Rude Nurses

LouisVRN, RN · May 13, 2011

While i am sorry for your experiences I have to offer several insights after having been on the floor for awhile. The first thing I would like to tell you is that often the nurses who get students also get tougher assignments. As students are often not there for the entire day and can not completely care for a patient independently this becomes an added burden on them. Then add in the student asking a bunch of questions (which is entirely within their right and important part of their education) but the nurse then becomes overwhelmed. It is also not the nurses responsibility to ensure you are meeting your required goals for school and if you have concerns about this this should be taken to your instructor. I also do not agree with nurses who pawn off vital signs, bed baths, feedings, etc on students as an extra pair of hands, it needs to be a respectful relationship both ways.

nursetiffany. · May 13, 2011

im lucky to have great caring nurses to work with that help teach us newbies.

kakamegamama · May 13, 2011

OP---even "I need a name" is better than the original. Do you have a special interest? A particular field of nursing you are interested in? A projected year of graduating from nursing school? Any of these might lead you to a good choice of screen name.

AngelicDarkness · May 13, 2011

Well speaking as a former ER RN and as a pre hospital provider it does get rather frustrating when nurind homes send ou patients that really do not need to go. It sounds like this patient need tylenol and the antibiotics that were sprescribed instead of being moved and shipped out of your facility, which for the patient, I am sure is not the most comfortable thing when you do not feel good.
Don't take it personally, but after you are the nurse/emt/paramedic/MD who sees this kind of needless transport to the ER over and over again it starts to get to ya!
Sorry about any tyepos, on an IPAD and typing is not so easy!
Happy

No worries on typos, but the point is, was it necessary to call and vent at 3am? I understand you might see the same thing day and day, but I mean looking at the MAR with my RN supervisor, tylenol TID would mask the fever, and with no PRN orders I'm not losing my license to help emerg numbers in Ontario. Policies and procedures in each place vary. End of the story is that this patient was admitted with an infection in her kidneys. The infection had gone too far from a cure with tylenol and antibiotics.

Great typing for an IPAD:) Those things are tricky to work with!:) :yeah:

Katie5 · May 13, 2011

ALL nurses should be willing to have students - - we were all students at one time. And a large amount of our time is spent teaching things, anyway- - meds, procedures, tasks.
.

I don't exactly agree- all nurses do not have to have students. Willing to be helpful, yes, but to take on that student as a preceptor, no, especially if that nurse does not have teaching abilities.

Being a previous student does not a teacher make.Those who are well suited to be preceptors, I believe, will rise to the occasion and do it admirably. But please don't in a misguided way of making up for being students at one time, pair up unwilling nurses with students.Doesn't help either party in the long run.

lailaniboriqua · May 13, 2011

I loved having students on my floor! When I see students eager to practice what they've learned, it makes me happy to facilitate such growth. Yes, it eats up a lot of my time but when a student approaches me with a sincere Thank You, then its definitely worth it! We've all been in the same position. I can remember the fear I had my first day at clinicals, my hands were shakey my mind was racing and I felt very faint. I just wanted this day to be over. Then a blessing in the form of a nurse appeared. She was the nurse I had been assigned to shadow. I'll never forget her first words to me, "Take a deep breath, release the tension and above all dare to be inquisitive". The day I was dreading the most was the day I wanted never to end! Before I left, I thanked that nurse for allowing me to shadow her. I also apologized for taking up a lot of her time with questions. Her last words to me that day were, "I was like you once and one day you'll be in my position and someone will be like you. Never pass up an opportunity to encorage growth in learning ".

She went above and beyond what I expected! She started the positive chain reaction and I intended to keep it going.

JeneraterRN · May 13, 2011

Rudeness knows no bounds, as does kindness. This is not exclusive to nursing, it happens in every field. The only thing you can do with rude people is to control your own behavior. Be assertive, but not aggressive with rude individuals. People will notice a self confident but kind SN, and may bode well for future job opportunities.

nurseynursej · May 13, 2011

Well speaking as a former ER RN and as a pre hospital provider it does get rather frustrating when nurind homes send ou patients that really do not need to go.

I am a new grad in a SNF, 8 months in. I have caught many a residents with early s/s of many acute illnesses that were missed by earlier staff. I work 3-11 shift. I have had paramedics roll their eyes at me for sending residents out, ED nurses snicker at me when I give telephone report regarding a resident. We are highly scrutinized in the long term care for assessing and responding to changes in residents ASAP. Please remember that we care for these people on an almost daily basis and small changes can turn to bigger problems in a matter of days. We don't have doctors available to assess and write orders on-demand, medications available without first having a doctor ok administering it or a 'code' team to call in an emergency situation. One of the nurses that snickered at me on the phone asked 'why didn't you just give her a PRN BP med for her high blood pressure, vomitting, and pallor?' b/c she doesn't have an order for a PRN bp med and the doctor on-call on the phone stated to send her to ED for eval and treat. I really wish there wasn't such a stigma against LTC nurses being 'less than intelligent'. btw the resident the paramedics rolled their eyes about had a serious case of PNA. I'm not always right but I have found it is better to be safe than sorry so to speak

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · May 13, 2011

There are some rude nasty nurses and then there are some wonderful, caring nurses that are great mentors. Because I'm on both ends as a LPN who has students at my job and a current RN student who attends clinicals I can sympathize on both ends. When ever I go to clinical I also let the nurses know that patient care comes first and my learning comes second. There is no way I want to be a burden but at the same time we need to respect eachother both ways.

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · May 13, 2011

ALL nurses should be willing to have students - - we were all students at one time. And a large amount of our time is spent teaching things, anyway- - meds, procedures, tasks.

I agree that it would be nice in theory, but there are some nurses who do not prefer to be preceptors. I completely respect that. Not everyone is cut out to be a preceptor.

However, that by no means means that particular nurses who choose not to precept are "rude" or "uncaring"

caliotter3 · May 13, 2011

Just like there are some who should not be driving instructors, there are some who should not precept or teach nursing students in the classroom.

nurseladyk · May 13, 2011

I also experienced a lot of this in nursing school. I personally enjoy having a student work with me for the day. It is fun for me to help them have a good experience. I also think that the rudeness I have observed is not just directed at nursing students. I also see these same rude people being rude to nurses in other departments.