pet peeves when nursing students arrive

littleneoRN · Aug 9, 2011

My tips...

Be responsible for your own clinical work. If you need to interview a patient/parent/nurse, whatever, tell me and we'll set something up. Too often the school has let me know what types of assignments the student needs to do, and I get a little suspicious when they're not asking for what they need. Don't be shy, and don't wait and ask on our last day together.

Ask questions! Be willing to learn from the staff of the facility, and compare it critically to what you may have learned in school. If you recognize differences, ask why in a respectful manner. Sometimes what you learned is outdated. Sometimes what you learned is right and the institution is taking shortcuts...but you're not likely to change an institution during your clinical. In the moment, you may have to go with it or let the nurse do it if you're not sure. I have had students try to call nurses/doctors out on things during crunch situations, and this is not likely a good time for a fruitful learning conversation.

Communicate! Let me know when you're uncomfortable, don't know something, or didn't complete something. It's ok, but we want to make sure the patient gets good safe care.

There are times when despite my best intentions, I need to step in and do something. It might be the technicality of the skill or the urgency with which it needs to be complete. We can work together on a septic workup, but if I walk you through starting the IV, cathing, drawing blood, etc...we may be still here tomorrow doing the workup. Not because you're slow, but because it's a lot of new skills you're learning. Please don't be hurt if I let you do the cath and I draw the blood. In the end, it's about the patient. Even experienced nurses often need helpers to get things done quickly.

OCNRN63, RN · Aug 9, 2011

Not even bothering to feign interest in what was going on, and taking up all the seats at the desk just to socialize. We don't get students where I work now, so these are no longer problems.

SnowStar4 · Aug 9, 2011

Not introducing yourself to anyone, just showing up and stalking.

Tell me your name, what level you are, and what you can do/any goals for the day. And certainly introduce yourself to the patient! Don't just walk in and start touching them.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 9, 2011

I can't remember ever working with nurses who didn't like student nurses... they didn't like what some of them were or were not doing, but appreciated the need for them to be there , and honestly liked having them around. :)

In spite of what some may think, because I said what I did, I absolutely loved having students around. As a patient, I always told the nurses to let me be on the list if they needed to do anything (and found out they weren't allowed to do anything but bring trays- that is sad). I was game to be a test patient for IV sticks (and God bless anybody who can get a line in me). I was fine with them observing anything going on that they weren't allowed to do- either because of where they were in school, or because my infection risk was astronomical.

I remember being a student nurse (yes, dinosaurs have memories:D). I was terrified of doing something to a patient- even talking to them !!

Some things that have changed are not all that good- easier isn't always better in the long run. But a lot has changed for the better. I'm stunned that 75 questions on boards can pass someone- that seems like a negligent standard. But it is what it is- and when I'm a patient, I'm cautious....but still like students :)

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Aug 9, 2011

If you're willing to learn and take the initiative, I'm very willing to take the time to teach you...and you will be taught and then some! I've rounded up some very unique clinical experiences for students who are willing to get their hands dirty.

But it doesn't bother me if you (nursing students) want to hide in the lounge for most of the clinical..because I'm not going to keep trying to coax you out to the floor. If you're just killing time at clinical because you aren't interested in psych or don't want to be here, I'm not going to waste time on you--I've got patients to take care of. At the end of the day, it's your clinical and it's what YOU are willing to make of it. I already have my nursing license.

And do remember that the patients are not here solely for your benefit: they are there for psychiatric treatment. So do not complain or pull an attitude with me because a patient is asleep/at lunch/with the doctor/irritable/in group/otherwise not eagerly panting to have you talk to them.

bestrn11 · Aug 9, 2011

I would say:

Ask questions.

Dont stand around in the hallway 10 deep causing a blockage.

Break off into groups of 2, have a buddy system to feel less nervous maybe.

Try to look more confident and less scared.

heron, ASN, RN · Aug 9, 2011

ruby "enjoys having students around" so she can sigh, become aggravated while her bad attitude rubs off on us new students? we take up her time rather than being a mentor and being patient with us? that is what it seems to me. no thank you!

oh, please ... ruby was responding to a poster who claimed students are "a big help". i didn't read any sighs or bad attitude, just a reality check. being a mentor and patient with you is not the same as letting you make untrue assumptions ... in fact, it's just the opposite.

Always_Learning, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2011

Not introducing yourself to anyone, just showing up and stalking.
Tell me your name, what level you are, and what you can do/any goals for the day. And certainly introduce yourself to the patient! Don't just walk in and start touching them.

SO true, and this makes me laugh...when I was doing clinical in the ER as a student, I once watched a paramedic student stand at the nurse's station for 45 minutes! (I timed him; no joke!) I didn't say anything, as I figured he was waiting on something...or someone...

One of the nurses finally pitied him, I guess, and asked what he was there for. He said, "Clinical." She then had to pull teeth to get out of him which skills he needed. Most of his conversation was mumbled and laced with, "IguessmaybeIdon'tknow"...

That said....yes, I agree! Be assertive and friendly and tell your nurse what you can and can't do ("Hi, I'm ____, a first-year student, and I'd like to be with you and your patients today if that's all right. I am permitted to give PO meds but not IV, and I'm willing to help with anything else that I am able to do.") :)

FineAgain · Aug 10, 2011

And...whatever you do, be nice to the unit secretary and the CNA's. They can make or break your clinical experience too! They are a wealth of knowledge so please don't act like you know so much more than they do. Some of us are nursing students too. We know who will make it and who will not, and we are very protective of "our" nurses.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 10, 2011

And...whatever you do, be nice to the unit secretary and the CNA's. They can make or break your clinical experience too! They are a wealth of knowledge so please don't act like you know so much more than they do. Some of us are nursing students too. We know who will make it and who will not, and we are very protective of "our" nurses.

Absolutely!! :) Do not p*$$ off the unit secretary- she knows where everyone is/should be/will be/was in any 8 - 12 hour period. And the CNAs will be your right arm one day- they know a LOT, and can tell changes in patients before the patient even thinks about going south. :)

Always_Learning, BSN, RN · Aug 10, 2011

And...whatever you do, be nice to the unit secretary and the CNA's. They can make or break your clinical experience too! They are a wealth of knowledge so please don't act like you know so much more than they do. Some of us are nursing students too. We know who will make it and who will not, and we are very protective of "our" nurses.

Aaaaaaa-men! As a student, please don't consider yourself "above" anyone, whether it be CNAs, unit clerks, or housekeepers. When you are a nurse, and for the life of you, you can't get the &^$*#* stat order in the computer system, or need another set of hands, or have the nursing supervisor breathing down your neck about getting a bed flipped and room cleaned, you will see the importance of being nice to and learning from all!

(And we are often very protective of our unit secretaries, CNAs, and housekeepers!)

LisaMR · Aug 10, 2011

I recently completed an RN Refresher course that included 8 shifts (12 hours each) in a hospital. What a humbling experience, lol. I was treated for the most part like I'd never stepped foot in a hospital, and was a student, even though I had 10 years experience in the past.

My goal was to learn as much as possible, do as much as possible, be helpful to the staff, give the patients good nursing care, and show enough work effort and skill that I could get good references from the RNs and charge nurses working with me.

To nursing students, I'd suggest:

Take every opportunity to help out the nurses. If the RN you're working with is sitting and charting, or doing something you can't help with, then ask another RN or the charge nurse if there's anything you can do. Maybe doing blood sugar checks, VS, bladder scans, or something else with the CNA's. These are all skills you need to know, too. Don't look down on the non-RN staff. You could learn a lot from them.

Just because you've checked xyz off of your skills checklist, doesn't mean you say No Thanks if you're offered another opportunity. If you've already done a skill and get the chance to do it again, do it. Practice makes for proficiency.

Remember that the ultimate responsibility for these patients is with the RN that is assigned to them. If you say you'll complete xyz, then do it or let the nurse know if you can't for whatever reason so the patient's needs will be met.