My Student is draining me.....

Nurses General Nursing

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I have a student for 5 weeks and he is driving me crazy...thinks people of long term care are pill seekers. I had a post stroke resident that has a contractured leg and 2 stage 3 wounds. I ask pt if he is in pain and he says yes at 10/10.....Student then stated "why did you ask his pain?" of course he will take a pain pill but you dont even know if he is really in pain. UUUUMMMM i was Always taught that pain is what the patient says it is. Very frustrated with this attitude so early in his career. Any comments?

Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

I think this young man doesn't know what he doesn't know. :uhoh3: He doesn't seem to have much life experience. Believe me, the first time he experiences a close family member dying in terrible pain he will rethink his opinion about end of life care. Until then, I wonder if there would be a way for him to experience some of the disabilities he might encounter in the LTC? Not that I would wish pain on him(although, wouldn't that be something? If he could just gouge out a couple places on his hip or back to approximate pressure sores? Maybe even tie his arm in such a way that he can't use it for 3-4 days and has to deal with muscle spasms? Nah. Too barbaric.)

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Specializes in MS, LTC, Post Op.

I would teach him that rate of pain is the 5th vital sign.

Then I would have him review histories of patients that are on chronic pain management.

If all else fails, throw out the whole "Would you want your grandfather/mother ect. laying here in this condition, noone asking them if they hurt?" How do we know they hurt if we don't ask them...nursing school didn't teach me mind reading at all!

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Scary, sounds like he attended a very crappy nursing school. This is basic fundamentals.

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Have a talk with him about how he is coming across and where his priorities are. Point out to him that he needs to come to clinical with some preparation being evident. His opinions are better left for a better time for discussion. I hope he isn't saying anything inappropriate in front of the patients. If you don't see a change, then speak to his instructor. He might not be in the range of failing the clinical, but you can influence his evaluation. He needs the feedback.

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Pain is perception. Tell him if he broke his arm he might say pain is 4/10, and someone else might say 9/10. People have different tolerance and thresholds to pain and response to pain medication. His broken arm might only require some tylenol and ibuprofin, where my broken arm may require vicodin for relief. As nurses it's not our job to decide who is drug seeking. If a pt says they are in pain, and pain medicine is ordered by the physician. GIVE IT. It's not feasable for nurses to cure a narcotic addiction in the 3 days a patient is in the hospital. Trust me, Dr's are aware of how much pain medication they are prescribing, and if a patient is constantly running out early or if they are asking for a higher dose. Let them do their job of prescribing it, our job is only to assess and administer

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Ugh thats horrible to hear! People are entitled to their opinions, but his opinion is one that is dangerous to patient care. My biggest qualm with the medical field is how badly pain relief is viewed. I'll bet he comes from a family of pain management doctors or something; they're the worst. This is personal for me because I have parents with very legitimate pain: Mom w/ Lupus and scoliosis, Step dad with military induced back problems. They are in constant pain and any idiot can understand that those types of conditions are painful! Yet, their pain management clinics are evil. My mom can't go anymore because the a-holes thought she was drug seeking. They did a nerve burn on her WITHOUT anesthesia! That was excruciating for her and because she complained she was labeled "drug seeking". My step dad still goes, but is treated poorly b/c of his wife. Where is the sense and justice in that? I wish I had a way to sue the pain clinic. My mom has an implanted nerve stimulator now and no longer requires narcotics btw. One of these days I will do a research study on why nurses and doctors have such a hard time with giving pain medications. Please educate this student of yours and hopefully it will sink in. Him having such an attitude and not understanding basic nursing fundamentals is a big danger. If he cannot grasp it, fail him. Therapeutic nursing is a universal competency in the clinical setting as outlined in the syllabus. You can legitimately fail him. When I see what my parents have gone through these past few years and what I have learned in nursing school, I have promised myself that I will always be a huge patient advocator on comfort, care, and pain management. There is more legitimate pain out there than drug seekers. If I end up encouraging drug seekers along the way, well I guess everyone wins.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.
I'd have the student look at the contracture & wounds. I'd then pull him outside and say something to the effect of "dude, how could those NOT hurt?"

"Dude" is far from professional....

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Specializes in Intermediate care.

Students in general can slow you down- so i wouldnt blame it totally on him alone, just the fact that you have a student.

But clearly he is in need of alot of education.

Explain why we ask pain rating...Then how do you know if pain medication is effective enough? If patient rates his pain a 10 and i give a pain med and his pain goes to a 3, then id say its pretty effective. but if he rates his pain an 8 then i would say it was slightly effective but maybe we need to try something else. That is why we ask pain rating.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Sounds like he needs to do some homework on "compassion" and "empathy". As well as who(m) is being cared for: him or the PT!!!

I wish you well, you're no doubt doing better than I would w/this "dude".

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Specializes in MedSurg, OR, Cardiac step down.
"Dude" is far from professional....

Sounds like a difference between educational degree's (not mentioning any) ;)

Curious where he went to school-but curiosity killed the cat. :idea:

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Specializes in geriatric.

Thanks to all of you for the advice and encouragement!! I'm really struggling with the whole issue. I seriously considered not fulfillng this commitment because I feel very strongly about this topic. This student also questioned giving meds to residents who cant communicate....I guess he feels they are not being given the opportunity to refuse ANY meds, not just pain meds. I only have until friday and this will be over....nice guy but I really feel he is in the wrong profession. I guess Im just disappointed.

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Specializes in Intermediate care.
Sounds like a difference between educational degree's (not mentioning any) ;)

Curious where he went to school-but curiosity killed the cat. :idea:

TOTALLY DUDE!!!! :lol2:

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