pet peeves when nursing students arrive

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I was reading the pet peeves thread and decided to start this one and see if I could get any advice for what TO DO and NOT TO DO in clinicals.

So...

What pet peeves do you have about nursing students?

What are things you wish ns would do?

sandan rnstudent

This applies to anyone new to the department: standing in the middle of a highly-trafficked path.

I had one newer resident yesterday who kept standing IN FRONT OF THE PYXIS. UM, I need to get meds out of there. Like, all the time. That's not your place to stand.

Then he'd move and stand between the computers at the nursing station where we do all our charting and the counter next to the pyxis where we draw up the meds we get out of the pyxis. DUDE, not an improvement!

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

i hear ya ruby. i had a student in his last semester - he thought it would be acceptable to give a bed bound, palliative pt a bed bath using paper towels!! lets just says i went up one side of him, down the other and he never pulled that crap again. it took me his whole rotation with me - 4 very long months, but i cured him of his "short cut" nursing!

in fact, at one point we had some 1st semester nursing students on the floor who saw me quizzing him, riding him, etc . they said to him "your preceptor is mean". he replied "no, she just wants me to learn".

so all you nsg students out there - we seasoned, old nurses may appear to be "mean" at times, but really, we are just trying to teach you - and sometimes that only way to reach you is to be "mean".

bath with paper towels is a new one. i had a couple of students get a patient stuck in a bathtub one time . . .

and you're absolutely right about the meanness!

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
this applies to anyone new to the department: standing in the middle of a highly-trafficked path.

i had one newer resident yesterday who kept standing in front of the pyxis. um, i need to get meds out of there. like, all the time. that's not your place to stand.

then he'd move and stand between the computers at the nursing station where we do all our charting and the counter next to the pyxis where we draw up the meds we get out of the pyxis. dude, not an improvement!

i've always wondered why, when anesthesia (usually three or more of them) and the surgeons (at least two) bring a patient to the icu, do they all have to cluster around the bed with their bellies pressed up against the siderails. they can't leave until we get the patient hooked up to our monitors, etc. so why do we have to step around them (if they leave us enough room) to get to the patient?

Oh enough with all these long-suffering crap. Contrary to public opinion, it is possible to be a darn good preceptor without driving your preceptee to tears everytime.

A good preceptor understands to be flexible and tailor the teaching to the student's strengths. One size does not fit all. No Sir!

Specializes in LTC.
again, you may think you're being a help, but you're not. my patient is my responsibility for my shift. if you and your instructor are there to handle certain tasks, that may be a great learning experience for you. i still have to follow up and make sure everything was done, done correctly and at the correct time. it's usually easier just to do it and chart it myself than to track you and your instructor down to make sure you've given mrs. keto's insulin and to remind you to record her calorie count, to find out if mr. colon actually pooped after his enema because the doctor is on the phone wanting to know right now or to remind you about mrs. pee's i & o.

i enjoy teaching and like having students around. but i don't ever fool myself that they're there to make my day easier or even that making my day easier will be an unintended consequence of their presence.

can't you just look in the emr instead of tracking down students. at clinicals my instructor and i document meds and completed tasks in the emr, we also give report to the nurse in charge every so often. once again, some nurses have stated to me that students have been a help, not true for you but for some nurses.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
can't you just look in the emr instead of tracking down students. at clinicals my instructor and i document meds and completed tasks in the emr, we also give report to the nurse in charge every so often. once again, some nurses have stated to me that students have been a help, not true for you but for some nurses.

i guess i wasn't clear -- i have to track the students down to ask because they haven't gotten around to putting it in the emr yet.

Specializes in NICU.
again, you may think you're being a help, but you're not. my patient is my responsibility for my shift. if you and your instructor are there to handle certain tasks, that may be a great learning experience for you. i still have to follow up and make sure everything was done, done correctly and at the correct time. it's usually easier just to do it and chart it myself than to track you and your instructor down to make sure you've given mrs. keto's insulin and to remind you to record her calorie count, to find out if mr. colon actually pooped after his enema because the doctor is on the phone wanting to know right now or to remind you about mrs. pee's i & o.

i enjoy teaching and like having students around. but i don't ever fool myself that they're there to make my day easier or even that making my day easier will be an unintended consequence of their presence.

wouldn't it be nice if report could be given and care transferred to the instructor/student pairing!

i think what some of the students are not quite understanding is that it is not the actual tasks that take so much of nursing time, it is the critical thinking that goes along with them. students are not expected to be at the point where they are able to critically think through a patient's overall situation--that comes with time and competency skill learning.

i really don't think most nurses mind having students and some genuinely like having them (as i do), but it would be nice if students were not of the mindset that this actually makes our day easier. legally, if something happened, a nurse would be hard pressed to defend herself with, "oh, i had a student that day. i'm not responsible." and boy, once you're earned that license, you want to keep it!! :nurse:

also, nurses are more familiar with the type of patient they typically care for on their floor. they have an overall view that is not attainable with a few days of clinicals. even a nurse transferred from another floor (one with proven skills and critical thinking) requires orientation.

i guess my point is, this is not an anti-student discussion, only that there is a view that can only be seen when you cross over to the other side. honestly, most nurses would say that they knew very little useful information upon graduation--or was it just me??? :rolleyes:. most learning is done after nursing school is over and you hit that floor...

Wouldn't it be nice if report could be given and care transferred to the instructor/student pairing!

I think what some of the students are not quite understanding is that it is not the actual tasks that take so much of nursing time, it is the critical thinking that goes along with them. Students are not expected to be at the point where they are able to critically think through a patient's overall situation--that comes with time and competency skill learning.

I really don't think most nurses mind having students and some genuinely like having them (as I do), but it would be nice if students were not of the mindset that this actually makes our day easier. Legally, if something happened, a nurse would be hard pressed to defend herself with, "Oh, I had a student that day. I'm not responsible." And boy, once you're earned that license, you want to keep it!! :nurse:

Also, nurses are more familiar with the type of patient they typically care for on their floor. They have an overall view that is not attainable with a few days of clinicals. Even a nurse transferred from another floor (one with proven skills and critical thinking) requires orientation.

I guess my point is, this is not an anti-student discussion, only that there is a view that can only be seen when you cross over to the other side. Honestly, most nurses would say that they knew very little useful information upon graduation--or was it just me??? :rolleyes:. Most learning is done after nursing school is over and you hit that floor...

Absolutely :) There is so much that school just can't include in the time allowed. You leave school with the skills to not kill someone on purpose.:D The rest comes with time and experience. Nobody expects students to be there on graduation- they can't...but they can take the initiative to keep learning :)

Pt asks you a question at bedside, whip out your resource, explain to them what it is, and answer their question. If you're pulling a med and you're not sure what it's for/compatible with, whip out your Ipod and in less than 30 seconds you know exactly where to go and have it figured out. Your patient is going for a procedure and you don't know how to prepare, the Ipod is your answer. This is a new day of age and efficiency is key. No nursing student in their right mind will pull out their phone in the middle of the nurses station while looking at labs and text in front of everyone not trying to hide their phone. Come on, realize they are learning. Computers are always taken up, and reference books are hard to come by. And when you do find one, it will take three times as long to look a drug up. I have never had a nurse complain about me using my Ipod for research/resource. I now use it in my job. I had one nurse once look at me funny and I explained what it was, that it wasn't a phone, and she thought it was very interesting. This is a new era, and I believe handheld electronic devices are just a part of it. Just my 2 cents :)

Please, please, do not whip out your iPod in front of a patient to answer a question. Also, do not rely on your iPod to prep a patient for a procedure. The iPod is no better a resource than google. You have no idea where that information is coming from, who those "resources" are. And if X is appropriate for patient Y going through A procedure at B facility, that doesn't mean it is right for the patient sitting in front of you.

Yes, the iPod is great for foundation building information, but the information is general; you need to be able to deal with specific individuals and procedures, learn how certain meds, interventions, diseases, procedures, and human beings come together for each unique situation. Learn the basics, then leave the electronics behind and use your noodle in the real world.

Please, please, do not whip out your iPod in front of a patient to answer a question. Also, do not rely on your iPod to prep a patient for a procedure. The iPod is no better a resource than google. You have no idea where that information is coming from, who those "resources" are. And if X is appropriate for patient Y going through A procedure at B facility, that doesn't mean it is right for the patient sitting in front of you.

Yes, the iPod is great for foundation building information, but the information is general; you need to be able to deal with specific individuals and procedures, learn how certain meds, interventions, diseases, procedures, and human beings come together for each unique situation. Learn the basics, then leave the electronics behind and use your noodle in the real world.

This reminds me of the thread of nurses being phased out (or whatever the title)....just hand an iPad or whatever device to someone with no clue, and they too can spout out answers.... the idea is to learn- not regurgitate....:barf02::barf01: If you can't recall basic info, you won't pass tests...if you can't apply additional knowledge, you can kill someone. Information technology is great- but it's a tool, not a crutch - JMHO :)

Specializes in NICU, Peds.
I've only read the OP, so apologies if I'm repeating anything.

What not to do: turn down opportunities to practice a clinical skill.

I had a student a few years ago who, when I asked if she wanted to start an IV, said "No thanks, I've had plenty of practice." Really. This was a third semester student, too. They've only been allowed to start IVs this semester. I was NOT impressed, and didn't give her a very good evaluation.

Hehe can you imagine if a NURSE pulled this one when asked to start an IV? "No thanks Dr, I've already done 10 this week and don't feel like practicing any more".

Please, please, do not whip out your iPod in front of a patient to answer a question. Also, do not rely on your iPod to prep a patient for a procedure. The iPod is no better a resource than google. You have no idea where that information is coming from, who those "resources" are. And if X is appropriate for patient Y going through A procedure at B facility, that doesn't mean it is right for the patient sitting in front of you.

Yes, the iPod is great for foundation building information, but the information is general; you need to be able to deal with specific individuals and procedures, learn how certain meds, interventions, diseases, procedures, and human beings come together for each unique situation. Learn the basics, then leave the electronics behind and use your noodle in the real world.

I understand not relying on the internet for information. I would never give my patients information from the good ole internet. My Ipod has things like Davis Drug Guide, Tabors Medical Dictionary, Outcomes in Clinical Medicine, RN Notes and TONS of other actual reliable books just in electronic form. I don't have access to the internet on the Ipod at the hospital. Just clearing it up :)

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