new grads that don'y ask questions

Albirdie · Jan 2, 2003

I have read most of the posts and found it to be quite interesting. First, I am going in to my second semester of nursing school. I, of course, have tons of questions. I just started a position as Nurse Extern in a hospital. I have found that some nurses are open to questions and others seem to be bothered by it. I feel that when you are in nursing school it is the best time to ask questions because you are building a foundation. Since I want to work in this particular unit after graduation you would think that all of the nurses would like to help, but unfortunately some just don't care. Or that is at least the feeling I get. So what is a student to do when faced with this. I am PRN so I am not always going to be with the nurses that are open to questions??????

mattsmom81 · Jan 2, 2003

Albirdie, I have heard that sometimes I 'come off a bit bytchy'... if a student is in 20 question mode when I am trying to accomplish something else...which may not be readily apparent to the student at the time. I'm not hating that student but simply overwhelmed at that moment. So here's my advice:

If a nurse is not receptive to your questions...first assume you've caught her at a bad time, and ASK her if it is a bad time and would she take a moment later (at HER convenience) to edumacate you. (PS this works with docs too..hehe)

If she is still not receptive be polite but persistent....can she then please suggest or direct you to another resource (person or book resource) so you can learn what you need to learn, as you want to do well, blah blah. I guess this seems like an exercise in assertiveness for some new grads...I remember some real hard azzed nurses who didn't seem to want me around when I was green. Bottom line: I had to locate my own mentors and resources, and not let the turkeys get me down. :)

Some older nurses operate off instincts after many years in practice and honestly may not know how to 'teach' you anymore in the way you are accustomed. A younger nurse may remember the teaching/learning process easier than an old one in this case. Also, not all nurses are natural teachers either contrary to popular opinion.

Finding a nurturing support system is a challenge sometimes. It is so important to have that supportive environment and work with coworkers who have your back... believe me it can make or break ANY nurse new or old, IMO.

The trouble is so many facilities today are dysfunctional, and the staff is overworked and underappreciated. That new nurse may well be viewed as one more task in a day of insurmountable tasks..particularly if the facility is not not staffed to adequately precept and mentor which I see a lot in my area at for profit facilities. This is why I encourage new nurses to find organized internship programs where they should find a committment to new grads from management down. I'm glad to see some hospitals in my area are finally implementing this!

Sorry so long...hope this helps new nurses gain a little better understanding of the whole situation. Healthcare is in the worst turmoil today that I've ever seen, and the nursing shortage reflects this.

As an 'old' nurse let me say I DO remember how tough it was to be 'new' and most of us do deep inside. Best wishes to all!! :kiss

Anaclaire · Jan 2, 2003

Albirdie,

I agree wholeheartedly with everything MattsMom said.

I worked in a hospital while in nursiing school as a Nurse Tech which is what I think an extern is today... anyway... my point is that I ran into basically 3 kinds of nurses:

One absolutely horrible, mean, smart-azz who made me feel like a pure pain in her bum. I'll never forget how mean she was to me!

A bunch who were friendly and nice but never seemed to have much time for me. Sure, they'd answer my questions but the answers would be brief or not fully complete for my needs.

There was usually one who was "assigned" to me and that one would be the most helpful.

And then there was the warm, bright light of a nurse who made me feel confident, worthy, and needed. She set a shining example for me to follow, always had time to answer my questions, show me things, teach me tricks, the whole shebang. Of course she didn't work every shift I did, but Gosh I was sooooo glad when she was working my shift.

I found this general group of nurses to be the same in every different unit I've worked in... they just had different names.

Some personalities mesh and others don't. Seek out the people who are helpful and make a mental note of those who are less than best for your needs.

I do believe that my experience with the nurse from heck caused me to understand what "nurses eating their young" meant and also made me be especially aware of how NOT to be when I became a nurse. I should thank her today because she had a lot to do with me wanting to become a preceptor and mentor once I became qualified to do so.... I want to be the helpful nurse, not the battle ax! Hopefully you will learn something about group dynamics and how the real world is during this time. People are people... not everyone will like you and you won't like everyone else. That's only natural. Just don't burn any bridges.. if you can't say something nice to a co-worker then don't say nothing at all.. never let them know they bother you in the least!

Hang in there! It sounds like you are a very caring and consciencious person and will make an Excellent nurse for many years.

Oh, by the way, I hadn't made my decision about where I wanted to work when I graduated while I was an extern... for all they knew I wanted to work on that unit. Thankfully working there I learned my personality didn't mesh as well with theirs, so I cut my losses and took my chances in another unit when I graduated. My nurse manager was disappointed, but when I got to my new unit I was as happy as a clam and found more nice nurses, a fantastic preceptor/mentor (who I am still in contact with 14 years later although we live in different states now) and the battle ax nurse on the new unit was much more bearable!! LOL.

Warmly,

Anaclaire

mattsmom81 · Jan 2, 2003

Loved your post Anaclaire! I learned something from those old battleaxes of my day too..hehe!!

What's the old saying..'Not everyone is your friend, not everyone is your enemy, but everyone IS your teacher'.

Anaclaire · Jan 2, 2003

MattsMom,

That's a GREAT saying!!! First time I've heard that one and I will commit it to memore immediately!

Thanks a bunch!

Anaclaire

travel2lv · Jan 2, 2003

We all react differently to situations and I can think of few places with more stress than a busy hosp. unit on your first days as a staff nurse. When I have the opportunity to mentor someone I love it, especially if they are new grads. I remember too well the nurses on one unit I worked being less than kind just because I was a new grad and unable to be as proficient as they were, never mind the fact that they had worked there much longer and naturally should of been. We can't eat our young!

robin.clark · Jan 4, 2003

I know most of you are experienced, and have been around for a little bit. I am in Nursing school now, doing my clinicals, and trying to learn from nurses. This is very scarey. we are afraid of looking like fools if we ask to many questions. Some of the nurses that are at the hospitals act like we are a burden. Most of us are terrified of our first job, and the expectations other nurses put on us. We have heard that nurses eat their young. I'm saying most of us are human, and a VERY few are just now it alls. I have 2 in my class now. They just know everything, and i feel sorry for you who get them, they will not ask questions. They will endanger your pts so be careful too. :eek:

finallyRN · Jan 4, 2003

I think it can go both ways. If a nurse acts like they know it all and don't ask any questions they are scary. But the nurse who asks question after question about stuff that was already explained to them or that should be basic knowledge, they are scary to.

When I was a new grad I was scared to ask questions. That is just my personality. I didn't try to act like I knew it all though. I asked when I need to.

altomga, ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN · Jan 4, 2003

Robin-clark,

I can understand your fear of looking like a fool. I can also understand how intimidating a "old" farty nurse can make you feel. I ENTIRELY REMEMBER HOW I FELT the first day on the job. Scared as HE**!! Most nurses answered my questions, some didn't, the point is that you ask until you know. My motto was and still is; I would rather look like a jackas* than do something wrong and hurt a patient! Even after 5 yrs on the same floor and the second most senior person I still ask questions; sometimes about stuff I really do know; but shoot, like you said we are human and like me and my co-workers call them; we have brain-farts!:chuckle You will be a much better "newbie" than any 20yr veteran nurse if you always remember you are asking questions in the interest of your patients. That makes a wonderful nurse. When you get on the job; please don't let any nurse make you feel stupid or belittled; that is their problem not yours. Remember what our mom's have always said.....The Only Stupid Question Is The Question That Isn't Asked!!!!!

Good luck in your nursing career and always keep learning!! AND(Ignore the idiots!!!!!:roll

bungies · Jan 4, 2003

Hi!

I'm a nearly-finished grad nurse (that is, I've nearly finished my Grad Year). I'd like to add as my $0.02 that although I never pass up a learning experience, I always seek out someone experienced before I attempt a new procedure, and I do my homework, I am only able to ask my questions of nurses that I feel comfortable with. I was told by one ACN (that's the associate charge nurse - the second in charge) that I don't ask questions and that worries her. Hmmm. I could never tell her that I actively her because the few early attempts I had at asking questions were met with a scornful look and rude answers. (And she didn't sound worried, just critical. But perhaps I'm being too harsh...) But there's always someone I CAN ask; if not I have to bite the bullet and get the scornful look, I guess...

Also, when people come up to me and demand to know what I'm doing and why (NOT the same as asking a pertinent question!) or asks me if I have any questions, I feel completely unable to think of anything to say.

Please don't assume that a quiet grad thinks they know it all. We are often more overwhelmed than we appear, and we sometimes can't think how to phrase the questions we need to know. Mind you, if you actually care what a grad is feeling you're not the one who needs to be reading this!

yms yms rn · Jan 4, 2003

We have an internship program for new grads (who have passed their boards) in our Critical Care Center, where they are given a 6-month course of classroom and clinical experiences. After the internship is finished the newbies go on "orientation" for about 2-3 weeks and if they are judged to need more orientation they are given it.

I recently received an evaluation from one of our newest group of interns which said that I treated her "more like a student than an RN" because I was thinking out loud, checking on her for questions, asking critical thinking questions etc. (This was during the 1st month of her internship--she had JUST passed boards).

Because this was my first precepting assignment in the CCC, (I have worked there 4 years and have 11 years experience overall) I really questioned my teaching technique, but the Primary preceptor told me not to worry--this gal has been very defensive even when someone just asks her if she needs help, or casually walks into a room and says "What's going on?". She is about to be placed back on orientation, due to several issues where she missed obvious condition changes.

I am always scared by the person who knows everything.

altomga, ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN · Jan 4, 2003

yms yms rn

This is what I was trying to get at with this initial start of this thread. What are we supposed to do? The reason I take notes and give them to mangmn't at the end of orientation is for this exact reason. That way if something goes wrong when they are on their own and then try to "place blame" on the preceptor I can revalidate my initial concerns that were ignored by mgmgn't. (you know the upper crust never do anything inappropiate right?) Anyway, you did the right thing during the orientation process!!

This type of know it all needs to have a meeting with the ANM, Mangager, and primary preceptor to decide where the orientation is going, expectations, and problems that are being seen thus far. Go ahead and lay out the ground rules (probably for a second time) so the orientee knows that thus far there are problems being seen.

Good Luck!