Yeah, you're probably reading the title and are thinking: *eye roll* "Another Nursing student who thinks they deserve a better grade than they earned." I promise you, it's not that.
I am at a clinical site for clinicals, and the evaluations I am getting are absolutely nit-picky and I am wondering if this potentially could constitute as harassment. Why? Because it is negatively affecting my grades. I have gotten written up for the following:
-"Student takes too many notes."
-"Student carries around notebook everywhere. This shows the student is 'carrying around notebook excessively to avoid patient-care encounters'". WTH???
-"Student asked about the IV procedures regarding another clinical site." (They didn't like that I asked that).
-"Student doesn't show initiative." Even though I do! I ask to do things. I insert IVs in patients, I do vitals, I perform tests, I put ECG 12 leads on, assessments, etc. My previous clinical site gave me great evaluations, and this site it's ridiculous.
-"Student made nurses appear stupid to patient by asking to retrieve a warm compress on a patient with difficult veins (Yes, you read that correctly). Additionally, student suggested looking on different areas of an arm before proceeding with contacting an I.V. team, making the nurse appear as though she did not know what she was doing." I was trying to be helpful, and as you can see, taking initiative at this point gets me in trouble (again!)
I've had it with my clinical site, and my director is not helping me whatsoever and I'm tired of it all. I've had so much anxiety around these people it's not even funny. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I can't take it anymore! Please, anyone have any advice? I ask my director, she says, "Learn to be adaptable." I AM. Some Nurses let me do things, some don't, and the ones that don't write me up for not doing anything. And the worst part is: it's going to drop my average :(.
Sure, the system may be a problem. Though I would have been very frustrated with my education if I had to wait for my instructor in order to complete med passes, do procedures, or ask questions. With one instructor overseeing eight students there would be no way that all eight students would have rich or engaging learning experiences if they were all waiting for one person.
All of this is, however, beside the point. No matter the problems of the system, we should all be able to agree that a nurse potentially taking out their frustration on a student is wrong, and not speaking directly with a student if they feel there is a problem is also wrong. I would expect my manager, charge nurse, or peers to address me directly if I was acting inappropriately, I would feel terrible if no one said anything until a yearly review. I think students deserve the same level of professional courtesy and respect.
This is not the staff nurse's problem nor responsibility, though. They do not work for your University or program. They are not compensated for teaching you. They are employed by the hospital and their responsibility lies with the patient. My education was handled by my clinical instructor and we never had a problem obtaining practice with skills, medication passes, and observing procedures. We were not set loose on the floor to become a burden to the staff nurses who were not affiliated with our program. We could observe their work, help them, and if we received blessing by our instructor for a skill we had already worked on with her perform it with them. The school is charging quite a bit for your education. Perhaps they should be more responsible for ensuring that you are receiving a quality one by having enough instructors per student. Hospital staff already don't have enough staff to provide adequate orientations to their new employees, let alone trying to be responsible for the education of students they are not paid to handle.
Posts like this make me so glad I am a male nursing student in my last year. I do pretty much everything the original poster does, even carry around a tiny notebook I write things in and stick in my pocket, a habit from my ambulance days. I never get any grief at all. I don't understand male nursing students that feel like they are being discriminated against. From what I can tell we don't get any of the b******* that many of the female nurslings get. But that is a topic for another thread.
And to those that have a problem with nursing students asking questions in front of a patient, I stopped my clinical instructor from making a med error and pushing the wrong IV Med by realizing that it was not the right Med and asking her her if it was the right generic name for the med. I suppose I could have waited until she pushed it and we left a room and then ask her, " do you realize you just made a med error?"
Yeah, you're probably reading the title and are thinking: *eye roll* "Another Nursing student who thinks they deserve a better grade than they earned." I promise you, it's not that.
I am at a clinical site for clinicals, and the evaluations I am getting are absolutely nit-picky and I am wondering if this potentially could constitute as harassment. Why? Because it is negatively affecting my grades. I have gotten written up for the following:
-"Student takes too many notes."
-"Student carries around notebook everywhere. This shows the student is 'carrying around notebook excessively to avoid patient-care encounters'". WTH???
-"Student asked about the IV procedures regarding another clinical site." (They didn't like that I asked that).
-"Student doesn't show initiative." Even though I do! I ask to do things. I insert IVs in patients, I do vitals, I perform tests, I put ECG 12 leads on, assessments, etc. My previous clinical site gave me great evaluations, and this site it's ridiculous.
-"Student made nurses appear stupid to patient by asking to retrieve a warm compress on a patient with difficult veins (Yes, you read that correctly). Additionally, student suggested looking on different areas of an arm before proceeding with contacting an I.V. team, making the nurse appear as though she did not know what she was doing." I was trying to be helpful, and as you can see, taking initiative at this point gets me in trouble (again!)
I've had it with my clinical site, and my director is not helping me whatsoever and I'm tired of it all. I've had so much anxiety around these people it's not even funny. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I can't take it anymore! Please, anyone have any advice? I ask my director, she says, "Learn to be adaptable." I AM. Some Nurses let me do things, some don't, and the ones that don't write me up for not doing anything. And the worst part is: it's going to drop my average ?
It sounds like you got an evaluation from an RN who was being bullied and has little to zero experience with a student. She has decided to take it out on you. She probably sucks as a nurse and co-worker.
When I got evaluations back like these from preceptors, they went in the circular file. It was very, very clear that what was written was designed to personally attack you. There isn't anything wrong with you taking notes or anything else you did.
What is even more sad and tragic is the number of posts trying to convince you that is the norm in nursing...it isn't. Yes, you have some nasty personalities, but once you develop a backbone, you can shut any of them down.
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
7 hours ago, Luchador said:
Posts like this make me so glad I am a male nursing student in my last year. I do pretty much everything the original poster does, even carry around a tiny notebook I write things in and stick in my pocket, a habit from my ambulance days. I never get any grief at all. I don't understand male nursing students that feel like they are being discriminated against. From what I can tell we don't get any of the b******* that many of the female nurslings get. But that is a topic for another thread.
And to those that have a problem with nursing students asking questions in front of a patient, I stopped my clinical instructor from making a med error and pushing the wrong IV Med by realizing that it was not the right Med and asking her her if it was the right generic name for the med. I suppose I could have waited until she pushed it and we left a room and then ask her, " do you realize you just made a med error?"
Original poster: there are evil b****** like your instructor and you just have to deal with their b*******. Keep your head down and push through. Be humble. Be curious. You will be 10 times the nurse she is. .
Situations like this are an exception, obviously. You used your critical thinking skills to advocate on patient safety. That is completely appropriate and always takes priority. Well done.
There isn't anything wrong with you taking notes or anything else you did.
What is even more sad and tragic is the number of posts trying to convince you that is the norm in nursing...it isn't. Yes, you have some nasty personalities, but once you develop a backbone, you can shut any of them down.
It sounds like you got an evaluation from an RN who was being bullied and has little to zero experience with a student. She has decided to take it out on you. She probably sucks as a nurse and co-worker.
When I got evaluations back like these from preceptors, they went in the circular file. It was very, very clear that what was written was designed to personally attack you. There isn't anything wrong with you taking notes or anything else you did.
What is even more sad and tragic is the number of posts trying to convince you that is the norm in nursing...it isn't. Yes, you have some nasty personalities, but once you develop a backbone, you can shut any of them down.
I don't think most are saying it's the norm or right. In fact I think how OP is being treated is BS. But if you want to graduate, you need to suck it up sometimes, knowing they are the ones in the wrong. You can effect change once you have the degree. Now is not the time.
It sounds like you got an evaluation from an RN who was being bullied and has little to zero experience with a student. She has decided to take it out on you. She probably sucks as a nurse and co-worker.
When I got evaluations back like these from preceptors, they went in the circular file. It was very, very clear that what was written was designed to personally attack you. There isn't anything wrong with you taking notes or anything else you did.
What is even more sad and tragic is the number of posts trying to convince you that is the norm in nursing...it isn't. Yes, you have some nasty personalities, but once you develop a backbone, you can shut any of them down.
That literally makes no sense whatsoever. Like none. Why are you developing this grandiose backbone for something non-existent? What's more equally tragic is you giving her the thought that whenever you get a less than favorable response it should be perceived as an attack.
It sounds like you got an evaluation from an RN who was being bullied and has little to zero experience with a student. She has decided to take it out on you. She probably sucks as a nurse and co-worker.
While I agree that the OP is being called on the carpet for some ridiculous things I disagree with your assessment of the RN. I precept all of the time as well as participate in senior capstones where I have the same student for 9-12 weeks. I very much enjoy it and hope that I am contributing in a positive way to the future of nursing. I don't suck as a nurse or a co-worker but you'd better believe that if I had a student making suggestions on how to improve on my 31+years of IV skills compared to their likely less than 10 tries in front of a patient I'm going to be a bit miffed. Not because I'm embarrassed but because it can decrease the patient's confidence in my abilities. The big difference is I would not run and tattle to the CI. I would instead have an adult conversation with the student and use it as a teaching moment rather than cutting the student down. I would only resort to reporting to the CI if I did not see any improvement.
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
That still doesn't make it the staff nurses' job. The school needs to solve this. NOT the staff nurses. Frankly, its hubris to assume any staff nurse is going to help a student at all. Preceptors have the right to refuse to have a student on any given day. I've done it. There is nothing in the job description of a floor nurse that states he or she is required to precept students from outside the facility. The school may have an academic agreement with the school but I am fairly certain its explicit regarding the student being the responsibility of the clinical instructor, period.
I had a CI once calling me at my institution wanting me to find placement for their students on a given clinical day. Census had fallen so low there weren't enough patients OR NURSES to provide them with instruction, so the CI wanted them in L&D, the ER, the OR, etc. I had to sweetly tell that CI that if there weren't enough patients or nurses, there weren't enough patients or nurses. We didn't allow students in L&D or the OR at all and if census was low on the floors it was also low in the ER that day. I wasn't going to try to come up with alternative activities. That's the CI's job, not mine. I have a hospital education department to run. She didn't like that answer, but it was the truth.
If the CI can't keep up with the student, the clinical groups are too large and they need to fix it. NOT expect the floor nurses to fill in the gaps. That's a slippery slope of nonsense.
Yeah, you're probably reading the title and are thinking: *eye roll* "Another Nursing student who thinks they deserve a better grade than they earned." I promise you, it's not that.
I am at a clinical site for clinicals, and the evaluations I am getting are absolutely nit-picky and I am wondering if this potentially could constitute as harassment. Why? Because it is negatively affecting my grades. I have gotten written up for the following:
-"Student takes too many notes."
-"Student carries around notebook everywhere. This shows the student is 'carrying around notebook excessively to avoid patient-care encounters'". WTH???
-"Student asked about the IV procedures regarding another clinical site." (They didn't like that I asked that).
-"Student doesn't show initiative." Even though I do! I ask to do things. I insert IVs in patients, I do vitals, I perform tests, I put ECG 12 leads on, assessments, etc. My previous clinical site gave me great evaluations, and this site it's ridiculous.
-"Student made nurses appear stupid to patient by asking to retrieve a warm compress on a patient with difficult veins (Yes, you read that correctly). Additionally, student suggested looking on different areas of an arm before proceeding with contacting an I.V. team, making the nurse appear as though she did not know what she was doing." I was trying to be helpful, and as you can see, taking initiative at this point gets me in trouble (again!)
I've had it with my clinical site, and my director is not helping me whatsoever and I'm tired of it all. I've had so much anxiety around these people it's not even funny. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I can't take it anymore! Please, anyone have any advice? I ask my director, she says, "Learn to be adaptable." I AM. Some Nurses let me do things, some don't, and the ones that don't write me up for not doing anything. And the worst part is: it's going to drop my average ?
Its hard to accept criticism. You need to think about what you can do to improve. Clinical isn't lecture, you cant get hung up on note taking. This instructor is giving you feedback, and probably also doesnt like you but so be it. Not everyone will like you. If you were actually being harassed and your leadership is aware of it they will take action.
And to those that have a problem with nursing students asking questions in front of a patient, I stopped my clinical instructor from making a med error and pushing the wrong IV Med by realizing that it was not the right Med and asking her her if it was the right generic name for the med. I suppose I could have waited until she pushed it and we left a room and then ask her, " do you realize you just made a med error?"
Luchador - your example is very different than what we're talking about. Any time a patient is in imminent preventable danger the only prevailing rule is to stop the activity in as professional manner as possible, which it sounds like you did (good job!). That most definitely is not the same as someone standing at the bedside while you pull up a med and saying, "aren't you supposed to inject two mls of air before pulling out the med?" ?? - which is the kind of inappropriate commentary that isn't appreciated in front of patients. And since students may not know which is which, it's not a terrible idea to exercise caution unless you can clearly see that an error is about to take place.
Specializes in 26 yrs ER, Dialysis, HH, Education.
32 minutes ago, not.done.yet said:
That still doesn't make it the staff nurses' job. The school needs to solve this. NOT the staff nurses. Frankly, its hubris to assume any staff nurse is going to help a student at all. Preceptors have the right to refuse to have a student on any given day. I've done it. There is nothing in the job description of a floor nurse that states he or she is required to precept students from outside the facility. The school may have an academic agreement with the school but I am fairly certain its explicit regarding the student being the responsibility of the clinical instructor, period.
I had a CI once calling me at my institution wanting me to find placement for their students on a given clinical day. Census had fallen so low there weren't enough patients OR NURSES to provide them with instruction, so the CI wanted them in L&D, the ER, the OR, etc. I had to sweetly tell that CI that if there weren't enough patients or nurses, there weren't enough patients or nurses. We didn't allow students in L&D or the OR at all and if census was low on the floors it was also low in the ER that day. I wasn't going to try to come up with alternative activities. That's the CI's job, not mine. I have a hospital education department to run. She didn't like that answer, but it was the truth.
If the CI can't keep up with the student, the clinical groups are too large and they need to fix it. NOT expect the floor nurses to fill in the gaps. That's a slippery slope of nonsense.
Well, you obviously haven't either been following my comments, or had difficulty understanding. Not once did I say it should be the sole responsibility of a staff nurse. Not once did I say a preceptor could not refuse a student, you're correct it happens frequently. Also trust, NOT once did I say I couldn't keep up. What was said is that this isn't just the way the school does it. It is the was the State Board of Nursing REQUIRES it to be done, as well as the facilities. So, unless you know how to change the BoN recommendations and requirements or how to let the facilities know this is not always in their best interest, then you might want to hold up on the negativity.
As I said previously, I don't agree with this module and see both pros and cons, but at this point, it is what it is and I have to teach to the best of my ability, with what I am given. To do this, yes I make myself VERY available to students, both during and outside of clinical, I am with them on the units as I round and making sure they are okay, have any questions, need assistance, what have you. I, and may CIs I know, do NOT leave it up to the precepting stuff RNs to do our job. What it seems is you've had some rough experiences and perceive it to b me that way across the board - and all I'm saying is it isn't.
HarleyvQuinn, MSN, RN, NP
222 Posts
This is not the staff nurse's problem nor responsibility, though. They do not work for your University or program. They are not compensated for teaching you. They are employed by the hospital and their responsibility lies with the patient. My education was handled by my clinical instructor and we never had a problem obtaining practice with skills, medication passes, and observing procedures. We were not set loose on the floor to become a burden to the staff nurses who were not affiliated with our program. We could observe their work, help them, and if we received blessing by our instructor for a skill we had already worked on with her perform it with them. The school is charging quite a bit for your education. Perhaps they should be more responsible for ensuring that you are receiving a quality one by having enough instructors per student. Hospital staff already don't have enough staff to provide adequate orientations to their new employees, let alone trying to be responsible for the education of students they are not paid to handle.