I just want to know what are things that nursing students do that irritate the RN staff and things that you like that get students on your good side.
I'm a first semester student and today was my first day of clinical and I would appreciate tips and advice of things to avoid and things to go for while in nursing school.
Thanks for any replies.
(I wasn't sure if this was the appropriate place to ask my question but I thought more RNs would see it than if I had posted it in the student forum).
Be eager to learn. Ask if there is anything you can do to help. If I ask you to do something don't say "I already know how to do it". So do I, but it still needs to be done.
When you are not doing anything, go through the clean utility and learn where things are. So when I need something you can grab it. That is a great help.
Don't tell me how you don't want to be a nurse, and you are only doing this because you have to because you are going to be a NP or CRNA. Then expect me to bend over backwards to teach you about this profession that I love. Nothing will get me to lose interest in you faster.
Don't act like you are too good to wipe up . It is an important part of my job, and although sometimes it may be unpleasant, it needs to be done. If you won't wipe it up now, then you probably won't do it if you are employed here, which means more work for me, so why would I want to help you.
If you want to know something, speak up. Something that might interest you might be something I take for granted. I had an LPN student working around me some time back. I was giving meds and she was interested in the act-o-vials Solumedrol came in, and the spring loaded syringes for the Fragmin. I wouldn't have thought to show her if she hadn't asked me about them.
If you don't know, ask. I don't expect you to know everything. I don't mind answering questions. If I ask you to do something, and you are unsure about it. ASK. Don't do it wrong, or half way, and leave it for me to find later like a landmine.
Most of all, enjoy yourself. Clinicals were the funnest part of nursing school.
I hope it goes without saying that the patient always comes first! Whether it is your patient or not. If you have a trusting relationship with the nurse you are working with, most of us will go out of our way to let you help with a dressing change or procedure. But if giving you a better clinical experience involves skimping on any aspect of my own patient care (remember I have several), then I won't do it. I love the students that are proactive and helpful, but can tell if I am super busy and know when to step back if needed.
Dont be afraid to ask questions! You are a guest on the unit so please keep your cell phone in your pocket on silent, your shoes on your feet and food in the break room. Spend time with the patient and not in the office on facebook. I dont know you dont know something unless you tell me. If you are going to chart something, show me really quick or ask me for advice before charting. I want students to succeed and learn as much as they can while they are with us.
If you are there to observe, please do so.
If you are there to participate then please make rounds and help answer lights.
Do your best. You cant go wrong by asking the nurse how you can help or for direction.
so far in clinical I have had wonderful nurses and cna's to work with. I have been able to work with more than "my" patient so there have been many extra learning opportunities for me.I appreciate the RNs taking time out to help me and answer my questions so I in turn am willing to do small things for them to help out. Today I took popsicles to the freezer for my RN and answered 2 phone calls for her because she asked me to. I was glad to do it because she helped me by keeping me hopping caring for pts, after all, Im there to work and learn and an RN who is willing to step up and teach me when my instructor is with another student, is very much appreciated by me :) I always thank my RNs and CNAs for working with me because I do understand it is hard to do your "normal" work and keep in touch with a student too. Of course, we take care of our pt's VS and baths so that takes a bit of the load from the staff, and that goes a long way in building respect I think. If they throw something at us we go for it, whether we have done it or not. As a matter of fact, our instructor wants us to give meds multiple times.Once is ok if thats all the chance you get but if more is offered jump at it.
Remember that while you're in school, going for a grade, I'm here at work, going for a paycheck. If I can't help you THIS.VERY.MINUTE. it's because, as you might be aware, I have a job. I love my job. I waited a blasted year to get this job and I'm going to hold onto it for dear life!!!
Please don't second guess me, especially in front of a patient.
If I don't know the answer, or I make a mistake, guess what- I'm human. Please don't go right over to your little gaggle of friends and gossip and whisper about how "OMG, she didn't know what THAT thing was for! Tee hee hee!"
No...actually you don't know all about this or that....you can never insert too many foleys. I only inserted ONE foley during nursing school, and that was back when I was in LPN school.
I hear "Why" repeatedly from my 3 year old...I don't know if I can handle repeated "why's" coming from a 20 something year old.
What makes us (or me, specifically) happy:
A thank you goes a long way. I'm not asking for a thank you card, just a simple "thank you for showing me that" or "thank you for showing me a different way of doing that"
If you borrow a stethoscope, scissors, stats, or any other nurse owned item, please return it timely. My wife gives me really hard time when she has to go by the medical store and replace these things on a weekly basis. Lol. There is a humorous note to this, but a passive agressive humorous note. I can't afford lojack on my stuff.
This applies to Medical Residents as well, One walked off with my Littman Cardiology III, I was sure he'd remember and return it. NOT!!!! I saw him 3 weeks later in another hospital, still had my freaking name plate on it!!!!
If you borrow a stethoscope, scissors, stats, or any other nurse owned item, please return it timely.
I've become VERY stingy with my stuff. Yes, I do have EVERYTHING in my pockets. You can be prepared just like I am. My back suffers to carry around all that crap. I don't suffer for YOUR convenience, it's for MINE. Get your own stethoscope, scissors, flashlight, etc....
I dont like when they dont utilize every learning opportunity they can get, I dont care that youve dont a foley ONCE before...do it again. If your patient/preceptors patient is crumping....stay and watch, dont run away!!!Watch and see how its handled. Just have a willingness to learn and dont for what ever reason you have in your la ti da brain think you know it all.(theres a few that do) Being humble goes a long way. I learn many new thing each day. You will never stop learning if. Most students are great and I love teaching them when I can.
its been said before but I cant emphasize it enough: its so bad when a nurse asks students if they want to do something and the student says "no i've already done that before, i dont need to again". Take every opportunity to learn, even if you had done it 500 times you could still learn from different people.
Honestly: use your common sense, don't congregate in small or large groups to talk, let it be known that you are very eager to learn and are willing to do any task no matter how mundane, and accept the fact that you'll run into all types of nurses throughout your career as a student/working nurse. Some will be very nice nurses and others will be not-so-nice nurses. Learn all you can from the nice ones, and take the latter with a grain of salt.
mikeicurn, ASN, RN
139 Posts
Be eager to learn. Ask if there is anything you can do to help. If I ask you to do something don't say "I already know how to do it". So do I, but it still needs to be done.
When you are not doing anything, go through the clean utility and learn where things are. So when I need something you can grab it. That is a great help.
Don't tell me how you don't want to be a nurse, and you are only doing this because you have to because you are going to be a NP or CRNA. Then expect me to bend over backwards to teach you about this profession that I love. Nothing will get me to lose interest in you faster.
Don't act like you are too good to wipe up. It is an important part of my job, and although sometimes it may be unpleasant, it needs to be done. If you won't wipe it up now, then you probably won't do it if you are employed here, which means more work for me, so why would I want to help you.
If you want to know something, speak up. Something that might interest you might be something I take for granted. I had an LPN student working around me some time back. I was giving meds and she was interested in the act-o-vials Solumedrol came in, and the spring loaded syringes for the Fragmin. I wouldn't have thought to show her if she hadn't asked me about them.
If you don't know, ask. I don't expect you to know everything. I don't mind answering questions. If I ask you to do something, and you are unsure about it. ASK. Don't do it wrong, or half way, and leave it for me to find later like a landmine.
Most of all, enjoy yourself. Clinicals were the funnest part of nursing school.