This is gonna be one heck of a semester!!!!!!

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Well I had my first clinical day today.........and it DID NOT go well.

First, I was so nervous and wanted to be prepared, that I woke up at 4 AM and repack my bag for the 5th time. I showered and laid back down and promise to wake up in an hour, since clinicals were at 8 AM, well I woke up 1 1/2 later, rushed to the subway which of course was running EXTRA behind since it was saturday. I arrive at clinical 15 minutes late, the instructor gave me 5 min to change into uniform (we are not allow to wear uniform outside hospital, before clinicals).

We were given a tour of the hospital and was split up into two to "play" scavenger hunt. We were given a list of things that we will need for clinicals and we had to find and check off where they are located on our floor, eg. supply room, exits, medicine room etc.

Wel,l half way through our "hunt" a nurse approached my partner and asked her whether or not her tattoos were real. The nurse had the nerve to say, that if she were a patient she would not want my partner taking care of her because she could have hep C. When my partner tried to explain that the tats were in memory of her mom and her name in chinese, the nurse said " don't you know your name? did you really need a reminder, I hope you plan on covering them, if your going to work on MY floor" I thought I was going to blow a gasket, my partner was utterly shocked and sooo embaress :imbar by the nerve of this nurse.

After our hunt our instructor asked the nurses on the floor to meet us and kinda offer some words of encouragement......we got words alright, one of the nurse who had to emphasize 2 million times that she has been working as a nurse and on that same floor for 27 years, had the nerve to look straight at another classmate and myself and said " as nurses we are role models, therefore those of us that are overweight should seriously think about changing our lifestyle, because SHE feels a good nurse should practice what he/she preaches" :argue:.

Excuse me Jenny Craig.......ever thought about the hair club for men, they help women too.

I can already see that this gonna be one heck of a semester.......

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

This will be easier said then done, but try to brush it off and start fresh again next week. You can't fix other people's attitudes but you can control yours. My first day of clinicals for different reasons were terrible. I went home and wondered if I could really do this for another 7 weeks, (we have 8 weeks once a week in a LTC facility first semester). The next week it was better, and I am hoping this monday it continues to go better. But I go in with a clean slate, if you go in their dreading it then you will only focus on the bad stuff for the day.

Like I said, I know it's easier said then done but if you wish to continue on with your schooling it seems to me you have one of two choices. Let it overtake you, or take control.

I hope it gets better for you.

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Honestly, just let it go. It's good to vent but don't let it build up because what if you get super upset one day and snap at her... she could really screw you over. She is very rude but just keep your head down and take her crap for a while. Worst mistake I ever made was telling off a nurse who was being disrepectful to me. I was working at a care home and she turned around and told the management I was sleeping on the job. I am prepared to take a lot of crap in the program. Good luck

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Honestly, just let it go. It's good to vent but don't let it build up because what if you get super upset one day and snap at her... she could really screw you over. She is very rude but just keep your head down and take her crap for a while. Worst mistake I ever made was telling off a nurse who was being disrepectful to me. I was working at a care home and she turned around and told the management I was sleeping on the job. I am prepared to take a lot of crap in the program. Good luck

Absolutely, vent here and get it out!

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Sorry you had a tough day. I will say that I'm surprised that your nursing school didn't approach your friend re: her tattoos before the nurse did. The schools in my area require all tattoos to be covered (by clothing, makeup, bandaid, whatever) for clinicals.

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

I hate to say this, but get used to it. Many nurses that I've come in contact with are rude, crude and just have the worst attitude when it comes to students. Luckily I have never been on the receiving end (*knocks on wood*), but I've comforted many classmates who have. I know that having students is a burden, and some people don't handle the stress of it all that well. And some are just not great teachers or have good social skills.

The best advice I can give is try not to take it personally. It has little to do with you, and everything to do with them.

Point is is that you are there to learn. Do all you can to get as much out of the experience that you can. And if you are really running into problems with a certain nurse on the floor, seek out your instructor. They are there to advocate for you and are an excellent resource to have. Our clinical faculty have been saints. Just knowing that we have someone to go to bat for us is such a great feeling and is a total confidence booster.

You will get through this, I promise.

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That's kind of a mean comment about the Hair Club. And I don't know, kind of makes sense to me that a nurse should practice what she preaches (and I sure do need to lose a lot of weight!) But otherwise, sorry she is not being nicer.

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Visible tattoos are a big no no. Especially as students.

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Wow.....what a bunch of *******!!! Did you tell the instuctor?

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Specializes in Case management, occupational health.

Sorry you had a bad day, unfortunately seems pretty typicals of clinicals.

Visible tatoos are an absolute no no. I am suprised she was even allowed in clinicals with them showing. No piercings except one hole in the ears are allowed either. We had a student show up with a piercing in her nose, she failed clinicals immediately.

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I officially hate clinical!

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The student told the clinical instuctor who thinks the nurses comments were a bit harsh but, warranted. CI made a big anouncement that tattoos should be covered at all times during clinicals. Which we all understood but, the way the nurse came at her was just rude.

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