Poor treatment of students, by nurses

MySimplePlan · Feb 24, 2008

i really hope that i don't sound nasty with this comment, but i cannot even imagine the level of immaturity in someone would would quit the nursing program for these reasons! i know that i've worked too hard and hoped too long for this opportunity to give up on it for any reason! if this treatment seems harsh, wait until you see how some patients will treat you! on the whole, nurses are overworked and underappreciated.
this would make anyone grouchy. and while it may seem that the presence of student nurses would relieve some of their workload, in reality, it probably increases it.
the comment about how they are raising their own children just plain makes me mad! :angryfire this should not even be a comparison! they aren't there to raise you! they are there to allow you to gain very needed experience and i for one plan to be grateful for the opportunity!
sorry to have vented so much, but i guess having waited this many years to realize the dream of a lifetime gives me a little different perspective.

i agree with the majority of your post; you certainly have seen both sides of this issue. but the highlighted phrase is something with which i disagree - the nurses on our clinical floor don't seem to be there to allow us anything; they are sort of stuck with us due to the contract btw the nursing school and the hospital. most nurses handle it more positively than others. for the ones that don't.....they have their own reasons, i couldn't possibly know or understand what they are, and that's ok. i worked around it.

i think it's hard to have to report to work at the crack of dawn, gets tons of information on x number of patients, and expect to make life altering decisions on many of them during your shift, only to see a troup of newbies traipsing down the hall with coffee cups, adding more responsibility to an already groaning workload. their licenses and livelihoods are at stake. i do understand the grumpy ones, and god bless the ones who stuck a smile on their face and gave us something to do. heck, god bless 'em all. they're nurses. :redpinkhe

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2008

There are some experiences NO ONE needs.

Seriously.

What's being described by the OP is one of them. And I don't think that my lack of experience as a nurse has much to do with it - toxic, nasty people are toxic, nasty people, whether at a major multinational corporation (worked for a couple of those), the US Air Force (yep, there too), or a hospital.

If these people's opinions are being colored by their experiences, than I don't think maturity has anything to do with it. Surely most of us have had one bad experience somewhere that has caused us to completely write off whatever it was we were doing that got us there in the first place.

And I doubt any of us haven't made comments like "if they act like that here, what are they like at home?" I wonder it every time I see a filthy microwave in a break room used by adults - if they don't have the common courtesy to clean up after themselves here, what in the world does their house look like?

If people are nasty, I do wonder what on EARTH they're teaching their children. My friends and I have even made comments like that to each other. To not admit to that would just make me a hypocrite. I don't think attacking someone for venting - which I thought was what this board is actually for in the first place - is appropriate; that just degenerates the thread. If she wants to wonder how these people are treating their children, let her; we are all entitled to our opinions.

And if they're as rude and curt as she's saying they are (oh yes, and throw the term "immature" as well, because that would be completely true), I'M wondering how they raise their children. And you know what? I'm allowed to ponder that if I see fit.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2008

There are some experiences NO ONE needs.
Seriously.
What's being described by the OP is one of them. And I don't think that my lack of experience as a nurse has much to do with it - toxic, nasty people are toxic, nasty people, whether at a major multinational corporation (worked for a couple of those), the US Air Force (yep, there too), or a hospital.
If these people's opinions are being colored by their experiences, than I don't think maturity has anything to do with it. Surely most of us have had one bad experience somewhere that has caused us to completely write off whatever it was we were doing that got us there in the first place.
And I doubt any of us haven't made comments like "if they act like that here, what are they like at home?" I wonder it every time I see a filthy microwave in a break room used by adults - if they don't have the common courtesy to clean up after themselves here, what in the world does their house look like?
If people are nasty, I do wonder what on EARTH they're teaching their children. My friends and I have even made comments like that to each other. To not admit to that would just make me a hypocrite. I don't think attacking someone for venting - which I thought was what this board is actually for in the first place - is appropriate; that just degenerates the thread. If she wants to wonder how these people are treating their children, let her; we are all entitled to our opinions.
And if they're as rude and curt as she's saying they are (oh yes, and throw the term "immature" as well, because that would be completely true), I'M wondering how they raise their children. And you know what? I'm allowed to ponder that if I see fit.

Just wanted to add the following:

I think we should be CONCERNED if these students' opinions of the entire profession are being painted black by a pack of rude, unprofessional nurses who can't stand to have learners around. Unless the students are out of hand and are going to kill someone, I think nurses - who are supposed to be PROFESSIONALS (don't we keep screaming about how we're not regarded as a profession?) need to get over it and accept that students are necessary to the survival of the profession. I don't think physicians get into the "cat fights" with interns and third years that I've heard some nurses picking with students. Please - these folks need to move on, or move on.

And remember, I too can only go by what the OP tells us - and since I tend to take everyone on here at face value until they show me different, I'll take the OP at their word for the moment.

Again, all opinion. It's great we live in a country where we're all free to express ours.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Feb 24, 2008

When reading the OP's post, I don't think she was referring to the nurses attitude's to the student's per se, but just their general disposition. Sadly, I think by the second semester, the majority of students come to realize the reality of many nurses attitudes towards students, and really don't expect a warm and fuzzy reception.

I have seen so many unhappy nurses in my career as a nurse, an instructor and as a supervisor. I agree with the OP, that life is too short to be unhappy and so miserable. There are sooo many different hospitals, units and specialties in nursing, I personally can't see why anyone would stay where they are unhappy. Sure, it's a pain to start all over, but to me you'll never know what you're missing unless you take a chance.

Overworked and underappreciated and being paid 35.00 an hour........that should make anyone appreciate their job at this day and age.

Trust me, it is not all about the money. I don't teach because of the pay... need I say more.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Feb 24, 2008

I've run into grumpy nurses during clinicals, and no way would I stay out of their way. The more attitude I felt from them, the bigger and more stupid my smiles would be as I approached them about our patients. They HAD to deal with me.

I think that is the best way to deal with those people, kill 'em with kindness!! The other day one of my students was assigned to a patient whose primary nurse she had an issue with during a previous week. I did not do this on purpose, but did not change her assignment when I noticed it. I could see right away she was starting to squirm when she saw who the nurse was. I told her (and the rest of the group) that this is part of the clinical experience... dealing with difficult people. I know it's harsh, but it is the reality of nursing. I wish I would have gotten a little more experience with that when I was still a student, with an instructor to bounce things off of, like how to deal with these types.

MySimplePlan · Feb 24, 2008

And I agree with you, too.

If I've learned anything as an extern or a nursing student, it's to hold my judgement about other people on the floor until I've known them better. Clinicals are too short a time to fully see this through, but work is not. I am SO glad I've kept my big mouth shut multiple times when something irked me about another person. I would later find out things were not as they seemed and SO not about ME.. Once I got over myself, things were able to slide off my shoulders so much more easily. I found 2nd year clinicals and personalities much easier to deal with because of this new perspective and the sock in my mouth. (And hopefully, I was better to deal with, too. :rolleyes: )

Unfortunately, we will never get to know the nurses that we deal with during our clinicals. If we did, I'm sure we'd find many redeeming qualities about them that overshadow our initial impressions.

bekindtokittens · Feb 25, 2008

Yes, I had a doozy of an experience for my first clinical assignment. Nurses, CNAs, and unit secretaries would look through me the first time and second time I asked a question. Then they would walk away from me, or pick up a phone to avoid me. I even had one nurse target me, follow me around, and openly and repeatedly mock me by repeating everything I said in a high pitched voice while making a face. I often cried on my way home in the car, and vomited more than once before going to the site in the morning. It wasn't just me; my whole group experienced things like this. And yes, I did try to resolve this problem with my clinical instructor and my school. I was told not to make waves, we were lucky to get enough clinical sites as it is.

I'm sorry, OP, for your experience, and I understand how it feels. Keep your head up and trudge through. I'm on my next clinical, and even though some of the nurses aren't as receptive to students as others, none of them have made me feel like a used piece of chewing gum on the bottom of their shoe.

I can't say, when I become a nurse, that I won't ever be impatient when having to teach students. But I will do my best to treat them with the respect I'd expect be given to me, no matter what the circumstances.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Feb 25, 2008

And yes, I did try to resolve this problem with my clinical instructor and my school. I was told not to make waves, we were lucky to get enough clinical sites as it is.

This is the sad reality. It is extremely difficult to secure clinical sites in many areas. I know it doesn't make it right, but basically beggars can't be choosers

shell07RN · Mar 9, 2008

Yes, I had a doozy of an experience for my first clinical assignment. Nurses, CNAs, and unit secretaries would look through me the first time and second time I asked a question. Then they would walk away from me, or pick up a phone to avoid me. I even had one nurse target me, follow me around, and openly and repeatedly mock me by repeating everything I said in a high pitched voice while making a face. I often cried on my way home in the car, and vomited more than once before going to the site in the morning. It wasn't just me; my whole group experienced things like this. And yes, I did try to resolve this problem with my clinical instructor and my school. I was told not to make waves, we were lucky to get enough clinical sites as it is.
I'm sorry, OP, for your experience, and I understand how it feels. Keep your head up and trudge through. I'm on my next clinical, and even though some of the nurses aren't as receptive to students as others, none of them have made me feel like a used piece of chewing gum on the bottom of their shoe.
I can't say, when I become a nurse, that I won't ever be impatient when having to teach students. But I will do my best to treat them with the respect I'd expect be given to me, no matter what the circumstances.

WOW! That nurse was Schizophrenic. But I had an awful clinical experience too. I had this one patient with a diagnosis of Resp. Failure being discharged to the hospitals Rehab Unit. I asked the nurse I was working with where I could get a wheelchair to transport her. The nurse said, Well the patient's in a recliner with wheels, just roll her onto the elevator and take her up. So I got a fellow student to help me. We got her onto the elevator but when we started to roll her out the elevator door the wheels on the recliner broke. Here we were. The nurses on the rehab unit were furious that we were told by the nurse to do that and that we had to load her onto a stretcher. We as student nurses got insulted. They told us we were stupid. Needless to say we got written up. It wasn't the student nurses fault. But we suffered anyway. It was awful. The hospital experience was awful. But the hospital has now lost it's Medicare certifications for being neglectful and Blue Cross has pulled it's contract with that hospital. Imagine that! They are getting it back. So Sad! After my experience I will be a better teacher than them. And will never lead a student wrong for fun. It's just WRONG!

GeauxNursing · Mar 9, 2008

in my experiences, so far, the nurses are excited to have us! we do clinicals on Saturdays, so there are never enough hands to do everything; we are the helpers. however, we are not learning from the nurses, nor are we following them around. our instructor is the one telling us what to do, giving us the pts, and monitoring our progress. we do not "shadow" the nurses. our instructor gets a pt load from the nurse, and we do our thing, completely apart from the nurses on staff at the facility. The only time we really interact with the staff is when we huddle around the nurse's station and hear about their nursing school stories, or how they only work weekends and get paid 15 dollar differentials. they are proud of their facilities, and they encourage us to seek employment with them!

DermNP2Be · Mar 11, 2008

Wow... this was an interesting thread with a lot of interesting responses. Some of it was down right unbelieveable- like the nurse following the student around mocking her in a high pitched voice... wow. Last semester, we had 4 students on East and 4 students on West (same floor and unit, only feet away from each other) and the nurses were so rude to us on the one side, but the nurses on the other side were angels :saint: . After witnessing the foul attitudes and behaviors herself, our clinical instructor sat down with all us students and the charge nurse. She was horrified that they would act that way as she actually works at that hospital, but on a different floor. The charge nurse was ashamed of the behavior- he even told us that many nurses came up to him and said they didn't want students. My instructor immediately took us off that side and crammed us with the other half of our group on the other side. I couldn't have asked for a better experience than what I received from the group of nurses we got switched to. And like one previous poster said, when we got assigned to a patient, we had to perform the care of the pct and the nurse- everything for the time we were there. Our instructor handled all questions, procedures, and helped us with meds. We even did the charting. So like the nurses on the side we got switched to said- it made their load 1 patient less and they loved us!

kbswife · Mar 11, 2008

Right now I am in school taking my prereq's before I go into the nursing program and in the past I have been very excited and a little scared about going into the nursing field. After reading this thread, I am downright terrified. I do understand that nursing is a very stressful job, but if we as students dont have the proper training then it is the patient that will suffer. Their is absolutely no reason to mistreat someone who has done nothing to you and it should not be tolerated. To those nurses that think it is ok to treat the students in that way, you should remember that you were once in our shoes, dont ever think it is beneath you to help someone to learn.:)