How to ask questions the right way

Wiggly Litchi · Nov 6, 2018

[omit] sorry, wrong post :3 You changed topic just as I'd posted! haha

carti, BSN, RN · Nov 6, 2018

It seems so simple but it's not.
I would love to hear some suggestions for how you all ask your RNs questions in clinical.
Example:
When I want to know what charting processes are required throughout their day.
Thanks.

what do you mean by "required"? Pretty much anything the nurse does/sees should be charted.

if you see the nurse charting something your unfamiliar with, then just ask her " Hey, I don't know what that column means that you just charted, could you tell me what it means?"

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Nov 6, 2018

Deleted post--that was super weird, my response to another question/forum was uploaded to a new question/forum. Hmmm..

Edit: nevermind, right after I wrote my (IMHO pretty thoughtful) response, you changed the topic! I'm posting it anyway, since I spent a good amount of time working on it:

I don't think it's a threat, and I do think it's good advice regardless of what field you go into.

Think of it this way--if you were trying to pick a clinical group with the nicest/most reasonable clinical instructor, would you ask your friends who have taken classes with those clinical instructors or would you read their bios on the school website? Who is the most likely to give you an honest review--your friend who has actually had them as an instructor, or the generic bio provided online? When a person applies for a job, the manager only sees a tiny sliver of that person's attitude and abilities through the resume, cover letter, and interview. Any applicant can claim that they're a team player, work well with others, and have solid critical thinking skills. By contrast, if a manager knows someone who has actually worked with the applicant (i.e. a former preceptor), they're more likely to get an honest, thorough review. If I were a hiring manager, I'd probably value the assessment by a trusted staff member as much as I'd value the formal application and interview. If a staff member or manager told me that the applicant was a helpful, self-motivated person, that would be a huge bonus to me (over other applicants whom I don't know). In contrast, if a staff member or manager told me that an applicant was lazy or had a bad attitude, I'd probably take their word for it rather than hiring the applicant and risk finding that out for myself the hard way.

I'd think of it like this: anywhere you work, you should do what you can to make a good impression. Be helpful, have a good attitude, and try to learn as much as you can. Regardless of whether or not it's ethical or fair, your professional reputation is important no matter whether you work in nursing, finance, education, or any other field. If you're applying to jobs in a completely different geographical area from where you did your clincials (i.e. in a different state), then it's unlikely that the hiring manager would know anybody who knows you. However, if you're applying to jobs at the same hospitals or on the same unit where you did clinicals, it is completely possible that you can cultivate a reputation (good or bad). This is especially true if you work as a CNA or unit secretary in a hospital; if you plan to apply for nursing jobs in that same system, you can bet that your prospective new manager will reach out to your old manager to get an honest reference.

TheDudeWithTheBigDog, ADN, RN · Nov 7, 2018

It seems so simple but it's not.
I would love to hear some suggestions for how you all ask your RNs questions in clinical.
Example:
When I want to know what charting processes are required throughout their day.
Thanks.

I'd literally ask what charting processes are required throughout their day. You're in clinical to learn. If there's any information you want to know, the best way to ask it is to be direct and just ask it.