I was yelled at by my nurse yesterday

Nursing Students General Students

Published

As a student, I am still learning my boundaries. I got yelled at (I mean REALLY yelled at, in front of about 5 other staff members no less) by the nurse I was working with yesterday at my hospital. Myself, red faced and wanting to hide in a hole for a week, stood there and listened to my nurse tell me I ask too many questions. And you know what? She is right. I think I will allow myself mental "question coupons", three per clinical day. Unless something is REALLY pressing, of course. An embarrassing lesson learned- but very appreciated. :banghead:

Specializes in NICU.

When things get very busy, it is harder to focus on all the questions that a new grad or a student may have and I have said in the past, "I know you have lots of questions and we'll hopefully get to them, but right now I need to focus on the patient. Observe what's going on and write down your questions and we'll talk about them later."

What may seem obviously busy and yanking your hair out for us may not seem that way to them because they haven't had to deal with it before. Focusing on the big picture at hand is a learned skill, not necessarily something that everyone has right off the bat and as experienced nurse, just need to remind them...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

To yell at you was awful, but to yell at you in front of others was just plain wrong on her part! Did she give you report and what to expect before seeing the pt? I'm so sorry you went through this. Just letting you know how sorry I am you went through this :hug:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This thread has been very informative. I start nursing school this fall, and I will definitely keeps some of this info in my mind. I took a Nurse Aid II class fall and looking back I feel so sorry for one of the poor nurses that we helped in clinicals. It was an LTC and she must have been fairly new. She seemed to always be a little behind. When she was passing meds we would help out by taking blood sugars. We could never find anything in the supply closet so we would be constantly asking for gauze or lancets, reporting stuff to her, etc..thanks to several of the threads I have read on AN, I realize we were probably messing with her train of thought. I will be more considerate during my future clinicals and definitely think before I ask questions, and write non-emergency ones down. Hopefully our instructor will inform us of proper clinical etiquette. I would have been like the OP, asking a bunch of questions because I would want to know what was going on in case it happens in the future when I am on my own.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

She shouldn't have yelled at you that way, not an excuse, but sometimes people have a bad day and you are on that receiving end. I have become a bit short with a few students who were like toddlers, on my butt and asking about 600 questions when I was trying to get my kids done first thing in the AM, restart an IV and give all my meds. First rule...don't talk to people during a med pass....that is when mistakes get made. Second rule...if I look frazzled don't ask me 600 questions about something, ask if there is something you can do for me...even if it is as simple as getting me 2 supplies or holding a kiddo while I am doing his roommate. I know sometimes it is hard to hold your questions off, but it is so important for our sanity sometimes.

My advice...go apologize to her, even if she was the one yelling. Maybe say, I think I drove you nuts yesterday, sorry about that. And most likely she will apologize too...I am sure her fellow workers said something to her if she went off in front of them...I know we do! Hang in there!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sorry that happened to you and made you feel all bad! I definately think questions are good, but just remember there is a time and place for asking questions.

We were told we would automaticall fail clinicals if we asked a question in front of a patient along the lines of I don't know how to do this. Basically asking anything in front of a patient that would freak them out. We could ask the questions just not in front of a crowd, but in a more intimate space.

Keep your head up. Not that its justifiable, but maybe that meanie was just having a bad day and took it out on you.

Hope this helps! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

If the nurse had a problem with you answering questions, she should've said something like "I can answer any questions you have after I'm done with ___", or pulled you aside. Students are on the floor to learn. They shouldn't be discouraged from asking questions. They should never be yelled at unless they're about to kill the patient or the building is on fire.

Your emphasis on the nurse not being worried leads me to bet that you were sounding a bit freaked out, and PERHAPS were coming across with an attitude that she wasn't properly caring for her patient since she wasn't worried AT ALL. And frankly, if a nursing student was insinuating that I wasn't taking proper care of my patient, that nursing student would immediately no longer have anything to do with my patient. MY patient. MY responsibility. NOT yours. NOT your instructor's. I'd be telling my charge nurse that the student needed to stay out of my room, and she would be telling the instructor.

When I was a student, I had a patient whose RR and O2 sat worried me. I told the nurse, who said "Yeah, she's been doing that." She wasn't worried, so I charted the vitals and continued with my care. When the doc saw the charted vitals, 10 minutes later, he was very, very concerned. The patient ended up in the ICU, the nurse yelled at me about not telling her (I'd told her 10 minutes earlier), and my clinical instructor wrote me up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

OP this is your learning experience and you are in charge of it. You ask as many questions you need in order to learn! That nurse was out of line yelling at you! That is one of the many problems among nurses. If that nurse cant handle having a student, then may she should refuse! I would advise being mindful of when you ask questions not the number. God Bless!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical-surgical nursing.

Thank you everyone for your kind words as well as your advice. I have definitely taken it to heart. A little update on the situation- the patient's 02 sat continued to trend down, he suffered a fall, and he ended up being transferred to the ICU that evening. I am not sure what happened to him, but I worked with the same nurse the following clinical day and she told me he was moved. Everything went much better the second clinical day I worked with her. I was very conscientious of WHEN I asked my questions, and HOW they were phrased.

Thank you again! :nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

When I was a student, I had a patient whose RR and O2 sat worried me. I told the nurse, who said "Yeah, she's been doing that." She wasn't worried, so I charted the vitals and continued with my care. When the doc saw the charted vitals, 10 minutes later, he was very, very concerned. The patient ended up in the ICU, the nurse yelled at me about not telling her (I'd told her 10 minutes earlier), and my clinical instructor wrote me up.

This is why when I am charting an abnormal vital, I will frequently make a comment that says "RN notified" to go along with it. Advice passed down to me. Trust your gut!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Thoracic Cardiovasc ICU Med-Surg.

Too many questions? I don't know about that. I'd much rather have students/new orientees asking me questions all day than just nodding at random intervals. If they are asking questions I can figure out their thought processes, and sometimes help them to the most important bits.

I don't agree with yelling at students/newbies ever. (unless they have nearly killed someone!)

It may be an idea to get this nurse aside and tell her --in a calm voice--I appreciate where you're coming from, but I don't appreciate you yelling at me in front of people.

Or not. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I wouldn't so much limit yourself to three questions a day, as I would rethink what your questions are and when to ask them. Yes, it's far better to ask questions than not, but perhaps some of your questions could easily be answered on your own, whether you look the info up or use common sense. If you've already asked the question before, write down the answer when you ask again because you shouldn't be asking her the same questions repeatedly.

Also, keep in mind where and when you're asking questions. In front of a patient: only if you're asking how to do a procedure, but definitely none about the care she's giving him. When she's in the middle of something important: no. Break time: Maybe good, maybe not. If she asks if you have any questions: GREAT time to ask them! Unless the question is a life-or-death matter, if you're not sure if it's a good time to ask, preface it with "Can I ask you a question?"

Sorry you got yelled at. Even if you were hounding her with questions (not saying you were because I wasn't there to see for myself), that is no excuse for her to yell at you.

Hang in there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

where is the respect :(

nobody should treat anyone with such disrespect as to yell at them in front of others, belittling that person and hurting their feelings. Everybody receives criticism and that criticism should be constructive. Most students will get a telling off at some stage but it should not be infront of everyone. It isn't professional. Everyone should treat others how they would like to be treated!

I remember having a preceptor who consistently constructively criticised me however she also consistenly praised me as I improved and praised my attributes. She explained everything as we went along and I had no questions to ask. Any questions I did happen to have, she answered enthusiastically. Not only did i have the utmost respect for this nurse, I strive to be just as good as her!

Asking questions is essential and you know what, even if a student does sometimes ask a ''silly'' question, so what? we are there to learn and at least we are showing an interest. I'd keep asking questions ( so long as you try to keep them relevant), because if you didn't ask, she might start giving out!

Best of luck, hopefully you will get a more receptive preceptor in future!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment