Nursing Student Issues

cardiacfreak, ADN · Apr 28, 2014

SoldierNurse is absolutely correct. Your student will not change her behavior until you let her know the expectations.

adpiRN · Apr 28, 2014

Napping was common at my old job (L&D) especially night shift. If the night was slow, charge nurse would try and assign 2-3 hour breaks and people would nap in triage or recovery room. But there were plenty of insanely busy no break nights to balance it out!

I agree you should gently say something to her.

Night shift is rough. Not everyone can do it. But her first nursing job will likely be nights and possibly a no napping environment so she has to get used to it!

NOADLS · Apr 28, 2014

Some schools have expectations much stricter than the majority of the actual places you could end up working. I would turn a blind eye to anything that wouldn't be expected of someone on staff even if it would against the school's policy. Excessively sleeping is a no-no.. even I don't sleep and that is saying something. If someone needs to radio me, even if I am playing candycrush, I can still hear them and attend to an emergent situation. Just explain to your student that she can only sleep as long as the designated break is. I've had to orient new staff to nights and I explain to them that at the end of their break, they are expected to be alert and ready to carry out their duties. If that means that they sleep for 80% of their break and need 20% of the break to "get ready," then so be it. If someone chooses to sleep for 100% of their break and isn't capable of snapping right into things, that is also unacceptable.

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2014

I'm upset about her lack of accountability for taking this seriously. And she probably expects me to still sign her complete hours (which I plan on not doing) please help!! What should I do?? How should I approach her about these issues?

How can she be accountable if you haven't even approached her yet? Even though it's clearly outlined in the syllabus, since nurses on the unit are allowed to nap and you've allowed her to do so, it's not fair for you to expect her to read your mind and know there is a problem.

When you take on the responsibility of precepting a student nurse, one of your most important duties to the student is that of giving feedback. You need to give her feedback on how things are going so far.

One way to do that is to start out with what she's doing right, then bring up the parts of her performance she needs to improve on, then follow up with something else that's positive. It's called "sandwiching". You can google that for more info. Make sure that when you give her feedback, it is done privately and not publicly. Public humiliation is never a good approach.

RunBabyRN · Apr 28, 2014

I agree that you need to approach her and give her the opportunity to correct her behavior before reporting her. As a student, she has different rules than the staff nurses, and that's just the way it goes. She needs to be held to to guidelines set by her syllabus, and her instructors are expecting as much. It is your role as her preceptor to uphold this standard and to approach her if she falls below it. In a leadership role, you need to learn to give constructive criticism. I am grateful for the constructive criticism I received from my preceptor.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Apr 28, 2014

I would say nothing to her and tell her instructor about it. What ever happened to self motivation? "OH you didn't tell me that I couldn't nap instead of learning."

I start my Capstone placement next month and I can not imagine ever thinking that taking a nap or being late would be acceptable even if it is allowed by the facility. You are there to learn, not nap regardless of whether she has been told or not. I can see her applying for a job and asking the preceptor about her work ethics.

Nursing Manager: "How was Sally as a student?"

Preceptor: "She came in late a few time and slept through most of the shifts she was here."

Nursing Manager: "Great. One less resume cluttering up my desk. In the trash you go."

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Apr 28, 2014

OK - I'll admit it... this whole thread has me gobsmacked. Granted, I am ancient but I believe that the whole purpose of a clinical practicum is to provide students with the opportunity to experience an actual practice setting. They are expected to follow all the same rules as the paid staff with whom they are working.

Napping & night shifts??? In every organization that I have worked (there are a lot, because I am old) - sleeping on the job was cause for immediate termination. It's interesting to see in the PPs that this is not the case in all settings. Do staff clock out when they are on a permissible nap session?? Are they on the clock while sleeping? Inquiring minds want to know. Anyway, I digress.

In the OP's case, the student should have been provided with 'corrective feedback' after the first incident - certainly after each and every subsequent occurrence. Seems to me that if the instructor clearly stated that there would be 'no napping'... she already had a hunch about this particular student's habitual behavior. I agree with Don1984 - I'd put that resume in the round file also.

WanderLust07 · Apr 28, 2014

I appreciate all your responses, I made it clear that I will be speaking with her when we return on Monday. She is a fabulous student when she's awake and working. I will take the week to think about what I will say and how I will say it. This is a learning experience for both of us and I intend to hold her to the guidelines outlined in the preceptor / student relationship. I know I need to speak up because I am in a position of mentorship. Thanks again everyone!

allnurses Guide · Apr 28, 2014

Every single shift that I am precepting a student I spend a few minutes with them after the shift to talk about the day. I ask the student what he/she did that he/she felt good about and what they personally felt they could use more work on. Usually they name something that I too feel they need work on and that becomes a platform to talk about it.

I wrap it up by praising something specific they did right and stating goals for the next shift. That could be anything from using their brain sheet more effectively to taking on more patients to communicating with the patients and their families better, etc.

Such a practice benefits the student and the preceptor both because it creates the expectation of progress and that of open, frank communication and facilitates the mutual setting of goals. It also gives the student opportunity to talk to me about what they feel they need from me. It is in just such a scenario that I would address the concerns you outlined. You should be in the habit of giving your student regular, frank, constructive feedback, both positive and negative. That you don't already do this is concerning to me. If you shy away from something as blatant as "no sleeping while on shift and no being late", how do you do with all the other constructive feedback that comes with having a student? Something that big should be a no-brainer and not even remotely personal. It is based on factual expectations that have been laid out in writing. If you don't hold her to the standard you should not be precepting. It isn't personal or confrontational to discuss your student's progress with her. It is part of your job as a preceptor.

rnkaytee · Apr 28, 2014

Wait - did you nap as well or am I reading this wrong? THEN, I had a nap for 1.5 hours and got up, she then went to sleep from 4-currently sleeping (it's 6) and we finish at 7.

WanderLust07 · Apr 28, 2014

Yes I napped as well

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2014

I appreciate all your responses, I made it clear that I will be speaking with her when we return on Monday. She is a fabulous student when she's awake and working. I will take the week to think about what I will say and how I will say it. This is a learning experience for both of us and I intend to hold her to the guidelines outlined in the preceptor / student relationship. I know I need to speak up because I am in a position of mentorship. Thanks again everyone!

You need to understand in asking this question...sleeping at any time in the US is grounds for dismissal from your job.