So I need help. I've been a nurse for 6 years now. I have a BSN & an MSN and am also a CNM. I've worked 4 years in critical care and the past two years in labor and deliver at a large suburban hospital. I've precepted several students and have always had positive experiences with them. I was not planning on taking another student this semester as I finally am transitioning into full scope midwifery practice but the local nursing school was desperate so they talked me into taking one last student. So in January, this student, let's call her Alice, started with me. When Alice first started she seemed very unsure of herself. She's a student though so not unexpected, even though this is her last rotation before graduation. But I got my teach on. We discussed anatomy and physiology of pregnancy and labor, walked through procedures at least 10 times, I stayed after every single shift to work with her, and she always went home with printed out policies and articles to read up on so we could discuss on our next shift. I felt like I was seeing improvement but I was always right there with her helping with her during the first 6 weeks of her rotation. When we had her midterm evaluation with her faculty member, Alice was told she was to take the primary role and I was to back off. So that's what I've been doing. Unless safety is in jeopardy, I've kept my hands off. And Alice is crashing and burning. To the point where I'm not sure how she's made it this far in her program. She is lazy, refuses to do basic nursing tasks such as starting IVs, and will just go hide to get out of things. We admit a patient. I go in to the room with Alice, she just stands there. I say "Ok, go ahead and get started." She says (in front of the patient mind you) "well, I haven't done many IVs so why don't I watch you one more time?" I say " you only have 2 weeks left, you only have so many chances left ... " Patient chimes in "I want you to start my IV please DWelly14!" .... opportunity lost. Fast forward to when the patient is complete. Alice is nowhere to be found. I'm in pushing with her and the charge nurse has to find her. Several of my coworkers have commented on her behavior to me, I've confronted her on it and she always makes excuses, and I've now emailed her faculty.
My question to all of you is do you have any tips for what to do? I feel bad just recommending that she not pass but at this point she only has 3-4 shifts left with me and I'm getting really frustrated with her. I'm really not willing to take her for any longer than the originally assigned amount of time because of the behavior I've observed. I feel like she's skated by through her whole program somehow and now she's finally having to actually do it and she can't. Help!
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
Dwelly, no need to defend yourself.
That is correct. It was apparent to most of us, from your first post, that you had put all you had into Alice and she was not up to it. I can't believe all the people who have come on here to make excuses for Alice ("...maybe she didn't feel comfortable..." ?!) or to flat out try to pick a fight with you, like Alice's poor attitude is your fault.
What more does Alice have to do to prove herself unfit for nursing? Put a pillow over someone's head? I'm blown away by the ones who've swooped in on Alice's behalf. Do they tolerate coworkers like Alice? Or maybe they are coworkers like Alice.
She needs to be failed. I am a recent graduate and if I ever acted this way and avoided doing things like this with my instructor or other nurses I was paired with, I would not have passed the clinical. When I was acquiring new nursing skills in school (still am too) I was a little unsure at times but I always took the opportunity to do so when it was offered. The fact that she is not doing that should turn on bells and whistles in your mind that something is not right with this student.
No comment on the OP, but how is it that nursing students(who I assume do not have a license) are able to start IV's?
When I did clinicals in NYC a student actually got kicked out of the program for placing a urinary catheter in a patient without the instructor giving her permission.
I remember a nurse I was paired with getting angry because I told her I cannot start an IV without the instructor being there.
We were given strict rules to observe only.
We could do basic tasks like bed baths and giving oral meds but nothing else.
TriciaJ, RN
4,328 Posts
That is correct. It was apparent to most of us, from your first post, that you had put all you had into Alice and she was not up to it. I can't believe all the people who have come on here to make excuses for Alice ("...maybe she didn't feel comfortable..." ?!) or to flat out try to pick a fight with you, like Alice's poor attitude is your fault.
What more does Alice have to do to prove herself unfit for nursing? Put a pillow over someone's head? I'm blown away by the ones who've swooped in on Alice's behalf. Do they tolerate coworkers like Alice? Or maybe they are coworkers like Alice.