Question RE posts by student nurses

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello all! I would like to say first that I really enjoy this forum. I have learned so much about what is ahead of me, some things are scary, some exciting. I do not make a habit of posting in the General forum, unless I am saying something general like my opinion on something non-nursing related.

I am curious as to whether any posts at all by student nurses are bothersome to some of you, or is it only when non-nurses post about nursing practice matters? The last thing I want to do is offend anyone on here, especially since I hope to be a more active part of the discussions when I do finally join the nursing world. If it is bothersome or offensive for us students to post anywhere outside the student forums, I understand and will make sure to keep my posts confined to that area.

Thanks! :)

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

I pretty much ignore any posts from students, if that answers your question. They're usually rants about bad preceptors, "my instructor hates me," that sort of stuff. Sometimes they jump into situations and offer opinions without having the experience to contribute meaningfully. And then there's the infamous, "Do my homework for me" posts. I never help with homework...ever. That's why student posts go largely ignored by me. I must say, you did a good job with this thread.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I totally respect your opinion, but I would like to clarify something. Do you dislike it when student nurses post about any topic, or only about topics that they can't possible know enough about to comment. For example, say you posted about a really bad day you had, and I replied with something like "I am so sorry you had such a bad day! Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Hugs!" is that something you would want to ignore as well?

I only ask because those are the types of things that I say when replying to a post. I never give opinions on subjects that I am not knowledgeable about, and I don't think anyone should. I don't, however, feel that the students should feel completely excluded from all discussion outside of the student forums, as long as we stay away from homework and opinions and judgments about matters on which we are ignorant.

No, I wouldn't necessarily ignore a "Have a better day" post. But sometimes students jump into clinical issues when they clearly don't have the experience to comment meaningfully about the issue. Those I definitely ignore. I will sometimes post on a thread where someone needs encouragement.

I think it has more to do with students offering advice they're not qualified to give. Or the classic, "I wouldn't want you for a preceptor/co-worker/taking care of my Mom/etc.

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I pretty much ignore any posts from students, if that answers your question. They're usually rants about bad preceptors, "my instructor hates me," that sort of stuff. Sometimes they jump into situations and offer opinions without having the experience to contribute meaningfully. And then there's the infamous, "Do my homework for me" posts. I never help with homework...ever. That's why student posts go largely ignored by me. I must say, you did a good job with this thread.

Thank you! Even though I am still a student, I also get a bit irritated at the same things that you and many others do. I thoroughly enjoy productive, adult conversation, and that is often lacking in some of my fellow students' discussions. Believe it or not, I usually ignore them as well.

For me, it's not so much the fact that they are students (hey, that's what I am!) It is just the overall tone and content that get to me. Overall, though, I think this is a wonderful place to learn and get an idea of what lies ahead for me. I'm all about preparation! :)

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No, I wouldn't necessarily ignore a "Have a better day" post. But sometimes students jump into clinical issues when they clearly don't have the experience to comment meaningfully about the issue. Those I definitely ignore. I will sometimes post on a thread where someone needs encouragement.

I think it has more to do with students offering advice they're not qualified to give. Or the classic, "I wouldn't want you for a preceptor/co-worker/taking care of my Mom/etc.

I completely agree!

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Specializes in Nurse Educator, Culturally Sensitive Nsg.

I'm thinking this is the most spot on comment in the entire thread.

"I've also found that without the knowledge of veterans, GNs are lost... and I've learned with the knowledge of GN's, a lot of veterans don't keep up with the new way of doing things, so vets and GNs really need each other."

The Director of our Medical residency program made the comment this week at an all staff meeting, "Residents are here to learn, but the Docs are almost unanimously happy to have them here, because it keeps them on their toes, bringing to the forefront topics that are of the moment, and procedures and knowledge that are fresh and cutting edge. It keeps Dr's that have been practicing for 20+ years thinking about the new information... and that is to the benefit of our patients."

Nurses should be on the same wavelength.

No, a student is NOT going to have your experience, depth of knowlege, or judgement based on the above...but they may have something to contribute. Nurses that "Eat their young" are doing no service to anyone.

AND... Student's/New Grads that are snotty about their limited, book based knowlege...learn to tell yourself to WAIT... (Why Am I Talking)... you haven't been there yet. Be respectful. Despite all your book learning, you DON't have the experience. When you have been out of school for a while, you will START to understand what you DON'T know.

Nastiness has no place in nursing, from students (your future collegues) OR the seasoned veterans who ought to know better. We went into nursing to help, what happened?

That being said, can't we all just get along? ;-)

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That being said, can't we all just get along? ;-)

I agree 110%!!

Now, let's all hold hands and sing Kumbaya! LOL, Just kidding! :D

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Specializes in Nurse Educator, Culturally Sensitive Nsg.
I agree 110%!!

Now, let's all hold hands and sing Kumbaya! LOL, Just kidding! :D

BAHAHAHA... I am partially in Community Health, and that is what we do... ;-)

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
I totally respect your opinion, but I would like to clarify something. Do you dislike it when student nurses post about any topic, or only about topics that they can't possible know enough about to comment. For example, say you posted about a really bad day you had, and I replied with something like "I am so sorry you had such a bad day! Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Hugs!" is that something you would want to ignore as well?

I only ask because those are the types of things that I say when replying to a post. I never give opinions on subjects that I am not knowledgeable about, and I don't think anyone should. I don't, however, feel that the students should feel completely excluded from all discussion outside of the student forums, as long as we stay away from homework and opinions and judgments about matters on which we are ignorant.

I agree with OCNRN, you have done a very nice job with this thread...and it is useful and constructive. It is well written and well thought out. It is a polar opposite to another post on this thread...which I feel pretty much illustrates why "we" sometimes feel this way.

Just understand that we do get tired of being asked to do homework....and we do get tired of being told that we "eat our young"...I mean really? Do you think we just heard this line for the first time? I just laugh at anyone who uses that now...it shows such ignorance.

But you seem to be a cut above..keep up the good work.

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Specializes in Nurse Educator, Culturally Sensitive Nsg.

Just understand that we do get tired of being asked to do homework....and we do get tired of being told that we "eat our young"...I mean really? Do you think we just heard this line for the first time? I just laugh at anyone who uses that now...it shows such ignorance.

Ouch. Case in point. Yes, I realize the comment is Cliche... but really? nasty, nasty. :-/

Never said you should do anyone's homework... just said nastiness isn't called for, Nurse.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

I agree with that statement. That comment is overused in the extreme. It needs to be retired.

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

It's overused but still so true.

I have to admit that I too hate text type talk, but I also understand many of the younger people do use it regularly and it is the norm for them. Not that I'm old...........but I guess I'm not that young either.

I will always be a student and will always ask questions (hopefully with very few typos) and I encourage the OP to do the same. There will always be a few who will give good advice, a few who will tell you what you need to hear (even if you don't like it), and a few who will come down on you like a ton of bricks because they are just miserable people wanting to make you miserable too. It's up to you what you take away from AN.

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Specializes in OB (with a history of cardiac).

I know it's easy to text talk but it has it's place- when texting, this is a forum and it sort of gives off an impression of...I guess I have to say immaturity. I don't mean to be mean, please don't anyone take it that way, but taking the time to write out what you're saying and spelling it right is just courtesy.

That said, it's funny to look back on how my thought process has changed. When I was in school to be an LPN I thought my instructors were all crabby, mean old biddies that needed to retire. When I graduated from the program (with a chip on my shoulder) I started precepting students from the very same program. I worked in pediatrics in a clinic and something happened- my instructors treated me as an equal! They were downright kindly! I started to realize- through precepting some students WHY the instructors were so hard and harsh. Because some of the students were just...lets just say they had no business being in that program and heaven help us if they are out there practicing as LPN's or RN's now. Like the one girl who decided to give herself a half day during her peds clinical- she got to watch a circumcision while I went on break and apparently breezed out of there, telling the other LPN who was standing in on the circ "oh, I only have a half day today." BALONEY! Then she tried telling me "oh, I got really dizzy and that doctor didn't know what she was doing, because that poor baby cried and cried and there was so much blood!" Uh huh...you could do better? And all the other nurses who were back at the nursing station said she didn't look one bit pale or any of it. I didn't report her. Sap that I am, I gave her the benefit of the doubt.

I'm an RN now. I work on tele/progressive care, and I've come to realize that I don't know if seasoned nurses eat their young so much as there are just personalities that don't mesh well...or there are just people who are crabs- just because they're a nurse doesn't mean they're a nice person, sadly. I've come to appreciate that in clinical, an instructor is paid to teach and walk through things with a student, and the staff RN is paid to do their regular job ON TOP OF minding a student in the background. What you learn in school- it's just not the same as in the workplace. A student who points something out to a staff RN that's not by-the-book may think they're helping, but it comes across as undermining. Yeah we were all students one time, and we all probably had that one preceptor, or one instructor who still strikes fear into the pit of our tummies at the mere mention of their names. But really, they probably have an instructor like that too.

I don't know where I'm going with this, I just worked 3 nights in a row, I could be sleeping right now for all I know!:D

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