Terrible clinical site!

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I am having the worst clinical experience ever. It is making me rethink my nursing career altogether. The nurses on the floor are extremely rude and degrading toward the student nurses. I have been told twice by a nurse that they don't want to take on students and it's only my second week there! AND if a nurse does take students, they make it very clear that it's not something that they want to do. I DO NOT WANT TO BECOME LIKE THIS if this is how nurses are. If this is a requirement for becoming an RN, then I don't want any part in it. I was ready to walk out of the hospital today and quit altogether. I am so discouraged and feel completely out of place there. We haven't even been able to access the computer charts either! Idk how they expect us to give patient care if they won't even let us see the patient's chart!! I am having an overall TERRIBLE clinical experience. Thanks for reading my rant. Now I'm going to go contemplate my career choice.

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Sorry OP, hope it gets better for you. Just hang in there!

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I think nurses often forget that they were students once too! When I have worked with students I sometimes do get a little stressed, only because I am running behind in my work and don't have time to explain things, but then I have to remember that not long ago I was in their position and wanted to learn too. Once I get caught up I do take the time to explain things.

Sounds like the floor you are on is filled with a lot of unhappy stressed out nurses. I have worked as a travel nurse in a lot of different locations. It seems like the places that I have worked where the majority of the nurses on the floor were unhappy with their job and each other had the most difficult time with students. They are already stressed being in their work environment, and having students adds to that stress. Unfortunately that is how some floors are. Think of it this way; you aren't stuck there, that's not where you work or are probably going to work. Use it as an example of how you don't want to be when you are a nurse. Hang in there!

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I am not sure why the attitude of these nurses would make you think you would have to be that way once you are a nurse and therefore you don't want to be a nurse anymore. You and only you can control how you treat other people. If you don't want to be a nurse that is fine, but it won't be because you don't want to be a rude person. It will be because you don't want to be a nurse. There are tons of rude people out there in every profession.

That being said, I feel for you. It sounds like a miserable clinical site full of miserable people. This is something your instructor should be addressing. The school has a responsibility to turn out educated nurses with a basic level of experience.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

Is your clinical instructor aware of the situation? If all the nurses and all the students (or at least most of them) are like this, he/she should be doing something about it. We had a situation similar to this my last peds rotation. I don't know if the program is going to go back to the floor since so many of my classmates had bad experiences. Just remember you can do anything for a short period of time. Hope it gets better!

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I think there was a similar post about this. It sucks, because I start clinicals in one week. But the way I see it, I would NEVER let anyone sway my decision for what I want to do for the rest of my life. Thats just me. I can understand you when you say you don't want to become like that. So then don't. Nursing is extremely stressful. But keep in mind that some people take stress differently. Some maintain their happiness, others are mean. Thats all across the board when it comes to stressful jobs.

When I first started my job(non medical), I was ALWAYS picked on by one specific person. Sometimes I wanted to walk out and never see her again. But eventually you learn to take it in stride. If they don't want to help you, fine. Thank them for whatever time it took for them to tell you no, and on to the next. Don't take it personally. Because THATS when it changes your attitude.

Best of luck!

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Specializes in Infusion.

Wow, no RN ever had to take on a student nurse in my whole first year of clinicals. I'm surprised your school or clinical instructor would foist you all onto a very busy staff of nurses. Here's what our first weeks and months looked like. We mostly did direct patient care (CNA stuff) after we finished doing our assessments. We worked in pairs the first couple of days. We slowly added skills to our repertoire as we learned them and our clinical instructor was responsible for making sure we were doing things safely. There may have been 3 days where a nurse took me under her/his wing for a few hours. As far as being able to have access to the patient charts. that sounds like an issue that your clinical instructor or nursing department should resolve with the clinical site.

My opportunity to work with an RN one-on-one came over the summer when I signed up to do a volunteer work experience. My preceptor was paid a little extra to provide the "training" experience. I knew enough to be helpful and take on some of her patient load which allowed her more time to watch my technique and give me tips on my documentation skills.

Anyway, let go of that frustration and ask your clinical instructor what the students could do to make the situation a little better.

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These type of rude, unprofessional nurses(and if they are speaking to you like that it is completely unprofessional) act like that to students, new grads, new experienced nurses on the floor and anyone that doesn't speak up for themselves. It's not you, and your clinical location will change as you progress in school. Put the experience in "your bag" and when you graduate remember how you felt and make sure your not "That Nurse". Ever heard the expression "nurses eat their young" when you meet nurses like that it kinda makes you think it's true....

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Your pursuit of nursing was not based upon the nurses in your clinical. Therefore, your decision to continue or not shouldn't be based on them either.

Best of luck to you.

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thanks everyone for your input :D I really appreciate it. I was just feeling extremely discouraged and frustrated when I wrote this. After giving myself a couple of days to cool off, I think I will be able to go back this week with a clear mind. I have an awesome support system and I know I shouldn't take anything personal. I understand that it is extra work for the nurse and who am I to expect them to be happy about it BUT I DO WANT TO LEARN! SO this week I will definitely be more assertive! My professor also called to let us know that we finally have computer access! This week will definitely be more successful. Again, thanks guys!! I appreciate all of your thoughts!

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My opportunity to work with an RN one-on-one came over the summer when I signed up to do a volunteer work experience. My preceptor was paid a little extra to provide the "training" experience. I knew enough to be helpful and take on some of her patient load which allowed her more time to watch my technique and give me tips on my documentation skills.

Anyway, let go of that frustration and ask your clinical instructor what the students could do to make the situation a little better.

I think I will need to look for some volunteer opportunities soon because that sounds like an awesome learning experience! I really wish that the nurses at each clinical site were given compensation for taking time to teach students. My school is a private school and we are paying $12,000 this SEMESTER (not year, semester) alone. So I'm really wishing that we were more welcomed at the hospital. It just sucks when no one wants you around BUT I won't allow that to frustrate me any more.

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