I am currently participating in an evening clinical, on a med/surg floor. This is my second quarter; my previous clinical was in a LTC. I am really excited (and nervous) to be in school, as this is a career change for me. I always have made sure to thank all of the nurses and/or techs that I work with, and understand how important it is to maintain a good relationship with the facility the students are assigned to. Anyway......the other night I was standing next to the nurse I was assigned to, listening as she received report from the day nurse. When they got to my patient, there was a comment made about a procedure. Our instructor has encouraged us to ask questions about things we aren't familiar with, so I asked "what is a ...". (I had already introduced myself to the nurse, identified which patient I had been assigned to, and she seemed open to sharing information). There was another nurse, with her back to us that turned quickly towards the group, and said "don't answer that, make her look it up". I chuckled, and said "of course I have to look it up". That was the entire exchange, but it turns out that nurse was the charge nurse, and she complained to my instructor about my response. So, even though I meant NO disrespect what so ever, she was certainly ticked off. I couldn't have been more shocked when my instructor held me over after class, and told me this. At this point I explained the situation to the instructor, and guaranteed that I would apologize to the charge nurse. My intention was to simply ask to speak to her in private, and offer a sincere apology. Not because I am trying to get out of trouble with my CI, but a real apology, as I never meant any disrespect, and appreciate the opportunity that working on her floor presents to me. My question is......would it be better to do this one on one, or would it be better to have a witness? If I ticked her off enough to have her report me to my CI, do you think it wise for me to talk to her alone? Odds are that I will be back at that hospital in the future, and I want to offer the apology, and lay low for the rest of the quarter. What do you suggest?
I had a charge nurse tell my instructor - this was 14 yrs ago - that I should be dropped from the program for not documenting accurately -- because I missed one of three places to chart blood sugars.
My instructor said not to worry about it; it was obvious the CN had a problem with me.
But no, I couldn't let that go. I went to the CN and asked her what her problem was. (I think I asked nicely - don't remember now).
Her problem: "Us women paved this profession and as soon as there's decent money in it, you men NOW want to horn in?! I don't think so. You need to find something else to do for a living, little boy." Point being, you never know people's motivations.
In truth, it was a faux pax to interrupt report - the off going nurses should be allowed to clear out without delay - but you didn't know that. And the CN was annoyed with you for what she interpreted as rude behavior. She shouldn't have taken it to you CI - that was a big mountain that wasn't there before.
Don't add to this mountain. Just drop it and be wary around her from now on. IF IT COMES UP, you might mention that you weren't trying to be rude; you were just learning the rules and made a mistake - but i wouldn't bring it up.
I see you have received many replies to your post but of course I want to get my 2 cents into it...lol. I hate that so curt reply that every student or new nurse will receive a thousand times, "look it up." If it's a drug by all means you should be looking it up, but you can still have questions about it afterwords. I mean come on, when did teaching leave nursing. I still learn something new almost everyday when I go to work and I sure as heck don't have the time to look it up when I'm there...lol. The only advise I would give you is next time refrain from asking questions during report, except in my opionion, maybe about things the off-going nurse left out or didn't cover enough (but as a student be very nice about it and tread lightly). Then after report ask all the questions you want of the nurse you are following for the day, that's why she's there. To teach you. I wouldn't apologize to the CN and I wouldn't bring it up to her again. Personally, I think she was unprofessional in reporting you to your instructor, I mean what is this grade school and she's the Tattle Tale of the group? lol Don't fixate on this you will have plenty more important things to fixate on, like passing NCLEX, deciding what area of nursing to go into, picking the best facility....ect. LOL Good luck!!!!
I was thinking the same thing. Of course I have to say though that I would not want this nurse to be my preceptor if I was a new nurse. Slam the OP a little harder next time, I think you might have left a few things out.
I've been in clinical in several hospitals now and there's always somebody....I have to say, if it's only one person, that's better. My last assignment was a preceptorship in which my preceptor was absent almost 50% of the time. So, I had rotate-a-preceptor with no instructions given to the folks I was working with and that was hard. Each of them reported something petty to my Clinical Instructor during the day. One told her I wasn't checking labs (not true) One told her I didn't communicate well (couldn't ever find the RN) one told her I was disorganized (won't deny it, I do my best :chuckle ) but one told the nursing manager who then reported to my CI that I was "unmotivated". That one hurt. But, I'm a big girl and now I laugh about it. What I learned most, is that I don't want to work at that particular hospital because they are so gossipy and petty and patient care seems to come second to them. It's okay, as an RN, I can work wherever I want to drive to.
Personally, I don't see where you did anything wrong.
I would have to agree with you because she was only trying to understand the treament. the charge nurse should of told her nicely when i am not so busy or if one of the nurses are free then ask questions.
I think it is up to you to decide what is best. What is your conscious saying? It appears that she didn't understand the vein in which you responded and that certainly needs to be cleared up in a judicious way so as not to offend her further. But some nurses you will work with will be hard on you and some will be genuinly be intersted in your growth as a student nurse. She may have thought you were not sincere and was flippant. Most nurses particularly in the ICU arena have strong personalities and have to work at controlling the way in which they say things because it can come across wrong very easily. I've been one of those. I have had to learn some very hard lessons on controlling what I say and how I say it and pay attention to my voice and tone when I am speaking. Wisdom and care is the key. :innerconf
Then after report ask all the questions you want of the nurse you are following for the day, that's why she's there. To teach you.
Without taking this thread down a whole different road, this above statement isn't true.
The nurse is there to take care of her pts. She doesn't get paid any extra to teach you and point of fact, that is your CI's job.
There are many threads here on this subject but it comes down to this: some nurses are good teachers and some aren't. Some are patient, and some aren't. But none of them were asked if it was OK for you to follow them.
So, learn from the good ones, and actually, also learn from the bad ones (how NOT to do things). But don't hold the expectation that your nurses owe you something. Because teaching you is actually NOT why they are there; it is, in fact, an added responsibility. And that is why some resent it.
My question is......would it be better to do this one on one, or would it be better to have a witness? If I ticked her off enough to have her report me to my CI, do you think it wise for me to talk to her alone? Odds are that I will be back at that hospital in the future, and I want to offer the apology, and lay low for the rest of the quarter. What do you suggest?
Personally, I don't think you did anything wrong but the charge nurse did, your CI wants you to apologize so keep everyone happy, take your CI with you and offer the CN an apology. Chances are he/she was having a bad day and you being the student, get blamed or picked-on.
Good luck with your studies, get through school, pass your boards and come work with me. My co-workers and I have more important issues than your situation. We have ill people to care for. =o)
I am a nursing student to about to graduate- Some nurses think they are God standing next to a student. I believe the Chrage nurse in your situation shold have minded her own business. She shold have been buy enough with her work to not eavesdrop. Secondly, you are assigned a nurse to work under for a reason. Your nurse hould have given you an answer after the breifing was over or if there was time told you a bit and then you should have went and looked it up. you do learn a lot more from being told than looking like an idiot when you get to your patients room and don't know protocol because a B**** like the charge nurse had to butt in. However, the charge nurse needs to remember her days in nursing school. As for your instructor, some of them can be so stupid- those who can't do , teach- this sometimes can be sooo true in nursing school, because why else would she want you to kiss the charge nurse's behind, I'll tell you why, she has to wok with her longer than you do and she will need help long before a determined nursing student will!
Go ahead nurses who are mean to students, try to eat me alive, but think about how vulnerable you felt as a nursing student before you open you mouths- I know you can recall some kind of situation!
when you're a student, every nurse on the floor is an "expert". A student came to me and asked, if 1500cc fluid restrictions are ordered, is that just fluids the patient drinks? I said, no, that is IV and PO fluids. Another nurse piped in and said, "NO, it isn't! Don't worry about it!" The student went to her instructor and the doctor was contacted because one doctor had ordered the IV fluids and another had ordered the fluid restrictions. The patient was receiving 1750 ml per day via IV and was supposedly on 1500 ml fluid restrictions. I was right and the student was right but if you just let everybody bully you around and butt in because they have experience, you might get 10 different answers.
ZASHAGALKA, RN
3,322 Posts
I had a charge nurse tell my instructor - this was 14 yrs ago - that I should be dropped from the program for not documenting accurately -- because I missed one of three places to chart blood sugars.
My instructor said not to worry about it; it was obvious the CN had a problem with me.
But no, I couldn't let that go. I went to the CN and asked her what her problem was. (I think I asked nicely - don't remember now).
Her problem: "Us women paved this profession and as soon as there's decent money in it, you men NOW want to horn in?! I don't think so. You need to find something else to do for a living, little boy." Point being, you never know people's motivations.
In truth, it was a faux pax to interrupt report - the off going nurses should be allowed to clear out without delay - but you didn't know that. And the CN was annoyed with you for what she interpreted as rude behavior. She shouldn't have taken it to you CI - that was a big mountain that wasn't there before.
Don't add to this mountain. Just drop it and be wary around her from now on. IF IT COMES UP, you might mention that you weren't trying to be rude; you were just learning the rules and made a mistake - but i wouldn't bring it up.
Good luck.
~faith,
Timothy.