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.

[dylanmc]

Ah. That makes more sense.

[chacha82, ADN, BSN]

*Grabs a sandwich and a diet coke and settles in for the thread*

Nurses are BUSY. Students are another thing on our plate and we aren't often asked, people just assume we will take a student. Some students park themselves at our computers, don't want to make beds, do toileting or baths, and act bored because we're not slamming Narcan into people all the time.

As a student, I was extremely grateful to every nurse who was kind enough to host me. I didn't quiz the nurses, I spoke when I was spoken to, gave meds when I was given the chance. Other than that I kept myself busy doing vitals and turning patients or taking them to the bathroom. One night a nurse said no. She was a new nurse and did not feel ready. My teachers respected me and shuttled me off to someone else.

That is how it goes sometimes. People are busy and it's not personal. You will deal with MDs who do not take the time to explain everything. They will be less nice than these nurses that you find snobby.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree, and see where that could be a problem. But it's not my fault or my classmates fault that we get paired with them, after all we don't get to choose and we're just trying to learn a thing or two. I just would like to be able to ask a question about mine and the nurses patient that we're sharing without being looked at as a burden or as an idiot. It can be quite discouraging for some students.

It's not the staff nurse's fault, either. So don't blame them.

[Sydryth, ASN, RN]

While I don't mind helping educate or answer questions when I have time, my first responsibility is the patient. When I am zoned in on what is going on or worried about their condition, it's hard for me to stop and answer a students question or educate them during that moment. If they wait till things are less critical and I am not focused in on whatever may be taking place to ask questions, I'm more than happy to answer and explain things. But when one sees me running around constantly doing something that is not the time to stop me, let me take care of the tasks at hand, then when you see that I'm more relaxed approach me, and then I'll answer all that I can. I tried practicing that as a student and it seemed to help me get better responses from nurses, that other students found it difficulty to get answers from. I think timing has a lot to do with what makes us seem mean, while a very few are, I believe you'll find it better to ask questions when a nurse is more relaxed.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

When I was first in nursing school (PN), the hospital staff loved having us there. The big difference that our school had was that we were NEVER assigned to work with a nurse. Our instructor assigned us to 4 patients each that she researched before the shift, notified the nurses who we would be assigned to, and we did everything for those patients (except meds if it was not our med day-not all 12 students gave meds with their instructor on the same day, that would be nuts-48 pts meds with one instructor-not happening). Our INSTUCTOR did nursing tasks with us and other students assisted each other with care that didn't require a license. We were never assigned to a nurse and the nurse never supervised our care, that was the responsibility of our instructor.

Fast forward to when I went to nursing school the second time 15 years later, we would be paired with a nurse and the instructor may be on a completely different floor. I can see where there could be a problem with having a student assigned, especially if the unit is already short a few licensed staff and busting their butt just to get everything done safely. When I worked as an LPN and had students assigned to me I would do my best to help teach them what I was doing, but when I had sometimes as many as 8-10 patients on days, I would politely tell them that they are welcome to watch and shadow, but I couldn't slow down to explain anything that day.

One last thing. Chairs and computers are limited. Please do not crowd the nurses station sitting down with other students. I do not know how many times I had a ton of chatting to do and a few doctors to page. I need a phone and a computer. Please let me have access to the equipment. I know not all students do this, but it looks bad when they can all be found in the one spot that I need at that particular moment.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

It's not the staff nurse's responsibility to ensure you get a clinical education. You are a burden to them especially if they leave you alone on the unit

The educational responsibility lies with your clinical instructor. He/she is responsible to orient and educate you and ensure you are safely meeting clinical objectives.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Wonderful. Glad to hear it. Now, where is your clinical instructor during all of this? I ask because when I have a student (I work in L&D), I do my absolute best to sit down with him/her and go over the fetal monitor strip in detail and explain the physiology, etc., to explain the rationale for my interventions, etc., etc., but sometimes, there just flat out isn't time. That's when the clinical instructor needs to step in and do the teaching, and she does.

OP, you still haven't answered this. Where is your clinical instructor?

[Red398]

I just recently graduated RN school, but I have worked as an LPN in a LTC facility for several years, so I do have some experience. Your attitude is a bit off-putting. This is one of the reasons, in RN school, I did not enjoy clinicals. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed utilizing skills and doing assessments, but I did not want to be the student always in the way. Luckily, our clinical instructor stayed on the floor with us, so we had someone to answer our questions. As a student, you really only get a glimpse at what nurses do everyday. Clinicals are nothing like the job (IMHO), and you sound like you expected to be catered to. Nurses are extremely busy, and if they don't have time to answer your question, then ask someone else or look it up. In my experience, even the doctors that made rounds on the units had more time to explain things to us, or even a classmate may know the answer. All the previous posters have made excellent points as well.

[2bNurseDR.T]

OP, you still haven't answered this. Where is your clinical instructor?

Sorry, it's difficult to respond to each comment. But my instructor, well she's not very reliable. She tells us to be at clinical at 0600 and we get there at that time, and she strolls in around 0630 usually, she's not shown up on time even once. The other day, she worked the night before, came down at 0630 to tell us she had to give report and would be back down in 30 minutes. 2 hours went by before she came down. But that's besides the point, when we're on the unit she is usually difficult to find or off the unit doing whatever it is she does. I'm not new to Healthcare, as I've worked as a tech in the ICU for the past 4 years at the largest teaching hospital in my city. I guess I'm so used to being able to ask a simple question to my nurses at work without an issue or without rude remarks. I don't expect a nurse to explain everything to me, or anything for that matter, and I usually keep my questions to a minimum because I like to research it myself. But when I ask the nurse a question that has something to do with the patient's health that I find concerning, I'd like just a little reassurance or something to ease my misunderstanding of the situation. I'm not one who hounds the nurse about every little thing, because I feel that I am pretty knowledgeable in regards to patient care and disease processes. I don't understand some of the rude comments here, I didn't say anything out of line or not true for what I have encountered. I go to clinical, do my assessment, analyze my findings, come up with a few goals for my patient and mostly stick to myself, unless I find stuff that is abnormal or concerns me or the patient. I look into the patient's history and diagnosis before I start assuming things that will make me look silly. It's not necessarily fair to the patient to get the short end of the stick when I tell a nurse something I've found and they're too busy or whatever the case may be to go follow up. I understand most of the reasons why you all don't necessarily like to have a student, but when the student really isn't bad and is just there to learn and care for the patient, why blow them off? I don't mind being told "wait a few minutes and I'll explain" or "could you ask your instructor, I'm busy right now" but if I just come to you with something that I and myinstructor agree is important and you say to me "well that stinks" or "I don't remember what the normal is" that is crazy. Thank you all for your responses, I will try not to be in the way so much and will keep what you all have said in mind.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

I don't mind students most of the time. In our unit they can only observe but it still throws me behind. And I may not talk too much during that first go round as I am trying to set my days plan, make sure things are done and get ready for rounds.

But dont be that student that is under my feet either. I don't get why they feel they have to stick

like a burr to my side. I feel like I have a 2 year old again. And I know NICU is a whole new world, but when I look busy, please hang on to your questions and don't talk to me with stethescope in my ears. And if I put you in a room with a sterile OR or procedure going on you better sit your butt in there and observe and not come out (1st no non) and tell me it was boring! (2nd no no). So now I am going to sit your behind in a chair in the room I am in and you will hang out until your time is done. Yes, this has happened a few times. Ugh. Don't be that student!

And I really feel, if you find some abnormal findings, run it past your instructor! That is their job to check it out with you and tell you if it is reportable. The example of low K or murmurs, they may already be some where in the chart and we are waiting for rounds to find out what the doc wants. Make sure you know that chart well before you say something. I don't mind explaining or listening but it better be valid.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Sorry, it's difficult to respond to each comment. But my instructor, well she's not very reliable. She tells us to be at clinical at 0600 and we get there at that time, and she strolls in around 0630 usually, she's not shown up on time even once. The other day, she worked the night before, came down at 0630 to tell us she had to give report and would be back down in 30 minutes. 2 hours went by before she came down. But that's besides the point, when we're on the unit she is usually difficult to find or off the unit doing whatever it is she does.

No, that IS the point. She is responsible for overseeing your learning in the clinical environment. It sounds like she is not doing what she is supposed to be doing and is leaving everything to the staff nurses, when it is not their responsibility. I wouldn't be happy if I were you, or if I were staff. I hope you provide appropriate and constructive feedback to your school.

I like having students in the ED, most of the time. I had a recent student who was a senior in an RN program and had spent time in the military in a medical occupation, so he was definitely a standout as students go. But I was *asked* if I wanted to have a student. Not everyone does. Not everyone should!

Good luck in the rest of your program!

[Ackeem, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN]

I learnt very quickly on my first day of clinicals that LPNs and aids were going to be my best friends and indeed they were through out my 4 years. Also charge nurses were very receptive loved all of them.