Been coming here for a while now, since long before I began nursing school, and notice a constant reoccurring theme. "Why are nurses so mean to students?" and various other related threads.
Some people get upset with clinical nurses "They are just so mean! If this is how nurses are, I want no part of it!" Let's dissect this type of statement. Does one mean nurse, or even a floor full of mean nurses, imply that nurses in general are jaded, mean, rude or obnoxious? No. To me, it implies that they are people. No more, no less. People have both good days and bad ones. We try our best to forgive our patients of their rudeness because we like to assume it's disease related anxiety.
What about the nurse treating all of the rude, highly anxious patients? Think she or he might experience a little residual angst over the matter? After all, this is a high-stress occupation. No one that I've ever met in school states that "I wanted to be a nurse because it's such an easy, low stress job to have. Every day goes smooth as silk and there are just very few occupational hazards. Doctors are so nice and patients are always so easy to deal with!" Does this mean you should excuse the behavior of a nurse who is acting in such a way and write it off as a consequence of the job? Not necessarily. But perhaps a little leeway here is warranted.
Maybe these 'bad' nurses suffer from "Mother Syndrome" where they've taken on the health of the world, and ignored their own leaving them with little to give to anyone else (and they need a vacation!). Maybe they're in a mood because they had their overtime taken away, the overtime that puts food on the table in a down economy for some nurses, and that has them high strung. Perhaps they need to seek therapy of their own? Or, maybe they're just rude PEOPLE in general and nursing is what their profession happens to be... lol. Either way, it's pretty drastic to think that a few bad nurses make for an entire world of bad nurses as a whole. If the problem is really as terrible as some here have described it, well my goodness - Take that up with your dean of nursing or charge nurse on the floor. Don't just vent it off on a website if it's REALLY that bad. Tell someone. We are designated reporters of abuse, after all
Wow, this got really long, really fast. In summary - Take a deep breath. Apply some therapeutic communication with the nurse giving you a hard time (unless they appear ready to dive over the deep end, in which case maybe leave them alone... lol). "You seem upset. Is there anything I can do to help?" Basically, just apply those critical thinking skills to your coworkers as much as you do to patients. If that doesn't work, tell someone. A lot of people are pretty stressed out these days. If not over money, then something else. But don't let a few people who are stressed to the max and taking it out in their own, albeit bad way, detour you from your goal of becoming the best nurse YOU want to be.
Now I sound preachy and sanctimonious. Time to stop! Best of luck to all my fellow nursing students! Don't let anything, or anyone, get in your way or get you down. If this is what you want to do, stick with it!
I have to respectfully disagree with the OP. Your post almost makes it sound like it's okay to treat people rudely because "people are just people".
I understand where you are coming from however I don't think it's professional to treat anyone rudely, no matter who you are, RN, Student, MD, Housekeeping, etc.
I have had my fair share of moments when I've written scathing e-mails to people, out of anger or frustration. As a professional, I have to take a minute (or a few - sometimes overnight), walk away, come back, delete the e-mail and deal with the problem in a professional manner. It doesn't help the situation if I get an attitude back because it just puts people on the defensive and the problem becomes much worse than if dealt with head on.
That being said...are people allowed to have bad days? Yes. Should we recognize it for what it is? Yes. If it is a continual problem, it needs to be addressed.
As for personal issues, these need to be checked at the door, like someone else said. We all have personal issues and not everyone acts rudely. That is just an excuse for bad behavior.
And, I don't believe this is idealistic, this should be a standard for any professional workplace, including the hospital.
Just my opinion, not trying to start an argument, but maybe just some food for thought.
Time to stop! Best of luck to all my fellow nursing students! Don't let anything, or anyone, get in your way or get you down. If this is what you want to do, stick with it!
CBsMommy
825 Posts
I have to respectfully disagree with the OP. Your post almost makes it sound like it's okay to treat people rudely because "people are just people".
I understand where you are coming from however I don't think it's professional to treat anyone rudely, no matter who you are, RN, Student, MD, Housekeeping, etc.
I have had my fair share of moments when I've written scathing e-mails to people, out of anger or frustration. As a professional, I have to take a minute (or a few - sometimes overnight), walk away, come back, delete the e-mail and deal with the problem in a professional manner. It doesn't help the situation if I get an attitude back because it just puts people on the defensive and the problem becomes much worse than if dealt with head on.
That being said...are people allowed to have bad days? Yes. Should we recognize it for what it is? Yes. If it is a continual problem, it needs to be addressed.
As for personal issues, these need to be checked at the door, like someone else said. We all have personal issues and not everyone acts rudely. That is just an excuse for bad behavior.
And, I don't believe this is idealistic, this should be a standard for any professional workplace, including the hospital.
Just my opinion, not trying to start an argument, but maybe just some food for thought.