Rules for Nursing School

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Following on from the other "Rules" Threads:

1. Turn off your mobile phone, if it absolutely must be on, let the lecturer know and keep it on the lowest possible volume or on silent (it is a rule at my school if your phone goes off you owe the lecturer chocolate or alcohol depending on the lecturers preference)

2. If you are a new student don't act like you know more than the students who have been there for longer (unless of course you do)

3. If the course has an online group and you can read previous questions, do not ask the same question again and again, the lecturer and other people will get sick of answering the same question 5 or 6 or even 7 times (you will be notified if the answer is different)

4. If you tell someone something it's bound to get around to other people so be careful what you tell people (Rumours spread extremely fast)

5. Be polite to your lecturers and respect them for who they are (They are the ones marking your assignments, and I'm afraid they know a lot more than you do presently)

6. If you have a story you are willing to share related to the current topic by all means share it but if it's not related forget it

7. Don't constantly complain about the number of hours you have to attend campus or how long it takes to do your assignments or how much study you need to do or how many readings you have, everyone is in the same boat and if you keep doing that you are likely to get offside with other students.

Help one another out. At clinical if you are finished early see if any of your fellow students could use a hand. Don't go sit on your duff in the break room or where ever else complaining how everyone else is " so slow". Stop putting down the skills of your fellow classmate if you are faster/better at it then them....chances are you totally stink at something yourself. :)

Show up on time for clinicals. The person with the 5th flat tire or 10th alarm clock that " broke" overnight...it gets OLD...it also always seems to put the CI in a bad mood...so for the love of it all...think of your fellow man.

If you are in a group project that has an oral presentation - DO YOUR HOMEWORK before you get up to speak and can't answer a single question...it really infuriates your felllow project-mates when you look like a baffoon up there and make the presentation look like it's ill-prepared....when all if US were prepared for our parts ( total pet peeve of mine lol).

Have a sense of humor. It will go a LONG way in making a bad day better. Don't be "that person" who takes every single thing personally..seriously.

Lastly please refrain from gossip/drama/etc while waiting for pre-post conference/lecture to begin. The instructor is still in the room!

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
I can't believe anger. I just don't get the anger.

I understand the point being made about what happens when we get on a floor....I understand everyone has family issues....it's a fine balance and we each have to make our own decisions when push comes to shove about which will take precedence in our lives...

I also take issue with the use of the term "retard"....I haphazardly used it the other day in front of my 19 y/o and I thought he was going to clock me (I'm a child of the 70's and it was used very loosely in those days)...he let me know in no uncertain terms it was unacceptable...he's worked with Special Olympics and is very sensitive to others...I took his reprimand seriously and apologized as he was right...

As to the anger issue....man, after looking through a few threads in the past day or so, I started wondering if it was the stress of coming up on finals for so many of us, lol....and with that, I'm heading up to do some studying....

Good luck all!!

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Rules:

1. If you are given reading assignments, start them early.

2. Try to get all your books as soon as possible.

3.Don't get caught up in the drama ie: gossip, cliques,etc.

4. You have a problem with someone, take a few minutes, get your thoughts in order, and THEN address your concerns to the individual, without labelling, using I statments and keeping your voice neutral, sounds corny, but it works.

5. If you are having diffculties, ask for help IMMEDIATELY. A study buddy or group is great for exams.

6. Review, Revew, review.

I follow my nursing program like a horse race. I wear blinders so that my focus is on the goal. I help out my fellow nursing students when I can but I don't get caught up in the "fluff". They help me and I help them. We work as a team and I appreciate all the different backgrounds, personalities, cultures, etc. that I encounter...on the topic of the cell phone ...if there's an understanding between the teacher and the student and the cellphone is on vibrate...what's the problem! Some students have more responsiblities than others, are we going to argue for everything! btw: i'm single and have no kids...my friends can call me later!

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I second the motion regarding getting an NCLEX book. Buy it. Read it - do the questions again and again and again. The same is true for ATI books. They're a great resource.

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Get some sleep before you come to clinicals. Yes we are all busy and it is hard, but a student running on 1-2 hours of sleep passing narcs, digoxin, HTN meds on their own is not a good idea. Not to mention IV stuff but I am assuming that all students must have a nurse present for that.

Try to stay busy because you learn more and it makes the day go by faster. Know when to ask questions and when to be quiet. Not a day goes by that I don't have to tell my 6 year old daughter "mommy needs 10 minutes of quiet time right now". I am sure the nurses feel this way too sometimes. Let them have a quiet moment and don't disrupt someones break/lunch unless you need to tell them something right away or need a question answered right away.

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2 Things:

1: If you are a Mom at school and your kid or kid's caregiver calls you...don't feel bad about taking the call. Its better if you step out to take it, and its better if it vibrates instead of rings but hey, family first. I would rather tick off a couple of classmates than go home and find my 3 year old (if I had one) is now in the emerg from a misplaced feeding tube because I was too scared to answer the phone.

2) For the new studets... ANSWER questions posed in class. VOLUNTEER for scenerios if needed. ASK questions if you have them. PARTICIPATE!!!! This isn't highschool anymore. The people that used to laugh at you for always raising your hand to answer questions aren't here anymore (although you might see them if you stop in for dinner on the way home and then the only question they will have is "would you like fries with that").

Nobody is going to laugh at you...its okay to be a keener.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

Why the refusal to address the hypothetical? Trust me, the situation is real, any nurse with kids has gotten that one for real.

The rules exist because that's how you make nurses. It's supposed to be hard. I didn't get that when I was sitting in class, but now I do. This isn't like working in an office or selling things. This job carries moral responsiblity and there's no easy way to learn how to shoulder that burden.

Pete

RN, CFRN, EMT-P

Writing from the Ninth Circle

Like I said...because that situation is very unlikely to happen. Why would I sit and worry about something that probably won't be an issue.

Yes it's hard. What's the point there? There's no harm in me having my cell phone in my pocket set on vibrate. That doesn't hurt anyone. I would also never leave a patient at the drop of a hat but with quick contact I can work to get a replacement or possibly stay and let my husband know what he needs to do.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
I also take issue with the use of the term "retard"....I haphazardly used it the other day in front of my 19 y/o and I thought he was going to clock me (I'm a child of the 70's and it was used very loosely in those days)...he let me know in no uncertain terms it was unacceptable...he's worked with Special Olympics and is very sensitive to others...I took his reprimand seriously and apologized as he was right...

I was basically just trying to put the warning out there. It has become a MAJOR no no word. It's something that I have seen cause HUGE issues when said. I know there are a lot of people who are unaware that this term, while once a silly comment, has almost become the n word for those with special needs.

Kuddos to your son for working with the Special Olympics.

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
I was basically just trying to put the warning out there. It has become a MAJOR no no word. It's something that I have seen cause HUGE issues when said. I know there are a lot of people who are unaware that this term, while once a silly comment, has almost become the n word for those with special needs.

I'm about 20 years older than you, and when I was kid, that was a word bandied about often to refer to someone when they were being stupid or silly or whatever....I honestly can't think of the last time I used it in "polite company", but I was goofing around with my son...almost as soon as the word fell out of my mouth I knew I was in for it....he's a great kid....

But then again, in those days we used a lot of other words that one doesn't hear often either -- groovy, that's boss, etc. What a bunch of weirdos WE were, lol!!

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Specializes in OBGYN, Neonatal.

...it's none of their business what is in MY pocket.

I have to agree with you here. I do not answer my phone in school and it is on vibrate in school. On clinicals it is also unless I"m in a unit where it is specifically dangerous to have it on (i.e. in the NICU today they had signs posted everywhere about an oscillator in use, all cellphones to be turned off).

I have a child and a husband and a 76 year old FIL at home, none of which are special needs, other than FIL having lung cancer but its not a special need. I just believe that I'm an adult and am responsible enough to do what needs to be done and not let my phone interfere. Again I do not answer it, nor do I text message or anything else in class/clinicals. My Hubby has the contact information for the school should an emergency arise. I'm sure he would call my cellphone first but I don't answer it so he'd have to call elsewhere LOL! But my point is yes - its nobody's business whether I have a phone on me, it is my business and responsbility to keep it quiet and not interrupt. Good call!

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Specializes in ER.

Have a sense of humor. It will go a LONG way in making a bad day better. Don't be "that person" who takes every single thing personally..seriously.

:idea: I second that thought.

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Specializes in Junior Year of BSN.

Hey everyone...these are great rules/tips.

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