Nursing Student Issues

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Hello to all you wonderful nurses! I'm seeking some advice on how to deal with my nursing student. She is in a pre-grad placement with me for 12 weeks before she graduates. In the instructions from her school instructor, it states that there is to be absolutely no napping on breaks and to arrive on time every shift. My issue is...she's great with patient care and the patients like her, she does meds competently and assessments...BUT...we are working 3 - 12 hour shifts this weekend and Friday night was ok. On Saturday night, she slept in our lunch room for 2 hours, got up so a nurse could go in and nap and then slept at the nursing station for 1.5 hours. Tonight (Sunday night) she came in late, which I didn't know of until 6:15 pm (start at 7) because she went to a wedding at 1pm and was late from being there. 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. What should I do! We as nurses at my hospital are allowed to take nap breaks as long as there is enough registered staff coverage. However, clearly outlined from her professor is no naps! 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? I'm a very nice person and I hate confrontation... Thanks in advance xo

Specializes in Med-Surg.

I'm not in the US. I've got all the information I need from the previous posters.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I know you did I answered in the beginning.

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

Well, lets all go North!

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Damn, 1 and half hours isn't a nap, that is a sleep.

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The OP would have been better off posting to the Canadian forum where she would have got the help she wanted.

Our working environment is very different up here. Nearly every health authority is unionized. We are expected to take our breaks or be paid for those that are missed due to workload.

Napping on nights is possible because staff combine their mealbreaks and coffee breaks to get a stretch. I work an 8 hour night, I'm entitled to 30 paid minutes and 30 unpaid minutes rest. Most night staff combine their breaks to get a long stretch. What you do on your break is your business. Some sleep, some don't. Some abuse it the time frame, others are punctual to the minute. If units are slow, the Charge will tell you to take an extra 15 minutes or whatever. We have sent out search parties for those who abuse the sleep break.

Personally, I can't sleep on nights. The one time I did fall asleep (I was coming down with the flu), I was awoken by a very nice member of hospital security who offered to walk me up to my unit. It's not unusual to be in the areas with couches in my hospital to see staff under blankets on their breaks.

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Holy monkeys this is the most amazing thing I've ever heard...

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Specializes in Acute Care - Adult, Med Surg, Neuro.

How can you nap?! I can't sit for five minutes without my phone ringing, the nursing assistant telling me room X wants a pain pill, call lights going off everywhere, my charge nurse hanging me my next admission........

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You just go straight to your co-worker. Don't worry about the what you will say, it will just come out. Stop worrying.

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Please contact her instructor. He or she needs to know about this ASAP!

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I think the student's lack of initiative is troubling. Whether naps are allowed or not, being late for a preceptorship shift without a good reason just shows a disregard to you and the whole process. I was always at least 30 min early everyday just so I could get as much background info on my patients as possible. Ironically, my preceptor was 15 min late everyday. I know a couple of preceptors just sent students home if they showed up late, those students were never late again. The school has to be notified when you reschedule, so they will have to explain it to their precepting instructor.

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Talk to her.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
You need to understand in asking this question...sleeping at any time in the US is grounds for dismissal from your job.

Not necessarily. Totally depends on the culture of the workplace.

As a preceptor, I would really have a hard time saying to a student, "you're not allowed to nap, but I'm gonna go take a nap now." What the heck is she doing while you're napping?? How are you facilitating her education while you're sleeping? Part of agreeing to precept is taking responsibility for a student's education. You seem to be dropping the ball on that one, if you're using your downtime to catch some Z's instead of working with your student.

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