pet peeves when nursing students arrive

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2011

I officially begin my rotation for Med-Surg1 on Thursday :) Last semester was my first rotation for Foundations of Nursing, and I really enjoyed the experience. Like others have mentioned, be courteous. We(students) are guests on that floor, and we are not only representing ourselves, but our clinical instructor, and our school. Also, the nurses & techs on the floor can teach you a LOT! And most of all, LEARN! :)

kakamegamama · Aug 9, 2011

NightNurse66---as a student, you work under your instructor's license AND the license of the nurse you are assigned to. You aren't doing their work for free. It does add work to be a preceptor for students. I'm hoping you had good rapport with staff, because if you came off as your statement seems to imply--"You (staff) should be glad I'm here to do YOUR work for free!! And it's no skin off your nose if I mess up"--I'm not too sure you did. And, if I had been your instructor, well, that attitude, if visible or verbalized in my presence would have given you an opportunity for redirection....

nursetaminator · Aug 9, 2011

Didn't like it when they wanted to sit around and gossip, or check out their makeup and hair, or didn't offer to help. What a great opportunity to be on the floor and learn. Some just didn't get it. And some had major attitudes.

But for students who were obviously eager to learn the nurses would find interesting things for them to do. They were like a breath of fresh air!

kakamegamama · Aug 9, 2011

And, OP---offer to help, doesn't matter if you've done a procedure before, the response "I've already done that" doesn't endear you to the staff and won't help you academically, either. So, take advantage of any learning opportunity you are given, you might learn something new about a skill you've already done, or who knows what. And, leave flirtatious attitudes at home--those directed at those interns/residents/med students, or your fellow students/staff. I can't tell you the number of times that stuff caused problems on units I had students on. And, enjoy learning. You can learn so much from staff, patients, patient families, and fellow students that it can really enrich your experiences. Best wishes to you!

Fiona59 · Aug 9, 2011

My unit had a batch of students who put us through hell and managed to get our manager reprimanded by the hospital (her sin? She told the students they had to get up and giver her staff seats for report) So excuse me, if my unit dreads the arrival of students.

Be willing to learn. You truly don't know it all

Inserting one foley catheter into one male doesn't mean you KNOW how to do it.

Don't approach the patient with the attitude that they are a "skill to be checked off".

Don't say "Oh, you're an LPN and I can't learn anything from you because I'm an RN student"

Don't dig into food on the staff room table. Do you know the birthday nurse or why there is food there? Wait for the invite, we're pretty good about telling you to chow down.

Don't tell us about how you're going to be an NP someday. You aren't even an independent nurse yet.

Poop smells, wounds can smell, yes, ostomies are hard to deal with. Just remember there is a human being with feeling behind those odours.

Oh, and for the love of all that is holy, keep your Iphones in your handbag. I don't care if you are doing research on it, it looks wrong, there are computers on the unit and believe it or not actual reference books.

2011nursetobe · Aug 9, 2011

"Oh, and for the love of all that is holy, keep your Iphones in your handbag. I don't care if you are doing research on it, it looks wrong, there are computers on the unit and believe it or not actual reference books."

I have to disagree with this. Our school required us to buy Ipods with nursing resources on them and it's the best thing since sliced bread. I will never go without my Ipod anymore. 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 :)

Ivanna_Nurse, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2011

i enjoy having students around, but trust me -- a student is not a help. students double or triple your work load if you're actually trying to teach them something. it may take me a half hour to teach something i could just take care of in a minute or two. also, no one is "thankful that we were doing their job for free." you're not. the nurse is still responsible, and even if your instructor is the one helping you cath the patient or give the meds, the nurse still needs to follow up.
for every "mean nurse" you say you've encountered, i've encountered a problem student. that's food for thought, isn't it?

ruby, i sure do wish i could double kudo you sometimes! ivanna

Fiona59 · Aug 9, 2011

What your school "requires" you to buy and what is accepted on a unit is two very different animals.

Our policy is no phones in the rooms or on your person.

Patients humour students. They talk to the floor staff after you leave. Trust me it's hard to keep a straight face some days.

New era or not you have to go with the flow of the unit hosting you.

2011nursetobe · Aug 9, 2011

What your school "requires" you to buy and what is accepted on a unit is two very different animals.
Our policy is no phones in the rooms or on your person.
Patients humour students. They talk to the floor staff after you leave. Trust me it's hard to keep a straight face some days.
New era or not you have to go with the flow of the unit hosting you.

It is not a phone. It is an Ipod Touch. No phone/camera capabilities. No different than an upgraded Palm Pilot (which our school used to use). Whats the difference between this and a computer?

Always_Learning, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2011

I concur that attitude is everything. When you show up for clinical, be eager, willing to work, and willing to learn (even if you only got 2 hrs. of sleep...LOL).

The nurses and unit staff pay more attention than you might think, and most often they end up talking with your instructors at some point. Even if they don't, offer to do anything and everything: skills you've done, skills you've never done (with assistance)...baths, poop clean-up, phlebotomy, IVs, ice water, turns, pulling someone up in bed, running stuff to the lab...you name it.

Not only will this provide more learning experiences for you, but it could open other doors as well. I got a job in one of the units I did clinical in...staff often do take notice of your attitude and work ethic!

amarilla, RN · Aug 9, 2011

Please don't monopolize seats / computers, particularly at shift change.

If you take a chart and don't leave a flag behind to let us know you have it, don't go far. Don't leave the chart elsewhere or in a patient room. Don't remove things from the chart to carry around.

You're welcome to join me for report and I will be happy to answer all of your questions, but please come to me, introduce yourself, explain what you can do, who you have, and anything you would like to do or see. I can and will help you during the day but it isn't fair to expect me to find you and figure this out on top of caring for my patients.

If you say you are going to do something, (meds, vital signs, etc), and find that you cannot, *tell me*. Don't just leave the unit, disappear or report off without mentioning it because you assume it will be done, think I already know, thought the CNA is doing it, etc. This is important!

Yes, I know you think electronics are the way of the future, but this doesn't mean you should be glued to your phone at a chair dead-center at the station. It really does reflect poorly on the unit when patients and families see this. We have a 'no phone' policy on our unit for a reason; please respect it. [To others elsewhere: inquire about the policies of your unit as you begin your semester there. Respect their rules, even if you don't agree.]

Please don't talk about patients near other patients. I can't tell you how offended, angry and irritated patients become when they hear personal conversations (from staff or students.) Had a bad day, poor experience or rotten patient? We all do, but don't let other patients hear your venting. Take it to post conference or save it for the drive home.

Last one: I bring my lunch and don't make a habit out of eating students. Introduce yourself and be friendly with me!

Always_Learning, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2011

i enjoy having students around, but trust me -- a student is not a help. students double or triple your work load if you're actually trying to teach them something. it may take me a half hour to teach something i could just take care of in a minute or two. also, no one is "thankful that we were doing their job for free." you're not. the nurse is still responsible, and even if your instructor is the one helping you cath the patient or give the meds, the nurse still needs to follow up.
for every "mean nurse" you say you've encountered, i've encountered a problem student. that's food for thought, isn't it?

i once thanked a nurse for allowing me to precept with her on that day, and told her i know a lot of folks think it is helpful to have a student, but i knew it was actually more work. she burst out laughing...i think she felt vindicated that i acknowledged the time and effort involved. she thanked me for thanking her.