Student Charge Nurse out of line

Nursing Students General Students

Published

I'm upset due to an issue that happened at a recent clinical. I was having a problem taking a patient's blood pressure and so I asked another student for assistance. Our student "charge" also came into the room for some reason. I told her what was happening and she suggested taking a manual. Great idea...prob should have thought of that myself, but I did not. In any event, I was successful taking the manual bp. As I was entering the vitals she came and asked me about the bp. I tripped over my words and then told her the reading.

I cannot for the life of me figure out why she went and asked the other student that was present if she "saw" me take the blood pressure. The only thing I can think of is that she thought I was lying because I kind of stumbled with my response.

It's bothering me and I can't decide if I should approach her or not. I probably need to work on my "let it go" skills but at the same time I feel like she crossed a line. I'm a fully accountable individual and the last thing I would ever do is pretend that I got a bp.

Any advice?

I just graduated in May. Last clinical group we had a team leader and a safety monitor each week. We rotated the rolls weekly. We had one get uppity like that and the group just blew it off. A lot of times people do that to hide their own securities. Anyway come pinning night, guess who wasn't there? Turns out someone was passing clinical, but not the exams. Not saying this is the case with yours, but just saying there's always some reason behind the behavior. The only opinion that matters in the end is your clinical instructor's. In your shoes I wouldn't worry in the least.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Nursing school ALWAYS needs more drama! It feeds on it!

So true, So true. At first the drama is like a small potted plant you can set aside on a window sill, the next thing you know....

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27522[/ATTACH]

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I agree with the others. Let it go.

But ... just as a cautionary note ... there will be people checking up on your for the rest of your career. You'll need to stop being offended by that to be happy as a nurse. Double-checking, confirming, etc. is a routine part of nursing. You can't survive if you get offended/upset every time somebody double-checks your work. (e.g. double-checking narcotics wastage -- "How dare they think i would be diverting narcotics!" .... or pain assessments -- "How dare they think I would allow my patient to lie there in pain!" etc.) It's all routine and rarely personal.

Very true!

I had a particular night nurse that would question if i was giving routine morphine to the patient or not.

Of course i was and that is what i said to her.

Of course if it wasn't one thing it was the other, at one point i just told her to stop questioning my abilities as a nurse, that unless there was an error that i had committed, then she should refrain from questioning me because my politeness was quite limited.

Needless to say, she stopped.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.
I just graduated in May. Last clinical group we had a team leader and a safety monitor each week. We rotated the rolls weekly. We had one get uppity like that and the group just blew it off. A lot of times people do that to hide their own securities. Anyway come pinning night, guess who wasn't there? Turns out someone was passing clinical, but not the exams. Not saying this is the case with yours, but just saying there's always some reason behind the behavior. The only opinion that matters in the end is your clinical instructor's. In your shoes I wouldn't worry in the least.

What is a safety monitor?? I think I did that in 2nd grade LOL.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

We didn't have student Charge Nurses when I was in school, agree with others that they probably do that now because nurses are thrown into the position early on, and that is not a good thing. I would just blow it off unless it becomes part of your grade in clinical. You are going to have to get used to blowing off a lot as a nurse, might as well start now and make it easy on yourself.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pedi.
What is a safety monitor?? I think I did that in 2nd grade LOL.

I did it in college. I got paid $10/hr to sit between 2 students with autism on the bus to their special school so they didn't kill each other, basically. It was easy money as a 19 year old and I got paid for 4 hours/day but was actually only with the kid for about an hour. 1/2 hour to school and 1/2 hr back from school. The rides back from school in the morning and the rides to school in the afternoon with the just creepy old bus driver were a little awkward.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg., LTC,, OB/GYN, L& D,, Office.

My vote goes to "Let it go!". If the student charge had a question about the BP reading, whether as a patient advocate or for nursing report, it would have been easy for them, to just take another blood pressure, and share the findings in collaboration with you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma RN.

I can see both sides. You said yourself that you tripped over your words, so maybe that caused her to question what you were telling her. Not that it was okay she went to ask the other student if she saw it, but she did. I would also be offended if that happened to me. Maybe take this annoying experience as an opportunity that you can use to become more confident in your abilities. Because things are going to mess up or happen and you'll have to do things manually or get help or whatever, but if you know you did it whatever you were doing correctly, then have confidence in that BP or that blood sugar, etc. So, don't be defensive, but be confident. And then when it's your turn to be the student charge, you can do the same thing to her. (just kidding...wink)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
But ... just as a cautionary note ... there will be people checking up on your for the rest of your career. It's all routine and rarely personal.

Seriously, something similar happened to me the other day during shift change. I simply confirmed, yes, I assessed the wound. What I wanted to say was, I would never bother lying to YOU. YOUR opinion doesn't matter to me. If I cannot get something done, I will just tell you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, I do think it has to do with too many students for the instructor to oversee. There are 8 in my group and it does seem to be a challenge to keep up with us all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Let it go. You're smart and capable, even if you stumble on your words sometimes. You're nervous because you're in the hospital with real patients! The other student needs to realize they're there to help you, not make you feel incompetent. You got into nursing school! You got this!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment