Nursing student asks nurses the question..

[2bNurseDR.T]

So as a third semester nursing student, myself and many of my fellow colleagues often wonder the same thing. Why is it that when we go to clinical, about 75% of the nurses act snobby and like it's some huge ordeal that we are there in "their space"? They were all nursing students at some point as well, students who wanted to learn skills and gain experience while at their clinicals. I often dread clinical due to feeling as I am in the way or that I am annoying a "seasoned" nurse. One would think, that as a nurse you'd want future nurses to gain as much experience and knowledge as they can while they're in school. So the point of this post, I would like to and I'm sure many other nursing students would like to know; why is it necessary to be rude and someone who doesn't want to help students learn or why is it necessary to not explain stuff to the student when they ask? I'm not trying to be conniving, I honestly just want to know, so that maybe I can understand.

P.S. I'm not saying this is true for ALL nurse's, as there are some that are amazing and share their knowledge and expertise.

Thank you.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

I was a student nurse 40 years ago. Frankly, the floor nurses didn't get upset with us for one simple reason; we stayed the Hell out of their way and didn't expect them to teach us the things that were our Clinical Instructor's responsibility.

We would have been in a world of trouble if we had shown up without having fully researched the patient's chart the evening before, written drug cards for every single med they were taking (the main side effects always seemed to be "nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea and death"), done a complete care plan (some were at least 10 pages long, oy!) and/or talked to the floor nurses with less than respect (still thinking of the "How about a REAL report?" student. No. Just no).

This subject comes up every few months. Seems like students just aren't instructed on how they should act, and that the floor nurses aren't ancillary school staff.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I was a student nurse 40 years ago. Frankly, the floor nurses didn't get upset with us for one simple reason; we stayed the Hell out of their way and didn't expect them to teach us the things that were our Clinical Instructor's responsibility.

We would have been in a world of trouble if we had shown up without having fully researched the patient's chart the evening before, written drug cards for every single med they were taking (the main side effects always seemed to be "nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea and death"), done a complete care plan (some were at least 10 pages long, oy!) and/or talked to the floor nurses with less than respect (still thinking of the "How about a REAL report?" student. No. Just no).

This subject comes up every few months. Seems like students just aren't instructed on how they should act, and that the floor nurses aren't ancillary school staff.

Today's students are supposed to be so Internet-savvy. It amazes me that this topic has to come up so often . . . That means those Internet-savvy students aren't looking up previous threads. Which makes me wonder if they're actually asking the question to LEARN, or whether they're actually just here to complain about nurses.

I went to school about the same time you did, and had similar experiences. One thing I will say about my nursing education -- those instructors made damnsure we knew how to behave on the floor, and we knew that if we didn't behave as instructed, we'd be sent home and our grade would reflect it.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

Today's students are supposed to be so Internet-savvy. It amazes me that this topic has to come up so often . . . That means those Internet-savvy students aren't looking up previous threads. Which makes me wonder if they're actually asking the question to LEARN, or whether they're actually just here to complain about nurses.

It's the special snowflake mentality. Special snowflakes want everything handed to them without doing any of the work. They also think everyone is out to get them. If you offer sound advice or disagree with what they say, YOU are the one in the wrong, not the SS.

[Susie2310]

I did my clinicals over 20 years ago. Our clinical instructor was In Charge of us, and was present on the floor/s to supervise us during our clinical experience. We were taught to interact with the nurses only when really necessary; i.e. to report a significant change in patient condition or to communicate necessary patient information. It was understood that we were expected to be extremely courteous and respectful in our behavior towards all of the staff.

We provided total care for patients from the second week of class, so there was no opportunity to "sit down during clinicals", and I can only imagine what would have happened to a student if they had been found "sitting down." We would go to the hospitals the day before to research our patients, prepare laborious care plans and well researched medication sheets, review any procedures that we were likely to perform, and arrive early at the facility with not a hair out of place ready to begin patient care at exactly the time we were scheduled to be on the floor. We had no doubts about the nursing school's expectations of our conduct while we were at the facility.

Why has the role of the clinical instructor devolved to the nursing staff being expected to provide students' clinical experience? I have asked this question more than once on this forum, and I had hoped that a Nurse Educator would share their insights, but so far no-one has answered my question.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Heck, I went to nursing school within the last decade (might be stretching that a tad), and we were expected to go to our clinical instructor for everything. The only exception was during senior practicum, where we were paired with a nurse who had volunteered to take on the role.

The nursing school where I completed my practicum for my MSN still follows this model. This is how all schools need to be. The staff nurse does not have the education to be an educator. The clinical instructor does.

This isn't a nurse problem. It's a school problem.

[NurseNHowell]

I have been a CNA student, LVN student and a RN student. I have also worked years as a CNA and years as a LVN. Never once when I went to clinical did I dread being in someone's way. I've trained/orientated CNAs/LVNs and even did orientation training with new grad RNs.

So I say this with experience on all sides...

STUDENTS CAN TAKE UP TIME I DO NOT HAVE!

It astounds me that I even have to explain this. Many students will just ask the most unnecessary and unrelated questions. Google it or ask your teacher. If it isn't related to what we are doing and I'm busy then no, go look it up. When I have been in clinicals (as recently as earlier this year) and my nurse got swamped with things I can't do to help then I stand back and let her do her hustle and pick up anything I can to help. Oh cdiff psych patient in med/surg keeps calling every 2 mins then trying to wander the halls to find snacks I GOT IT!

I personally enjoy having students but I totally get where some of my coworker's come from. They come in tired and frustrated only to be saddled with a student. They don't get paid more for this and it slows them down. There is also evidence that having a student increases risks of nursing errors. So same great measly pay but more work and more risk. They don't want to deal with it and I get it. I don't mind it but I've also had a student and was on a craptastic day with borderline codes left and right so I told the student halfway through the day that I was sorry but she'd need to go back to her instructor bc I couldn't be tasked with a student anymore. She complained right to my face about how I was being unfair to HER.

You kinda sound like you have the same attitude she did

[NurseNHowell]

I did my clinicals over 20 years ago. Our clinical instructor was In Charge of us, and was present on the floor/s to supervise us during our clinical experience. We were taught to interact with the nurses only when really necessary; i.e. to report a significant change in patient condition or to communicate necessary patient information. It was understood that we were expected to be extremely courteous and respectful in our behavior towards all of the staff.

We provided total care for patients from the second week of class, so there was no opportunity to "sit down during clinicals", and I can only imagine what would have happened to a student if they had been found "sitting down." We would go to the hospitals the day before to research our patients, prepare laborious care plans and well researched medication sheets, review any procedures that we were likely to perform, and arrive early at the facility with not a hair out of place ready to begin patient care at exactly the time we were scheduled to be on the floor. We had no doubts about the nursing school's expectations of our conduct while we were at the facility.

Why has the role of the clinical instructor devolved to the nursing staff being expected to provide students' clinical experience? I have asked this question more than once on this forum, and I had hoped that a Nurse Educator would share their insights, but so far no-one has answered my question.

My LVN was about 11yrs ago and the exact same! Miss those days!

[Kssrn404]

I went to nursing school in a large teaching hospital. I got some of this attitude too but most of the staff were helpful or indifferent to us students being there because they were so overwhelmed with their workload. There were nursing, medical, dental and respiratory students all trying to get their hands on the chart. I don't know how the nursing staff got anything done. I'm not sure if your clinical is in a teaching facility but if so it can be extra tough. I believe in helping junior nurses any way I can because I remember being there myself and I love to teach. Not all nurses feel this way and continue to "eat their young" which is so sad to me. When this happens it hurts ALL of us. If we all worked together and supported each other, regardless of seniority, we would be far better off as a profession. Hang in there I know it's hard. At least when you graduate you'll hopefully be able to work in a place of your choosing. One which is supportive and teamwork is the model. Do plenty of research on the places you choose to interview and ask the right questions. Much luck to you in the future!

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

We provided total care for patients from the second week of class, so there was no opportunity to "sit down during clinicals", and I can only imagine what would have happened to a student if they had been found "sitting down." We would go to the hospitals the day before to research our patients, prepare laborious care plans and well researched medication sheets, review any procedures that we were likely to perform, and arrive early at the facility with not a hair out of place ready to begin patient care at exactly the time we were scheduled to be on the floor. We had no doubts about the nursing school's expectations of our conduct while we were at the facility.

.

Lol I'm reminded of the fearsome CI who had a saying for everything.

One of her favorites was "If you have time to lean, you have time to clean."

Wonder how long it would take the Snowflake crowd to complain to the Dean of Nursing that "She's being mean and picking on us!!!"

Fortunately, I don't deal directly with students anymore. I had plenty when I was a MedSurg nurse. Most were sweet, kind of clueless but well meaning and enthusiastic. I feel about students the way I feel about other people's children. I raised my own, now it's someone else's turn. They get in the way and you can't send them to their room. [emoji56]

Once one flipped her perfectly coiffed hair and complained of being "bored". I'd have been bored too with one non-critical patient [emoji41].

I didn't say a word, simply handed her my cheat sheet for the day, for 7 patients on a busy floor. She did a fast fade.

[elkpark]

I believe in helping junior nurses any way I can because I remember being there myself and I love to teach. Not all nurses feel this way and continue to "eat their young" which is so sad to me.

I guess it was too much to hope for that this thread might run its course without someone (and not a student, even!) invoking "NETY" ... I fail to see how declining to serve as an unpaid volunteer faculty member for the local nursing schools, or resenting being expected to do so, counts as "eating our young."

Also, in my teaching experience, it was often the staff nurses who "love to teach" that I had to work hardest to keep the students away from; they were often teaching incorrect information or practices.

[nutella, MSN, RN]

I was a student nurse 40 years ago. Frankly, the floor nurses didn't get upset with us for one simple reason; we stayed the Hell out of their way and didn't expect them to teach us the things that were our Clinical Instructor's responsibility.

We would have been in a world of trouble if we had shown up without having fully researched the patient's chart the evening before, written drug cards for every single med they were taking (the main side effects always seemed to be "nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea and death"), done a complete care plan (some were at least 10 pages long, oy!) and/or talked to the floor nurses with less than respect (still thinking of the "How about a REAL report?" student. No. Just no).

This subject comes up every few months. Seems like students just aren't instructed on how they should act, and that the floor nurses aren't ancillary school staff.

In those 40 years a lot of things have changed. When you were a nursing students, your generation had a different upbringing, values specific to your generation and etiquette was slightly different.

The generation that is now graduating or in nursing school grows up with goals and ideas that are not the same. Back in your student time, the hierarchy was clear but also most nurses went to diploma programs and the preparation for bedside nursing more oriented towards being able to actual do the work. A lot of things have changed. We have more flat hierarchy structures in healthcare and the now student generation is not afraid to speak up and ask for what they perceive is their right. They do not want to "proof" themselves, they want to be accepted.

Anyways - just pointing out that what worked for you back in the days is not the way it works for the younger generation....

[Hailbop16]

It just seems to me that somewhere in the job description or staff orientation that it is mentioned that you could possibly have a student paired with you at some point. If you were in fact not informed that your job entailed such then why not take it up with management?