Trivial matter

Unknown member · Aug 18, 2011

I am starting nursing classes next week and am a little panicked. I have a situation. My husband's ex-wife works at one of the clinical sites. In most cases you do what you have to do to get through, with her it is a little tough. The split was not friendly and there has been ongoing trouble. Clinicals will put me directly in contact with her at her place of employment. I am to say the least scared! I am conflicted about how to approach this situation. Do I talk with my instructor? I don't want to make trouble but don't want to be caught off guard either. Am a little concerned about possible reports against me from this person. Can anyone give me some advise and/or tips on how to approach this?

I feel for you...I'd definitely feel nervous/uneasy about it, but you're right, you gotta do what you gotta do, you should NOT request another site because in the real world, you will be dealing with people you don't get along with all the time.

If it makes you feel any better, you may NOT actually be in contact with her at all. At our clinicals, others may be different, we were assigned a patient and we had to find that patient's nurse to get report. During the shift, if I had any questions, I'd go right to my instructor and not the nurse (probably because they're busy and hard to find). So my point is, yes you may see her on the floor, but you may not be working with the same patients. Maybe if your instructor assigns you one of her patients, you can then tell your instructor how you believe it's a conflict of interest and maybe she'd be willing to assign you another patient with a different nurse? But sometimes, they won't, because they want you to deal with real life issues. If it becomes a problem at the site, I'd most definitely talk with your instructor. But for now, I'd go with the flow...maybe it won't be as bad as you're imagining.

studyjunky · Aug 18, 2011

Thanks for the encouragement. Going into the unknown (clinical) and already knowing I will face a challenge is tough on me right now. :chair:

allnurses Guide · Aug 18, 2011

Unless she is a floor nurse on the floor you will be on working the shift you will be there, the likelihood of her even knowing you are there is slim to none.

ashleyisawesome, BSN, RN · Aug 18, 2011

at our school i the beginning they asked us if we either work on any of the floors we may be assigned to or are related/know anyone that works on these floors, and they tried to not put us on those floors.. maybe go to your instructor and say something?

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Aug 18, 2011

at our school i the beginning they asked us if we either work on any of the floors we may be assigned to or are related/know anyone that works on these floors, and they tried to not put us on those floors.. maybe go to your instructor and say something?

ding-ding-ding!! we have a winnah!! exactly right. this will also avoid the possibility that you will be assigned to one of her patients and then you have to make a change.

AOX4RN, MSN, RN, NP · Aug 19, 2011

at our school i the beginning they asked us if we either work on any of the floors we may be assigned to or are related/know anyone that works on these floors, and they tried to not put us on those floors.. maybe go to your instructor and say something?

I would inform the instructor and get my assignment changed. This is school, not a job so you do get a certain amount of say in what your experience is. If working in any proximity of her will compromise your concentration and attention, then it's not safe.

NellieOlsen · Aug 19, 2011

Sticky situation! I agree with the others about bringing it up to your instructor.

momtojosh · Aug 19, 2011

i agree with apgar10...change hospitals or floors or whatever.....i had a gal in my LPN class who had some of her ex's family in a particular hosp and she asked not to be placed there...even tho it was the closest to her home town...