Thank you to all the wonderful Co-Nurses out there.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

It truly does make a difference in a students life and clinical experience and I know, unlike Preceptorship, Co Nurses don't always get asked if they would like a student or not and they don't get compensated either. Well, not sure if that is how it is everywhere, but I know around here a student picks a pt. and they will get placed with whatever nurse has that pt. I mean if there is just a huge conflict from either the nurse or student they can ask for a change but for the most part you just have to deal on both ends.

Anyway, my first day of clinicals I had a nice enough nurse but when I was worried about a non verbal pt. (valid worries and concerns) I was shrugged off since I was just a student. I did all avenues to advocate for my pt. that was in obvious pain, and I was ignored. Anyway, although the nurse was friendly it was a rough night since my hands were tied. I actually should have expressed my concerns to my CI but after having my co nurse brush off my Pt's obvious signs of pain and distress, then when she went to dinner, I went in and did vitals on my pt and expressed my concerns to the Charge and was blown off again saying just wait until my nurse was back, I felt defeated and didn't even think of paging my CI. Mind you, when I spoke with the charge, I did it in no way to put down my nurse, I acted like I just went in to do vitals and noticed these S/S. Being my first night in a hospital clinical I didn't want to start off on a bad note and it was all very new and overwhelming. Just to clear any misconceptions, my pt. was in for sepsis and was transfered from ICU to medical. She was non verbal and could not right, she had an inter cranial hemorrhage when she was very young some 30+years ago that left her pretty much dependent on others. She had a fever 103. axillary which I know can cause increased vitals, but as the night progressed so did her vitals, after a Tylenol suppository was given. She was grimacing, was very distraught, I can't describe it but her eyes when she looked at you practically cried help. When asked if she was in pain she would move a lot like if she was very restless and couldn't get comfortable. She had not had her PRN morphine since the night before. She had only had Abs and the tylenol suppository 650 mg that I administered. her RR was 51, her BP was normal but she needed a Peds cuff and I was just ignored on suggesting the smaller cuff. The lady was 88 lbs and her arms were tiny and I knew a cuff to big can cause a lower BP.Anyway, her pulse was 140. it was very apparent the pt. was in pain.

So it was a rough first nice, but again, I was treated with kindness, despite the fact my concerns were ignored. The next 3 clinical days I had, I had WONDERFUL co nurses. I had the same Pt. again the second night and thankfully when I came in she had pain medication and she looked 100x better. It was like night and day seeing her. I know part of that was the Abs and her fever being broke but you could also see she wasn't in pain. She was smiling and could answer yes and no cues by shaking her head. I felt like I learned so much in the 4 clinical total days I have had so far. I learned way more skills then I did my whole first semester.

My point, (sorry I did have one) is to all you nurses that are able to and do take the extra effort to teach the students you are assigned, THANK YOU SO MUCH. It is very very much appreciated and hopefully the students let you know as well. I know I let my nurses know how truly grateful and appreciative I was for how they were to me. I have heard stories from classmates and on hear about bad co nurses and so on, thankfully, thus far in my hospital clinicals I haven't had that problem. I have even had nurses I wasn't assigned to, offer to let me do their injections and stuff for the practice. One nurse last week asked me if I wanted to assist the Dr. with a Thoracentesis. (just de-capped and held the bottle) but still, it was a new experience and I learned from it.

So again, THANK YOU. How you react to students can truly make or break them and totally mold the type of nurse become. That said, I don't think nurses that prefer not to have students, are bad nurses, teaching isn't for everyone, well teaching is a part of nursing when it comes to pt. care but it's different when it's a student I suppose. So this isn't to bash those that don't like students, this post is just to praise those that handle the situation well and make a difference. So again, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Sorry for my rambling, it's very late, or I guess pretty early and couldn't sleep.

A very great full student. :)

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

remember this incident when you are a nurse and have a student. EVERYTHING is a learning experience.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Believe me, I will, probably more so because it was the first night of my hospital experience and that alone is something you remember, or I would think you do, just as I remember my first clinical. I learn from even the bad though and I don't think this nurse was bad exactly. But I want to eventually be a nursing instructor or clinical instructor and bedside part time. Long down the road though. I wasn't meaning to be negative though, the point of my post was to show the difference a great co nurse can be and thank those that are. So I hope I expressed that and not just the one bad experience.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Nice post. Pass it forward

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

:) I plan on it!

[WarmBlanket]

"My point, (sorry I did have one) is to all you nurses that are able to and do take the extra effort to teach the students you are assigned, THANK YOU SO MUCH. It is very very much appreciated and hopefully the students let you know as well. I know I let my nurses know how truly grateful and appreciative I was for how they were to me. I have heard stories from classmates and on hear about bad co nurses and so on, thankfully, thus far in my hospital clinicals I haven't had that problem. I have even had nurses I wasn't assigned to, offer to let me do their injections and stuff for the practice. One nurse last week asked me if I wanted to assist the Dr. with a Thoracentesis. (just de-capped and held the bottle) but still, it was a new experience and I learned from it.

So again, THANK YOU. How you react to students can truly make or break them and totally mold the type of nurse become. That said, I don't think nurses that prefer not to have students, are bad nurses, teaching isn't for everyone, well teaching is a part of nursing when it comes to pt. care but it's different when it's a student I suppose. So this isn't to bash those that don't like students, this post is just to praise those that handle the situation well and make a difference. So again, THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Sorry for my rambling, it's very late, or I guess pretty early and couldn't sleep.

A very uplifting and gracious post my friend! Your comment regarding making or breaking a student or new grad is so very true. The positive experiences will stay in your heart and help you through difficult times. I've got almost 20 years of experience and would also like to thank everyone who has cared and shared.

The importance of "making a difference" has been my guide and your post has made me smile. Keep on keeping on !!!!!!

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[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I think more often then not, we tend to always want to vent about the negative and forget about the Thank Yous, so I try to do them often. I know they are great to hear!