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).
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!!!!
Please tell me you busted him on that and that was at least a little bit embarrassed!
Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
As a second-year student, it's just blowing my mind to hear of students turning down opportunities to do skills because they've "already been checked off" on that item.
No wonder all my preceptors have always given my clinical instructors glowing reports -- I answer call lights no matter whose room it is, I help with bedside commodes or bedpans no matter whose room it is, I clear meal trays no matter whose room it is... it's not rocket science, and happy floor nurses --> better student experience!
My hat is off to all you seasoned nurses who have ever heard, "No, I don't need to do that again" from a student and managed to not slap them upside the head. What a stupid thing for them to say!!!!
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.
Not an RN yet- just got admitted to the program- but as an LPN, I do have some insight for you.
You will find there are floor nurses who would rather you go away and leave them alone. They will resent your presence and this cannot be helped. If it becomes an issue where you are unable to do your work, you need to alert your instructor who can take the issue up with the DON or the administrator.
Don't suck up. I have more respect for students who know their assignments and get to work. Nothing irks me more than seeing students (or even my CNAs!!) standing around jabbering when there are things to be done.
Don't ever hesitate to ask a question. While your teacher is there for you, there are other students to tend to. As the floor nurse, I don't mind answering a question but the chances are that I don't have a lot of time for a lengthy conversation. While you have one patient, I have 20.
Please, for the love of GOD, tell me when you are taking a chart. If I need it, I won't know where to find it otherwise.
I hope this helps and please remember to relax. The first clinical day of the very first clinical rotation has you feeling like a fish out of water. You're there to learn, and most of us understand that.
If you don't have anything going on with your patient (and your work is "done") don't just sit at the nurses' station and do nothing. Answer call lights and help out! If you're not sure about something, it's okay to say "I will ask your nurse." Ask the other nurses if you can help them with something. Take every opportunity as a learning opportunity, even if it is the 20th time you've cleaned someone up and changed their bed.
If your patient needs changing, help walking to the bathroom, help with feeding, etc. HELP THEM! Please don't go and hunt down a tech. In the time it takes you to find a tech, more than likely, you could have completed the task. It also gives you a chance to look at their bottom, watch them ambulate, assess their swallowing, etc. Same goes for if you need a finger stick or vital signs, get them yourself. When you become a nurse, you may not have the luxury of a tech in your facility. It drives me crazy to see my colleagues hunt down a tech to get their pt a cup of water. Our techs are already spread pretty thin with 15 pts each. So if my pt needs a drink, pillow fluff, a/c adjusted and I'm not swamped, I don't even consider asking the tech, I do it myself.
When I was in school, we did it all- from vitals and bathing to assessments and meds. I am appauled at some of the students that I'm seeing on our floor. They stand around twidling their thumbs and waiting for something exciting to happen. In the meantime, they could be helping the techs pass out trays, get blood sugars, etc.
Also remember that your clinicals are like a job interview and with the latest peer group interviews that are taking place, chances are that you will be interviewed by some of the nurse, techs, and managers that you did clinicals with. If I were on the peer interview panel for some of the students I've had follow me....I wouldn't want to work with them.
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
For gosh sakes if you are doing something gross or unpleasant keep your expression neutral. Be aware of it if you tend to make an EWWWW face. It makes the patient feel awful and breaks their trust and it makes me want to bop you upside the head.
Thanks for all the great advice. I'm starting school this August, and of course, I'm nervous about clinicals. I will try to remember everything here and not be nervous and annoying.
So running over to their garbage for a 15 second "Technicolor Yawn" is probably frowned upon too, but My student nurse couldn't help herself. (Tunneling Stage IV, Prior to debridement!) I could see the paleness in her face, but when I pulled out something with my stats, and said, "that" my nursling is a Maggot!
Like so many others have said, don't run to the tech. Think finger sticks are "beneath you?" Guess what, Ms ICU Wanna Be, there aren't a whole lot of techs in most ICUs and someone has to do q1h glucose sticks on your DKA pts on insulin drips.
Also repeating other people--don't say "Oh, I've been checked off on that, I don't need to do it again." If you've done a skill several times, it's probably something you'll be doing for the rest of your nursing career. Even if it seems like a less useful skill, practice it. I spent my very first semester on a floor where 90% of patients had colostomies, so I learned a TON about colostomies. As a new grad, I taught my preceptor some tricks for a patient of ours with a colostomy; it's an unusual thing on my unit. That first rotation has really paid off for me.
Don't be afraid to volunteer to do something. Is a nurse holding an NG tube and that's something you want to work on? Ask them OUTSIDE the patient's room and you'd be surprised what some people will agree to. Be gracious, even if the RN says no. "Ok, thanks. I'll be if any other opportunities present themselves."
You are NOT a help to RNs. Sometimes, yes, it's nice for the extra pair of hands or for someone to keep the demented LOL occupied so she isn't on the call bell every 10 minutes, but generally students slow down RNs and a lot of hospitals don't even pay anything extra, so we're doing extra work for free. Smart charge nurses place students with RNs who don't mind or who even like to teach, but don't abuse the good will with an attitude of "I turned your patient so you HAVE to answer my 20 questions that my instructor could probably answer better."
If you aren't sure what to do, get the nurse. If something scary is happening and you don't know what to do, pop your head out the door and yell "Help!" It's far better to freak out over nothing than not react in a bad situation. For the first tonic-clonic seizing patient that was really & truly mine as an RN, I panicked a little (ok, maybe a lot!) and all I could do was yell "Seizure!" A ton of other nurses came and helped me, I unfroze myself, and everything turned out ok.
This is all such great advice! Thank you to all the nurses that responded. I am a 3rd semester nursing student and this helps so much, especially the thank you card idea. That is not something I have thought of yet. I have never once said (or heard any classmates say) that I have done a procedure once, therefore I don't want to do it again. Doing something once does NOT make you an expert at it! It's actually scary that a student would decline to do a procedure again. Thanks again for all the advice!
Oh FFS. I'm a recent grad. I remember objectives, clinical instructors who did little to explain proper etiquette to us, feeling underfoot, etc. And I also remember being aware that even though I had a job to do as a student that I was a guest on the floor and that ultimately, it was about the patient and not me. Behaving in a way that makes it challenging for nurses to do their work hinders the care a patient gets. It's ok to tell a student WHO IS ASKING what bothers nurses what bothers us.
To the OP: we don't have regular clinical students on my floor, we just get them on observational days. The thing that bugs me the most is when they're following me but not walking as quickly as me. Because then I feel like I'm leaving them in the dust and should be slowing down so I don't lose them and then I get frustrated about wasting precious time on traveling. So....if you're ever following a nurse around, keep their pace!
Be aware of frequently traveled paths- don't hang out in front of the pyxis or in a narrow walkway.
Other than that...I love answering questions, showing how to do skills. I don't always know what you're allowed to do so if you tell me you want/need to practice something I'll keep that in mind and look to you when that situation comes up.
For me it's simple. Show some interest. Act like you actually want to be a nurse. What I mean by that is ask questions and make yourself available. Show the staff that you actually care about what's going on. I think it all comes down to your mindset and attitude.
Horseshoe, BSN, RN
5,879 Posts
Please tell me you busted him on that and that was at least a little bit embarrassed!