Other Side of Coin---Less than Humble New Grads

SpongeGirl · Jun 6, 2005

i never had any of that "eat your new" crap where i work, i worked there as a CNA so they took me in when i graduated and were all very helpfull. the best thing i done for myself in nursing school was work as a CNA. thats the most important advice i could give someone. i just makes you more confident on how to interact with patients and how to deal with somethimes rude family members. i dont think i could have made it through with out that, just watching the RNs start ivs and how they would handle situations taught me alot.

My thoughts are similar...and it is why I decided to start as an aide. It is just encouraging to hear that i'm not alone in my thought process. It may take me longer to become an RN, but at least I will have experience from the front lines to management. I want to become a good nurse for patients and their families, doctors, and peers, by experiencing the different levels of nursing. Most of all, I want to end up in private practice as a long term goal and work with doctors that believe in quality....more so than quantity.

Sheri257 · Jun 6, 2005

As a student, I've really come to understand the stress that students put nurses under. Everybody always screams about nurses eating their young but, students can be even worse.

I've seen students ordering CNA's around and pushing a know-it-all attitude even in first semester. It's unbelieveable. And when an RN won't put up with it, they go beserk.

Quite frankly, if these students were my responsibility and on my license, I would be a nervous wreck. I don't blame the RN's one bit. These people have no concept about teamwork.

Now, to be fair, it's only a few of them, but them do seem to poison the well and spoil things for everybody.

:coollook:

Sheri257 · Jun 6, 2005

Oh yeah I've had a few of those. They know it all, tell you "I'm really just waiting to get into the ER or ICU". And are never around for cleaning up poop.

BTW, I've noticed that when you are willing to clean up the poop, it's amazing how much the RN's and CNA's help you after you demonstrate you're a team player.

:coollook:

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 6, 2005

That's nice.
ITA, "shut up" is something little kids say to each other. I used to get my mouth smacked when I said it as a kid.
I would love for Tweety or Deb or Marla or any number of the great nurses on this forum to precept me!! Yalls students and preceptees are very fortunate. I had a WONDERFUL preceptor during my preceptorship last semester, I hope I can get lucky enough to get another one when I start working.

awwww ty. :kiss

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 6, 2005

BTW, I've noticed that when you are willing to clean up the poop, it's amazing how much the RN's and CNA's help you after you demonstrate you're a team player.

this is so true.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jun 6, 2005

just a q. for you guys..if you were in the hospital would you let a student nurse in clinicals take you on as a pt or would you refuse?

Depending on what my situation is. If i'd just had a miscarriage, i would say no. Just because that would be a painful time for me, and i just don't do well with extra people around me when i'm depressed.

One of the BIGGEST tips anyone gave me as a student was to give constant "mini-reports" to the nurse. if a med was given, cup of water drank, etc. i told the nurse beforehand and afterwards. Things went a lot smoother when you inform the pt.'s nurse of anything you did when you did it, instead of 5 or 6 hours later.

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 6, 2005

I have and would continue to allow students to participate in my care. I know that is the only way they can learn. But I also echo Marie's feelings about miscarriage/pregnancy loss. It would be a tough one---and I have had numerous ones. I think the fewer people "handling" me at that time, the better it was. I would be very hesitant to allow students in my care at such a time.

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Jun 6, 2005

Oh, I just had someone like that...we put our "kids" on a two week on their own in the middle of orientation where they just have feeder kids and easy assignments...it helps with organization without someone hanging over them, anywho...she went out "on her own" and fell flat....she did horrible and I just said to her...well, you know, if you would have listened you wouldn't have done xyz and you would have known xyz. I would never let someone do anything to harm a patient, but I just kind of kept an eye on her and watched her flounder about for 3 days before I stepped in and told her that she was so not ready to even handle an assignment on her own. After that she was pretty humble.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2005

Point taken. NOt an excuse for my behavior. How hard it is though (for me) to be gracious to someone who comes across like that. Will have to work on that. Thanks for the reply

I'm not a nurse yet, but my husband has always told me something that I've found time and time again to be true, regardless of the situation: it pays to be nice to someone who's not being so nice to you. Generally either they look ridiculous as they try to argue with someone who refuses to do so, or you totally diffuse the situation and they end up apologizing or backing the tone down.

I personally love the technique.

lady_jezebel · Jun 6, 2005

We all have flaws - at least I know I do. Unfortunately, some of them flare up during the most stressful of situations. Beginning a new job in a new field is one of them. I do believe there are a few downright arrogant people in this world and when mixed with inexperience it does spell disaster, but I also believe some orientees pose as confident workers to overshadow their fears & anxiety and in a vain attempt gain their peers' acceptance.
We are not only co-workers but mentors to our new grads & employees. When this behavior crops up I believe we must take a step back & look and listen closely. We must ask ourselves, what's missing in this equation? It's a GIANT red flag waving before us - yes, if we ignore it, more than likely it will come back & slap the new grad in the face but is it worth it to the patient, those who assist in the aftermath or the unaware oncoming nurse ?? That rope is plenty long enough to hang us all.
Our new grads need orientation, education, observation & constructive criticism. We know this investment far outweighs the cost. It benefits everyone in the long run. On the other hand, if the new grad is a danger to their patients then this behavior definitely needs to be addressed & reported to the BON.

I completely agree with this post & find your insight to be very wise and compassionate.

erinmichelle · Jun 13, 2005

My thoughts are similar...and it is why I decided to start as an aide. It is just encouraging to hear that i'm not alone in my thought process. It may take me longer to become an RN, but at least I will have experience from the front lines to management. I want to become a good nurse for patients and their families, doctors, and peers, by experiencing the different levels of nursing. Most of all, I want to end up in private practice as a long term goal and work with doctors that believe in quality....more so than quantity.

also the cnas respect me because i help them out a lot because i remember what it was like. i cant stand nurses who think is it not there job the clean up a patient, things go smoother for me when we work as a team.

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Jun 13, 2005

Just my :twocents: .

Whenever I was a new graduate, I was underconfident in my actions. Lord knows I have an inferiority complex as it is!

There is always that fine line between overconfidence and underconfidence. But you also have to remember as a more experienced nurse that while your way is the way you like doing it, and that sometimes there are other acceptable techniques to achieve the same end result. Not everyone has to do things the exact same way... even if in your mind, your way is easier! I know a lot of nurses that if something isn't done how THEY would do it, they are very irritated.

For instance, I like to do my med calculations by cross multiplying stock values times desired dose. And I WRITE IT OUT. I was working at the med desk with one nurse one evening (not a preceptor.... I had been off orientation for MONTHS!) who saw the way I did my med calcualtions. She was insistant that I was going to calculate my meds like she did... and using calculator only. She chided me for writing out all my work on a scrap piece of paper and setting up my problems in the way I did.

Mind you, this way was the way I was taught in school, I always get the desired answer, and I don't get mixed up in the middle of the calculation like this! Finally, I said to this nurse... "I get the right answer, don't I?"

"Yes," she answered...

I then said "Because this is the way that is easiest for me, and I don't get mixed up doing it this way, I am going to keep doing my calculations like this. I am so used to it, it would take me MORE time to use your method than mine because your method confuses me. Thank you for trying to show me how you do it."

She then left me alone about it. But it was the attitude of "my way is better than your way" that was so prevelant and upsetting to me. I think she had good intentions, and she's a great nurse. I know that at that point, she was thinking "know it all new nurse." But that wasn't it. My way wasn't really any longer or worse than hers. It is just that my way was different, therefore it was "bad."

Now, of course this doesn't make sense when it addresses issues that revolve around patient safety or complete misunderstandings of basic nursing theory. Sometimes, if it is wrong, it is wrong. But there are always those other times where we can sometimes be a touch too insistant that our way is the best way. I personally had an excellent preceptor who went out of her way to try to build my confidence and only did the "I do it THIS way..." when she had something that was really very important to show me or when my way was much more complex and difficult... she then showed me the "easy" way to do it! And when she did it, she did it in a manner that was really nice and supportive where I didn't feel like a complete idiot. I guess I was lucky!