What makes you irritated by student nurses?

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Apr 16, 2011

The whole CRNA thing. Its nice to have hopes and dreams for your future. But have some room for error and don't put all your eggs in one basket.

FancypantsRN · Apr 16, 2011

Things that irritate me with students (and even new grads):

know it all attitude

students who attempt to correct the nurse in front of the pt because they read differently in their textbook

students who disappear frequently during the shift, where do they go? i don't remember being able to just vanish/come and go as i pleased

finally, students who park in the nurse's station and sit there......and sit there (even though call bells are ringing off the hook)

Cota · Apr 16, 2011

As a student I just have to say it's very frustrating when the nurses are difficult. I can understand constant interruptions or unprofessional students disrupting your work but sometimes I just have to show up and the nurses are automatically in defense mode. I mean, at some point everyone started as a student.... just saying...

Aly529 · Apr 16, 2011

All the reasons so far are logical and justified and would annoy me to in my current field if someone did those things. Anything else? Hopefully I can learn from this and maybe someone else can too. Make both students and nurses lives easier.

Keep the replies coming.

StNeotser, ASN, RN · Apr 16, 2011

I never mean to be irritated by student nurses. Many nurses were very good to me when I was a student and I can only think of a couple that weren't.

No. 1..........Please do not sit in the very limited space at the nursing station to sit and write your notes...........this is the only place I can sit. I stand for 70% of my shift. There are plenty of places to sit as a student nurse. You'll get it when you are a nurse.

No. 2. Do not nitpick in your questions that I did not roll insulin for "long enough" or wait for a site to dry for "long enough" or listen to all four quadrants for twenty minutes in front of the patient. Don't question anything at all in front of the patient If you want to ask questions of the nurse, do it out of the patients earshot. Specifically do not, do not say OMG out loud when I take off a dressing (this happened)

Most nurses were good to me when I was a student because I kept all my criticism inside my head and then only vocalized it in front of my nursing instructor in clincial wrap up.

FancypantsRN · Apr 16, 2011

ok i have one more.... students who come to this forum to ask for help on their homework, or what a term means.... that may be approaching number 1 annoying for me. it never even occurred to me to do this, i was a student pretty recently too (grad only 4 years ago). i just looked it up, or discussed it with a study partner.

Aly529 · Apr 16, 2011

Again, all very resonable reasons. I think what tends to happen and correct me if I'm wrong is that nurses are already working under high stress with their work life and maybe personal life as well. SO, when you add into the equation a student nurse doing any or all the above it can do nothing but almost form a stereo type in your head. I'm sure some try not to and give students the chance (until proven otherwise) but for the majority I think it's hard to do that. If I continually had student nurses doing less then proffessional things I'd probably start to cringe at the sight of them also. OR it would take a lot of effort not to.

jollydogg_RN, ADN, BSN · Apr 16, 2011

ok i have one more.... students who come to this forum to ask for help on their homework, or what a term means.... that may be approaching number 1 annoying for me. it never even occurred to me to do this, i was a student pretty recently too (grad only 4 years ago). i just looked it up, or discussed it with a study partner.

Well, I can understand asking here for help with certain things about homework, like the structuring or mechanics of a care plan. But when students come and ask "What would an appropriate care plan for this be and what are the interventions, and I need three of them, thanks!" Yeah, that just shows the inability to look in the book and at least attempt it

Careplans can be confusing! lol.

OP, are you looking for ways not to irritate nurses when you start nursing school clinicals?

digoe74 · Apr 16, 2011

I am not a nurse yet -- I am taking my prerequisites. But wanted to say thank you for posting this thread. I have trained and taught so so soooo many individuals in my previous careers (2 different fields and sometimes VERY frustrating) that I would also like to know what the answer to your question, for my own edification when I am a nursing student and/or new grad. :)

Aly529 · Apr 16, 2011

OP, are you looking for ways not to irritate nurses when you start nursing school clinicals?

LoL. I gave it away!

Yes... Pretty much.

So far, I wouldn't do any of what's listed so yay for me ...I still have some common sense... BUT I did learn about doing notes at a nurses station. If you need me, I'll be the one standing to do my notes. lol

Thanks everyone so far.

Keep them coming.:)

FancypantsRN · Apr 16, 2011

@ jollydog - yes, care plans were my least favorite part of nursing school. i am just tired of seeing the threads asking for help on what to write a paper about or whatever (or what does *insert basic term* mean). it's like come on! you must start thinking about things for yourself or you will graduate and be helpless.

at OP.... i think the fact that you are interested in how to be a successful student nurse is a good thing. there are a lot of great mentors out there (and some not so great) but you will know pretty fast who to go to for help.

just remember to try and learn as much as you can, most of us do not mind answering questions - we like to educate. it's a major part of our job. yes, we are busy - but whenever i have a student with me, i take the few minutes here and there to ask if they have any questions about patient care. also, let the staff know to seek you out if they are going to do any procedures, you learn a lot that way.