guest723

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I really needed this!

I hope you're wrong. ?

Do you think I have a chance at salvaging everything? It may take time to formulate new opinions. I'm definitely going to change, and I am looking forward to it.

It is a perfect example. I was hoping the Nurse would take interest that I was interested in being active with questioning. I guess it can be interpreted as a challenge, or a nuisance, along those lines. I immediately did apologize, thank her for the advice, etc---so I had no harmful intent. I will just not ask as many questions, do only what I'm told, etc --- and go from there.

Yeah. I probably am coming off like a jerk. ? I don't mean to. It's difficult for me. I am book smart but I guess I am socially inept...And that makes me pretty self-conscious. I ask too many questions I guess is my problem...I came from a different clinical site and they loved my attitude the way it was. I could ask as many questions as I want, they appreciated my involvement, etc. The nurses probably want me to save all my questions for someone else. I hope I can salvage it. I have been at this site for only a few weeks so far. I got 16 weeks left. I guess my goals for now on are: -Don't ask too many questions -IF I need to write notes, write them during lunch break or after. -If I have a question, immediately use positive reinforcement, thank them, and don't ask for further clarifications. If i am struggling, ask the clinical instructor. - Ask them if they need anything to show 'initiative'.

I know. I am thankful for it. Seriously, I am. I am not the only student facing similar issues. One Nurse harassed a student's looks, among other things. It's just the way it is.

I know. She is correct. It's that the Nurses are questioned by my instructor if I do ask questions, if I am interactive, etc. If I don't ask any questions and only ask my instructor, the Nurse will document that. Don't you understand my frustration?

I asked the staff if I was defensive or argumentative. They say I am not, and that I take constructive criticism very well. I am trying to maintain peace within the department, and fulfill my role as a student---but I can't help but be frustrated over scenarios that when I do follow their advice, they get mad about it. I got frustrated with Snatchedwig because this user told me to 'not speak unless spoken to' and not question the staff, and I took things personally when he/she said, "how is this HARD to understand" . I wasn't questioning the Nurse, I was seeking guidance as to when best to contact Transport so in the future I will not have any issues.

Gee, god forbid I ask for clarification. Isn't that my role as a student? I am paying thousands of dollars for this education. It seems like it's best to not ask questions at all. I also got written up at this site for being "too quiet" and "waiting to be asked to do something", as well as, "does not initiate conversation with staff unless asked to." YOU tell me what it is I need to do then? I'm sick of it and it seems like YOU don't understand my perspective.

I am doing my best. Yesterday during clinical, I was asking the Nurse I was with about contacting transport for patients. The patient went to the bathroom (we were done with her) so I told the Nurse I will be putting her in transport to bring her back to her bed. She replied, "Wait for her to come back! Then we can call transport!" I said, "Ok. No worries." And I asked if transport is relativity quick at this clinical site, she said, "No." I said, "Ok, for clarification, it is best to contact transport when they are not going to the bathroom and when they are back in their stretcher, correct?" Her response? "I mean, do you want to argue about it? We can argue." Some people I think look for anything to get in a fight, I am convinced. I apologized, told her that I apologize if I came off defensive. She said she did not think I was defensive. I then thanked her for her advice. Waiting for another eval...

I am doing my best. Even though it is challenging to deal with these personalities, I am glad I am experiencing them.

Hey guys, here is a friendly update. A nurse told me today something I did wrong, and I immediately thanked her for advice and acknowledged I will improve on a certain behavior. Additionally, I acknowledged to her I appreciate the fact she is very forward with me in regards to constructive criticism, and not given weeks after (and sometimes months) after a behavior has occurred. She told me, "Well, you need to take account with our perspective, that a lot of us Nurses are not forward with you about criticisms because we are not sure how you will react." I am not rude, or argumentative. I simply acknowledged she was correct, her position was understandable. I am also planning on meeting with several Nurses to help address this problem, because it does upset me how I do not receive criticism first-hand, and when an evaluation comes that I did, "X,Y,Z" wrong, it makes me appear in front of my evaluator that I am not fulfilling my role as a student in advocating for myself. Additionally, it will appear that I have a lack of self-reflection and introspection, which frustrated me further. What is everyone's thoughts about this?

Oh okay! I thought it was meant that way, haha. It's hard to distinguish these things over the internet,

Woah, calm down. No one said I 'couldn't handle it'. I am certainly not quitting over people---that's part of life. I have received great reviews from other clinical sites, but experiencing challenges with this one. As a student, I am taking this as a learning opportunity and I am not going to give up at a site of struggle. As other commenters have noted, although some of these critiques may seem unfair or flat-out 'wrong', it is in my position as a student to adapt and that is what I am going to do. Keep my nose clean, do when asked. If I have issues, take it up with them. And I'm leaving it at that.

I was responding to earlier posts who told me to 'ditch the notebook' and get something smaller.

I understand your point. I have already decided to no longer offer advice. I was only trying to help. At my previous clinical site, I would offer things very similar to this and they were appreciative and they would gave me a great review that said things like, "Is very attentive, driven, etc." At this site, they are not appreciative and any knowledge I have that I would like to benefit a patient is almost seen as a threat. I already have apologized for this, and so far since this criticism the reviews I have had have been positive and they said I do take criticism well. It's just that as a student, I am finding it challenging to find out when best to intervene. If I was to ask about the warm compress after patient, it would not put it past me if the Nurse was to say, "So you ask me now for a compress and not with the patient?" And get written up for it. It's like I am screwed no matter what I do. My first semester at this site, I did mostly was advised (wait to be offered things to do, hear etc) and I got written up for not taking initiative. My PD said, "Don't ask to do things, just do them." I did, and I still get in trouble. I'm doing my best, but I certainly won't be perfect at this site

That's exactly what I said. I said, "Would you like for me to get you a warm compress?" I did not say "should", because that's argument from authority, and that would make me look bad.

It's hard to get over something when I am not getting credit for things I am doing. They reported me to my PD because I even told the Nurse a procedure was done. Like seriously? I really am trying to fit in. I don't argue with anyone there. I do my best, and it seems as though one person tells me to do something I end up getting trouble for doing it. The notebook is a small enough to fit in my coat pocket. It is very small.

My notebook is very small. It fits in my pocket. It's not large at all. Don't express interest in curiosity in other clinical sites. I was only curious because some Nurses worked at other facilities. I did. I asked what I could do differently. My director told me that I have not been doing IVs on patients, when I actually have. When I told her she said she was surprised.

Yeah, you're probably reading the title and are thinking: *eye roll* "Another Nursing student who thinks they deserve a better grade than they earned." I promise you, it's not that. I am at a clinical site for clinicals, and the evaluations I am getting are absolutely nit-picky and I am wondering if this potentially could constitute as harassment. Why? Because it is negatively affecting my grades. I have gotten written up for the following: -"Student takes too many notes." -"Student carries around notebook everywhere. This shows the student is 'carrying around notebook excessively to avoid patient-care encounters'". WTH??? -"Student asked about the IV procedures regarding another clinical site." (They didn't like that I asked that). -"Student doesn't show initiative." Even though I do! I ask to do things. I insert IVs in patients, I do vitals, I perform tests, I put ECG 12 leads on, assessments, etc. My previous clinical site gave me great evaluations, and this site it's ridiculous. -"Student made nurses appear stupid to patient by asking to retrieve a warm compress on a patient with difficult veins (Yes, you read that correctly). Additionally, student suggested looking on different areas of an arm before proceeding with contacting an I.V. team, making the nurse appear as though she did not know what she was doing." I was trying to be helpful, and as you can see, taking initiative at this point gets me in trouble (again!) I've had it with my clinical site, and my director is not helping me whatsoever and I'm tired of it all. I've had so much anxiety around these people it's not even funny. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I can't take it anymore! Please, anyone have any advice? I ask my director, she says, "Learn to be adaptable." I AM. Some Nurses let me do things, some don't, and the ones that don't write me up for not doing anything. And the worst part is: it's going to drop my average :(.

Thanks for your advice and encouragement. I'm already having an extremely rough start. I have 2 exams, a case study, a quiz, and another assignment all due Monday back-to-back. I hate to say it, but I am seriously screwed. . For someone just starting RN school, I didn't know it'd be like this. I feel like they want us to know the information so fast that it's more like memorizing the material then learning it. It's like they don't even give us enough time. I feel super stressed and for the first time in all of my academic career, I've given up. I apologize if I sound like a quitter, but this workload looks too much for me to handle and I've already considered dropping out, since my Nursing professors saying it 'only get worse' as we progress through the program. I try my best at everything I do, but I feel as though I'm not offered to do my best when I have so much to do in such little time and that isn't the best approach for me to learn. Sorry guys. I am probably just going to walk in on Monday, fail one exam, pass the other, and half-ass the other quiz and assignments and end up withdrawing. I didn't expect this sort of outcome but I didn't know it'd be this accelerated. Props to everyone on here who has completed any sort of Nursing program and excelled in it, but I don't believe I can and my learning style doesn't fit with the Nursing curriculum. Thank you guys.

One last question for those succeeding in the program. I just spent 6 hours studying. I finished three chapters in those 6 hours, and I feel as though that isn't time effective since I only finished three chapters in that six hour period. I read every page for the chapters which was undoubtedly time consuming. Should I instead read the book and read parts ONLY on the content covered in the powerpoints? I feel like doing this will make it A LOT easier, but I'm unsure considering I don't know what will be covered on exams. Thanks.

I understand. I did the same thing in my pre-reqs. I aced every exam last year...But I was miserable because I just studied 24/7, had no fun, no breaks because I was always nervous about an exam and failing, thinking about money spent, etc. I have GAD and depression, all under control now due to medication. I'm just afraid of having a repeat of last year. I'll do my best like I said.

Thank you! I have one question regarding study habits and time management. Due to the sheer volume of material per chapter, I originally wanted to get done [x] chapter done per day. However, because I have other classes I realized that doing this is too much. I won't be able to retain it effectively if I'm crushing in [x] chapter in one day, then starting a new chapter the following day. So, I've started to switch things up a little. Instead of focusing on finishing one chapter, I will do half a chapter one day, the other half the next day, and reviewing everything accordingly. The primary focus is to review the material daily, so I won't be behind and taking it a day at a time. Does this sound like a good plan?

You just about nailed it on the head. I'm studying all day today, yesterday, day before, etc. I want to stay on top of things, but man it's super difficult! I would love to play golf today, or do something on my own time, but I feel as though if I take time off from studying I may be selling myself short and being left behind.