I totally get it now. As a student, I thought it would be great having students around, but after last week, I don't think I even wan to take students EVER!
Granted, I've been on the floor around 9 months, and shouldn't even take students, the students are assigned to individual pts and not the nurse.
I had a LPN in a LPN-RN program. Within 5 mins, she shares that she has been a nurse for 20 years and doesn't see the point of being here. She helped me do a dressing change on a pt with an stage 4 ulcer on the coccyx. While lifting her, I tell her not to pull on the bottom, but from the shoulders and knees, she scoffs and continues. I ask her to step away. Pt was on tube feeding and I had paused it before starting the dressing change, but I had also spiked a bag of antibiotics and wanted to be sure it was running before I continued and asked her to turn the pole towards me so I can be sure. She presses buttons on the feeding pump and IV pump and the tells me the feeding is off. Im in the middle of the dressing change and say, I need to see it (the iv pump and now feeding pump) and asks again for her to turn the pole and she insists that it is off. I stop in the middle of my dressing change and go to look at the pump. Take her aside and tell her not to come back in my pts room.
This isn't the first time have worked with students like this. I once had a guy nurse that just knew EVERYTHING there was to know about nursing. It was painful talking to him.
I just can't believe how obnoxious some of these students are. I totally get why so many nurses can't stand taking students. We do have awesome students every now and then, but it seems most of them take up space and talk all day.
We are doing our clinicals also with the nurse we are signed to. But it'not possible to put all your shifts together, so some we do with other nurses. I have had a lot of different nurses to work with. Good, bad, and really bad instructors. Plus I hate it when nurse treats me like a kid. If I say I know how to do something, then come on, let me do it. You'll see if I'm doing it wrong and can stop me then. Then there are nurses who want you to do evreything exactly like them. Once I had a woman giving birth and i had to start an IV. I was inserting cannula, it was in the vein and I was about to pull the needle out of it when she whispered no, touched my hand making it and cannula to move. Well, of course the needle punctured the vein. She was angry at me for messing it up, although she was the one that messed it up. And all I did was that I put a gauze under the cannula wings because I saw she had thinner blood and I didn't want to ruin the bed sheets. Other situation I remember really well was in ICU when I had to do an ECG. I was placing the electrodes and one nurse came to tell me their on wrong positions and moved them by a centimeter. I assured her I know how to to an ECG but she still repositioned the electrodes. When I finished she took the machine and went to the next patient. She started doing ECG but then ran out of paper. She tried to put new paper in but failed to figure out how it was supped to go in so she called help. Two nurses went to help her but no use, still turning the paper all around. I mean, how hard is it? Black boxes go to bottom edge and pink line shows paper is finishing, meaning it goes downward. I gave them couple of seconds more, then stepped closer and asked if I could help? Took the paper and put it in. Oh, you should have seen her face. A student-nurse knowing something she doesn't. I mean, i insert cannulas, do injections and ECGs daily at work so if I say I can do it, then why can't you let me to such basic things?
When I'm at work I love to have students. I love to teach them and I enjoy if they like the job and want to do things. I mean, I just stand next to the student and watch him/her do everything. One shift I got a good laugh at myself. I just came back from vacation and during that time I did my clinicals in pediatrics. So that first day I had a student who did everything by herself. She went away at 8pm and next call for us was 9pm and it was a real AMI. I started to put the IV, EMT gave me a cannula and when I looked at it it was like whoa, that huge? I already was used to using 24G cannulas and that 18G cannula seemed way too big. I mean, by that time I had been 13h at work and that was literally the first thing I did during that shift. So yeah, I love having students. And if I have someone who does't show iniative, I put him/her do things because what else is he/she going to do?
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
Well in my personal experience, I do not believe Im helping the nurse, I'm there to learn.
I'm there to nurse patients, not deal with student nurses without adequate clinical supervision from their school
So far my clinical instructors have been great ( a great portion of the clinical instructors have worked or currently work the same floor) and set rules for the students . If the nurses do not want a student, they speak up.
I arrived on shift a few months ago to find about 8 enrolled nursing students waiting for me to give hand over. No 'T do you want to take some students" or even a heads up. Like so many students you appear to have no actual clue about reality versus ideally
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
For those who are complaining about student nurses , what are you expecting from those student nurses?
I'd expect a modicum of interest and respect. I'd expect someone who listens and pays attention, who isn't convinced that they know it all, who isn't looking for an excuse to "report someone", who isn't whining about nurses being mean or "eating their young" and someone who is willing to meet the nurses they're working with halfway.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Well in my personal experience, I do not believe Im helping the nurse, I'm there to learn. So far my clinical instructors have been great ( a great portion of the clinical instructors have worked or currently work the same floor) and set rules for the students . If the nurses do not want a student, they speak up. If the instructor is failing to do her/his job then she needs to be reported. Professionalism is key here on both parties. I'm not sure which area you are in but schools in my location are fighting for clinical placements so most of the students are on their best behavior. Too many generalizations being said on here, I'm sure the same commentators will not pleased if they were stereotyped due to actions of one bad nurse.
And how many threads have you read about NETY? How many threads have you seen entitled "Why are nurses so mean?" "Why are nurses so catty?"
Please get over the idea of "reporting" someone -- it will not reflect well upon YOU. But I suspect my advice is falling on deaf ears because it seems you already know everything.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
We are doing our clinicals also with the nurse we are signed to. But it'not possible to put all your shifts together, so some we do with other nurses. I have had a lot of different nurses to work with. Good, bad, and really bad instructors. Plus I hate it when nurse treats me like a kid. If I say I know how to do something, then come on, let me do it. You'll see if I'm doing it wrong and can stop me then. Then there are nurses who want you to do evreything exactly like them. Once I had a woman giving birth and i had to start an IV. I was inserting cannula, it was in the vein and I was about to pull the needle out of it when she whispered no, touched my hand making it and cannula to move. Well, of course the needle punctured the vein. She was angry at me for messing it up, although she was the one that messed it up. And all I did was that I put a gauze under the cannula wings because I saw she had thinner blood and I didn't want to ruin the bed sheets. Other situation I remember really well was in ICU when I had to do an ECG. I was placing the electrodes and one nurse came to tell me their on wrong positions and moved them by a centimeter. I assured her I know how to to an ECG but she still repositioned the electrodes. When I finished she took the machine and went to the next patient. She started doing ECG but then ran out of paper. She tried to put new paper in but failed to figure out how it was supped to go in so she called help. Two nurses went to help her but no use, still turning the paper all around. I mean, how hard is it? Black boxes go to bottom edge and pink line shows paper is finishing, meaning it goes downward. I gave them couple of seconds more, then stepped closer and asked if I could help? Took the paper and put it in. Oh, you should have seen her face. A student-nurse knowing something she doesn't. I mean, i insert cannulas, do injections and ECGs daily at work so if I say I can do it, then why can't you let me to such basic things?
When I'm at work I love to have students. I love to teach them and I enjoy if they like the job and want to do things. I mean, I just stand next to the student and watch him/her do everything. One shift I got a good laugh at myself. I just came back from vacation and during that time I did my clinicals in pediatrics. So that first day I had a student who did everything by herself. She went away at 8pm and next call for us was 9pm and it was a real AMI. I started to put the IV, EMT gave me a cannula and when I looked at it it was like whoa, that huge? I already was used to using 24G cannulas and that 18G cannula seemed way too big. I mean, by that time I had been 13h at work and that was literally the first thing I did during that shift. So yeah, I love having students. And if I have someone who does't show iniative, I put him/her do things because what else is he/she going to do?
If you are there as a student, why NOT do everything the way the nurse wants you to? You're there to learn, not to demonstrate your superiority.
Oh man, this is why I was always quiet, observing and trying to be as helpful as possible during my time as a student on different floors. I never wanted the nurse to feel like I was in the way. I really dislike know-it-alls - nursing is a field where you're constantly learning something in the various fields. Being a student around other students like that was quite a test in patience as well. I just try to keep episode one of Nurse Jackie in my head; "top of your class but don't know sh*t about being a doctor?" whenever around those types. Definitely helps -- to an extent.
Specializes in Care Coordination, Care Management.
I stopped taking students about 4 years ago; I'm an elementary school nurse. I was assuming the reason for the complete and total disinterest or the complete and total arrogance displayed by the students was because of the school clinic environment which is unlike hospital departments or out-patient clinics and because of the kids - some of which don't even know their full name. Regardless, I seldom ran into anyone who seemed interested, asked questions, came prepared, and welcomed the opportunity to perform pediatric assessments. I often had students that brought absolutely nothing to clinical, no notepad, no scissors, no stethoscope, no nothing. All of them however, didn't forget their cell phone. Maybe it's not just my school environment.
What a shame. I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed my clinical rotations with two amazing school nurses.
Specializes in Med-surg, telemetry, critical care..
Someone with your experience should not be assigned students.
I went to nursing school in a Catholic hospital. We had nuns for pastoral care AND as instructors on the fllor. I adored them. If you learn the lessons of confidence with humility, you are FAR ahead of the game. Apparently these students were not taught to that extent. As a former LVN (now retired), I am ashamed that you experienced that. I believe that a person who believes they know it all is quite dangerous. An RN has different responsibilities, oversees the entire team and is ultimately responsible for every action of her team. I think that the powers that be count mentoring as a step up the career ladder, but I also believe that responsibility should be offered as a "step" for more experienced RNs. You are still learning and need your own mentor, even if it is the charge nurse on your floor. That's one of the reasons she is there.
I take posts like this and file them away. Someday when I am learning from someone else I will try to be humble and let them teach. Sorry for your cocky students OP, we're not all like that, I promise!
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
Because the students are not free labor. They are supposed to be learning, not doing your job, for which they are obviously not properly trained
If I have to choose between providing patient care (which I'm paid for) versus baby sitting some PITA student nurse who has been dumped on me (which I'm not paid for). Well there is no choice, patient care will out every time.
(FYI, i have had some brilliant students, I have also had one or two where I have had to have words with their clinical tutor)
I encourage any student nurse who thinks I'm being a bitter crusty old bat to get back to me when you've graduated and been working for at least six months to fully appreciate the 18 hour work days that you have to somehow cram into an 8 hour, 10 hour or 12 hour shift and find yourself less than enthused about adding another 2 hours to that 18 hour day
Ageta
4 Posts
We are doing our clinicals also with the nurse we are signed to. But it'not possible to put all your shifts together, so some we do with other nurses. I have had a lot of different nurses to work with. Good, bad, and really bad instructors. Plus I hate it when nurse treats me like a kid. If I say I know how to do something, then come on, let me do it. You'll see if I'm doing it wrong and can stop me then. Then there are nurses who want you to do evreything exactly like them. Once I had a woman giving birth and i had to start an IV. I was inserting cannula, it was in the vein and I was about to pull the needle out of it when she whispered no, touched my hand making it and cannula to move. Well, of course the needle punctured the vein. She was angry at me for messing it up, although she was the one that messed it up. And all I did was that I put a gauze under the cannula wings because I saw she had thinner blood and I didn't want to ruin the bed sheets. Other situation I remember really well was in ICU when I had to do an ECG. I was placing the electrodes and one nurse came to tell me their on wrong positions and moved them by a centimeter. I assured her I know how to to an ECG but she still repositioned the electrodes. When I finished she took the machine and went to the next patient. She started doing ECG but then ran out of paper. She tried to put new paper in but failed to figure out how it was supped to go in so she called help. Two nurses went to help her but no use, still turning the paper all around. I mean, how hard is it? Black boxes go to bottom edge and pink line shows paper is finishing, meaning it goes downward. I gave them couple of seconds more, then stepped closer and asked if I could help? Took the paper and put it in. Oh, you should have seen her face. A student-nurse knowing something she doesn't. I mean, i insert cannulas, do injections and ECGs daily at work so if I say I can do it, then why can't you let me to such basic things?
When I'm at work I love to have students. I love to teach them and I enjoy if they like the job and want to do things. I mean, I just stand next to the student and watch him/her do everything. One shift I got a good laugh at myself. I just came back from vacation and during that time I did my clinicals in pediatrics. So that first day I had a student who did everything by herself. She went away at 8pm and next call for us was 9pm and it was a real AMI. I started to put the IV, EMT gave me a cannula and when I looked at it it was like whoa, that huge? I already was used to using 24G cannulas and that 18G cannula seemed way too big. I mean, by that time I had been 13h at work and that was literally the first thing I did during that shift. So yeah, I love having students. And if I have someone who does't show iniative, I put him/her do things because what else is he/she going to do?