What do you do if you see someone in your class that seems to be struggling? Do you offer to help? Or is that worse, because it makes you look patronizing and superior?
Yesterday, after I had finished observing in the OR, my instructor assigned me to help out another student that didn't yet have his assessment completed (4 hours after clinical had started and about an hour before post conference). He had told the instructor the patient didn't want to be bothered. I understand that, and it is the patient's right to refuse anything, and said as much to the other student before we went in. But I was able to get the assessment completed without any trouble or complaint from the patient. We finished, and I went back to the instructor to report completion. She asked me to spend the next clinical day with this student to help him out prioritizing and with time management. I felt really uncomfortable with that, and basically asked if I could do my ER rotation instead (not telling her I was uncomfortable, but just saying I didn't want to miss out on my ER opportunity). Later in post conference, this same student didn't know our case study was due this week, or what the case study consisted of. As if it had never been brought up or wasn't even on our schedule (it had and it is). I happened to be sitting next to him and showed him the case study grading sheet (which was in our class packet), and what I had completed on mine.
Part of me wants to help him, but I didn't want to do what the instructor SHOULD be doing. And I don't want to be the class know it all. At the same time, it seems this instructor and student just do not see eye to eye on things. I don't know if they started on the wrong foot, or it's a personality issue, and it doesn't matter. But I see threads on here about awful instructors, and I can see where someone like this student could feel he is being treated unfairly, when in all actuality it is just that this student just ISN'T GETTING IT. He's kind if mouthy too, sort of macho big talker, but without much to back it right now. The instructor mentioned that we should write on the back of our care plans any other skills we performed on patients not our own, or any help we gave to the nurses or to other students. He asked "Why?" She responded "So you get credit for it." He says " I don't need credit, it's enough that I know I helped out." She responded again "Well that's good, but so you get class credit, meaning graded for it, is what I mean."
Should I take the instructor up on her request? Should I stay the heck out of it? I do think I could help him, if he wants the help. I don't know if he does. I've just met him this rotation and so I've known him maybe 3 weeks.
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
I could work with this student, and probably help him, but will that make him a better nurse in the long run?
You need to look at this whole thing as being about you and not about him. What is in it for you is that your instructor is giving you the opportunity to learn some leadership skills. You keep trying to make this about him and his faults and that is not what it is at all. Your instructor is recognizing your leadership ability. This guy may very well be headed OTD (out the door), but the instructor is utilizing him before he goes as an opportunity for you to practice some leadership skills. Get it now?
You need to look at this whole thing as being about you and not about him. What is in it for you is that your instructor is giving you the opportunity to learn some leadership skills. You keep trying to make this about him and his faults and that is not what it is at all. Your instructor is recognizing your leadership ability. This guy may very well be headed OTD (out the door), but the instructor is utilizing him before he goes as an opportunity for you to practice some leadership skills. Get it now?
Interesting view. I've been reading threads like this for years, and I never really thought of it that way. Just goes to show that you never stop learning, I guess.
Another idea for the OP: is it possible that this fella has never worked in a hospital before? I was so new and so scared during my clinicals, I'm sure everyone thought I was going to be a terrible nurse. I did have a couple of patients who refused me to care for them, but allowed others. I wasn't the type to just "jump right in." I wanted to think about and feel comfortable with what I was doing before I had to do it. I've since learned that sometimes you have to do something --a lot-- in order to get comfortable with it.
I also had instructors I didn't understand, didn't get along with, and in those classes, I had to rely on others to notify me of changes in assignments, etc.
Don't get me wrong, I had some good points too -- I was usually early to class and out late taking notes and my other classmates valued my note-taking abilities so much that I probably could've paid for a semester (if I charged for them).
Only you know the real situation and my advice is, if your instructor places that much faith in your abilities, then go with your gut and help or not, it's up to you. I don't believe you should feel obligated to anyone else while you're in the learning process.
Last three posts were made after I made my decision. It's in the post above Daytonite's first post:
I just need to decide whether to help him now, in clinical. I don't need to do any assignments or assessments for him. All I do is go back to the instructor and tell her I would be happy to *try* and help him, get assigned to his floor and offer my help to him. He can accept, or not.
Maybe it wasn't clear. I am going to go to the instructor and tell her I am going to assist this student. It will involve me having to switch floor assignments.
Thanks for the additional input. I do agree that this could be a good opportunity for me.
This is only my first semester in Nursing School, but I think you should run for your life. YOU have enough to do just to make it through yourself. It sounds like he isn't applying himself and is just plain lazy. I have a few students in my class like this, and I wonder what on Earth made them think they would make a good nurse! There's nothing wrong with offering advice or sharing helpful tips. I love the camaraderie that comes with nursing school, but you can't do it for him. Good luck!
99% of the time, I am a very compassionate, empathetic, and helpful person. However, I have such a low tolerance for lazy students. By the way you describe this student, it's not that he doesn't get it, it's that he doesn't care about getting it. If he took his education seriously, he would have already looked through the syllabus and at the very least he would know when the assignment was due. A student who really cares about becoming an excellent nurse probably would have started working on it already, at least thinking about it if not writing things down yet.
I want to become an excellent nurse so badly that I am really offended by these lazy annoying students who arrive late, don't prepare for clinical, "wing" their exams, and hog the instructors time asking questions they already answered but they weren't paying attention for whatever reason.
Further evidence that he doesn't care: There have been times that I didn't get a concept or struggled with a skill. When that happens to me, I ask for help. I ask my classmates that have mastered it, or I ask my instructor. I don't just go on doing a bad job!
So in a nutshell, this is not your problem. Your responsibility in nursing school is to learn how to practice safe nursing, not to teach those who are falling behind. It is the instructor's responsibility to teach the students, not yours!
I learned early in nursing school that this type of student is dead weight to me. I have a select few that I am willing to go above and beyond for, the rest can have my time if I don't have anything pressing at the moment. I have no problem saying no anymore. I may be a part of a "team", but the ultimate goal is for ME to pass. It is up to everyone else to bust their butts as hard as I do mine.
Specializes in acute rehab, med surg, LTC, peds, home c.
Interesting post. However, what I think you are really missing is that your instructor is giving you an opportunity to practice some leadership skills and I think you are blowing it. As RNs we have a leadership function and that includes taking someone like "macho big talker" by the hand and helping him. When you become a staff nurse you may well run into more "macho big talkers" and it will be even more important to assist them because patient care, safety, and facility policy will be involved. I did. In fact, much to my dismay, one Director of Nursing transferred a lot of problem staff to my unit, she told me, because she knew that I would be really good at doing all I could to rehabilitate them before she finally had to kick them out the door (fire them). Do you know how awful that made me feel? I had had nothing to do with how they got hired, but there they were and they were now my problem. Teaching and instructing others is right up there on the list of RN staff job duties. Believe me, your instructor is evaluating both of you. Her input will be needed for your first job and one of the questions that will be asked of your instructors is "Leadership ability?" It's an answer that we always paid close attention to when considering new grads for hire. If someone feels that teaching others and taking time to be a leader to them isn't worth their time, then they weren't worthy of a job with any of the facilities that I hired nurses for.
I disagree. At this stage of the game in nsg school, if someone is arrogant and clueless, they are obviously not trying. Since when is someone else's attitude problem her problem? It would be different if he were really trying hard and just couldn't get organized or was missing the focus. If that was the case she would have something to work with. Leadership is one thing, taking on someone else's problem is another.
The instructor is pairing the weak student up with a strong student hoping that some of it will rub off on him. It is something instructors do to help both students grow but I doubt it would reflect poorly on her if she was unable to work with him. Teaching pt, families and sometimes peers is in our job description but performing a major attitude adjustments is not. She is a student as well and has her own set of problems.
To make it all more clear, this is not our first clinical, or 1st clinical instructor, it is my 4th (or 4 1/2 if you count the one where I had to drop halfway through when my husband became ill). I *think* it is this student's 3rd clinical. If it is, the only one he doesn't have that I have is mental health, which is much different anyway.
I spoke with my clinical instructor last night and told her that I was willing to help this student out if she still wanted me to. I offered to transfer down to his floor, but she said she would rather he transfer up to mine.
She is the type of instructor that does like to pair students up, stronger with weaker. We talked about differences in nursing students, some being nervous in the clinical setting, lack of experience working with patients, etc.
I do think this is an opportunity for me to show some leadership skills and I'm not really worried about it interferring with my own learning experience. I never was really worried about that. It was more about extending a hand only to have it pushed away. I'm not really worried about that either anymore. This guy is a nice guy, if a bit crass at times. He hasn't yet developed a break between his brain and his mouth.
I'll still report back with any updates on how it goes. If I can help him pass this clinical, maybe even do well, I'll be happy.
Sounds like this nursing student has problems dealing with people and getting their work done. I would help up to a point, but if this person has issues now, how are they going to deal with all the people and problems that come up while working as a nurse? Maybe he's not cut out to be a nurse.
I would try to help if it did not interfear with my own learning needs. Most schools provide student counceling and assistance from other professionals if necessary. Your teacher or instructor may be testing to see if you are a team player. I am empathetic to your problem as I also was asked to help many others. I did so selflesly. Some students have a very hard time understanding the whole process of the curriculum content in the beginning-but with a little help-they come around. Communication is key-in school and in the real world. Maybe this guy is macho and mouthy as he is feeling insecure and unsure of himself. Then again-maybe not. Don't beat yourself up about it though, try to help, if it seems to much or hopeless, then the rest is up to him. Nursing School is tough for a reason, as it brings out the real champion in you!:heartbeat
Teach by leading, you will actually learn more yourself by helping another learn time management and patient care. Is this person an older adult? Sometimes adult learners are a bit slower than younger students in the 20-30 range. Adult learners have increased needs of repetition. The student may be coming from a different work environment and having trouble transferring over. Multiple reasons. This is from a RN that has seen most...30years worth. Deep breath and giving of yourself is a great gift.
Some patients feel uncomfortable with certain students. Maybe his patient felt that way and did not want to be bothered by him. I have seen this happen before. You can not teach anyone time management. You can suggest ways but time management is a learning process. It is ultimately the responsibility of the instructor to help students who are having difficulties not another student. True nursing is learned by doing. You can only learn so much from books but in the real world it is by hands on. Some students have great organizational skills but that doesn't make them great nurses. Some students do struggle with certain aspects of nursing but with help from the instructor they can overcome the obstacles. Politely tell the instructor that she needs to try to work with the student herself. If she is a good instructor she will.
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Daytonite, BSN, RN
1 Article; 14,604 Posts
You need to look at this whole thing as being about you and not about him. What is in it for you is that your instructor is giving you the opportunity to learn some leadership skills. You keep trying to make this about him and his faults and that is not what it is at all. Your instructor is recognizing your leadership ability. This guy may very well be headed OTD (out the door), but the instructor is utilizing him before he goes as an opportunity for you to practice some leadership skills. Get it now?