Losing respect for nursing students

allnurses Guide · Apr 26, 2013

Our butt would have been toast if we were caught sitting.

We have had both a med student and a nurse student fall asleep in our day room... yes, they got reported.

We know they are tired-- we've all been there-- but that is just really bad form.

I work in psych, so the students dress business casual.

Well, I've been amazed at what some of them wear!

One showed up in glitzy cha-cha heels and a skirt... good luck running if one of our psych pts decides to come after somebody-- and you're it!!

One was offered to run an exercise group-- I know for a fact his instructor would have been okay with that-- but no. The student replied, "Ummm... I don't think so".

Gee whiz, how about, "Let me check with my instructor?".

It was such an easy thing to do and this student missed their opportunity to shine by doing a little extra.

How about when they grab all the charts and don't tell anybody?

Or how about when you only have two computers and a small nurse's station and they decide they are going to sit there and do some research?

I politely tell them they need to ask before they take a chart and I politely inform them to use a COW, but I cannot believe they were not taught basic etiquette.

Or when they take over the breakroom... ummm... I need to tape report now?

Most are so pleasant and fun to have, but there is always one in the group that does these things.

Sometimes it's poor leadership on the part of the instructor.

The worst was a young man who I was trying to teach about a certain pt's condition... and he turned on his heels and walked away and looked miserable to be there... he was going to be an ICU nurse...

Sorry, but you'll never be a ICU nurse if you don't pass your psych rotation and everything you experience is valuable.

Otherwise, I get so excited to see students because I love to teach, ask them about themselves and to try to make them a bit more comfortable, because I know I appreciated the nurse who did that for me (when they could).

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2013

We only have enough chairs in our report room for the nurses who actually work here. It amazes me when I come in and see students sitting, taking up every single chair, and not getting up and offering their seat to the actual nurse. I had a student refuse to take vitals on a fresh post-op (her patient, BTW) and said to me, "I don't have to, we did that last semester." And I'll be dang if her instructor didn't come up to me and say the same thing! Sorry, I would have thought a student would care how her patient (who just got back from surgery) was doing. She didn't even bother to get report on the patient from the recovery room nurse. And yes, I see the long, stringy hair and dangling earrings, too. Someday when a patient yanks an earring out, they might stop wearing them. There is a reason we wear studs to work.

CaitlynRNBSN · Apr 26, 2013

Im 25 years old, so its only been a few years for me but i remember what it is like.

I just get frustrated with "know it all students." or students that can't respect my patient comes first, not their teaching.

I had a patient code once, and i had a student with me that day. PERFECT time for them to learn compressions in real life situation. I let them do compressions, i was there too. They were not doing adequate compressions and would not listen to me. She was like "I don't want to hurt him." im like "He is basically dead, you are not going ot hurt him more than he already is. now push harder" She is like "I feel like im going to crack a rib" i was like "Then you know you did good compressions." still was being kind of whimpy. I just took over and did them until the rest of the code team arrived.

Then after she tells her professor "i didnt allow her to do compressions" excuse me??? i didn't allow you to??? Most nurses wouldn't have given you even a chance, i did..you failed, you didn't listen when i tried to correct you. my patient came first not your teaching. I didn't have time to teach you adequate compressions. I expect you to know this before doing them in real life.

she was like not putting any weight into it, it reminded me of the strength you would push when your testing someones edema. COMPRESS THE CHEST! not compress the skin on the chest....ugh

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2013

My experience with student nurses has been mixed. I have had some, especially those that were LPN's, that are excellent to work with, very involved and always looking for educational opportunities. If a student has one of my pts I will let them know if anything cool is going on with any of my other pts that they could do or observe. Most tend to jump on the opportunities

Career2_BSN, BSN · Apr 26, 2013

Quick question....are these student nurses young or 2nd career types? I ask because I am a 2nd career type and even while in pre-reqs, I have come SO close to losing my cool with people...usually the teeny-boppers who are fresh out of highschool and don't take this as seriously as I think they should. The lack of maturity and disrespect for those who are trying to teach you something just galls me. But then I remind myself that these lackies are my competition for NS and if that's what I'm up against, I have nothing to fear. :roflmao:

Caitlyn had me rolling with her compressions example. Yea, I can see being hesitant and I may be as well, but I'm 10 years older than you and if you have the experience, then I have no problem following your lead.

As for the hygiene....I gave up my artificial nails while taking pre-reqs, I bought a $20 wedding band that has NO embellishments, just simple smooth tungsten so it can't collect germs, and I've been toying with various up-dos that'll take 5 minutes to style when I crawl out of bed for another 12-hour shift because clearly, I'll have more important things to worry about.

As far as hanging around the desk gossipping......I thought nurses were too busy to pee, much less gossip.....or am I wrong??

CNAEB · Apr 26, 2013

It's not a lack of respect for the profession and I don't think you're old school. It's just that some people are going to try to "push the envelope". Honestly though, that's how some people are. We should all be held accountable for own actions. However, I feel if the nursing instructor is allowing the students to act and appear that way she/he is at fault just as much as the student. Last year during my cna course clinical rotation my teacher made it quite clear what was acceptable and what wasn't. We had to have our scrubs ironed, hair pulled back, no visible piercings, and tattoos. As 17 and 18 year olds of course some of us did try to see what we could get away with. Needless to say It wasn't much! As far as allowing others to sit down that is just common courtesy, no matter the profession. You should always offer the seat to someone who is older and has definitely been on their feet all day. Don't lose respect for the entire younger generation. There are several of us who are "old school", or in my opinion professional and respectful.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Apr 26, 2013

I feel my father's words coming out of my mouth. "Kids these days are lazy and want everything handed to them." I believe there are 5 mindsets that go through some (there are always those who have grown up with good work ethics) of the current generation.

1. I am only here because my school requires me to be here X number of hours for my clinical.

2. I already learned that skill, so I don't need to do it again.

3. Patients and nurses are only here for my use. If there is nothing to do for my patient then I sit and goof off until the nurse makes me do something.

4. I am not going to be a Med-Surg nurse when I graduate. So I won't need to be proficient in those skills.

5. Paying my dues is not an option for me. There is no plan B, I am going to get my dream nursing job when I graduate

Tait, MSN, RN · Apr 26, 2013

I graduated in 2006 and in my school you were told not to invade the secretaries space at any cost, stay out of the way, do everything you could get your hands on, and be quiet and keep the chart visible. I don't buy most of the "kids are lazy these days" because whose fault is it? Ours. The instructor has the power to manage his/her group or the school can lose their clinical space. I would complain straight to the instructor and then the school if there are issues. Your manager is also responsible to file complaints if the students are disrespectful, rude, or unkempt.

Sorry to be blunt, but I get tired of the argument that somehow we have nothing to do with how students behave in our house.

EaglesWings21, ASN, RN · Apr 26, 2013

Don't give up on all of us OP! I am in nursing school on a mission to help people by not just passing meds but healing other parts of their body and life as well.

And oh my, I don't want to hurt people but if I had the opportunity to do CPR best believe I would be cracking some ribs. If that's what it takes to keep the heart beating then that's what I'm doing.

Tinker88 · Apr 26, 2013

Quick question....are these student nurses young or 2nd career types? I ask because I am a 2nd career type and even while in pre-reqs, I have come SO close to losing my cool with people...usually the teeny-boppers who are fresh out of highschool and don't take this as seriously as I think they should. The lack of maturity and disrespect for those who are trying to teach you something just galls me. But then I remind myself that these lackies are my competition for NS and if that's what I'm up against, I have nothing to fear.
Caitlyn had me rolling with her compressions example. Yea, I can see being hesitant and I may be as well, but I'm 10 years older than you and if you have the experience, then I have no problem following your lead.
As for the hygiene....I gave up my artificial nails while taking pre-reqs, I bought a $20 wedding band that has NO embellishments, just simple smooth tungsten so it can't collect germs, and I've been toying with various up-dos that'll take 5 minutes to style when I crawl out of bed for another 12-hour shift because clearly, I'll have more important things to worry about.
As far as hanging around the desk gossipping......I thought nurses were too busy to pee, much less gossip.....or am I wrong??

I'm sure they are talking about the fresh out of high school student nurses due to maturity. I start my BSN program as a 2nd degree student in August, but I have been teaching elementary school for 3 years. No fake nails, high heels, or big ear rings here! Tennis shoes, studs, and clean cut nails is me. I'm in my mid twenties by the way.

lmccrn62, MSN, RN · Apr 26, 2013

I am a clinical instructor for a accelerated BSN program. I have to say most students are great and want to learn. Most are scared and unsure of their knowledge. I teach hands on with my students. I am their role model. There are many of my peers who dump their students on the staff then disappear. Many instructors are not clear of the expectations so students think its about hours they have to do and not enforce that clinical is a free space. I did have a group of students who had a sense of entitlement thinking their knowledge was going to save them. They liked to play on their phones and hang together in a group instead of being in with their patients. i was clear of the objectives and my expectations they learned quick I meant it. So they complained to the school I wouldn't answer their questions because I didn't know the answers. No, if I ask you why is your patient taking lactulose please don't say, I don't know, why do they? I am not giving you the answer believe me I know the answer.

They ended up understanding what I meant but they have me a horrific evaluation.