ajmclean

Why do I bother with such myopic posts? The military experience I related to, as well as EMS experience in previous posts, are example or analogies to similar situations experienced in nursing with patients and students. But from your post, if it ain't nursing experience, it ain't crap. That attitude is arrogant, egotistical, and condescending. But us nursing students don't know anything, right?

I was mistaken when I said I posted my last reply. This post demands a reply. I didn't read anywhere in this thread that anyone was "owed an education". One specific point I made previously was that the floor nurse was helping the student apply what they had already learned, not providing an education. The floor nurse provides the "real world" experience as opposed to the "school world" experience. As for not in your job description, not everything can be written into a job description. Some things are unwritten or understood. I laugh at some of the comments posted here about "students having no clue". Pretty arrogant and condescending attitude as there are plenty of students with other real world experience, not necessarily nursing, who have been in a similar environment where you had a job to do and at the same time help students. The military is a prime example. For those that think you have the corner on responsibility, try teaching live fire (guns) training to brand new students and having another instructor-in-training assigned to you to mentor at the same time. Can't count the number of times I've had a loaded and cocked gun pointed at me during training. I mentioned my Navy corpsman experience previously and some "nurse without a clue" said that corpsmen were just "assistants". Well, as a corpsman, I had my own appointment schedule to see patients, orders labs and xrays, interpret the same, write prescriptions, did minor surgery, sutured, started IV's, gave meds, etc. No, I wasn't a nurse, an APRN, a PA; just a corpsman. I also helped to train other corpsmen and student PA's in the clinical setting. To help them APPLY what they had LEARNED in school. Was it hard doing both? Absolutely. Was it written in my job description? Didn't have a job description. I worked in the ER and Acute Care. My school provides excellent EDUCATION and also provides excellent clinical instructors. Mine don't sit on their butts. They are out there with the students on the floor guiding and helping out. And I can't count how many times I've had floor nurses ask me to start IVs for them even though they weren't the nurse I was assigned to. Did I say "Not my patient"? Absolutely not. I helped out because they needed help even though it wasn't in my "student job description". Not to mention the numerous "Code Browns" I was asked to clean up (again, not my nurse or patients)because the nurse didn't have a PCT assigned and viewed us, IMO, as another PCT. "Real nurses" don't have the corner on tough jobs. A lot of people have tough jobs as well.

Not rude, just assertive. As I reply for the last time, since I know nothing as I'm only a student, the floor nurse is HELPING the student put into practice what they have been TAUGHT in SCHOOL. I hope I never get so jaded as some of you are.

Nanook, my opinion is as valuable as yours.

My clinical instructor gives great guidance. However, she can't access the computer, Pyxis, etc. She can't be with the several students at once, so it falls to the floor nurse you're working with. It seems from some of these comments that you "real nurses" can't be bothered with students. Either you're above instructing/mentoring students, or you're not getting moola (money) to properly compensate you. These anti-student comments are laughable. The hospitals I've worked in for clinicals have had great nurses that helped me tremendously with a rare exception. One was sexist (didn't want a male student working with her on a Maternity floor). Y'all with these BS opinions about "not my responsibility" concerning students, keep it up. Karma is a great thing.

Not your responsibility? Ask your hospital what they say your responsibility is concerning students. Geez. Whose responsibility was it when you were trained as a student?

Thanx for the dismissive reply. It is noncontributory. Work experience has NOTHING to do with work ethic. Let me elucidate. My experience is clinical and prehospital; military and EMS. My clinical experience was in the ER and Acute Care settings. We trained nurses, PA's, medics. Our military clinic was the busiest in the Navy. I never viewed training someone as a burden or disruptive to my routine. As a paramedic, I was a Field Training Officer. If I viewed my paramedic student as a burden, they would have never gained the skills to intubate, start peripheral IVs, Central Lines, diagnose accurately, etc. Or manage a multi-trauma patient. Or be able to tell an MD that his order was contraindicated for the patient. For example, pushing atropine in a hypothermic patient to treat bradycardia. Your response to my post is BS as you said "You are a *student*" How assuming, erroneously, and condescending.

WRONG. The floor nurses are there to help; to instruct, to mentor. The hospital accepted the students, therefore that is part of the mission as well as patient care. As for quicker and easier, that is not relevant. It is about quality of care to the patients and instruction to the student. The nurse should look at the student in the aspect he/she is training their relief. Students disrupting the routine? Since when is patient care a routine? Patients, as varied as they are, constantly disrupt the so-called routine. For example, the patient(s) who watch the clock and call at one minute after their pain meds are due while you are dealing with your other five patients. Clinical instructors are there to lead and manage the students and provide liaison with the charge nurse and the staff. You mentioned compensation twice. I didn't know nursing was all about compensation. You are an MSN and Guide, and I am surprised by your response. You might want to rethink your responses given your credentials and position before you respond this way to a student. I have had great nurses during my clinicals and the occasional Piece of Crap who was burnt out and/or dumped on me and my fellow students. They were the exception rather than the rule. Student nurses aren't an extra PCT or a burden. They are a future nurse.

This post caused me to think of how it would matter if someone failed several times and why it would matter. Look at it this way- did that person freeze on the test (brain fart) due to stress, anxiety, etc.? If so, they might freeze when taking care of a patient who bottomed out. That is why.

Wow. Nearly a bizillion posts here. As for the flu shot, I was required to get it yearly in the military. I did 31 years total with 21 years of flu shots. I got the flu EVERY year regardless. Maybe not one of the strains in the vaccine, but I got it every year. Sometimes twice. And didn't they miss the prevalent strain in last year's vaccine? I believe they did. So much for the vaccine being such a great thing. And of course, it's mandatory for clinicals.

"Oh, nuts!"? Great one!

Our fail is

I love is "(INSERT AGE) too old to be a nurse"! I am 57 yo and starting my third semester. If you're thinking about taking the plunge, ask yourself why. If you like being an MA, but want to do more, go for it. Your background can be a help.

Here goes: View the videos first. If necessary, view them more than once. Take the test. When you answer a question wrong, it gives you the correct answer. Write down the question and the correct answer (or answers if it's Select All That Apply). If there's not a lockout on retaking the test (usually 24hrs), retake it with the answers you wrote down. The questions are the same. Then study the questions and answers so you understand why you got it wrong and what the rationale is behind the correct answer.

Your post sounds like one big WHINE. Horrible instructor for clinicals, yet you passed. Tested on what the instructor didn't teach. Test questions come from lectures, yes, but more importantly, the textbook. My instructors leave a lot out and we even get Powerpoints for the lectures. So you have to study everything. The instructor is not going to teach you the test. What is unfair? YOU FAILED to pass by 3%, not the instructor. What was minimum passing? Inconsistencies? Horrible? Did you bring up these alleged circumstances when they happened? How do you know this? Were you evaluating their skills? Go to the Dean and asked for a free pass into the next level? No way. How would that be fair to those who passed lecture and clinicals legitimately? My comments sound harsh, and they are. You want a shoulder to cry on and special treatment. You knew the standards going in and you failed to meet them. Show some responsibility and accountability and retake the class when it's available. It's all on you.