Shortage?! HAH! Some RNs don't act like there is a shortage!!

LoriAnnRN · Jan 17, 2003

I have witnessed student nurses being treated poorly and I was not always 'appreciated' when I was a student either. Personally, I liked having a student assigned to one of my patients; they are a big help and their instructors were accessible for any problems or questions that I was not able to deal with. The last student I had assigned to me was when I worked for the state of Florida Department of Health. She was a BSN student with about 12 years of flight nursing experience under her belt! Crying out loud, I asked her for help!

Chttynurs · Jan 17, 2003

I'm sorry you're not feeling appreciated. I was treated pretty badly at a couple of hospitals when I was a student, and you couldn't pay me enough to ever work at either of them!! You're right, todays students are our future co-workers, and I help them out as much as I can, expose them to as much as I can! I happen to love working with students, they're always a big help. Good luck with your clinicals, I hope the atmosphere improves for you! :)

NurseGirlKaren · Jan 17, 2003

Speaking for myself...nurses are busy, and when there are students, having to explain what you're doing while you're doing it takes alot of extra effort (especially when you're trying to give them a good experience). However, that's no excuse for anyone to be rude, and students need the experience, as that's how you learn. When I was in nursing school and doing my maternity clinical, I decided that when I was in labor and delivery that I would let nursing students watch. Medical students, I'm not so sure of....

Good luck, and keep your chin up!

fab4fan · Jan 17, 2003

I remember some nurses who were absolute terrors when I was in nsg. school.

Our school didn't usually co-assign us w/ LPN's (not a slap against LPN's here, they wanted us to do things the LPN's were not allowed to do). But I was assigned during one rotation with a wonderful LPN...good grief that was 20y ago adn I still remember her name.

A few years ago, I bumped into her, and told her how much I appreciated her kindness and help...God love her, she started to cry.

So there are bad ones out there, but boy oh boy, do I remember Janet...bless her.

nursbee04 · Jan 17, 2003

During my first set of clinicals, most of the nurses were pretty nice, it was the docs that I had problems with. I would be working on a chart, and they would just grab it without asking and not put it back where it belongs, which left me looking for charts all the time!! Hopefully I won't have to do that too much this semester. Anyway, I know how you feel.

(((((U R NOT ALONE!!))))) Hopefully it'll get better. Good luck to ya!!

maizey · Jan 17, 2003

Being busy is no excuse to be rude to nursing students. I love having the nursing students around because it reminds me of how excited I was as a student and helps me remember why I went into this profession in the first place.

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2003

The nurse I worked with today in Labor and Delivery was just awesome!! We were really busy but she still took the time to explain things to me. I hope the nurses at all my clinicals are like her!

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 17, 2003

Find your mentors, and follow them. Not all nurses are interested in precepting or teaching students. Some shy away from it; others are quite hostile. It's a shame, because I personally LOVE them. I love what I do and love even more the light in students' eyes when I teach them as I go. Sometimes, the BEST learning opportunities arise when I am busiest and LEAST in the mood to teach. But I remember, I was there once and we all have to learn somehow.

But whatever you do, do NOT take it personally and dont' let it get to you or you wont' make it. We have all been there. Just look for the resources most available to you and work smart. You will make out ok.

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 17, 2003

Originally posted by EmeraldNYL
The nurse I worked with today in Labor and Delivery was just awesome!! We were really busy but she still took the time to explain things to me. I hope the nurses at all my clinicals are like her!

Don't count on it!!! But remember your experience and remember to "pay it forward" when your turn comes to take a student or grad nurse under your wing and help him/her learn. We learn from good and bad experiences. Enjoy the good ones and remember the bad ones as those you would never perpetuate on others. Good luck!

passing thru · Jan 17, 2003

In our hospital, one nurse is delegated resource nurse for the days the students are there. She is assigned fewer patients and then has time to mentor the nursing students properly.

ANEWBYRN · Jan 17, 2003

Thanks to everyone who has replied to this thread. I truly appreciate all your feedback.

This is my last semester of ADN program. In the past, I have worked with some GREAT nurses. I will never forget their patience, encouragement, and kindness. They demonstrated the qualities that I want to acquire as an RN. I have also worked with nurses who were polite, but not very interested in being shadowed. I understand that having a student hovering around could get tiresome. And I don't expect anyone to roll out the red carpet. But, at one clinical site, every time our group stepped off the elevator, we were greeted by one of the staff. She usually said things like, "Welcome! Good morning--we are so glad that y'all are here." I'll never forget that. It set the tone for the whole day. I don't expect to hear that everywhere I go to do clinicals. But, today, the only person who initiated any kind of friendly verbal contact with me was the anesthesiologist. I try to at least smile anytime I make eye contact with anybody. But some of the nurses could barely manage a very begrudging "Hi" after I said "Good morning." I just think it's ridiculous!!

I try to always be considerate of all the staff when I'm in clinicals. I know that everyone there has a job to do and I don't want to hinder anyone. I try very hard not to be a nuisance.

Anyway, I just needed to talk about this to people who would understand. Thanks again for listening!:)