Regarding nursing students- was this too much to ask?

[blondy2061h]

I have a new nursing student starting with me next week. She'll spend 50 hours with me. She emailed me to introduce her self and asked what the unit was like. I work on a BMT unit. I wrote her back telling her that, and telling her that we give a lot of medications. I gave her a list of a dozen of our most common meds and asked her to come familiar with them. Now that I think about it, though, I'm not sure that was appropriate. I feel like I gave her a homework assignment, and that's not really my job. I'm sure she already has enough homework as it is. However, in nursing school I was expected to be familiar with the meds I have and I think all nurses should be. If I try and teach her about all of the meds on the unit I fear we'll be giving 10am meds at 3pm, but I want to be able to involve her. What do you think?

[AZMOMO2]

She won't mind... it's not like you asked her to write a Careplan Anyway having an idea of the meds that are common is actually something that is done frequently. I was asked to review some wound dressings for my Preceptorship on an Ortho Trauma floor that were commonly done... helped a lot considering on my first shift I had one of those and could actually do the dressing the correct way the first time!

[armychic]

I would be elated that someone would actually take the time to prep me. I just graduated an felt unprepared all the time in clinicals. Passing meds is time consuming and rarely does another nurse take time to explain anything.

[Old Soul]

I think this is a perfectly reasonable request if she is giving those meds. Even as a first-year student, I have always been asked to be familiar with the meds I am giving, including: basic pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, adverse effects, and related assessments. It is a good feeling for a student to look at a MAR and think to herself/himself, "I know these!"

[tigerlogic]

It's great. In pharm classes sometimes profs focus on prototype drugs that don't actually matter. A student worth his/her salt will want to be prepared. You facilitated that. I personally would be grateful.

[Shaninreallife]

As a nursing student who is just now allowed to pass meds, I would have appreciated that "homework assignment" more than you know. There is nothing worse than to be unprepared when your instructor quizzes you on a certain medication and you NOT having the right answer. Kudos to you for thinking ahead! That's what good nurses do, right? :)

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

As a student, if she emailed and asked you for advice, I think its terrific that you responded! I would have loved the opportunity to research meds with a weeks notice, rather than the night before when I had to go for prep, to find out the patient has a laundry list of meds to research, along with the patho of why they're in the hospital!

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

Nope, this was a great idea. I can't tell you how much I hated writing out what Colace does every night before clinical for two years, I wish I had had a head start!!

[puroticorico, MSN, CNA, RN]

As a recent grad, I think this is a welcomed "assign,net". I would have taken you up on it. But if the student has difficulty with the mess or doesn't come to the unit with enough knowledge, don't make her feel dumb (I doubt you will) if she can't remember something about the drug being questioned. I hated when nurses would quiz me because I would get nervous and forget the answer to what was being asked. Be lenient and keep a close eye on her. Yet, explain all the meds while you give the, and then towards the end shell be able to do the same back to you :).

[DowntheRiver]

I agree with carsm3. As a nursing student about to enter her preceptorship in the Fall, I would love an instructor like that!

[netglow, ASN, RN]

I think it's a great idea. Half the anxiety and muddling around during clinicals is surrounding medpass. It's always better to have something to be able to prepare!

[CharlieChase]

As a nursing student currently completing my preceptorship, I absolutely think it is okay to have asked her to know those medications. I am doing my preceptorship at a psychiatric facility and had minimal knowledge of psychotropic medication and was "encouraged" to be familiar with about 25-30 regularly administered medications. It helps to be familiar, and as an anxious student, it really helps to know about the medication when a patient asks you about what they are taking!

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

If she took the time to email you to introduce herself and ask about the unit, I'd be willing to bet she was thankful that you sent her that list. I would be. Most slackers don't bother with an email to introduce themselves and ask questions. :)