I'm really amazed to find so many grouchy nurses on the floor I'm a "student" on. These aren't long time nurses, but fairly new nurses with only one and two years of experience. I can only imagine if they can be so bitchy at only 23-25 years old, what will they be like in the future?! Nearly half of the nurses are this way; the others are either nice or at least reasonable. Our instructor told us today they are like that because they are overworked and underpaid!! Is that really our problem? After all, we're not making a dime, are paying them to be there, and are very nice to all of them!! The treatment is so bad I don't know even one student who wants to work in this hospital. A couple nurses report every tiny mistake to our instructor. I realize some thing should be reported, but not to the extent it is being done. It makes for a troubling environment and doesn't help others to learn. I'd love to say they are great nurses regardless of this, but one overdosed my 80 year old patient on pain meds the other day. It was crazy what she did. All you hear about is the nursing shortage and how those working as nurses are often very unhappy. Isn't it time, we treat others with respect and work as a team?? Maybe if we could be good to one another we'd be happier. Shame on those who want to be in a field in which you help others, yet treat those you work with so terribly. For those who deal with students/ coworkers, they appreciate your treating them fairly. I'm so blown away people can be so cruel who are being so nice to them!!! WOW!!
Remember this, sometimes it is not a bitchy nurse, just a downright bitchy person who shouldn't be in the profession.
Here, Here!!! This is only too true. As a "newer" nurse working with "older" nurses, I also run into this. Just the other dayh one of these older nurse snotted off to me after a polite request for help. I didn't understand her response then and I still dont. Unfortunately, she is NOT going to change who she is, so all I can do is log it and move on. Do your best to be the kind of nurse that you want taking care of you and you will do fine. Keep a good attitude and you will do well.
Happy nursing!
Butterflynurse
Good morning! I sure do like a peaceful working atmosphere and sometimes I do not know just how to handle the situation. For example, the newer nurse here has a real dangerous habit of just taking off her filthy gloves and placing them on our desks. The first time we all overlooked it because we simply thought she just forgot or something. Now, she is slick though. We can never catch her doing it anymore but guess what?....the gloves are there. We know it is her but what to do?
Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.
The "move" today in nursing education is towards internships and externships - increasing work-based education. However, it is critical for the nurse educator to avoid placing vulnerable students in toxic environments. Our guidance in this process is essential. Critical factors must be considered, before we place our tender, young learners there to grow.
A supportive practice environment is critical. This includes an emancipated culture and collegial support. The student is very vulnerable to peer pressure and attitudes of staff. An oppressed culture will stifle, if not entirely destroy, student learning and initiative.
:angryfire I agree with you , you really cannot avoid that kind of environment , in every work place you can always find somebody whose always looking for somebodys mistakes without looking how themselves also worked . I just observed that those who are doing that , are those staff who were just covering their shortcomings .
I'm really amazed to find so many grouchy nurses on the floor I'm a "student" on. These aren't long time nurses, but fairly new nurses with only one and two years of experience. I can only imagine if they can be so bitchy at only 23-25 years old, what will they be like in the future?! Nearly half of the nurses are this way; the others are either nice or at least reasonable. Our instructor told us today they are like that because they are overworked and underpaid!! Is that really our problem? After all, we're not making a dime, are paying them to be there, and are very nice to all of them!! The treatment is so bad I don't know even one student who wants to work in this hospital. A couple nurses report every tiny mistake to our instructor. I realize some thing should be reported, but not to the extent it is being done. It makes for a troubling environment and doesn't help others to learn. I'd love to say they are great nurses regardless of this, but one overdosed my 80 year old patient on pain meds the other day. It was crazy what she did. All you hear about is the nursing shortage and how those working as nurses are often very unhappy. Isn't it time, we treat others with respect and work as a team?? Maybe if we could be good to one another we'd be happier. Shame on those who want to be in a field in which you help others, yet treat those you work with so terribly. For those who deal with students/ coworkers, they appreciate your treating them fairly. I'm so blown away people can be so cruel who are being so nice to them!!! WOW!!
:angryfire I agree with you , you really cannot avoid that kind of environment , in every work place you can always find somebody whose always looking for somebodys mistakes without looking how themselves also worked . I just observed that those who are doing that , are those staff who were just covering their shortcomings .
I can relate to limited patience, but however, weren't we all new nurses at one time? Not to mention, I will never forget one of my instructors stating, "The day a nurse thinks she/he knows everything makes she/he dangerous." I am reading so many of these forums and it makes me very upset to see criticism. Everyone needs to sit down and think about why they are in nursing! Nursing is a calling from God, not because it pays well, where in, it really doesn't. I can honestly say, I love my patients and would move heaven and earth to make them feel better. However, I am a hospice nurse, and am not as cold hearted as i have seen other nurses being. Its all about they paycheck for some people I guess. Sorry for rambling, but I get so disgusted sometimes. You will be a great nurses and don't worry about your piers, you will learn from the right person and find your niche.
Well, maybe you need to rethink your profession. You can not be an effective nurse without having faith, empathy and sympathy. Maybe you have a good reason.....who knows.
Well, maybe you need to rethink your profession. You can not be an effective nurse without having faith, empathy and sympathy. Maybe you have a good reason.....who knows.
For some people it isn't a calling from God. And i really do not think it is up to someone else to tell someone to "rethink their profession" just because, for them, it isn't a calling from God.
Faith for some does not include "God". People can have empathy and sympathy without "God" included.
Well, maybe you need to rethink your profession. You can not be an effective nurse without having faith, empathy and sympathy. Maybe you have a good reason.....who knows.
Who says she doesn't have faith, empathy and sympathy doesn't because she didn't hear a "calling".
There are many threads posts on this topic, but your post (the post mind you, this is not a personal attack, but a comment on the post) reeks with judgement that is not called for.
Of course, you are entitled to feel as you wish and I certainly respect that. :)
i have been a nurse for three years and yes i've had my share of not only crabby, mean, and unapproachable nurses but very prejudice as well. i am a black 29 yr old female who went to nursing school so that i could give back to my community. i worked very hard to get where i am now. i graduated from a community college and just graduated june 18 with my bachelors degree. i really do hate to bring this particular topic up but i've never experienced predjudice like i experience it now since i became a nurse. why are caucasion rns so mean to african american rn's? we are just as smart and sometimes smarter but some of them act as if we shouldn't be allowed to stand next to them with the same degrees and delegaton skills. what's the problem? i worked in an enviornment for 2 yrs which was very unhealthy for me. the nurses were very mean, they talked down to you and they often showed lack of attention when you gave them report, and since they failed to really listen, they always seemed to try and call you at home, which i felt was just pure and simple harrasment. i am an excellent nurse and ive worked with some excellent nurses, but who wants to come to work and get treated like sht? i thought that this was a very caring and compassionate field but it has proven to be otherwise. it is not a competition, we are needed to take care and address the needs of our patients. if patients see us acting this way towards each other, they probably think that we'd act this way towrds them. lets get it together ladies and gentleman. what you do to others you will have to answer to. god made us all, we are all his children and he doesn't discriminate, why should you? sincerly not trying to cause problems but need advice and opinions.
why are caucasion RNs so mean to african american RN's?
One way of coming together to solve this issue would be to leave out the generalized questions that might offend people. To me, that's just as prejudiced as anything.
i have been a nurse for three years and yes i've had my share of not only crabby, mean, and unapproachable nurses but very prejudice as well. i am a black 29 yr old female who went to nursing school so that i could give back to my community. i worked very hard to get where i am now. i graduated from a community college and just graduated june 18 with my bachelors degree. i really do hate to bring this particular topic up but i've never experienced predjudice like i experience it now since i became a nurse. why are caucasion rns so mean to african american rn's? we are just as smart and sometimes smarter but some of them act as if we shouldn't be allowed to stand next to them with the same degrees and delegaton skills. what's the problem? i worked in an enviornment for 2 yrs which was very unhealthy for me. the nurses were very mean, they talked down to you and they often showed lack of attention when you gave them report, and since they failed to really listen, they always seemed to try and call you at home, which i felt was just pure and simple harrasment. i am an excellent nurse and ive worked with some excellent nurses, but who wants to come to work and get treated like sht? i thought that this was a very caring and compassionate field but it has proven to be otherwise. it is not a competition, we are needed to take care and address the needs of our patients. if patients see us acting this way towards each other, they probably think that we'd act this way towrds them. lets get it together ladies and gentleman. what you do to others you will have to answer to. god made us all, we are all his children and he doesn't discriminate, why should you? sincerly not trying to cause problems but need advice and opinions.
unfortunately, there are some people who feel that "god" has nothing to do with nursing. however, my dear, i am sure you are a wonderful nurse and the only opinions that matter are those who you are caring for. white, black, or anyone for that matter, there will always be prejudice. you are a smart educated woman and you can rise above that! move on my friend, there are better circumstances out there for you, where you will be judged by your talent and not your race.
The first day I was on the externship (learning experience?) I suggested a cup of coffee during report. They were not giving report, they were talking about their wedding plans, vacation plans and everything but the patients. My preceptor told the managing nurse and the head of education about it. They gave me three days to IMPROVE. I did. I did not take breaks or lunchs, and never sat down. They said that I was doing a great job today, and every time I asked, but I got a three month review, (and that was after I was told that I was doing great,) and I was told I was not meeting my goals. I had my goals which they gave me with my duties and their expectations of me highlighted. They still said I was not meeting my goals. I don't mind if they don't like me, or are crabby, but they just lied to me, and never gave me a chance. THEY kept coming back to that stupid cup of coffee. It was a no win situation, so I resigned from an externship I worked hard to win. They are not crabby, they are crazy, or intimadated by my BS and background in education and engineering. NEED nurses????? I really want to be a nurse, and this is how they treat me. LIES, LIES, LIES. I am feeling quite insane...it makes no sense to me. If a preceptor can't teach a 3.86 student who truly cares about patients regardless of age, race, religion, or even ordors, their is something wrong with them, but I'm the one suffering. I have invested a lot of money and time to this. I even gave up my job to do this, and now I am left with nothing. Should I finish my last year of nursing school, or cut my loses????
truth672001
7 Posts
Good morning! I sure do like a peaceful working atmosphere and sometimes I do not know just how to handle the situation. For example, the newer nurse here has a real dangerous habit of just taking off her filthy gloves and placing them on our desks. The first time we all overlooked it because we simply thought she just forgot or something. Now, she is slick though. We can never catch her doing it anymore but guess what?....the gloves are there. We know it is her but what to do?