Unfriendly RN's during clinicals

mariedoreen · Jul 6, 2005

I guess I'm so used to this I don't really see it as a problem anymore. I go into report and I make a note of who my patient's RN is so I know who to go to with certain questions etc.. then when report's over unless they call out to talk to me I'm gone. I head straight for my patient's room and do an assessment, help them get ready for the day etc.. Before I even go into report I've already checked what their meds and txs are so I know when they'll get those. I'll go back to my nurse if I have a question or to talk with her before I chart anything (I get her approval), or to quickly touch base with her if anything extraordinary comes up. Other than that, I'm with my patient or working on my own paperwork. Almost always the nurse seeks me out periodically to touch base with me as well. My own clinical instructor usually seeks me out every 1-2 hours as well to check in if I haven't called her for anything. The interactions with the RNs assigned to my patients varies. If I have one that's more into teaching etc... I capitalize on it. If I don't, I do my own thing. Interactions with those nurses can be short and to the point, but that's ok. No one's ever actually been rude to me. But I've had several who were reserved almost to the point of coldness starting out. By the end of shift tho they've almost always warmed up at least some. As long as they're not out-of-line vicious, I don't care. Don't get me wrong, I prefer those who are happy to have me along, but I don't let it ruin my shift if I'm not so lucky... I just do my own thing and check in as needed.

kyliern2b · Jul 6, 2005

I can't stand to be idle, so I was busy the whole day with my patient, helping my fellow students, changing beds, doing vital signs, etc. I really don't think it was anything I did that caused the problem. In fact, I heard that the nurses on this unit routinely treat students this way. I heard some of them grumbling about not being paid to be teachers and not having the time to mess with us students. I'm really hoping that when I'm finished with school I work with nurses who actually like their job and aren't miserable. I've worked in offices before where everyone was miserable and believe me when I say it's contagious.

Sheri257 · Jul 6, 2005

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.

I agree with most of this. Especially the part where you talk about having a thick skin, ignoring anybody who's snippy and just getting busy regardless. It really helps.

But I'm not so sure that there's such a thing as "cranky" floors. The reason is ... during my last rotation we were split into two groups. One went to telemetry, the other med surg. Then we had to switch in the middle of the rotation.

The RN's had complained to the school about the group before us ... which was a pretty big upset at the time. So, when we had to switch to that floor, we were scared.

The first day, I overheard some RN's joking that they were going to make me change a colostomy bag. They didn't realize I could hear them so I announced ... "I have no problem with that. And, BTW, feel free to have some fun at my expense."

I didn't complain and did a good job changing the bag. Maybe they were being a little mean, but they had also had problems with other students not helping out and they wanted to see if I was going to be a team player.

Once I proved myself they were so incredibly nice to me. By the end of the rotation, they were always asking if I wanted anything when they were going out for coffee or ordering out for lunch. So ... this was a "cranky" floor that turned out to be not so cranky.

:coollook:

AussieKylie · Jul 7, 2005

Those RNs had to start some where in their nursing career. If there attitude continues to be negative towards nursing students then the consequences could be that nursing shortage as it is already could be a crisis. With those experienced nurses getting burnt out quicker. So in a positive result, these nurses need awareness about their negative attitudes, turn it around to make it more of a positive experience for us newbie student nurses :)

Also, I really feel and believe that all nurse unit managers who are aware of student nurses entering wards during their clinicals, need to communicate with the team of nurses and possibly assign those nurses to be with students.

I really hate when it comes to clinicals as I always get the poopy end of the stick where I get the awkward or bad attitude nurse. It makes me feel so uncomfortable. To have the charge nurse assign RNs to students who want to teach would make me and other students feel less stressed when its time for clinicals.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2005

I'm sorry to here that. Wish you were here with me, I'd take you under my wings in a heartbeat.

Good luck. Nothing more to add to what's been said.

pink2blue1 · Jul 7, 2005

I have just started my nursing program (LVN) but I have been working as a CNA for 3 years. I became aware that the nurses at my hospital do have an attitude towards the Nursing students, wether it be the LVN or RN students. We have 2 schools that use us for their clinical site. Anyways one day an RN was sitting there picking on one of the students and how she had charted in the meditech system. It made me SO mad I simply turned to her and said "Don't you remember that you were once a student too?" She got red in the face and didn't respond, but shoot, this is going to be my clinical site as well as my workplace soon!

Shannon

mariedoreen · Jul 7, 2005

I really don't think it was anything I did that caused the problem. In fact, I heard that the nurses on this unit routinely treat students this way. I heard some of them grumbling about not being paid to be teachers and not having the time to mess with us students.

No you're right, some just really do not want to be bothered with students. Just appreciate the ones who do not see you as a bother, stay out of the way of the ones who do (and most importantly realize that it has nothing to do with you) and then take all that you observe and use it to shape the kind of nurse you resolve to be in the future.

NO1_2NV · Jul 7, 2005

just a thought i have had on several occasions regarding this very subject but does anyone else feel that if the nursing trade magazines began publishing articles or devoting column space to this very subject it might bring the problem to the forefront? until this is recognized "openly" it won't heal itself and it won't go away.

there is this elephant in the room...

FocusRN · Jul 7, 2005

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.

The last time I checked student nurses in clinical rotations aren't "gofers". If I wanted to learn how to fetch coffe, I would be taking a food service class. In my opinion it has nothing to do with the RNs being friendly; it is all about respect. A nursing student's job is not to make the RNs job easier in clinical rotation or to make them "come around", it is to learn. And if an RN has a problem with that I sugest she/he report that to administration, so she/he can be transfered to anothe unit or assignment, which won't require her/him to provide clinical instruction. Or she/he can opt to go to a hospital that doesn't have clinical contracts. Having a bad day I understand, but when it gets to the point of disrespecting someone else for your bad mood it has gone too far, and needs to be nipped in the bud.

mattsmom81 · Jul 7, 2005

When I was a student nurse, before DRG's, things were better. My program was excellent; it was hospital based and the nurses 'bought into' the teaching environment. We don't see that today. Schools and hospitals are seperate entities today, sadly.

The nurses are already given too much to do in too little time, and struggle with the burden of meeting their duty to their patients in the midst of a less than supportive environment, in too many cases. Since DRG's our jobs have gotten harder and harder, and its all about 'do more with less'. I can understand the reluctance to take on a student when you're already overwhelmed. I think its sad that hospitals and nursing schools aren't on the same page and facilitating the precepting-learning process like they used to. The students and staff both suffer.

Today my nursing supervisors frequently use students simply as an excuse to further short staff a unit, disregarding the extra time it may take to nurture and oversee.

I'm sorry so many nurses seem grouchy and take it out on students. No its not right. But often a little TLC and understanding goes a long way with these crabby nurses. My advice is to never take it personal...her mood likely has nothing to do with you and he/she is likely overwhelmed, frustrated and in need of a kind word herself.

And Liz...if a student nurse offered to bring me a cuppa Joe when she was having one herself, it would be a nice gesture, thanks. We should all do more nice things for one another ...it makes the job a much more pleasant place. :)

Imafloat, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2005

I have never had a cranky nurse experience until yesterday. Even the other nurses call this nurse "______ the hun." I stayed out of her way as much as possible. The nurse before her didn't chart the pain meds where she was supposed to so this nurse gave pain meds too early so that had her in a tizzy before I even got there. I think she appreciated the fact that I left her alone and did a good job with my patients because when I left she actually smiled and said thanks for everything you did a good job today.

#1rnstudent · Jul 8, 2005

OMG You sound like you must be at my old hospital! WOW! Things never change, do they?

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?