Need tips for working with student RNs!

Nurses General Nursing

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Today I had a student RN in year two. I myself only graduated in March last yr and have only been on this floor for two months. Its a mostly surgical floor, some medical. She took two pts., but was not allowed to hang IV meds, give po meds or do any nursing activity unsupervised by me. Her slip stated if she could not give the med because of time constraints, she was to observe me instead.

OMG! When I was a student our instructor would not let us go with a nurse and take two pts unless SHE had checked us off giving PO and IV meds. The instructor had to observe them, not the nurses. It took so much time to wait for her to look up meds, prepare them and administer them. I got out an hour late because of my own sick pts and not being able to chart on time.

Anyone got any tips? I know they will be back.... :uhoh3:

PS, I am NOT dissing students, I love students, I just never had to time manage with a student yet...my co worker had the same problem...

Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.
I am a student, and that is SO not okay...if that student is taking too long...honestly, SHE should be the one to point on she is taking too long and do whatever it takes to get you home on time!!! She needs to learn that it is important to work with others, and respect your co-workers. I love my RN's I work with, and honestly, being aware of their schedules is important to me because I would never want to make someone late. I would DEFINITELY talk to the instructor. That's just rude, and unprofessional...you're not getting paid to be an instructor are you? LOL!

Being a student RN I wanted lots of hands on and clinical experience, so I work as a CNA so I can see and learn more....maybe this student needs more hands on or shadowing experience...I would suggest that to her instructor.

You don't sound rude....but that student needs to act like this is a job and be aware of you as a co-worker...don't feel bad....you wanna get home!

Claire

Students learn at different paces...what may work for you, may not work for another. This student needs time to learn to stay organized and prioritize so she can complete her duties in a timely manner. She should be under the direct supervision of the CI, not the RN, to allow her to do so. I don't think the blame falls with the student. It falls with the CI, or the school, whoever instituted this policy.

Specializes in Pediatrics.

I am a nursing instructor and the policy of our college is NO student is to pass meds unless I am with them. I wonder if this instructor is trying to pull over something. Actually through the years I have been a nursing instructor at three colleges and not once did I allow this. If I had a nursing student pass meds without me checking them off first, I would give the, a failing grade for that clinical.

Anyway, talk to the instructor and let her know that time-wise you can't supervise a student AND take a full pt load as well. It might twerk her off, but you aren't getting paid any extra and SHE is the teacher.

thank you for the post, I've just had my first student Rn, everyone I've trained was an RN after an extensive critical care program. She said she was afraid so many times I could have pulled my hair out! the deep breath on my part, I see a trached vent as a cake walk, she was freaking.... we stopped, set realistic goals for the night.... assessment and any basic skills she could get. so we assessed 4 ICU pt. went through each chart for h&P, looked at meds for the diagnosis, plan of care. Well she stated she was bored and wanted to learn about the equipment, and focus on skills.

I'd stated that I can train a monkey to draw blood, shoot hemodnamics... but her roll was to understand what the information meant; re-review everything based on our numbers and change our plan of care... ie drips and what not. Deer in the headlights look, then "when can I draw blood":lol2:

My response; you signed up for an ICU experience, lets focus on that and leave basic skills for another more appropriate clinical setting.

and then I hear from my student..."If I'm not going to get to do everything why am I here?"..... Um, I responded critical care nurses spend more time researching, looking, measuring... trying to invent a problem and a solution and the skills are done between, again, these skills are for a floor practicum. Well I gave in we spent the last three hours drawing blood, she felt fabulous and I fell short.

It might just be that that particular student wasn't willing to learn. It might also be that going into such depth in regard to plan of care might have been putting the cart before the horse in where she was at in school. Imagine studying to become a mechanic and they're showing you engine diagrams when you've never opened the hood of a car, changed oil, etc.

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