To the nurses on the floor at my clinical site

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

Thank you. I really mean it. Almost without exception you have been helpful, supportive and great at teaching tips/tricks to us. You are inclusive, believe me when I report an abnormal finding and even ask me what I think. I hope I can be half the nurse some of you are because you are awesome (in the true sense of the word). May I always treat the students that come behind me as well as you have treated us.

Yours,

A Most Grateful Student

[2ndyearstudent, CNA]

Thank you. I really mean it. Almost without exception you have been helpful, supportive and great at teaching tips/tricks to us. You are inclusive, believe me when I report an abnormal finding and even ask me what I think. I hope I can be half the nurse some of you are because you are awesome (in the true sense of the word). May I always treat the students that come behind me as well as you have treated us.

Yours,

A Most Grateful Student

Great post. Mine were every bit as good and we told them so.

[ICU_RN_BSN]

I only hope that I have the same experience...after all the clinical horror stories, that was a breathe of fresh air.

[Tyler77]

To the nurses on my clinical floor:

You should be the poster children for what is WRONG in nursing: I know the reasons are many, but I'll just keep the list short:

1) The drama. I don't care what nurse is having an affair with what intern. I don't care that that the overnight nurse was texting at the nurse's station. And I REALLY don't care who is boinking who. Shut up already.

2) The total lack of respect for your fellow co-workers and patients. If you have to change a soiled patient, don't give everyone the "it's not my job" speech. YOU SIGNED UP FOR THIS. IT"S NOT BENEATH YOU. When you walk into a patient's room, it's absolutely barabaric the way you treat them: you don't call them by name, and give then the "I don't know" speech every time they ask a question. Stop rolling your eyes at the student nurses--it's just a sign that they can easily (and hopefully ) replace you.

3)The stupid high school cliques. I don't care if you won't speak to the second shift nurse on the third floor because she's a single mom with kids to take care of. News flash: God did not retire and leave you in charge of judgements.

In closing, I'm a strong believer in Karma, and I hope it comes back to bite in the you-know-what when you least expect it. More qualified, refined nurses are justwaiting to take your spot. And you should be nervous. And on the last day of clinicals, I'm writing an anonymous letter to your hospital's Human Resources Department with all your names and all the HIIPA violations, misconduct and total lack of care that you mornons display.

[ICU_RN_BSN]

aahahahahahahaha...this scares me for clinicals but inspires me to be a better nurse someday...MUCh better

[decembergrad2011, BSN, RN]

There are good and bad eggs in every basket. There is plenty to learn from both good and bad nurses. Some of the best lessons for me that are not found in a textbook or tested over in an exam have come from watching poor care from a bad nurse.

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

It isn't that I have had no bad experiences, I have. Overall they have been great. I think when nurses are unpleasant to students it really reflects more on them. When I get a nurse who is hostile it make me appreciate the really great ones all the more.

Who says you can't learn from others mistakes...I sure can. I do not want to be considered "one of those" nurses.

I wonder if "those" nurses know that people have that negative perception of them. Perhaps they don't mind.

[chapstickaddict]

I guess I was lucky to have both good and bad nurses at my clinical site this semester. There were some that were willing to put residents through excruciating pain because they would rather use an EZ-stand instead of assisting in transfers. Or they'd snap at the students and treat us worse than maids...and get mad at us if we didn't have time to finish doing everything on a resident's care sheet, but they would be out for 10 smoke breaks.

Then there were some that were the nicest, most helpful nurses in the world. They were always happy to answer questions, would come assist us if we needed it, and were excited to help us learn new skills. These were the people that were the best to their residents, and you could see the smiles the residents had after dealing with these nurses.

Seeing both in the same area definitely gave all of us an idea of what and what NOT to do!

[sandyfeet]

I felt the same way about my nurses this semester! They were really thoughtful, seeking me out to look at cool cases, answering my questions, and just being all around great. I learned a lot about how to carry yourself as a nurse and how to talk to patients. They were amazing. Even the bad ones, I wouldn't let them ruin my day. I am a big supporter of "killing them with kindness"!