Is my school the only one like this?!!!

HoosierJumper · Oct 7, 2014

I have never had a situation like this. Other clinical groups have had and we just take it. One nurse yelled to the whole unit that she "had to work with a bunch of idiot students today." Our clinical instructor tells us we have to deal with these people in the job and tells us how to handle it if we were a nurse. Honestly, hospitals around here are dropping nursing programs and we have to keep a good relationship with them. I have talk to other students who go to school south of me and they can't even do a pediatric rotation alone because all of the major hospitals with those units dropped them. Now they have OB and Pediatric together and get less experience with both. She goes to a big university too. So I do not think it's the school not backing you but trying to save the experiences for other students.

And lets be honest, its college. I'm on my last year of nursing and they've already started calling and asking for money. Money makes the program better, pays the bills, ect. College is all about taking every dime from you to make them better!

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 7, 2014

I really think it's the culture of the institution. My first 3 nursing clinicals were all at the same institution. My very 1st semester, there had just been layoffs the week before we started. Needless to say, they were very understaffed and NONE of the nurses wanted us around. They made it abundantly clear that we nursing students were a pain in their backsides and we needed to get out of their way and not bother them. Since it was Fundamentals, all we could do was vitals, assessments and pass meds with our instructor. I stayed out of the way of the nurses with attitudes and did my best to help the techs, answer call lights, etc. By the end of our rotation, the nurses lightened up a bit, but they still never made us feel welcome. One even had the nerve to say "why should I help you and answer your question? You're just going to graduate, get hired for lower pay and take away all of our hours". YIKES! :eek: Just a student trying to make it through my shift, not trying to actively take your job. Our clinical instructor did nothing to foster a relationship. It was basically keep your head down and don't make waves.

The next semester, we were on a different unit and I'd say about 60% of the nurses were great. The "grumpy" 40% were just burned out and over-worked and just didn't want to "deal" with students. They sat at the nurses station the ENTIRE shift and only got up if we asked (several times, mind you) them to take a look at the patient. The great nurses actually took the time to let us watch new procedures or gave us the opportunity to do skills like chest tube care, trach suction, etc. I *loved* working with them. I just tried to ignore the grumpy ones, unless I was the unfortunate one assigned to them. The instructor that semester actually spoke to the nurse manager about the few grumpy ones and their attitudes towards students. It *is* a teaching hospital, after all. It went no where

My 3rd semester was L&D and it was like a breath of fresh air. What a team! Prior to this rotation, I had ZERO interest in L&D and was really dreading it. We had FANTASTIC nurses who were so positive and encouraging. They included us in everything and we learned so much. I thoroughly enjoyed that rotation.

I'm now in my 4th rotation (Peds) and I'm at a different institution. What a difference! The nurses at this facility actually like having students on the floor. We're also at a level where we can pretty much do all the care for our patients, so it makes their day easier. We just keep them informed throughout the shift. Our clinical instructor used to work on that floor so she has a great rapport with the staff. It's been a great semester. Not one student has had an issue with any of the nurses here, unlike the previous facility.

So, while it may feel like your school "doesn't care", it may just be that there's such a negative culture in the institution that's behind what you're experiencing. Even if your instructor tries to address things, it may fall on deaf ears. Unfortunately, it sucks. However, there is so much competition between schools for limited clinical space. It's basically feast or famine. Is it ideal for learning? No, but right now, it's all that your school has to offer.

Just try to make the most of your experience. I used the "kill 'em with kindness" philosophy with the nurses during my first rotation. No matter how rude their comments were to the students, I just smiled and thought to myself "don't ever let me be like that down the road". I still did the best job I could and tried to get as much out of the experience as possible. I answered call lights and made myself as available as possible to lend a hand when needed.

SubSippi · Oct 7, 2014

The reason your school won't push back at the hospital, is because the hospital can, at any time, decide that they don't want nursing students. They don't have to let you do clinicals there.

If there's not a spot for you in the ICU...there's just not a spot. Not everyone can be (or wants to be) a preceptor, and while nurses don't have a choice when students are doing clinicals on their floor, being a preceptor is voluntary.

Unless there was very strong evidence of outright abuse (real abuse, not rudeness or hurt feelings) I don't see any nursing school risking their relationship with a hospital over a student.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2014

First and foremost....I am so sorry for your loss...((HUGS))

Hummm....I am trying to find a way to say this in a positive manner.....I understand your frustration and disappointment. Nurses in the present climate are not happy in general. The are under enormous pressure to do everything with nothing. While you paid the school for your education...you, and your school, are not paying the nurses at the facilities any compensation for the increased workload of a student. Nurses are overwhelmed in their normal day to day workload and are frankly sick and tired of being walked on.

It is a shame that it has changed from years ago where nurses were given preceptor courses and the school educated certain nurses to mentor the students. The system is flawed. No one wants to spend the money any more to ensure the best solution for everyone. Nurses today come onto work and are given a student just because that patient was chosen. They receive no training or briefing/report on what you can and cannot do. They are not informed what your focus of the day needs to be and more than likely their CNA's have been pulled and a nurse was cancelled because......"the students are there today". Simply put there are just some people who should not teach.

I understand that it is difficult to be accused of something that you didn't do. You have every right to righteous indignation...however, sometimes a simple "I'm so sorry you didn't hear me....I apologize. I will be sure to speak more clearly in the future" is enough to diffuse a situation. It is best to not throw fuel on the fire. I use the...is this really going to matter a hundred years from now? If not...I use my energies for other, more worthy, endeavors.

Technically ...your exposure risk of infection in the ICU is less, as there are less patients, and there are more people around to help you position and bathe the patients. That being said...you asked for the ICU...your school was going to accommodate your request. You then asked to be switched. They accommodated your request. Then you asked to be switched again....they told you they were unable to accommodate this request. I think they have been very accommodating to your requests.

Why would the school go to battle with the facility for one student. If there was no space the was no space. Period

The world is not what we want it to be. We are all handed less than desirable situations...sometimes a real feces sandwich...it is how we navigate through them that define us.

I wish you the best.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Oct 7, 2014

It is the culture of that facility, not hospitals in general or nursing school experiences in general. Nursing students are a a burden to some degree, as nurses are stressed to the max already. I got the backing of my CNO and together we came up with ways to assist our nurses in making the experience with students more beneficial (list of what students can/cannot do; questions to ask them; neat tricks to teach them; ways to keep them engaged). Many of those we hire were here in clinicals and say they wanted to work here for that reason. But if the facility does not bother to make it worthwhile to the staff, then the staff is not going to search out the students. The good news - soon you will be an example of how staff SHOULD act around students!

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Oct 7, 2014

I forgot to add that the schools worry constantly about finding sufficient clicnical spots. Hospitals are not obligated to take them but are "encouraged" by the BON's usually. So I see your instructor's point of view. Pick your battles.

NicholeGrant, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2014

Think of your clinicals this way, you are a guest in their home. Don't worry about the small stuff.

JLB1215 · Oct 7, 2014

Thanks for the responses everyone... you are all correct, it was not a big deal to begin with I guess it was just the culmination of things that made it seem worse. @Esme12 I definitely should have said that to her looking back, I wish I did...I also only requested to be switched once and they could not accommodate me which really isn't why I was upset, it was more that my school didn't make an effort to help me out in a troubled time I guess. I think for me it was also how my professor acted. She said "You will never get a job in ER/ICU anyway so why should you be switched to that unit?". I think that was very uncalled for on her part which sent me over the edge. (Meanwhile I have an interview for a fellowship lined up, doubt I will get it but thought it would look better if I had the critical care experience.) That being said what is done is done and I will make the most of what was given to me. I am nearing the end of my time in nursing school so I think a mix of emotions is causing me to be extra sensitive!! :) So happy I have a site like this to come to and vent/hear all of your thoughts and advice, thank you all again!