chickdude1

Sorry, Ruby Vee, but I've gotta agree with student4life..... I've been treated far too many times as a student like I'm in the way and treated like I'm not welcome. As the next gen of nursing, aren't we the ones who are going to allow the current ones to retire?? And yes, I have "know-it-alls" in my class too, and they raise my hackles from time to time, so I also understand Ruby Vee's frustrations...... And isn't there a way of teaching without dehumanizing someone?? Aren't we all in this together?? Just a thought. Chickdude1

Really???!! I'm going to file that one away in "Helpful things to know...." Thanks for the info! Chickdude1

I know, I know, and I apologize in advance because I'm sure you've heard it ten million times, but you will be thankful for it someday...... The first time I moved to another state and had my own apartment, this guy knocked on my door. I don't know why I answered it, but I did. He asked me if my mother was home. Now, my first thought was to respond, "How should I know? She lives in another state!" but then I thought, "Why not have some fun?" So I told the guy no and that I was a senior in high school.....and he bought it! I was 25 at the time..... Now I'm 34 (and rapidly approaching that "magic" 35), and I still get "You can't possibly be that old!" When I started my nursing program, all of my classmates thought I was 23 or 24. Whereas once I would have been offended, I find myself giggling now. I hope you find some way to use that to your advantage or at least be able to turn the tables somehow. Like me, you could tell people that you have secretly found the fountain of youth and are awaiting the patent..... :chuckle Here's to all of us who look younger than we are (clink!) Chickdude1 PS You're really gonna LOVE your thirties, so hang in there!!!

THREE YEARS? Wow--you're WAY overdue!!! Thanks for sharing with us! My cohort gets along exceptionally well--the major downside of that is sometimes it's hard to get everyone's attention in order for class to start (and sometimes it's problematic througout class). In any event, our pathophys professor made things interesting for us by giving us her real-life stories related to topics we were covering. Not only were they entertaining and informative, but I know that we ALL heard them because you could have heard a pin drop in that room every time she went to tell a story! So, teachers, keep sharing your stories--we really ARE listening (and we really appreciate them, too!). Cheers! Chickdude1

Oh, wait--here's a couple more: I got to spend a day in the newborn nursery during my OB rotation. My preceptor handed me a baby and said, "Okay, this one needs to be fed." Now, I'd never even HELD a newborn before, and now I have to FEED one? She sat down and told (and showed) me how to do it. By the end of the day, she had me feeding and giving meds. She was FANTASTIC! And I think this has to be the BEST: During the same OB rotation, another nurse not only took on a student (one of my classmates) ON HER LAST DAY OF ORIENTATION, but she took me on as her student ON HER FIRST DAY OFF OF ORIENTATION! I am greatly humbled by not only her fortitude by also her eagerness to help all of us students learn. It was a GREAT experience--when I asked her a question she didn't know, she'd smile and say "Well, I guess we get to learn it together!" (and we did!) To me that's the true definition of collaboration (wouldn't you agree?). Cheers! Chickdude1

I've seen a lot of discussion that students more often post their bad experiences, not their GOOD ones. After I thought about it, I realized that you're absolutely right--so I thought I'd get things started! My very first rotation was med-surg I. I had a preceptor who I don't think ever had a bad patient in her LIFE (I think she was probably 2 years out of school, but I still find it amazing). As she would tell me about her patients, it was ALWAYS followed by "he's so cute," or "she's so cute." It was obvious that she found something that she adored in each and every one of them. She let me be involved to my level of comfort--for example, the first time she asked me if I wanted to start an IV, I said I'd rather watch her do one and that I'd do the next one. Not only was she comfortable with that, she made sure she came to get me the next time she had one to do and had me do it! Even though she told me that she was always "stressing out," it never showed. She appeared very relaxed and took one thing at a time (even when it came to having a VERY green nursing student!). I am so thankful that I was blessed enough to have her for my mentor! In fact, before the rotation was over, I bought her a Starbuck's gift card (she always had a cup of coffee in hand). From listening to some of your mentoring stories, I know that many of you are very like my preceptor. Please know that your students will NEVER forget you and always keep you in their hearts! Cheers! Chickdude1

To Tweetie and sharann: I hope your students spoil you rotten--because you obviously deserve it!!!! Actually, I've been a "preceptor" myself when I was a CNA at the nursing home I worked at. I LOVED taking students. Whenever I was I was assigned students, I would ask them what particular experiences they wanted to get out of their time with me. If I had that experience available, I was sure they either got to observe or I would have them do it with me standing by. If nothing else, they were a desperately needed second set of hands and eyes! I guess what rubbed me the wrong way is that I'm one who really feels like "we're all in this together," whether one be a nurse, CNA, instructor, etc. And the rest of you are right--I've been trained so much to be a patient advocate, I've forgotten that I need to advocate for MYSELF as well! Cheers! Chickdude1

I was able to spend the day in the surgical ICU--I thought it would be a fantastic experience. Instead, my first interaction with my preceptor was "I'm going to interventional radiology--see you in half an hour." Oh, wait--my patient needs medications at 8 am which I cannot get from the cabinet (fingerprint required) or administer (supposedly) independently. What happens now? My preceptor spends the entire day with her other patient--which I can't blame her since the pt. is confused and combative; however, I'm only in med-surg II and need her assistance as well. In addition, I'm not up to speed on their charting (it's only my third clinical day), and most of the other institutions that I've been at have computer charting (and this one has ten million different forms that need to be filled out). When my medications are due, my preceptor hands me a bunch of meds and lets me go--never mind the fact that I've been told that I'm NEVER to give IV push meds without my nurse being within touching distance. Oh, and the IVP was furosemide, btw. So then my preceptor and I FINALLY meet up, and she tells me that I did everything WRONG. I guess that hospital policy is that all patients who have G-tubes get 200 cc of water q8h. Well, gee, I'm sorry, since I DON'T WORK HERE, I am unaware of hospital policy. Then, my clinical scholar comes to me and gives me this half hour lecture about the meaning of the word pathophysiology (I'd put that I wasn't sure what the patho was for my pt. since she was the victim of a head-on collision and had multiple fractures. The patho? Well, she got in a car accident and sustained multiple fractures!). To add insult to injury, this "explanation" of what pathophysiology meant was given in kind of a condescending way. Oh, wait a minute--is that why everyone asks ME about patho (patho is my strong suit) is because I'm such a STUPID IDIOT??:angryfire Another insult to injury is that this "lecture" took place in front of another one of my classmates. DOUBLE :angryfire Several of my last clinical experiences I've been told TO MY FACE that we (as students) are in the way and we've definitely been treated like we're not welcome (oh, sorry, I wasn't BORN an expert in nursing ). I'm thinking that these nurses want to retire at some point, wouldn't ya think? Well, gee, guess what? WE'RE the ones who are going to take their place!!!! Ya'd think they'd be a SLIGHT bit nicer, wouldn't you? Unfortunately, not so. Thanks for letting me "vent" (ha!) after such a crappy day. Chickdude1 (BSN graduate in May 2006 if I survive that long--looking doubtful at this point) PS--the pt. did GREAT! Her trach was capped and she was finally able to TALK for the FIRST TIME in 6 weeks!!!!

I think my worst report for me happened during my Med-Surg I rotation this summer. The reporting nurse wanted to launch into a tirade about an argument she had with a patient's family member. My preceptor handled it beautifully--after about only 1 minute of this, she interrupted, saying "Yes, but the patient???" The reporting nurse then started supplying pertinent details.... Here's been another observation--don't let your opinion of a patient be colored by the info given by the reporting nurse. I had one who told me that my patient liked to keep the side rail down on one side of his bed so that he could pee from lying down into his bedside commode. She told me this with a look of utter disgust on her face. So, when I went into his room and saw garbage scattered all over the floor, I immediately assumed that he was a slob. However, when I stopped and thought about it, I realized two things: 1) the only garbage can this patient had was located across the room, so he couldn't throw anything in it, and 2) he was used to being very independent, was too weak to make it to the bedside commode by himself, and was too proud to ask for help. When I moved the garbage can within reach, the garbage somehow wound up in the correct place (note to myself: Duh!), and when I had an honest conversation with him why it was important that I assist him to the restroom (I gladly offered to help him across the room to the restroom instead of insisting he use the bedside commode) and that I was happy to do so, he always let me know when he needed help! Cheers! ChickDude1

We had our very first clinical rotations over the summer. One of my classmates (and very good friend) had this nurse who GRILLED her about EVERYTHING. When my friend could not provide the correct answer, the nurse would hit her over the head with her pen! Now, my friend is about my size (5'7"), but, unlike yours truly, she is BUFF. In fact, I wouldn't even want to get on her bad side because she'd kick my behind! However, this nurse made her cry FIVE TIMES during her shift, and my friend almost started to cry when she related this to me! (very unlike her) I'm not sure whether my current preceptor for peds would count or not (she's borderline). She was very nice at first, working us into our rotation slowly on the first day, but then we got behind on meds (still first day, folks!), and she got stressed out about it, so she proceeded to stress US out about it (she only had two nursing students). So, being chronically sleep deprived because I'm also doing two days of OB rotation, I started screwing up (plus, I'm not really familiar with the weird equipment they use in peds (at least at this particular facility), making this all the more likely to happen). Anyway, we just had our "mid-term" eval a week ago, and my preceptor says to me, "Well, I was worried that first week with all of the mistakes you made," and then began listing them off (oh, and this was in front of my Clinical Scholar as well). I'm sure I'm constantly referred to by my other classmates as "The Encyclopedia" because I'm so utterly stupid as my preceptor implied....... I BEG of other, more experienced nurses out there--if you don't want to preceptor students, DON'T DO IT! Whomever said in a previous post "instruction not destruction" hit the nail right on the head!!!!! Cheers! ChickDude1

:yelclap: :yelclap: :yelclap: I'm in my second year of the DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) program, and I've heard this a lot, too. Here's my background: BS in computer science with a 3.95 GPA and four additional years of pre-vet/pre-nursing requirements with a 4.0 GPA. If I finish this program, I will have had 11 1/2 years of college. So why did I choose nursing? I looked at the medical model and decided it wasn't for me. Sure, I like the "how does it work" kind of mentality, but one of the things that drove me crazy as a software engineer was that I was severely lacking contact with PEOPLE. Docs tend to come in, spend 5 minutes with the patient, and then leave. Even when I thought I wanted to be a vet, I was the one to follow the vet in with the box of Kleenex when someone put their pet to sleep, and I always offered hugs and a shoulder to cry on to those who needed it. It is the mixture of the great science as well as the caring presence that nurses can provide (okay, so I'm sure it's obvious that I'm still a student) that drew me in. Hopefully I can hold on to that when I enter the working world . I wish you the very best of luck--you're going to be an AWESOME nurse!!! ChickDude1

Actually, not weird at all. After taking microbiology and one of my classmates was able to grow E. coli after swabbing the drinking fountain...... Concerning #1, think about why we're NEVER supposed to reach across a sterile field My husband has teased me for YEARS about not letting my food touch each other and eating one thing on my plate before moving on to the next. And, after catching a rather nasty rash on my legs, hind end, and elbows after using a toilet in the nursing home where I worked USING A SEAT COVER, I carry alcohol wipes with me everywhere to wipe down toilets before I use them. So, no, not weird at all! ChickDude1

All right, guys--here's my experience. When my ADN boss (and she was my CNA instructor) first found out that I had been accepted to the ND (nurse doctorate) program, her first reaction was "Oh, you're the guys who want to get rid of us." Now, I don't give a hoot about WHAT degree you have--it's about WHO you are! There are several LPN's that I'm planning on hiring as my personal nurses when I make my first million (but don't hold your breath, guys....unfortunately), and there's people who hold masters and doctorates that I wouldn't let touch me with a TEN FOOT POLE!!! I also think that the ANA's very public opinion is "cutting off its nose to spite its face." Hello.....did they NOT hear the words "nursing shortage??" My two cents..... :) NURSES--whatever your level of education--YOU ROCK!!!! Chickdude1

That's interesting......when I was a CNA, I was so busy throughout my shift (didn't matter when I worked), I didn't have time to complain! chickdude1

How very sad--we're all in this together as a TEAM (or else maybe I missed something??). In any event, before I entered nursing school, I worked as a CNA at a long-term care facility. There were SEVERAL LPN's that I'm planning on hiring as my personal nurses after I make my first million (yeah, right, but one can dream, can't they??). On the other hand, I also know some RN's that I wouldn't let touch me with a ten foot pole! The title does not maketh the nurse....... :) Janene, DNP-I