Student Nurse or Nursing Student

[realkreativ]

At my school one teacher likes our nursing students to go by "nursing students," another says that we are "student nurses."

A great deal of this question is semantics of course, but enquiring minds want to know: Which is more correct and is there any history behind it?

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

The teacher that wants us to use "Nursing Student" is adamantly opposed to Student Nurse...That's why I ask.

I think that instructor is just being a silly twit. Why must people harp on such twaddle?

[NightOwl0624]

My first year instructor told us to introduce ourselves as "Nursing Students" as well, because she said the emphasis was on "nursing" and not on "student", so it sounded more professional. She pointed out that medical students are never referred to student doctors.

[NursingRocks1998]

My instructor says we should introduce ourselves to the patients as their "nursing student" instead of "student nurse" because the first phrase emphasizes "nursing" while the second points out "student" first.

[Feathers]

We use Nursing Students... & we sign "our initials, school initialsNS" OR first initial & last name, school initialsNS.

I did catch myself one time introduce myself as a Student Nurse... & it didn't sound "right" to me.

[trepinCT]

we sign SN..but the way I see it, in 6 months I will be an RN :) so, until then I will go by whatever floats the boat of my instructor and will accommodate each instructor as needed..ever hear about the pink sky??? If they say its pink, then its pink,, dont really care as long as I do what I should be. If they say I will be called George, then George I am and I will be a happy George for them.

[Bobylon]

I consider myself a nursing student. We sign off in clinicals as "John Doe SPN " (Student of Practical Nursing)