What is the biggest frustration for nursing students?

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Just curious as nursing instructors what do find nursing students complain most about or find most challenging. Thanks.

Specializes in Pediatrics.
One thing that can make a frazzled/overwork nurse breathe a little easier (unless they are really just mean), is proper communication from the beginning. When i arrive at clinical and meet the nurse that i am assigned to, i introduce myself and let her know what I can do by myself and what i have to have an RN to watch me do. i let her know if she can expect me to do the assessments and chart them and ask if she would prefer me to go over my findings with her before charting them and I have a copy of my current do's and don'ts list for her to see what I can do, do with supervision or absolutely under no circumstances can touch. I let her know my brief plan of action for the day running down my priorities and letting her know that I know when meds are due and asking any questions about how a med was ordered. I then tell her that i can do ____ procedures unsupervised on her other patients if she needs it done (BG sticks, D/C IVs and putting on saline locks, simple dressing changes etc...) i also let her know that i would love to see _____ procedure done so if she has one scheduled let me know if it is ok for me to come watch. this process usually takes 5 minutes or less and i head out to start working. i like to keep busy and I feel as though if i take charge, the nurse doesn't feel like she has to babysit me, i get a better learning experience and usually a good report to my CI.

Wow!! I haven't been doing this for that long, and for the most part I have had 1st year students (I did have 3rd semester students once), but I have never had a student establish a rapport like that with the floor nurse. This is a perfect example of what the students should do (although you are probably going above and beyond your responsibility, but you are doing what is comfortable for you). Speaking of comfortable, everyone is different. And I think the reason many students do not do the above is b/c they are not comfortable in communicating with the staff. I know I wasn't as a student.

But communication is the key.

Please DO NOT make up a multiple choice test that includes answers where the lab values are all within normal limits or all incorrect depending upon which book you are looking at. That is unfair and is NOT testing mastery of the information.

Yeah, that's just ridiculous. That's not testing anything at all.

Some instructors straddle the fence on whether or not we can do certain things and it makes it hard for the staff nurses to know if we are just being lazy when we say we can't do something or if we are really prohibited from doing ____.

I was told by my boss that I am not to let my students do fingersticks, because of quality control (we don't have ID #s to enter into the machine, and something once happened that a staff nurse had an issue and she tried to blame it on the student, even tho the ID# was hers). So we have to constantly say "No we don't do fingersticks" and i'm sure they are thinking we just don't feel like doing them.

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Wow!! I haven't been doing this for that long, and for the most part I have had 1st year students (I did have 3rd semester students once), but I have never had a student establish a rapport like that with the floor nurse. This is a perfect example of what the students should do (although you are probably going above and beyond your responsibility, but you are doing what is comfortable for you). Speaking of comfortable, everyone is different. And I think the reason many students do not do the above is b/c they are not comfortable in communicating with the staff. I know I wasn't as a student.

But communication is the key.

Yeah, that's just ridiculous. That's not testing anything at all.

I was told by my boss that I am not to let my students do fingersticks, because of quality control (we don't have ID #s to enter into the machine, and something once happened that a staff nurse had an issue and she tried to blame it on the student, even tho the ID# was hers). So we have to constantly say "No we don't do fingersticks" and i'm sure they are thinking we just don't feel like doing them.

I didn't always start my day like this, and I found that the nurses were either confused about what i could do and what they needed to do, they constantly looked worried and there was a lot of general confusion. I also found that i missed out on procedures and chances to do skills because the nurses took care of things because they didn't know that I could do them. I started midway through 2nd quarter doing this and I have found that it works well. everyone has to find a way of communication that works for them, but when you start the day off letting people know what they can expect from you it usually smooths the way for true communication.

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I know this is an old thread but...

If this kind of self-introduction is a good idea, why not give the students a starter script they can use if they're not sure how to approach their nurse?

Eg: "Hi, I'm XXX, a student nurse from XXX School. I'll be working with patient XXX today. I expect to (do AM care, take I/O, administer oral medications). I will not be hanging IV medications today. My instructor will supervise and sign off on any treatments I administer. Is there anything you'd like me know before I get started?"

The students could tweak them and add to them as they grow in their skills - eg: I'm also qualified to (insert foley catheters, administer IM injections) and would appreciate the opportunity to perform such procedures should they come up.

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There must be some strict qualifications here in the Philippines to hire Clinical Instructors, better if they also the Education units to have a basic teaching methods and then properly apply it to students.

A lot of consistencies, sometimes dismay is building up in me!

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Well, this is news to me, and I can't wait to ask my boss about that one.

Just a little reminder: we are human beings too. We are not perfect. We have bad days too.

Oh, to be sure. My particular teachers, I am sure, were having bad lives. People are mean when they're unhappy. Grouchy patients I can stand as I appreciate how uncomfortable they are. But the teachers have no excuse. I am happy as a clam finishing up at Excelsior. "Stuck people stick people."

Diahni

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Specializes in Licensed Practical Nurse.

Dealing with unfair instructors- boy do I have experiences:scrying:

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I had a horrible day today. I had my last check-off for the summer and it happened to be on Medication Administration. I passed the check off, but I would like to ask anyone's opinion about the way the instructor treated me. First of all, we were given 30 minutes for two students to correct a MAR, prepare 9 medications including the med math, an ampule of Demoral and Insulin, give the medications, and mark it off on the MAR...that was fine, I studied a lot. My instructor, who is quite a bit younger than I am, is not ever what I would call overly friendly, but today she was an exceptional treat. These checks are very important. We only have two chances to pass, then we're out of the program. Because the previous students were running late, it meant we were all running late. When it was my turn to fix the meds, the kept looking at the clock, rolling her eyes, huffing, etc. It made me very, very nervous. Not that I wasn't a wreck already....but then, after only drawing an ampule one time before, I'm trying to do this without touching the sides, etc. and the whole time she's huffing, making comments under her break...now, I'm doing this check off with three of my peers watching and listening. I was looking for an insulin syringe...there was a plastic box of mixed up syringes and of course I couldn't find the one with UNITS on it and she says, "What ARE YOU DOING??!" I almost burst into tears, but I was able to maintain professionalism...she did pass me; however, I have never been so embarrassed and humiliated...on the one hand, I realize her job is to make sure we know what we're doing, but I felt like she was very unprofessional for huffing, rolling her eyes, making smart comments, etc. while I was trying to pass a very difficult check off....what do you guys think?

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I had a horrible day today. I had my last check-off for the summer and it happened to be on Medication Administration. I passed the check off, but I would like to ask anyone's opinion about the way the instructor treated me. First of all, we were given 30 minutes for two students to correct a MAR, prepare 9 medications including the med math, an ampule of Demoral and Insulin, give the medications, and mark it off on the MAR...that was fine, I studied a lot. My instructor, who is quite a bit younger than I am, is not ever what I would call overly friendly, but today she was an exceptional treat. These checks are very important. We only have two chances to pass, then we're out of the program. Because the previous students were running late, it meant we were all running late. When it was my turn to fix the meds, the kept looking at the clock, rolling her eyes, huffing, etc. It made me very, very nervous. Not that I wasn't a wreck already....but then, after only drawing an ampule one time before, I'm trying to do this without touching the sides, etc. and the whole time she's huffing, making comments under her break...now, I'm doing this check off with three of my peers watching and listening. I was looking for an insulin syringe...there was a plastic box of mixed up syringes and of course I couldn't find the one with UNITS on it and she says, "What ARE YOU DOING??!" I almost burst into tears, but I was able to maintain professionalism...she did pass me; however, I have never been so embarrassed and humiliated...on the one hand, I realize her job is to make sure we know what we're doing, but I felt like she was very unprofessional for huffing, rolling her eyes, making smart comments, etc. while I was trying to pass a very difficult check off....what do you guys think?

HSMOM:

Poor You! The incident you describe is the kind of thing that drove me to finish my nursing training online. I have been reminded by many that nursing school is not the same experience as working as a nurse. And if you do find yourself working with unpleasant people as a nurse, well, it is an employees' market out there, and you can quit. Each "subculture," such as nursing school has a certain atmosphere to it. I understand firefighters have a close knit, family atmosphere, and so on. Once I mentioned some scenes such as you describe to a very lovely friend who is a nurse, she reminded me that "nurses aren't always very nice to other nurses." I maintain that nursing instructors are the worst, however. You have two choices - put up with it until it's over, or see if you can finish online. I feel your pain, believe me.

There really aren't very many professional environments where people get away with acting like this. Maybe in a sweatshop. If there any way to improve this toxic environment? I was screamed at and belittled by nursing instructors who were younger than me. The only way this kind of thing will change is if enough people get fed up with it. When I spoke up, I realized the only resolution was to leave, and I thank God I had options.

Diahni

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Specializes in PEDS ICU, ED, Management, Home Health.

As a former student, I just obtained my MSN in May, I think that instructors that don't treat the students as adult learners, would be a huge disservice.

When I went to nursing school, 20 years ago, the ages of students were 18-40's, mostly right out of high school. SO these students needed the structure and guidance that my instructors gave. Today, many students are chosing nursing as a second career and are adult learners, and instructors must acknowledge their intended audience and teach at that level.

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As a former student, I just obtained my MSN in May, I think that instructors that don't treat the students as adult learners, would be a huge disservice.

When I went to nursing school, 20 years ago, the ages of students were 18-40's, mostly right out of high school. SO these students needed the structure and guidance that my instructors gave. Today, many students are chosing nursing as a second career and are adult learners, and instructors must acknowledge their intended audience and teach at that level.

HOrselover44:

Definitely, many instructors don't "get" the obvious - that older students bring far more to the table than younger ones, and the teaching techniques may differ. But really, nobody, young or old, learns by getting intimidated, humiliated and screamed at. Words could never describe the contempt I have for the nasty women who do this to nursing students. Not only is it ugly, it doesn't work. Not only is there a shortage of nursing instructors, there is a shortage of instructors with a high "EQ." Anybody who knows anything about human behavior, never mind teaching, knows that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Diahni

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Diahni,

Thank you for your response! It did make me feel better to hear that this happens in a lot of different places, and no one thinks anyone deserves to be treated that way. Unfortunately, I have heard from students a year ahead of me in the program that the last thing I should do is complain or go to the head of the department. It seems that if the nursing instructors do not "like" you then they will find a way to get rid of you. I have been going to school for the last six years to earn my pre-reqs, I worked a full time job until recently, and I have a small child...not to mention a husband..okay, that means I have two small children...just kidding :) I just expected to be treated with respect that all people deserve. I am in the accelerated program, so I really only have a year and a half to go....when I graduate, I think I will let the department know that those methods are NOT effective!!!

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Diahni,

Thank you for your response! It did make me feel better to hear that this happens in a lot of different places, and no one thinks anyone deserves to be treated that way. Unfortunately, I have heard from students a year ahead of me in the program that the last thing I should do is complain or go to the head of the department. It seems that if the nursing instructors do not "like" you then they will find a way to get rid of you. I have been going to school for the last six years to earn my pre-reqs, I worked a full time job until recently, and I have a small child...not to mention a husband..okay, that means I have two small children...just kidding :) I just expected to be treated with respect that all people deserve. I am in the accelerated program, so I really only have a year and a half to go....when I graduate, I think I will let the department know that those methods are NOT effective!!!

HSMOM,

Oh definitely it happens a lot. God forbid you have a "whistle blower" personality, because complaining, as you said, will ensure that they will figure a way to toss you out. I wouldn't even bother letting them know anything. Once you're out, don't look back!

Diahni

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