What makes you irritated by student nurses?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone. I'm just wondering about some opinions that I could maybe learn from. After googling some articles and thoughts of both nurses and student nurses, I am seeing that either some are having a difficult time coping with interactions as a student nurse or maybe are given a hard time by nurses.

We're all human but I'm wondering.. What traits, habits, comments or behaviors make you annoyed or irritate about student nurses?

It doesn't have to be logical but hopefully it is. Just looking for insight and possibly things I can avoid when I get there.

Thanks!

Specializes in Peds and PICU.

I really love having nursing students with me. I like to help teach nursing students about the pathophysiology of the patient's condition as well as meds, labs to look for, complications, etc. I had some truly horrible nurses when I was in nursing school rotations. They more or less refused to make eye contact with anyone in white uniforms! When I was in my last semester and doing my preceptorship, my preceptor told me (on my first shift, mind you!), "After all these years, I never recommend nursing as a career and would never encourage anyone to become a nurse." Wow. Way to encourage!

That being said....I felt so bad for the student I had with me the other day! The kid was really going down the crapper and had to have some pretty emergent procedures performed. I was running around like a crazy person. There were a few students in the unit so we had them recording times during our procedures for sedation. On a positive note, my student got to see some pretty cool stuff! On a negative note....I didn't know I had a student assigned to this patient until waaaaaay later! Whoops! I felt so bad! I would've loved to be able to sit down with her and discuss the patient but I SERIOUSLY needed to chart! Oh well, I guess she got to see what real-life nursing is like!

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

The fact that some days as the senior nurse on the floor with only another senior nurse 2 grads (who are not allowed to have students) and a bank (pool) nurse I will have the sickest patients and a student. I may not have time to explain every little detail to you at the time that I am performing interventions. I will try to explain them to you once I get the pt stabilised.

It takes twice or three times as long to do things with a student because I like to explain the rationale and discuss it with the student. I may not really have the time if I have 2 unstable pts who are post op with an epidural or PCA chest tube and multiple drains and IVs. Or a pt with a necrotic bowel who is waiting on surgery and is really unwell.

Please don't take it personally but if I ask you to look at the most stable pt or talk to your clinical educator about something. Today this is my priorority. Tomorrow I will have more time and you will be my priority.

I am almost done with my second semester of nursing school, and I have learned so, so much, and I credit the nurses that I have had during clinicals with this. Sure, everyone has different personalities, and some nurses are not warm and fuzzy, but who cares? As long as I am learning something, it's fine. Every nurse I have had has been willing to teach, and has thanked me for all of my help at the end of the shift. I probably am sticking my foot in my mouth, and will have a bad experience this week. (Hopefully not, ha ha)

My first semester I was in a rehab hospital, and the nurses were a bit less willing to teach, but I never had anyone blatantly mistreat me. These nurses were SUPER busy, and had some really acute patients with TONS of meds. As students, we have to remember that it's not all about us. A nurse may not be in a good mood due to other things or may just be plain busy. I will never forget the time that I had a nurse that I felt was annoyed right away in the morning when she saw that she had a student. At the end of the day she asked me why I had to leave and was very thankful for all of my help. She was really overwhelmed that day. She had a patient that was really going downhill (that patient died by the time I was back the following week), and all of her patients were on trachs, multiple IVS, etc., so it wasn't me. She just didn't need one added thing (such as a student). I made sure to just do what I needed to do to help, and not bother her with unnecessary questions. etc. I could also see why we were a bit of a burden at first since we couldn't administer meds until the last few weeks of the semester, or do anything else really except for ADLs, hygeine, and vitals.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I hear what everyone is saying. I have heard from others in my class that they haven't had such great experiences. My clinical group has happened to have gotten lucky, I guess, with our placements. However, I also do agree that some students do questions nurses in front of patients (why would you do that?), and ask a ton of questions that are either irrelevant or not appropriate at that point in time. Also, please, please, when a nurse asks you to perform a skill, say YES, even though you may be scared. How else can we learn.

Thank you to all of the nurses out there who are willing to teach us students. I appreciate you taking the time out during your busy day to give me information.

Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.
So you're foolishly suggesting that an outsider can't come into your world and suggest how change could be made. No, I haven't been a nurse, and people like you make me not want to be one. You're so set in your ways concerned about what you, as a nurse, are. Go back and read my introduction.

I really couldn't care less about your jab at jab at me. You've quite clearly shown your intellect here, and you've quite blatantly ascribed to the attitude that you're too good for students. I can understand you being burned out. I'm sure your closemindedness will take you far. Have a wonderful career.

Well I think your passion and focus are great ... we need as much of these strengths as we can in nursing.

You would be welcome in my area once you graduate.

However it's a really good idea to realise that sometimes there's a fine line between these qualities and rude abrasiveness. Particularly when when there's some anger or annoyance in the mix.

I remember being a student and being all too passionate and focused and I would sometimes feel annoyed at some of the staff as I thought they had lost it ...or never had it in the first place.

Many still have it .... just that it's a firm, quiet foundation ...and not guns-a-blazing anymore.

And many of the most passionate, determined and focussed nurses do burn out. They didn't burn out because they are horrible nurses .... quite the opposite

Good luck

Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.
This may be small, but don't put your lunches in our staff room fridge, and don't sit in our staff room on your break. Take your lunch and go to the cafeteria. Our break room is a break from students as well. There is limited room in the fridge and limited seating. I don't want to spend my break listening to you and your fellow students talk about the next paper due to hear a 10 minute debrief on your first IM injection.

In my program, we weren't allowed to leave the floor during clincals. If we needed to eat, we had to go to the staff break room.

Yeah, I worked pre hospital too. My first job actually. Talk to me when you've had almost 6 years ICU/cath lab experience. Talk then. Except then, your talk will actually be backed up by real experience.

Yawn.

Ah, yes, the "I've done that too" person. I knew that was coming. Wouldn't have had it any other way. Almost six years? Have to throw in that "almost" didn't you to make yourself feel better. Kudos for being able to hang with it that long.

Well I think your passion and focus are great ... we need as much of these strengths as we can in nursing.

You would be welcome in my area once you graduate.

However it's a really good idea to realise that sometimes there's a fine line between these qualities and rude abrasiveness. Particularly when when there's some anger or annoyance in the mix.

I remember being a student and being all too passionate and focused and I would sometimes feel annoyed at some of the staff as I thought they had lost it ...or never had it in the first place.

Many still have it .... just that it's a firm, quiet foundation ...and not guns-a-blazing anymore.

And many of the most passionate, determined and focussed nurses do burn out. They didn't burn out because they are horrible nurses .... quite the opposite

Good luck

Who wants blazing guns? I don't. I think you misunderstand my "passion." I'm not an advocate for students. I'm an advocate for trainers.

Specializes in OR.
Yeah, I worked pre hospital too. My first job actually. Talk to me when you've had almost 6 years ICU/cath lab experience. Talk then. Except then, your talk will actually be backed up by real experience.

Yawn.

What does this even mean? He's not a nurse, but ThatGuy speaks truth. I've been in nursing almost two years, and every....single... nursing job I've worked at has nurses who say "I dont want to be around students". Hes not insulting anyone, his insight is well spoken. You then say he has no right to say anything because he doesn't have "6 years of ICU/cath lab experience"?

I dont get what that has to do with anything we've been posting. You have some growing up to do. You obviously have a chip on your shoulder.

Specializes in Psych, Scrub/Scout, Gen-Surg, Neuro-Med.

Can everybody please settle down? Opinions are all welcome, no matter what experience you've had.

Personally I look at it like this.

- As a nurse you need to be empathetic, not just to patients, but to students as well. It's not easy so just do your best for the student and remember that one day they might end up being your boss, or even YOUR NURSE.

- If you're a student, ask questions and do your best to work WITH THE TEAM. It's a privilege to work on a ward when every person there has a big job to do even without teaching you. Don't take it for granted, listen closely and learn. One day you'll see the other side of it the way the nurses already have.

And I STRONGLY disagree with 'OgopogoLPN' who stated that students should not put their lunch in the staff fridge or use the staff kitchen. As students they are part of the team. Either you are there FOR help, or you're there TO help - so you're either IN the team or NOT. They should be made to feel comfortable and welcome, and this would be a good opportunity for you to learn more about them as a person. Be a role model and give them something to aspire to.

Honestly, this thread is good for a bit of venting, but as nurses we all know it's part of our job to teach new nurses. How did we learn in the first place? If you don't want to teach students then you're in the wrong job. Nursing is a personable profession. You have to work with people. Make the most of it!

Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.
What does this even mean? He's not a nurse, but ThatGuy speaks truth. I've been in nursing almost two years, and every....single... nursing job I've worked at has nurses who say "I dont want to be around students". Hes not insulting anyone, his insight is well spoken. You then say he has no right to say anything because he doesn't have "6 years of ICU/cath lab experience"?

I dont get what that has to do with anything we've been posting. You have some growing up to do. You obviously have a chip on your shoulder.

I love having students ...even the few that don't behave well ...I still like having them.

Get excited when I come to work and find I have a student.

Nearly everyone where I work loves having them too. If you are not experiencing that - then maybe you need to find a facility with better culture?

Some of these posts are really quite inflammatory and rather rude. I don't think those posts represent attitudes of the majority of students and new nurses.

The majority of students and new nurses have great attitude and I thank them for bringing that great attitude into the workplace :yeah:

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
so you think you're enough to check me?

there is no holier than thou behavior. if you'll reread you've seen that i've studied, trained, and supervised in other fields. nursing isn't the only field where catty people with a few years of experience think they can sit back and judge others. regardless, of what your motivations are, whether they are realized or not, i think all people interpret this type of response as defensive and threatened.

thanks for trying though. you gave it good effort. reply as you will. your ego is endangered.

if you're setting out to irritate the experienced nurses, you're succeeding.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
can everybody please settle down? opinions are all welcome, no matter what experience you've had.

personally i look at it like this.

- as a nurse you need to be empathetic, not just to patients, but to students as well. it's not easy so just do your best for the student and remember that one day they might end up being your boss, or even your nurse.

- if you're a student, ask questions and do your best to work with the team. it's a privilege to work on a ward when every person there has a big job to do even without teaching you. don't take it for granted, listen closely and learn. one day you'll see the other side of it the way the nurses already have.

and i strongly disagree with 'ogopogolpn' who stated that students should not put their lunch in the staff fridge or use the staff kitchen. as students they are part of the team. either you are there for help, or you're there to help - so you're either in the team or not. they should be made to feel comfortable and welcome, and this would be a good opportunity for you to learn more about them as a person. be a role model and give them something to aspire to.

honestly, this thread is good for a bit of venting, but as nurses we all know it's part of our job to teach new nurses. how did we learn in the first place? if you don't want to teach students then you're in the wrong job. nursing is a personable profession. you have to work with people. make the most of it!

we have a very small break room and a very small staff refrigerator -- not even large enough for the staff. i'm very annoyed when i finally get my break and find every chair occupied by a student. that's just rude. so i agree with ogopgo -- students are not part of the team. when they are part of the team, they're welcome to try to cram their lunch into the refrigerator and find a seat in the break room. until then, please don't.

what irritates me is an attitude of entitlement all too often expressed by students. we're not there to teach students, we're there to take care of the patients. if there's time to educate the students along the way, i'm all for that, but that's not our focus. as nurses, we're not here to be empathetic to the students, either. students need to put on their adult undergarmets and deal . . . the world (or the nursing unit) doesn't revolve around their needs.

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