Miserable nurses

[FutureNurse0201]

This is more a vent, because i had a horrible day at the hospital today. As a nursing student I was assigned to one of the nurses at DEU facility. At 7am I introduced myself and let her know I will be working with her. She looked at me, didn't say anything and left. I literally ran after her. She was getting a report when the patient started complaining how everyone gives her different diagnosis and she can't trust anyone. As soon as we stepped outside of the room (night shift nurse, my nurse and I), PCT informed the nurse that patient wants to talk to the head of the hospital. Charged nurse told my nurse to just talk to the patient again and try to calm her. At the same time, the night nurse told me to stay outside of the room while they are talking inside (so that patient doesn't get even more agitated).

I was standing outside of the room when my nurse open the door and screamed at the top of her lungs "why are you just standing there, my patient tripped and almost fell, what's wrong with you. You should help me."

I made sure patient was ok (she didn't fall, she tripped as she was walking and talking to the nurse) and told my clinical instructor to assign me to another nurse. She said "yeah, we had the problem with this nurse before" and she reassigned me.

Towards the end of my shift, I overheard charge nurse talking to the mean nurse. She informed her that medical director complained that she never smile or talk. I was thinking "ok, but screaming on top of her lungs in front of the patient and patient's family at 7am is ok?" I was just buffled that no one cared, it seems like some nurses can act any way they want and professionalism is something some nurses forgot and they still can get away with it.

[GentheRN, ASN, RN]

As a nursing student, let me just say that I totally understand where you're coming from. Just remember always that this is their job, we are just students, and very very lucky to even be in the hospital. If the nurse is a jerk, just do what you did and request someone else, then move on. It's not easy but you really do need to let it roll off your back. There are crappy coworkers in every profession, it's absolutely not constrained to the nursing profession and this won't be the worst thing to ever happen to you, I guarantee it. Best of luck to you :)

[Daisy4RN]

Sorry, I said my last post, therefore won't be replying anymore nor pick up a fight. I don't like that nursing culture (though most of the nurses are nice, others just ruin it for everyone).

Most people here are only trying to get you to see the flip side of the coin. Nobody condones the nurse screaming at you (if that is what really happened, 2 sides to every story) just pointing out that she was obviously at her breaking point and maybe you could have done better also. Did you tell her the night nurse told you to stay outside ("I am sorry I wasn't there to help, the night nurse told me to wait here, what can I do to help now") When I was a student (many moons ago) the Instructors made it clear to us that we (as students) were the guests of the unit/hospital, that we should remember that the nurses are working, and that they are taking care of real patients (ie not a school room but a real work environment). Did nurses ever talk harsh to us? Of course!! and we all got it even as students because we could see how hard they were working and either attempted to help, or stayed out of the way, depending on the situation. I never once would have even dreamed of hoping someone got fired, or would say "I don't care what happens to her" because of one bad incident, you know why? because we are all human and make mistakes! And one last thing, maybe miserable students make miserable nurses, just sayin

[Wuzzie]

And finally, you justify her actions by saying she probably has personal problems. Did it ever occur to you that those on the receiving end (students) have a family member dying from cancer or an abusive husband at home and now, on top of everything they are being psychologically and verbally abused by a nurse. We, nursing students and other people, who are not nurses, we are not punching bags, we are human too, we also have family members dying, we also have abusive husbands/boyfriends, bosses and even jobs that are more important or more stressful than yours, you angelic nurses.

Oh, and she doesn't like having students.... really??? let's just get rid of students and then I wish your family member is treated by a new nurse who never had any experience beyond the classroom.

My classmates think that she is trying to get fired and that is the reason she is nasty. They probably can understand that someone can be such a scum. When I approached her to indroduce myself, she wasn't busy, she was sitting in a chair trying to see what room numbers she got. I said my name is so and so, I will be with you today. She stared at me for 5 seconds, with this resentful look on her face, got up and walked away.

All in all, I don't care what will happen with her. Some of you once again confirmed that nursing is a profession where bullying is popular. Also, some nurses are very entitled because "oh, we nurses have such a stressful, hard and important job and that's why we are allowed to occasionally use others as punching bag

No other profession as ours."

I love patient care, but I, hopefully, won't be a part of this non-sense for more than few months before I move on to something better and more civilized.

This is one of the least civilized posts I have EVER seen on this site. You called another human being "scum"! SMDH. Please do take your brand of civility elsewhere.

[Wuzzie]

Deleted. Post this was in response to was deleted by the mods. Thank you mods!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Okay everyone....there have some edits and deletions from this thread. At this point, we are going to close it.

Sometimes I think (and I've been a mod a long time) that we just need to be kinder to each other. (Oh well....musings of a long time mod).