What a blow to my ego

[letitbe_lindsay]

I am currently doing my clinical practicum on a very busy ICU unit. I feel like I'm doing very well given that there is SO MUCH to know and SO LITTLE room for error. My preceptor has given me lots of positive feedback about things I do well and I ask every what I need to improve on (as well as working with other nurses), and I find that this has helped me learn a great deal.

HOWEVER.

Every night I give report to the oncoming nurse. My preceptor has named my report-giving skills and communication with the team as one of my strengths. However, this one particular nurse is just plain ******* to me when I'm trying to give her information. She walks up to me and says "I hate getting report from student nurses," then proceeds to interrupt me and correct me in a very rude fashion the whole time I'm giving report. Obviously, being ridiculed like this makes me flustered and less articulate, which probably confirms her beliefs that I am an idiot.

I have given report to this woman numerous times. Last time, I asked her if I needed to organize my report differently to suit her system (as she would now be taking the patient for 12 hours). She looked at me from like I was from outer space, sighed heavily, and told me "just ******* get on with it."

I don't know what to do. As a student, I don't feel like I have the weight to throw around to ask her to stop treating me so poorly. At the same time, my preceptor, who does have the weight, won't intervene and tells me "that's just how she is."

How do you deal with this sort of TERRIBLE workplace behavior?

[BellaDestiny]

Letitbe Lindsay, I'm glad your stare worked! I'm sorry she's treating you this way. I work with many nurses who dislike nursing students, however I LOVE them! It's an opportunity to teach them to be just as good as I am if not better, and I sometimes learn a few new tricks to boot! How great is that!?!!! I wish you luck in the future!

[mama2four]

you are right, it is terribly frustrating and entirely unnecessary and unfortunately she won't be the first rude person you will have to deal with as a student or as a professional nurse. i know that as students we tread lightly because we want to fit in, etc. with that said, we do need thick skins in our profession to work with difficult patients and sometimes co-workers, but we need to pick our battles. from your post, she is clearly under your skin and has rattled you. as a student you need to take criticism because we are constantly critiqued. you did the right thing in asking her if you should give report differently - it just seems like there is no pleasing her. i know you asked your instructor to intervene, instead why don't you ask your instructor to be present when you give report to her to see if you are executing it appropriately. put it all on you wanting this to be a learning experience and you feel like you are missing the mark somehow and would appreciate her expertise and feedback so you can hone your skills. a few things can happen with this approach: you very well may learn something new, your instructor should give you credit for trying to turn the situation around and maybe it will transform that nurse's attitude for at least the one report that your instructor observes and hopefully the rest of your encounters with her. it would be beautiful if your instructor said a "good job" in front of the nurse so if in a future report she starts up again you can gently remind her that your instructor approved of your report-giving so unless you are omitting something or if she has any additional constructive criticism, respectfully request that she let you do your job! i hope this helps...good luck j

[Just a Dose]

I've been nursing for less than a year now... I went straight to the ICU in an internship position. The statement nurses eat their young comes directly from this behavior. You've worked all shift and then the next nurse, treats you horribly, so you get to go home worried or upset.

It's not you. You're probably doing just fine, she's trying to show her superiority. Although sometimes it is frustrating when report takes too long, but when they behave that way it takes even longer cuz your upset.

Now that I'm learning NOT to trust what other nurses tell me so much, and to just read/interpret orders exactly as they are written/ protocol... Among other things, I've gotten much better and more confident. Even with that said, they should never treat you that way, its inappropriate.

Now if they are rude to me, I will confront them, saying I don't appreciate the way they are talking to me, or whatever is suits the situation. I love the STARE you gave that woman. They generally stop, after their quick rebuke, or just give you the cold shoulder. Being new and not knowing every single medical word doesnt make your wrong.

However keeping patient assessment simple is a must, only going into detail if their status declined, prognosis or medical treatment... especially whats required for their shift... new orders

Like

[Primeranurse]

What a shame! First of all, don't take her attitude or criticisms to heart. I know that's easier said than done because you are just learning your way and need a lot of support from experienced nurses. However, you don't deserve to be sujbected to her disgusting behavior. I believe you have a few choices to make. 1) Go to your instructor and let her know what's going on. She may be able to intervene in a diplomatic way with the unit manager. Although this could work or make things worse. That's up to you to decide. 2) I agree with another posting of just speaking over her when she starts in and finish the report, smile nicely and leave. You will have to deal with rude nurses in your career and unfortunately you are learning early that you have to stand up for yourself or they will walk all over you. 3) Keep your feelings to yourself and just get through the time you have left in your practicum. Remember, you are getting good feedback from your preceptor so don't let this ***** bring you down. What you want is the doctors and patients to trust your judgement and skills, not her. She's a burned out idiot who probably is like this in her personal life as well. Good luck and keep going!! We need you!!!

[Just a Dose]

Short explanation of patient diagnosis and treatment.

Patients History and then

Simple Assessment in my ICU is like:

N: A&0 X3, Follows Commands, Moves All Extremities...

or if they are sedated, what the settings on the drip are, and restraints,

response after sedation holiday

R: Vent Settings, ET Tube size and 23 at the lip Stats at 98%

weaning, with orders to extubate in AM. Amount of sputum with suction

C: Rhythm, SBP range, HR range, orders to titrating drips and the rate for blood pressure, HR whatever.

GI: Diet, NGT to suction, Drains, Distention, abnormals - really. And if they had a BM

GU: Foley or Voids, Urinal, output and anything abnormal, dialysis

SKIN: Wounds Dressing, and orders for change with ointments

IV: where the central line or peripherals are.. whats running, inflitration

Abnormal LABS where appropriate, or diagnositic, findings, and interventions under the correct system.

I haven't slept yet after work last night, but your thread has been what I've had so many issues with. That, and day nurses not understanding how MDs treat night nurses on the phone is 'different' than the 'great relationship' they have because they are so 'trusted' : are my two beefs right now. Funny cuz the MDs are really great when I interact with them in person too.

[harleyz]

The old saying goes, kill them with kindness...just a thought!

[BigBadInstructor]

I had a student exactly like you, a few years back, who was having a particularly bad experience with a very surly nurse. After talking with her, we agreed on a plan of action. When the nurse had her verbally pinned against the wall, she took out a wrapped piece of candy and gave it to the nurse saying "Eat this instead of me." Worked very well. So I suggest you get a piece of candy and when this nurse sighs, interrupts you, or is rude, give her the candy and tell her to "eat this instead of me." While she is looking at you, complete your report and leave.

Good luck.

[Boognish]

Fortunately, I haven't had problems like this yet in clinical- I'm doing my first med-surg rotation in a DEU (dedicated education unit), and the nurses there are specially trained to work with students. But I know that were this happening, my clinical faculty would want to know about it. I'm not saying that you should have a faculty member deal with the problem, but it would be good for them to have your back, in case your efforts to work things out (there have been several excellent suggestions in this thread) don't work.

[mvg rn]

you may not be able to fix her. she obviously needs a reminder from her superiors that report is important and has a lot to do with continuation of safe, efficient patient care. it sound like your preceptor needs a little reminder as well that she is not doormat and that what the two of you have to say is very important.

it is truly unfortunate that some nurses eat their young. hopefully, if nothing else this experience will help you learn what kind of nurse you want to be. a patient listener can learn a lot and a nurse who is kind to nursing students can teach an abundance more than one that is rude to them.

[Grandy]

When I was a nursing student I came across one or two nurses like this. My belief is this, such nurses lack self confidence and are threatened by the presence of students, they compensate by trying to belittle or intimidate. In a few years time, after you have graduated you will probably be running rings around this moron. Don't be intimidated by her instead you should pity her. The most important thing is that your facilitator thinks you're great and that is good because after all it is your facilitator who will probably be writting your final assessment. Persevere and take this experience under your belt and learn from it, think about how differently you will treat students when you are an RN.

[psychbabs]

Ask to speak with her privately and let her know how it makes you feel. Then tell her what you would appreciate in the future ie " I would like to finish report without interuptions and then you can ask appropriate quesitons if I have missed anything. I do appreciate constructive criticism as I am trying to learn to do my best." Then ask her if she understands. If that doesn't work, you must let your instructor know. She's a management problem and you don't deserve that kind of emotional abuse.

[benr98]

I have been in this same situation before but not as a CNA, Nurse student or as a Nurse. I just continually did what I was supposed to ignored their rudeness and went about my business. I found out later that the person I was having problems with was going through a nasty divorce and he was taking his problems out on "everyone" else. I try to never take anything like that personal.