said I was wonderful and they've never seen someone work as hard as I do and for me to call them when I graduate because they will make sure they have a job in line for me (it was a resp. care floor).

Now, today is my first day of my second week on this floor. So far, everyday, I have come home in tears. These nurses are so rude and so mean to me that they literally destroyed any desire and passion I had for nursing. I don't want to go back tomorrow. I want to quit (I graduate in JUne). After an RN ripped me for asking for her help and then continued to tell me that the patient who was NPO could have what ever he wanted and she didn't give a crap if he dropped dead because she just truly didn't care (that's her potty mouth, not mine). She said this in front of 2 other nurses and an aid. They said nothing. I told the nurse director on the floor who then told me that I was very rude and unprofessional for talking bad about the nurses on her floor. (Whaaaaaaaat?) Apparently, they've had a number of complaints and it's just like no one seems to care.

The nurse director must have told the other nurses that I told her what happened and it's like they are "gunning" for me. They are constantly complaining to my clinical instructor about me. They tell her that I didn't do the things that I documented (bath, ambualte an umph amount of feet, and even my accuracy of my I&O's). I didn't falsify anything. I never saw my nurse. I was left on my own and I was fine with that. My patient has a traumatic brain injury and is very disoriented. It's not like my clinical instructor could have came in and asked if she had a bath earlier in the morning. I'm constantly helping my classmates (who noticed the nurses are ganging up on me) but that turns around into "she's goofing off and not providing patient care". My clinical instructor yelled at me, so loud and so viciously, that all the doctors, nurses, and patients heard. Yes, it was unprofessional of her but I understand her anger. I would be angry too if one of my students was goofing off, docuementing stuff she did not do, and was always trying to find a hiding spot. I try to tell my instructor I am not doing these things, but of course she's going to believe the nurses that she knows over me that's why I don't fight it.

I'm broken. My passion has died. I want to quit. Why are these nurses doing this to me? I feel alone. I can't stop crying because this was something I was so proud of doing and I'm letting these nurses take it away from me. I'm just feel dead inside.

Oh you poor thing I feel so awful for you. You do not deserve to be treated like that. You stay strong & keep your head up, you are almost there an then when you graduate you can go back to te floor where those nurses who apparently know what respect is and work there & I would tell those nurses-once you graduate- how awful, hurtful & just plain mean they were. No nurse ever deserves to be treated that way ever!!!! I understand if your clinica instructor wanted to talk to you but to yell at you in front of everyone is just disrespectful & rude-I had a boss do that to me in front of everyon at my work including customers and believe me it was so humilating and rude but I keep my head up even though it was not always so easy. I am not a nurse yet #44 on my CC LVN wait list so I will be in a clinical setting soon, so if yu ever need to talk or just want vent I am here on allnurses. I am a good listner, keep us posted and take care:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey there GiveMeADay,

Well it sounds like you are having a difficult time, looks like you could use a virtual hug..:icon_hug:

I urge you not to consider dropping out of nursing school because of these incidents, you say that you graduate in June, you are almost there!! Don't let these people keep you from pursuing your dreams!!

I also agree with the other posts, in that you should ALWAYS inform your clinical instructor with any problems or concerns that you have in your clinical settings. It is an unfortunate fact that there will always be some nurses who are very unprofessional and may even enjoy giving others a hard time. When you are a nurse on the floor, you will have to confront these nurses in a tactful manner or report to your supervisor. The good part of being a student is that your instructor can handle this for you.

I just graduated from LVN school in December. I can say that I had some great clinical experiences, lots of good nurses who mentored me, but there were always a couple who I absolutely dreaded being around! There was one lady in particular who would always make it a point to make us look foolish and unprepared during the day. In our third semester we took turns being team leader during clinicals. I remember one week when I was team leader, I was helping a very stressed/nervous classmate with her meds and charting. The dreadful nurse approached us and started quizzing my classmate on conversions...she was so nervous that she became speechless. That nurse started laughing and basically called her stupid and incompetent in front of everyone who was standing nearby. We could of got right back in her face, but it wasn't worth it, that's what our instructor was there for.

So please hang in there, this world needs good nurses like yourself who will provide quality patient care...never saying things like what that RN said to you regarding your NPO pt in your 2nd paragraph.

Nobody said nursing school would be easy...lots of challenges to overcome, lots of which the book can't teach you either.

One day you will be in the position to help a student nurse get through her day...I'm sure you will be very encouraging and supportive. You have a whole career to look forward to...don't let it stop now.

Best wishes to you, and you know where to come and vent if you need to, lots of nice people on this board! Take care!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

There was one nurse back in my L&D rotation that hated all of us students... to the point where she'd get angry with you if you dared to talk to her. We all gave her a nickname "Bipolar X (her first name". Even our clinical instructor agreed, but she constantly reminded us that we were guests there and basically we had to suck it up.

Only 365 more days till graduation.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, cardiac, ortho rehab.

im sorry to hear about your experiences in nursing thus far. all i can say is to hang in there. their will be better and brighter days and if it doesnt kill you-it'll only make you stronger.

dont mind the nurses, all that matters is that your doing the right thing and that will show in the care that you provide.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just wanted to say that I ad a similar situation when i was doing my clinical rotations but it wasnt with a nurse at a hospital it was my clinical instructor that was so awful and mean. I hung in there and held my head high. I wasn't going to let her ruin my dreams. I hope everything gets better for you and good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion