Unfriendly RN's during clinicals

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Has anyone had problems with RN's being unfriendly during clinicals? I just started my first clinical rotation a few weeks ago and the RN's have made it very clear that they don't want us there. The first day I was assigned to a patient the RN for that patient never spoke a word to me. I was feeling so lost and unsure of myself and really would have welcomed some advice or just a kind word, but I couldn't even find the RN most of the time. In fact, the only time I saw her was when the pt's IV ran out and she came in to change it. I followed her out into the hallway thinking that I could ask her some questions...she turned her head away from me and refused to speak. I understand that RN's are incredibly busy, but don't they remember what it was like when they were starting out?

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Some people just need an attitude adjustment. (or smacked, just kidding. Sorta lol) She apparently is one of them.

Sorry your having a bad experience. I hope that it will improve.

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Hi Kylie

My name is Kylie too. I always encounter bad RNs during my clinical placement. I dont understand why but I always get them while some other student in the same ward as me gets better nurse and I get envious and become ftustrated.

I consider myself to be a friendly person and sometimes I think to myself well I dont look like Shrek, so what is with this treatment. Very odd and selfish of RNs who cant help us students to get experience.

As I said I always encounter them and wish that the facilitator or Charge Nurse can be aware of this and maybe be discussed to make our time worthwhile.

I have now learnt now and its hard to do this all the time, is to grin and bear it until it reaches boiling point with me, then I may have to say something.

:uhoh21:

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Specializes in ER.

UGhh that has to be soo tough. I am taking my EMT I class and went into the ED to do IV sticks and found that 50% of the nurses were almost annoyed that they had to watch me. I can understand that they are much quicker and effient than I am but you know what??? They were where we are now at some point. I just wish that some of them would remeber that!!!

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Out of 30 or more RN's I've worked with, only two had problems. Eventually though, I was able to turn them around.

Students need to understand that we put a lot of stress on RN's. Not only do we get in the way of the work they have to get done but, if we screw up, it's on their license.

I'm not saying that some of these complaints aren't legit but I've also found that students can sometimes be too sensitive, over-react or mis-interpret what RN's do or say. It helps to look at it from their perspective, not just the student perspective.

One thing that always works for me is that I always help them with menial tasks. I make sure they know I'll pretty much do anything to make their day easier ... including fetching coffee. It's amazing how little gestures like that can change their attitude. Some RN's take more time than others but, eventually even the most hostile ones come around.

:coollook:

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Out of 30 or more RN's I've worked with, only two had problems. Eventually though, I was able to turn them around.

Students need to understand that we put a lot of stress on RN's. Not only do we get in the way of the work they have to get done but, if we screw up, it's on their license.

I'm not saying that some of these complaints aren't legit but I've also found that students can sometimes be too sensitive, over-react or mis-interpret what RN's do or say. It helps to look at it from their perspective, not just the student perspective.

One thing that always works for me is that I always help them with menial tasks. I make sure they know I'll pretty much do anything to make their day easier ... including fetching coffee. It's amazing how little gestures like that can change their attitude. Some RN's take more time than others but, eventually even the most hostile ones come around.

:coollook:

It's unacceptable to behave in hostile and disrespectful ways like what has been described in this thread. People who behave like this have serious issues and need to work on them. Abuse and disrespect are problems in the nursing field and should never be tolerated. :angryfire

That being said, it goes on all the time. It's usually directed at people who "those" nurses percieve as weaker or without any power. Sad but true.

For you students who wrote about this, Sorry, we're not all like that. I have fun working with students. Teaching is a blast. Especially when you can bypass all the state mandated stuff that nursing schools love to throw at people and teach what we really do on the job.

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It's unacceptable to behave in hostile and disrespectful ways like what has been described in this thread. People who behave like this have serious issues and need to work on them. Abuse and disrespect are problems in the nursing field and should never be tolerated. :angryfire

When I said hostile, I just meant that certain RN's are known for not wanting to work with students. I'm sure that there are some RN's are probably overtly hostile and disrespectful but ...

Let's face it. There are bad students too. Some won't help and be team players, and some are just plain careless with patients and are considered dangerous. You also have to consider the fact that some RN's have had bad experiences with students and that's why they don't want to work with them again.

One student tried to give a patient a lethal dose of insulin. While it was caught in time, and the student was kicked out of the program, I can understand why that would make any RN nervous with future students.

There was one RN who didn't want to work with students who, one day, asked for my help because the CNA had called out sick. She asked if I would help and I said, "Of course. That's what I'm here for."

While I didn't get much RN training that day, during my next clinical rotation she went out of her way to ask what skills I had learned in school, and what did I need to practice. She even wrote them down so, when patients needed certain things done, she would call me over to teach and watch me do the skill.

She spent the entire day training me because she was floating that day and had a much lighter patient load. This was an RN who supposedly hated students. So ... all I'm saying is ... you can turn things around.

:coollook:

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Specializes in OB, lactation.
One thing that always works for me is that I always help them with menial tasks. I make sure they know I'll pretty much do anything to make their day easier ... including fetching coffee. It's amazing how little gestures like that can change their attitude. Some RN's take more time than others but, eventually even the most hostile ones come around. :coollook:

I agree with this... I *always* make sure I say "let me know if I can help you with anything" to the nurse and CNA I'm working with... maybe even twice... and I try to anticipate anything they may need and say "do you want me to go grab that for you you?" or whatever (ok, well I don't fetch coffee... but anything work related). It goes a lot farther than some would think.

I also really try to maximize my own experience and seek out whatever I'm looking for... for example, one day in OB my nurse was too busy or not into the student thing (or whatever...), so I found the lactation consultant and asked her if I could round with her. A student who was ahead of me in the program told me that you really have to advocate for yourself and find ways to maximize the experience. It also helps that I have really thick skin and I try not to waste time letting things get to me if someone is snippy, I find a way to get past it and go busy myself with something more productive.

I haven't had any problems with anyone in particular, but I have noticed the overall tone of different units really varies. I don't know if that tone is sort of set by management, or just more happy/unhappy people or what for each area.

If shortstaffing (i.e. not being able to attract new nurses) is a problem, it only comes back to hurt them on cranky floors... right now I haven't heard a single person in my program who wants to go into peds and I know it's in large part b/c of their experience on that unit... and tons want to go into OB and likewise I know a lot of it is because we had such a good experience on the unit we were at. I can see beyond the attitudes of one individual floor but I think a lot of my classmates are really shaped by each rotation in that way.

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Students need to understand that we put a lot of stress on RN's. Not only do we get in the way of the work they have to get done but, if we screw up, it's on their license.

:coollook:

Lizz, it saddens me that you (and probably others) think you get in the way and cause stress!! PLEASE do not feel this way. I work in a university medical center and look forward to the students coming. I know my peers feel the same way. It is such a great opportunity to teach something and help build confidence in students. Okay, okay YES once in a blue moon there is one student who can really make your day challenging, but for the most part when the students come it is fantastic!!!

Just try to remember when you are finished with school and you are out there on the job and get assigned a nursing student....treat them how you would like to be treated.

Best of Luck

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Specializes in ED.

Oh sweety, there is one on every rotation. I had one last semester that actually yelled in the middle of the burn unit because I asked her for a report so I could do my burn rotation! I was warned about her, don't know why she was allowed to be paired with another student cause she caused problems in the past. But since I couldn't get report from her I couldn't enter the patients room. I sat at the door to the room doing a "doorway" assessment, completely read over the chart, listened while the doctors did rounds on her ans watched while she man handled this 80 year old burn patient. Just discusted with that place.

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I can only hope that all of us students remember this when we are nurses and students are coming to US! I wonder what happens to nurses after they get out of school to make them act that way and forget that they were once students too, who had many questions - made mistakes - and didn't know everything? SG

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if we screw up, it's on their license.

Wouldn't you think that even those who weren't thrilled about having students there would be helpful for just that reason?

To those nurses who responded that they enjoy having students in their units, thank you. I hope I'm lucky enough to get nurses like you to work with.

Richele

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