Mean nurses

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Oct 10, 2007

I am in my med/surg clinical this semester and there is a nurse on the floor that I'm on that seriously despises students. She will switch patients with the other nurses so that she doesn't have to work with students at all. She also makes it a point to let us know that she doesn't like students.
People tell me to not take it personal when she is rude to me, but I can't help but feel incompetent and just plain stupid when she talks to me. I already feel incompetent enough by fumbling with pretty much everything and now I have this nurse that makes me feel even dumber!
Any advice on how to deal with rude nurses as well as fumbling in clinical??

some people are insecure.they take it out on others, the nurse is rude to other people i am sure. don't take it personally ..please... you only there on the floor for a little while , just stay away from her. you are not dumb ..

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Oct 10, 2007

My advice is that you should be thrilled to death that this particular nurse goes out of her way to avoid students. At least she knows her boundaries. Do likewise and stay out of her way as well. She's already warned you to stay away.

You know, if you reach out to pet a dog and it growls and bars it's teeth at you, why would you continue to pursue trying to pet it or make friends with it knowing that you're probably going to get bit?

In the same vein, why would you pursue asking or telling this nurse anything? Just act like she doesn't even exist and I'm sure your time on that unit will be fine.

spydercadet · Oct 10, 2007

I have been a nurse for 25 plus years and worked with handicapped kids before that. And, I am still amazed at nurses who hate people. I have always wanted to ask them, "if you hate people so much, how did you get here? Didn't you know people can be a pain in the butt and sick people can be even bigger one's." I guess that they must not have known that people can be a pain. Personally, I find that most patients and their families just want someone to listen to them, and if your the one stuck following the mean nurse, you can be in for a shift from hell. The mean nurses don't care and nothing seems to bother them, but for most of us, there we are trying to make it better and make up for what the last person did or didn't do.

But don't worry, we have all faced these people. I went from working in a NICU to an Adult ICU, and on my third day, while at lunch, my preceptor was talking to one of her friends, telling her how much she hated being a preceptor, especially for new nurses or ones that make big changes, "because they don't know anything." I had such a great experience there!

But, you know what, I've become a better person because of it. I am more aware of what I say around others and I am more aware of the effect my words or actions may have on those around me. So cheer up, you are in good company!!!

WDWpixieRN, RN · Oct 10, 2007

After 3 semesters of being on med/surg floors, I've just come to understand that there are some folks who tolerate us newbies better than others.

And having come from 6+ years in the business world, it's the same out there; probably in every line of work when it comes right down to it. The trick is to find the folks that want to help and are more than willing to bend over backwards for you and go to them.

On the other hand, be very careful about taking advantage of these people. We as students do NOT want to burn them out and they are busy and have their own responsibilities. Where you have an issue that pertains to skills or meds or something that really should be handled with your instructor, go there...if it's a question that pertains to a certain nurse's patient, then that's your go-to person.

Make sure you're going to the right person!!

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 10, 2007

My advice is that you should be thrilled to death that this particular nurse goes out of her way to avoid students. At least she knows her boundaries. Do likewise and stay out of her way as well. She's already warned you to stay away.
You know, if you reach out to pet a dog and it growls and bars it's teeth at you, why would you continue to pursue trying to pet it or make friends with it knowing that you're probably going to get bit?
In the same vein, why would you pursue asking or telling this nurse anything? Just act like she doesn't even exist and I'm sure your time on that unit will be fine.

:yeahthat:

I agree completely.

DaFreak71 · Oct 11, 2007

As the other posters have said...stay away, far away!

I've actually done some thinking on this issue myself. Here's a theory I've come up with that, while may not be true, sure helps me get through the rough spots with mean nurses/nurses who hate students, etc.

I figure that the nurse who goes out of their way to be rude in order to let you know that they don't want you around, are really saying this:

"You are in school and you are being taught the "correct" way of doing things. If you see how I do things, you'll complain about it to someone and I'll have some explaining to do".

This little theory of mine is a bit simplistic and absurd, because we all know that nursing school and real life nursing are not always the same thing, but it keeps me from putting the blame on myself when it's someone else's bitterness that is the cause.

Another really cool thing about meeting nasty nurses is that you'll know where NOT to apply for work!

So my dear, sweat it not. It's not you. As student nurses, we all feel like bumbling idiots on most days. Just be glad she's a nurse on your clinical rotation and not one of your nursing instructors! LOL.

al7139, ASN, RN · Oct 11, 2007

Hi,

As a new grad nurse, I remember my clinicals like they were yesterday. Some units we went to welcomed us and the nurses were eager to have us since it meant less work for the. Other units the nurses had an attidude towards us like we were a pain in the rear, and went out of their way to be rude. I just found that I avoided those nurses, and went to my instructor for advice and left that nurse alone. It's strange to me that any nurse would be that hard to work with, but not everyone is a good teacher. They may be good nurses, just not great at being the instructor. Take that into consideration and learn from it. I have a job now where we work with students frequently. Part of why I took this job was because of that. I wanted to be able to make being a student nurse positive and give them encouragement, and not have the bad attitude that I experienced at alot of hospitals. We were welcomed with open arms and nurses eager to teach us at this unit, and I want to be a part of that since it made such a difference for me. If nothing else, learn how NOT to be when you are a nurse with students.

Amy

PRESLA · Oct 11, 2007

] :idea: I feel sorry for the nurse that will not share her experiences c the newborns to the field, but she is the one who is suffering because students have a lot of information to give to the one who have been out of school for awhile. Stay away from her look for the staff that will give you the little secrets to the career because they have great advice and some pretty funny stories. Good luck c the rest of your time on the floor, look for as many unusual things as possible even if you have to ask the MD's because they love nursing students it makes some of them feel special because a nsg student wants them to teach them something (not all MD's are scary they just try to give that impression HAHA).

:yeah: :bugeyes: :w00t:Lisa