The reverse end of "my preceptor hates me"

canigraduate · Nov 10, 2011

Sometimes, too, if a student is in the groove, they really don't notice what's going on around them. Being direct is the best way. Especially if she was being as rude as it sounded. Even if she didn't notice you when you came up, moving your stuff around is a BIG no-no.

I wouldn't hint around that you need something, anyway, that's way too passive-aggressive for me. Seriously, you reached over and messed with your jacket to get them to move? (I hope you didn't do that thing where you heave a big sigh to get noticed.) Just ask the student to move. I hope you don't have as much trouble being assertive for your patients.

luvazsun, RN · Nov 10, 2011

Student or not, she was just being rude by not asking if she could use the computer, and then to just move your stuff - unbelievable! Being a stressed out, tunnel- visioned student isn't an excuse for rude behavior. Don't enable that type of behavior - she might end up working in your unit one day!

wetzoo · Nov 10, 2011

I wouldn't hint around that you need something, anyway, that's way too passive-aggressive for me. Seriously, you reached over and messed with your jacket to get them to move? (I hope you didn't do that thing where you heave a big sigh to get noticed.) Just ask the student to move.

I agree with this. Problem solved.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Nov 11, 2011

Its worse when people chart on a mobile computer SITTING IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER AT THE DESK!

Orange Tree · Nov 11, 2011

1. Students should always get out of the way when it makes things easier on actual employees.

2. When my fellow nurses leave their "crap" around a computer that I need to use, I move it. We don't have enough computers for every nurse to claim one as his or her own, but for some reason, people love to try to do it.

JSBoston · Nov 11, 2011

When I was in nursing school we were never allowed to hang out and look at charting at the nurses station and take up all the computers. We were only allowed the "COWS" or computers on wheels... it's the staff that need those! Where I work now, I have to go hunt down a COW because students fill up EVERY other computer at the nurses station, AND they go and eat all of the bagels/donuts a nurse brought in for her floor. Not that sharing isn't good, but come on!

anotherone, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2011

if you get up, for anything, you have to secure out, ( if not that is a violation and i am sure most of my co works will enjoy tatteling and the manger will love to write this up.) so in my work place any time that happens the computer is fair game for anyone. if the computers are taken over by drs( they are pretty fast at doing what they have to do with the chart) i don't mind because they are doing something that needs to be done. I cant stand it when a ton of students take over EVERY COMPUTER IN THE HALL AND DESK and i don't have any where to chart and am expected to stand around waiting forever. once i saw a doctor ask one, " let me use that computer real quick, please" the student looked SHOCKED then complained to other students. OMG..... who is the employee here? who actually has to order stuff, actually needs access to the patient's chart? ( what are these students thinking?) wow. some people feel so entitled when they have no base for that feeling.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Nov 11, 2011

As a student, I recognize that I'm a guest on the unit. If the previous user has been logged out, I'll look around to see if an employee needs to use the computer. If not, I'll log on and get my charting done as quickly as I can, so that I don't hog the machine for too long. Once I've started charting, I'm stuck there for a few minutes. If I haven't actually started charting or if I'm there for prep work, I'll keep my eyes and ears open for someone else needing to use a computer. I'm happy to log out and give up the seat to someone that needs to use it.

Leafhouse · Nov 11, 2011

One of the first things my instructor told us our first semester of nursing school is that we are pretty much the bottom of the food chain. I would rarely even sit at a chair that was occupied by papers and never at change of ****. We were always told to give up our seat for the nurses and I always did. I feel like it's just a lack of awareness and some times a lack of guidance by their instructors. Instructors can be so focused on making sure their students are learning how to care for patients that they forget all the other stuff like manners and respect for other staff.

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2011

She had moved everything around and when I went to get my stuff I had to work around her. She was so intent on reading the h & p on the computer. She didn't acknowledge me or move when I went to at least move my jacket she was leaning on (on my chair). I tried to hint I needed the spot to chart. When it was obvious she wasnt budging I walked halfway down the hall to get a seat & come back next to her.

I understand your frustration, and I agree that the student should have been more conscientious.

However, your response as you describe it is textbook passive aggressive. Instead of "trying to hint", moving your jacket, going all the way down the hall to grab a chair and bring it back, you should have simply been assertive and asked the student to give up the computer so you could use it to complete your work.

Orange Tree · Nov 11, 2011

As a student, I recognize that I'm a guest on the unit. If the previous user has been logged out, I'll look around to see if an employee needs to use the computer. If not, I'll log on and get my charting done as quickly as I can, so that I don't hog the machine for too long. Once I've started charting, I'm stuck there for a few minutes. If I haven't actually started charting or if I'm there for prep work, I'll keep my eyes and ears open for someone else needing to use a computer. I'm happy to log out and give up the seat to someone that needs to use it.

I would get the $^@& out of the way, even as a charting student, if an actual employee needed to use the computer. Maybe I'm weird, though.

Jenni811, RN · Nov 11, 2011

Kind of off topic, but the charting isn't my pet peeve with students, its the instructors :)

i like having students when their instructor helps. We have a few nursing schools in the area. I just KNOW how my day is going to go based on the school they are from.

Nursing school 1) The school i went to. They know A LOT. its a very prestigious nursing school, difficult to make it in and make it through. So you know your student is going to be smart. You know your student is going to know their meds and be prepared. Very clinical smart, don't need a whole lot of direction. however; their instructor is always gone! Where is she?? i see her in the AM, and then see her in the PM when she comes to say clinicals are over.

Nursing school 2) Good school. overall good students, but they are behind where i think they should be. I had a sophomore from nursing school 1 who knew how to hang a secondary bag. I had a senior from nursing school 2 who never spike a maintenance line when we needed to change out a bag of fluids. ok, i'll teach you! Whatever. however; nursing instructor is ALWAYS around. "i will do the medications in patient X and Y with this student"

Yes, that saves me from spending 20 minutes on some medications.

nursing school 3) Reminds me of nursing school 2 students, except VERY book smart. Not so much clinical smart. They sound like walking anatomy and physiology book. Clinical skills are fair. Instructor...never around.

HENCE why i like students from nursing school 2. They are the winner :) I don't mind teaching, but if you want me to teach help me out a bit!!!