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?
No, the nurse is there to take care of pts. first.
Honestly, it's people like you that make me not want to post to boards. I'm pretty sure everyone knows the first and most important job of a nurse is to take care of pt's but thank you for pointing that out. Now I know what I haven't been doing all day at work. Wonder why they keep paying me to show up there.
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.
~faith,
Timothy.
I won't repeat myself as you can read my post on pg 8 that I directed to another friendly nurse such as yourself. By the way at my facility we do get paid more to preceptor students. We also go to an all day class to learn how to be good preceptors. We even take refresher courses. We are also always asked if and who we want to follow us. Maybe you two should work on this in your facility, so that you are better able to handle your pt's and your students who follow you. Not only do nurses 'eat their young' but each other as well. Thank you for being so kind and by all means next time finish taking it down the road you might as well have.
Honestly, it's people like you that make me not want to post to boards. I'm pretty sure everyone knows the first and most important job of a nurse is to take care of pt's but thank you for pointing that out. Now I know what I haven't been doing all day at work. Wonder why they keep paying me to show up there.
Personal slams aside, report should have been allowed to be finished before asking questions. My job's first to the pt. (which includes a report). Then i can answer questions.
If i had been that charge nurse, i would have simply said "can i answer that after i'm finished with report?" No where have i condoned the CN's "look it up" response.
I won't repeat myself as you can read my post on pg 8 that I directed to another friendly nurse such as yourself. By the way at my facility we do get paid more to preceptor students. We also go to an all day class to learn how to be good preceptors. We even take refresher courses. We are also always asked if and who we want to follow us. Maybe you two should work on this in your facility, so that you are better able to handle your pt's and your students who follow you. Not only do nurses 'eat their young' but each other as well. Thank you for being so kind and by all means next time finish taking it down the road you might as well have.
It is a valid point to clarify. I'm glad you get paid extra and have the right to CHOOSE to precept nursing students. That is a rare thing. I can imagine what you describe for orienting new employees, but I just can't see hospitals routinely shelling out that kind of money for students that are not even in their employ.
Nobody ate anybody here. Your post was to an OP that is new in clinicals and already made one unintentional mistake by interrupting report. You gave the clear impression that he could correct this by asking the nurse assigned to his pts endless questions AFTER report because 'THAT IS WHY SHE IS THERE.' That would be yet another unfortunate faux pax.
In reality, those nurses are EXTREMELY busy. My instructors made it clear to me in school that I could ask a stray question here and there if I was sure the nurses taking care of my patients had the time to answer, but that I was to bring most of my questions to the CI because that is what THEY are there for, not the nurse.
There is a relationship here. Students can learn tons of things from the nurses taking care of their patients. But in return, you have to respect that that nurse has other duties as well. It's a delicate balance, but that balance errs on the side of not being a burden.
Personal slams aside, report should have been allowed to be finished before asking questions. My job's first to the pt. (which includes a report). Then i can answer questions.
If i had been that charge nurse, i would have simply said "can i answer that after i'm finished with report?" No where have i condoned the CN's "look it up" response.
I hope your not suggesting that I slammed you at any point? I think I refrained from that even though it took much willpower; but I'm also not going to sit back and let you twist my words to suite you. I know my first goal is to take care of the pt's, then to teach. All I'm saying is a good nurse should be able to do both. I mean how long would it have taken to answer this girl's question in the first place? I have personally never sat through a report and not asked questions ever. Now I can understand why you would tell a student not to. I also made this suggestion in my original post if you really took the time to read it. I did tell her to question if she did not get enough information in report; don't be a blind follower as this will lead to trouble. I also never said at any point that you condoned the 'look it up' response either. Also, the CN was never giving the report; she was standing in the background and should have been minding her own business as it pertained to this since there was no question of pt safety involved. Just a power trip problem IMO. Re-read the original post and mine for that matter or let it go.
It is a valid point to clarify. I'm glad you get paid extra and have the right to CHOOSE to precept nursing students. That is a rare thing. I can imagine what you describe for orienting new employees, but I just can't see hospitals routinely shelling out that kind of money for students that are not even in their employ.
Nobody ate anybody here. Your post was to an OP that is new in clinicals and already made one unintentional mistake by interrupting report. You gave the clear impression that he could correct this by asking the nurse assigned to his pts endless questions AFTER report because 'THAT IS WHY SHE IS THERE.' That would be yet another unfortunate faux pax.
In reality, those nurses are EXTREMELY busy. My instructors made it clear to me in school that I could ask a stray question here and there if I was sure the nurses taking care of my patients had the time to answer, but that I was to bring most of my questions to the CI because that is what THEY are there for, not the nurse.
There is a relationship here. Students can learn tons of things from the nurses taking care of their patients. But in return, you have to respect that that nurse has other duties as well. It's a delicate balance, but that balance errs on the side of not being a burden.
~faith,
Timothy.
See that's where differing opinions make the world go around. More hospitals should shell out the money to help nurses and students enjoy the mentor/mentored relationship better if need be. That way those same SN whom had good experiences will remember which facility to go to for a job after graduating. I would just about bet the OP won't want to work on this floor, with this CN now. Also I'm assuming if the OP is in nursing school she has enough intelligence not to bombard the nurse she's following with question after question. Everybody takes everything so literal and personal; it drives me crazy. In addition I do not feel ( see this >>>IMO) that she made such a mistake as to ask a question during report to begin with.
PS: Our program is not used to orient new employees, we actually get to choose to take the class and then were allowed to precept. There are several of us nurses out there that can do and teach at the same time.
Have you ever heard "nurses eat there young" I have and they do. This is a lesson for you in the future - be patient with new nurses. A quick verbal explination would have been appropriate, you were preparing to care for this patient and you need solid information to give solid care. Then you could have looked it later, when you were off of the floor and had the time to look it up and do what ever research you needed to do to have a good understanding of the proceedure. I dont feel yopu "owe" her an appology, that would just reinforce a negative behavior and justify her actions. Good luck, I know what its like to enter the world of nursing as an older person embarking on a new career.
Have you ever heard "nurses eat there young" I have and they do. This is a lesson for you in the future - be patient with new nurses. A quick verbal explination would have been appropriate, you were preparing to care for this patient and nurses need a complete report to provide complete care. Then you could have looked it later, when you were off of the floor, and had time to look it up, including what ever research needed to have a good understanding of the proceedure. I dont feel you "owe" her an appology, that would just reinforce a negative behavior and justify her actions. Good luck, I know what its like to enter the world of nursing as an older person embarking on a new career.
Some have mentioned their priority being the patient and yes this is obviously true, however don't you think that arming a student with all the facts before she goes to care for the patient is the right way to do things!! Also I'd like to point out that when report is being given on a whole load of pts, isn't easier to ask a quick question while on one pt rather than waiting til the end when that pt is no longer fresh in the report nurses mind!! When I am giving report I would never discourage anyone from asking questions, I prefer to answer them while I am thinking about it.
Attitude problems are a big issue among certain nurses, thats a simple fact of life, In my experience it's usually the ones who aren't happy in their job or with their own level of qualification or who have forgotten what its like to be just starting out with a fresh open mind!!
Also I'd like to point out that when report is being given on a whole load of pts, isn't easier to ask a quick question while on one pt rather than waiting til the end when that pt is no longer fresh in the report nurses mind!!
depends on what type of question it is.
if the question(s) are relevant to pt. condition, new/dc'd orders, and it wasn't mentioned in report, then yes, you ask.
but if it's a question re: ' what is a so and so?', then it should wait.
furthermore, nurses give reports differently.
some nurses are leisurely, sip on their coffee and aren't in any hurry. i've seen nurses still present 2 hrs after their shift ended.
then there are the nurses who report in a steady flow, barely stopping to catch their breath.
but if i didn't know about a procedure, med or tx, i would look it up.
in this particular case, the sn (any sn) should have waited til report was over.
Not only do nurses 'eat their young' but each other as well. Thank you for being so kind and by all means next time finish taking it down the road you might as well have. 
April1rn
12 Posts
Honestly, it's people like you that make me not want to post to boards. I'm pretty sure everyone knows the first and most important job of a nurse is to take care of pt's but thank you for pointing that out. Now I know what I haven't been doing all day at work. Wonder why they keep paying me to show up there.