Is working as nursing intern worth it?

[m&m0310]

I'm a nursing student and am currently in my 3rd semester of nursing school. Over the summer I got a job working as a nursing intern. The manager made this job seem like an opportunity that couldn't be missed. She said I'd be following the nurse and learning NURSING skills. So I accepted the job and quickly found out that this job was not what they'd told me it'd be like. On my first day I was told that I was to do tech duties like bathing patients, cleaning up after them, etc. And then if I was done with all my tech duties , I am free to follow the nurse as long as my patients don't need anything. I spend most of the day cleaning patients since most of them are total care, which means I barely get any time to follow the nurse and learn any nursing skills which is why I accepted the job in the first place.

Another thing is that the nurse I follow has become relyung heavily on me since I started working there and send me on my own to hang IVs and do other nursing things for her so she can sit down and chart. I don't feel comfortable doing this at all but she says she "trusts me" . Not only that but she gets annoyed when I have to come in late because I had class in the morning or if I can't come in on a day she works. She's made some rude remarks before. The techs also take advantage of us being there and won't even help us with our patients if we need it. The management is also horrible. If I have questions and ask them to them in person they say "send me an email". I send them emails and they don't respond. It takes weeks to finally get an answer to a simple question.

I just want to know if you guys think it's worth working here just to have some experience in my resume? These isn't even everything I've experienced in only the couple of months I've worked at that job. Please let me know if you have any advice! Thank you!

[direw0lf, BSN]

You could try to make the most out of it. I was told that techs/aids make the best nurses. I'm an aid! (I can only hope I'll be a good nurse)

Hanging IV bags? Like just putting them on the pole or are you connecting them to the patient's site too? When you hang IV's, learn what you can. Learn the IV solution or drug and why it's being given to that patient and what it's compatible with, what is the rate is there a reason why. There's a lot you can learn even with that bad comradery. If it's really taking a toll, see if you can change units?

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

Do you get paid? Then you are not an intern and any knowledge you pick up is on top of the money you receive for your services.

If you are doing all this for free and NOT getting to learn from your nurse then you are being taken advantage of and possibly being placed in jeopardy by doing tasks a licensed nurse should be doing.

At best this will count as basic nursing aide work. Unless you want to work for this facility after graduation and are using this as an opportunity to get a foot in the door, I would peel off and get a real, paying job as an aide if you can.

[m&m0310]

Hanging IVs and programming the pump without the nurse being there to make sure I did it correctly. We aren't supposed to be giving meds but the nurse tells me to do so when she knows I'm not supposed to.

[yellowcup]

*please* do NOT hang IVs! You are not licensed to so (yet) and the nurse will happily throw you under the bus if anything goes wrong to cover her behind. I don't know if she could get in trouble for this, but this breaks the rules of delegation (did you cover that in nursing school yet?). Do NOT hang meds!!!! You are jeopardizing your future career as a nurse.

You can politely tell her that although you appreciate her trust, it is outside of your scope of practice and you are not comfortable doing so. Stand up for yourself, but don't burn bridges if you can help it.

There are hospitals that hire nursing students, I believe the title is "student nurse", to work in the capacity of CNA. You have to have had med surg and be currently enrolled in nursing school. These are paid positions. Look around, ask your instructors about something of the sort in your area.

[chare]

I'm a nursing student and am currently in my 3rd semester of nursing school. Over the summer I got a job working as a nursing intern. The manager made this job seem like an opportunity that couldn't be missed. She said I'd be following the nurse and learning NURSING skills. So I accepted the job and quickly found out that this job was not what they'd told me it'd be like. On my first day I was told that I was to do tech duties like bathing patients, cleaning up after them, etc. And then if I was done with all my tech duties , I am free to follow the nurse as long as my patients don't need anything. I spend most of the day cleaning patients since most of them are total care, which means I barely get any time to follow the nurse and learn any nursing skills which is why I accepted the job in the first place.

[…]

And you are learning nursing skills. While not glamorous, and typically delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel, bathing and cleaning, as well as the other tech” skills are definitely nursing skills. As one of the biggest areas for improvement I find in new graduate nurses is their lack of organization and time management; and while you might not realize it, performing these skills is going to help you learn to better organize your time. There are also units that do not hire techs or aides.

[…]

Another thing is that the nurse I follow has become relyung heavily on me since I started working there and send me on my own to hang IVs and do other nursing things for her so she can sit down and chart. I don't feel comfortable doing this at all but she says she "trusts me"…

Some facilities have programs that allow student nurses acting in that role to perform limited nursing tasks” while properly supervised. If this is the type position that you have, then ask the nurse to supervise you while doing these tasks; if she isn't able or willing to do so, then don't do them. If you are not working in this type position, then stop doing this. Either way, you are placing yourself in a situation where you might be liable if there is an occurrence where the patient is harmed.

[…]

…Not only that but she gets annoyed when I have to come in late because I had class in the morning or if I can't come in on a day she works. She's made some rude remarks before. The techs also take advantage of us being there and won't even help us with our patients if we need it ….

Unfortunately you're going to run into these types of individuals regardless of where you work. I generally ignore these behaviors. I know it can be annoying, but you will soon find what works best for you when dealing with these behaviors.

[…]

…The management is also horrible. If I have questions and ask them to them in person they say "send me an email". I send them emails and they don't respond. It takes weeks to finally get an answer to a simple question….

If this is the only fault you find in your management team, consider yourself fortunate. Personally, I prefer to communicate problems and questions via email, as this provides a paper trail. As far as taking weeks” to respond, that might not be inappropriate either.

[…]

I just want to know if you guys think it's worth working here just to have some experience in my resume? These isn't even everything I've experienced in only the couple of months I've worked at that job. Please let me know if you have any advice! Thank you!

In my opinion, yes. If a position becomes available on this unit, having worked there can definitely provide you a competitive advantage. During my time there, the unit where I currently work has hired every NA that had worked there and applied for a position. If positions on other units become available, being a current employee might be beneficial as well. I gather the impression that you wouldn't want to work there. You should know the availability of RN positions in your area. If they are limited, you might consider applying where you are, get a year or two under your belt, and then move on.

Best wishes as you finish school.

[PixieRN1]

Hanging IV fluids is giving meds and outside of your scope of practice. That can land you in hot water with the BON and impact your ability to get a license one day. Just because you don't have a license doesn't mean that the BON won't come after you.

Just think...you are hanging a med without looking at the MAR, scanning the patient, or their bracelet, all without a nursing license. Please protect yourself and do not do it without your nurse present to do all those things, following the 5 rights of med administration!!! You will the the one in the sling at the end.

Best wishes.

[adventure_rn, MSN, NP]

Do you have any interest in working for that hospital, even if not on that unit? If so, I'd say stick it out. If you make a good impression and you're an internal candidate, you'll have a big advantage when applying for jobs in that hospital. Conversely, if you quit earlier than they were expecting or if your manager picks up on your lack of enthusiasm, that could prevent you from getting hired to other units in the hospital. Managers talk, regardless of where you work. If you're applying for a job on another unit and the hiring manager on that unit sees that you've had a nurse internship, I can almost guarantee that the hiring manager will reach out to your current manager to get their opinion of you.

I always thought that nurse intern roles were just as you described: effectively a CNA with a few additional supervised duties. I think that having CNA experience can be a huge benefit as a new grad nurse. As others have mentioned, ADLs are a still a nursing skill, and working in a CNA role within a unit can help you have a better sense for time management, delegation, and prioritization once you're a nurse. I would put your foot down on the meds issue: I think that if you bring it up as a safety/compliance issue, they probably won't press the matter since they can get into regulatory trouble, too.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

I'm confused. Are you getting paid?

If you are not getting paid or school credit this blows. Get another job that pays. You will have clinical in nursing school.

If you are getting paid, this is great experience for you. You do need to tweak a few things.

You need to solve the problem of this nurse asking you to do things you are not allowed to do. Or more accurately, you doing them.

If she asks you to do something you can't do or need supervision with, tell her. Just like this: "I can do it if you come with me. I know you trust me, but I'm not comfortable."

If she is not respectful of that, tell her you will be leaving the floor to talk to the manager and turn right around and walk to the NM office. Tell her your concerns and ask to be paired with another nurse.

If techs ask you to do something you can say yes or no.

You probably need to say no more often.

Dealing with other people in the work place is the hardest thing about my job, because everyone comes to me for everything all the time. Most RNs will agree. Im usually charge nurse and that is even worse. Practice dealing with this now, as long as you are getting paid. If you really can't makw it better jump ship, but not before you've tried to resolve the issues.