What is your opinion of the nurses you encounter during clinical rotations?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

So, what do you all think of the nurses you've encountered during your clinical rotations?

I should start off by mentioning that I have been an LVN/LPN for 4 years. I am also attending an RN bridge program and will graduate in a couple of months. Therefore, I have experience on both sides of the fence. I have been the student at clinical rotations. I have also been the nurse who has worked with students at various workplaces as they were completing their clinical shifts.

Overall, I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Some of the nurses have been very helpful, while others have been repulsive. Any thoughts?

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

The overwhelming majority of the nurses at my clinical sites have been really great - I hope I remembered to thank them all =)

My personal impression so far is that the relationship between the clinical instructor (and how that instructor handles the students) and the unit staff has a lot to do with our reception from the nurses...

[9livesRN, BSN, RN]

I have seen monsters and angels throughout the last couple of years.

- had great nurses, that put you under their wings, and help you, teach you, make sure that you are up to par, and are interested in helping you learn, some even make you their priority, involving the student on the care process.

- had nurses who were not my assign nurse help me, call me to start IV's, call me to do all those "cool skills" and be very supportive

- had nurses look at me and say, well i dont want to share my patient with you! in a rude tone (charge nurse saw it and ripped her a new a**)

-had nurses tell me that i was retarded because i charted the guy's ECG as ok, he had A and V spikes, (pace maker) and she told me that i was wrong and overlooking suff, that there werent dual Pace makers, just to find out she was wrong

-had nurses tell me to move from the corner that i was charting because that was her spot! (so i moved and she did not even sit there)

-had nurses tell me to do their tasks and take a 180 minutes break - 3HOURS!!!!

-had nurses that bought my breakfast one day because i helped them out so much the day before!

-had nurses asking me if i had any other theory questions from class that i needed help with

-had nurses involve me, and make me feel part of the team!

and the list goes on!

[RNDreamer]

I've seen/experienced both nice and not so nice nurses. Unfortunately, it wasn't just one or two not so nice nurse here and there. At times, it was a unit full of them. Thankfully, that's why my instructor is there. ALL of the male nurses we came across were very nice, helpful and willing to have us around.

Thankfully, on the units that had the not so nice nurses, the docs, OTs, PTs, etc. were great to us.

Just my own experience.

[JenniferSews]

I've been lucky. I have worked with some notorious nurses but have found that most of those who aren't thrilled to have a student can be won over by very good communication and proving yourself very competent. Those that can't I can put up with for a shift or two.

More worrisome were the ones with dangerous practices. But from them I learned what kind of a nurse I didnt' want to be.

[Nursey103, ADN, RN]

I've definitely experienced what everyone has said so far. It seems to me that the majority of the nurses I've worked with are just too busy to really teach me & allow me to do the "cool skills". Totally not their fault & it is what it is...... just unfortunate for me b/c it's a full day that I could have really learned a lot but I end up going home with a feeling that I didn't do as much as I'd like. Plus I feel like I'm annoying the RN's by being their constant shadow...lol....that part I don't like.

[Belle2280]

When I first started nursing school I was super excited but at the same time afraid of my life. I remember my first day at the hospital... and it makes me laugh out loud! To start off with we were suited up in all WHITE. We referred ourselves to looking like "giant Q-tips" so clean. My first clinical experiences were amazing of course but the one thing that always made me feel uneasy or not sure was the connection between the nursing staff and the student nurses. I would ask questions at times and the response?.. somekind of dramatic huffy puff kind of noise. and I felt unwanted. I felt like I was in the way of the nurses when all I wanted to do was learn! I am new to the blogging world.. and I came up on this topic. I believe it is so important as nurses (ALL nurses) to give nursing students a chance to learn, ask questions, and become better involved in the patients care. I was learning with my clinical instructor breathing down my neck but when she was with other students I was walking around trying to avoid the nurses storming out of patients rooms instead of assisting them and helping them with basic things. I stress this to all nurses, especially when dealing with first level nursing students! It is overwhelming and exciting at the same time. I don't know, I could go on all day about the nurses my first semester. Second and Third semester I had a blast with the nurses. They gave us report and actually let us take over on some of their patient care that had to be done. It was great. I was able to learn so much and at the same time I felt like I could go to my nurse if I had any questions or needed help. What a great feeling?? :yeah:yes!

[teeniebert, LPN]

The best nurses to follow, IMO, are the ones who expect you to know something. Not everything, mind you, but something. My first clinical patient was a Hospice client, and the Hospice nurse was incredible. She'd ask me, 'so what do you know about __________ ?' (dementia, contractures, pain management, pressure ulcers, etc.) then tell me more about the specific topic, building on what I already knew. She involved me in problem-solving, and if I was way off, she'd say, 'okay, but what about...' rather than telling me I was wrong. I'm sure she could have come in the room and said, 'give the patient another dose of pain meds,' but she took the time to explain nonverbal indicators and help me put the pieces together. I should look that nurse up and send her a thank-you letter.