Wow, this is so wild. I had a couple LPN students following me around last night! It was interesting seeing the other side of the fence.
I was a little irked because the student was assigned to one of my patients and I didn't even know. And she went in and saw the patient before even telling me she was there, and did all the vitals even tho they'd already been done, and then came to me, told me she was assigned to the patient and that she needs to do a mother/baby assessment and so wanted to see me do the next one and then let her do the one on that pt w/ her instructor! I was thinking, was I like that as a student? I always introduced myself to the nurse BEFORE I started working with the patient, in order to touch base and see what was already done so that I wouldn't repeat things unnecessarily. And I asked, never told.
It worked out okay, I got another one of my pts permission to bring her in and her (male) classmate while I did the mother/baby assessment and teach them as I go and the patient was fine with it. That part I loved--the teaching is one of my favorite things about nursing as a whole. I had them do a baby assessment in the nursery with me so they got a real hands-on experience as well.
But the student kept going in to 'her' assigned patient and trying to teach her how to breastfeed, how to change a diaper etc etc. I don't think she ever looked in the chart to see this was the pt's third child. Then of course I had to find out what she was teaching since I had no idea of her knowledge base. She did fine but said "I know all this stuff from when I had my own kids" and that worried me! She needs to know it from her nursing studies.
Anyway, I think I am just blowing off steam. We were ALL students and not too long ago at that. I am SURE that I bothered my share of nurses over the last few years. It was just really annoying that she did a number of things before I even knew she was there.
Today I plan to talk to one of our nurse educators and find out exactly what the role is of the student, and what my role is as the shadowed nurse, and what my responsibilities are regarding the patient.
I can't imagine not communicating with the nurses during clinicals:o
exactly! I think that it was that particular student, being way to overenthusiastic because the second night it looked like she was driving another nurse crazy.
It is my understanding that a preceptor is someone who gives practical experience and training to a student. Why would a new graduate RN be used as a preceptor? No offense, but that blows my mind!
In my second semester, I was assigned to a patient that had a new nurse fresh out of orientation-like two days out. She was beyond stressed out about it! I had the patient the previous day, and had did all the prepwork, and the census was low, so I couldn't really pick out another patient. I went to my instructor and asked what I should do and she just made me stay with the patient.
I wasn't stressed until I realized that it was just weird. I LOVE teaching and I will teach anyone anything that I have learned. BUt it was just weird all around.
I'm actually excited about the nursing students coming through this semester! But then I read your post, and all I can say is they better talk to me if they are doing anything to my pt!
I wasn't saying you were stressed. If I had to bet money, I'd say the nurse I had that day isn't nursing anymore. She was shaking all the time, constantly sighing and holding her brow.....I actually worried about her.
I'm actually excited about the nursing students coming through this semester! But then I read your post, and all I can say is they better talk to me if they are doing anything to my pt!
I wasn't saying you were stressed. If I had to bet money, I'd say the nurse I had that day isn't nursing anymore. She was shaking all the time, constantly sighing and holding her brow.....I actually worried about her.
Yeah I like the idea of nursing students too....which sounds bizarre given my experience.
In my second semester, I was assigned to a patient that had a new nurse fresh out of orientation-like two days out. She was beyond stressed out about it! I had the patient the previous day, and had did all the prepwork, and the census was low, so I couldn't really pick out another patient. I went to my instructor and asked what I should do and she just made me stay with the patient.
That was just wrong, on so many levels. Maybe it would have been impractical to change your assignment, but the new nurse could have been reassigned to a different pt. Brand new nurses should not be having to watch what students are doing. They have enough on their plates as it is.
Specializes in Emergency Room, Cardiology, Medicine.
I'm a really young nurse. As in, three days old. (You were consoling me during my post-nclex craziness). But, after the NCLEX pounded prioritization in my head... I can't help but retain that the only person who is supposed to teach patients is the RN (whether this student has two kids or twelve). In every one of my clinicals, my instructors held the RNs in the highest regards. Being on THEIR floor was a privledge (and privledges can be lost if abused). I remember making a mistake that offended my preceptor. My instructor chewed into me about "hurting relations between the hospital and the nursing school". The instructor in your situation may have moved into the defensive because she made a mistake, but it's her responsibility to make sure that it's cleared up before the day is over (or is taking the necessary steps to ensure that things will be fixed).
I know that I'm not that experienced. But right out of nursing school, it's easier to see things from a student's perspective. And examine when one is over-stepping his/her boundaries. Without picking one side or another - I'm pretty sure I would've handled the situation in the exact same way you did.
I had that same feeling about teaching. THat said, I am all for sharing information--if the source is textbook, research or evidence-based practice. Not anecdotal stuff.
well an update that I told my supervisors and they had some other concerns and made some phone calls.
I found out in a roundabout way that the patients were thrilled with me. I knew one of their visitors, who is great friends with one of my family members, and the visitor called my family member to tell him how much they all appreciated my efforts and my family member called me and told me. So that is a huge relief.
MIA-RN1, RN
1,329 Posts
exactly! I think that it was that particular student, being way to overenthusiastic because the second night it looked like she was driving another nurse crazy.