Hi all - really appreciate this forum and all the good feedback. - you guys rock!!
I am bachelor nursing student in my first med-surg rotation It is really frustrating because our instructors tell us - be assertive - pick a patient, provide primary care. But when we get there - we have to rely on the nurse to pass meds with us. -I know they don't get paid to teach us, but I am forced to be there - i have no choice. They are down right mean to us- abusive almost.
Is this what nursing school is-- if so, i just need to know.
If not, please give advise on what a student nurse can do to accomodate the nurse on shift and make it a better experience.
I'm wondering how much of this is due to the instructor?
The one that brought students to our floor was fantastic; she'd post the schedule for the entire rotation at least a couple of weeks in advance. There was also a list with the students' names, what patient(s) they were assigned, how long they'd be on the floor, what exactly they were responsible for (patient care, or meds, or both).
I was night charge, so I didn't have students with me, but these schedules were such a big help to us. I'd run off an extra set of kardexes and labs for the students, and try to make the assignments for the staff to accommodate for the fact they were precepting students.
The instructor actually worked prn for our unit, so we knew each other well. As charge, I would get a pretty detailed report on all patients (not just the ones I was assigned to) and so knowing we were going to have students I'd be able to make a list of those patients who had procedures and treatments I thought would be a good experience for the students. When the instructor came in to make the assignments and when she would come early the day of clinicals, she would meet with me to ask if I had any concerns or suggestions about the patients she'd assigned, and she was open to my opinions regarding the assignments. Then she'd tweak the student assignment as needed.
I always made sure to include the student in report (we gave verbals), and ask them as well as the nurse receiving my patients if there were any questions or concerns. Even though I wasn't there during the day, from what I saw the students were treated very well, and generally had a very good experience, thanks to their superb instructor :)
Specializes in Addictions, Corrections, QA/Education.
When I was in clinicals, we would get a patient and provide all care (this was in my RN year). Even meds, except for IV pushes. Our instructor had to be there with us. Whenever we did something invasive our instructor would be there. The primary nurse that had the patient didn't provide care for the patient... WE did with our instructor. We did not have a CNA because we provide ALL care for the patient.
In my LPN year, our instructor had to be with us for all meds... well basically everything.
Hi all - really appreciate this forum and all the good feedback. - you guys rock!!
I am bachelor nursing student in my first med-surg rotation It is really frustrating because our instructors tell us - be assertive - pick a patient, provide primary care. But when we get there - we have to rely on the nurse to pass meds with us. -I know they don't get paid to teach us, but I am forced to be there - i have no choice. They are down right mean to us- abusive almost.
Is this what nursing school is-- if so, i just need to know.
If not, please give advise on what a student nurse can do to accomodate the nurse on shift and make it a better experience.
Thanks,
Sunny SanDiego
(i'm thinking food)
As a senior SN I'll tell you what almost without fail works for me. I introduce myself to the nurse I will be working with and hand her a copy of my "ABSOLUTELY CANNOT DO LIST", and go over the things that I must have an RN present to do. Quickly detail what I can do on my own and ask the nurse if they have any problems with my doing ____ on my own or would they rather be present. THen let them know you will be getting started and will catch up with them to keep them loop about what's going on with your patients. This takes maybe 2-3 minutes at most and is really helpful, because there are different schools and different levels of nursing students that come through (sometimes from the same school so the uniforms are the same) and it can be confusing if the nurse is thinking you can pass meds on your own and you can't or you need someone to watch injections or NG insertions etc... Now if you have a nurse who is just overwhelmed and is visibly upset try to change assingments if possible or at least acknowledge that you know that you might be a hinderance as a newer SN, then get everything ready that you possibly can before getting the nurse to watch you pass meds. If you are allowed to get the meds ready then do that, ask your patients if they are having any pain and assess to see if they might need any other PRN (tylenol or laxative etc...) so that you can get those done with the scheduled med passes to cut down on the time that the nurse has to spend watching you. Be courteous, polite and if you have down time ask if the nurses need you to do something (accuchecks, vitals, wound care etc...). Be helpful, but make sure that you are using your time wisely to learn how to be an RN instead of making beds all day. Primary basic care is important, but you have a finite amount of clinical time and you need to get comfortable with skills that will fill your day as an RN. (Hopefully no one takes offense to this last part, I'm not putting down the CNA's or basic nursing care, just cautioning others not to lose out on valuable clinical experience with other things.)
Specializes in Med-Surg, Ortho, & Tele all on one ward!.
I love having students; then again I am starting my Master's in Nursing Education because one day I would LOVE to teach and have my own clinical class. Here are a few tips from someone that loves to precept:
1. We often have little or no notice you are going to be there. While students are not a problem, it often can cause massive changes to our schedule and to-do list that is already 9 million items long.
2. Keep up with me. Yes, it feels like we are running. From the pt room to the pantry to the supply room and back again. This is my entire day...laps around the ward. Just join in to what seems like the never ending game of tag, and follow along. Besides, you are there to learn to do nursing things, not for me to show you where things are in the supply room. Let me grab what we need so we can spend more time doing the lab/procedure/etc.
3. If there is something for you to do (IV, lab, EKG, etc) and you are not around, I don't have time to find you. Nothing personal, but I MUST get the task done in a timely manner. It will already take me twice as long (or longer) to allow you to do it (and that time I can afford), but I can't go find you also. I know the care plans suck, but if you spend your entire clinical with your head in your book in the break room you are going to miss out on the skills practice.
4. Ask questions. Lots of questions. Big questions, silly questions, just because you are wondering questions. Questions let me know that you are wanting to actually interact and learn. If you don't ever talk to me, I probably won't say much either- and I don't know what to teach you.
5. If you do something stupid or unsafe, I will stop you. Instead of getting upset, figure out what it was that was wrong and WHY. Learn from it and move on. It isn't personal- I was just looking out for the pt (or yourself). We all make mistakes, so don't let it kill your motivation for the day.
6. If there is a skill that you really want to do, let me know- and I will try and find it for you. Want to put down an NG tube? I can set you up with another RN for that skill so you can do it. Communicate what you want and need, and I will try and accommodate.
I've never had students to precept, but I've been a student. My clinical nurses ran the gamut from being cold and distant to slightly mean to very helpful and encouraging. The helpful and encouraging nurses tipped me off to try for an opening on their unit. Although I didn't get the position, I was very thankful for their confidence in me and all the effort they made to make me feel accepted.
If I had students to work with I would want the students to do their homework concerning their patients and to show a genuine interest in what they're doing. I would expect them to take the initiative to help out and to treat the CNAs or other ancillary personnel with respect. If there is any kind of a problem, I would expect the courtesy of bringing it up to me at the earliest time so that a solution can be found. Also, please let us know when you are leaving the floor or otherwise unavailable as your patients and everyone else is counting on your presence.
It helps when nursing students actually come up to the nurses and identify themselves and tell you what patient of yours they're taking care of. Many times they won't even tell me these things and then I end up doing things that they could be doing/learning.
It also helps that if you're sitting around the desk just shooting the breeze and your pt doesn't need anything and the call light goes of, answer it if everyone's busy. Be available to help with turns, assists.
If you are able to do a certain skill or want more experience with something, let someone know so that when the opportunity comes up, we can allow you and your instructor to perform the skill.
1. NEVER try to show off to the staff nurses, many have had their license since you started school and are aware of the practicality of what you're doing...
2. Don't try to tell them "Oh, this is how we do it at school...."...yep, and this is how it works in the real world....
3. Be aware of ALL current doctor orders and round with doctors as much as humanly possible.....
4. Always be open to learning new skills, and trying to help your fellow students....When they ask! Never try to barge in on someone else's patient....
hi guys!!! i'm new in this forum and my attention was caught by your question. i'm currently a 4th yr college student in BSN degree.. based from my 2 yrs experience in the clinical area, what a student nurse should have is really assertiveness, but not to the point that you will be called the "know it all student nurse". you have to know your limitations. ALWAYS bring your stethoscope, BP apparatus, pen, a handy notebook, thermometer and bandage scissors... BE SENSITIVE to the needs of your client.
with regards to the nursing staff, based from my experience, they are very helpful and they are always willing to teach you what you want to learn. they can also guide you when your clinical instructor is busy. they can also give you techniques to make your task more efficient..i don't actually find them "mean" or "abusive"
Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.
hi,
No not all nurses are like that; however I could see why some of them might be upset. They probably already have their hands full and in my oppinion your instructor should be the one giving medications with you, not the primary nurses. Still it is not your fault either and I am sorry you are getting abused. Hang in there, maybe talk to your instructor about this problem, as she may not be aware.
Food is good! Bagels and cream cheese, perhaps donuts, maybe sub sandwiches (each staff can have a hunk), trail mix - anything portable and not too expensive and not every day. But it really does say that you care, that you know they are helpng you, that you appreciate them.
Plus, be ready, willing, and able. Surely your instructor should have prepared you and should have liaisoned with the nurses to prepare them for what you may and may not do.
Oh, and a big thank you note from all of you to all of them, or just from yourself to your particular nurse(s) is always good.
Nurses are just sooo stressed these days, so overloaded. Anything you can do to help relieve their load or add a touch of occasional humor to their day is great and will melt the coldest heart, although maybe not all the way and for all time. Repeat PRN.
Someone said nurses don't care that you are there to learn. That is not true, not for most nurses, I think. They're just so busy, maybe tired, worried about their kids or things at home, no time to take a break, etc. They were all students once and should, in theory at least, care that you get a good learning experience.
yea, at matc in madison, WI our instructors passed meds with us, and don't worry about clinicals, just get thru it...cuz it gets better....i loved the extra help from students..just make sure to report anything that might be new or abnormal-good assessments too.. oh, and add sissors to the list...doctors don't bring their equipment hehe
Stay out of her way until she is ready to do a med pass with you. Do the bed bath, bed change, yada yada yada. After that say to a nurse with her arms loaded with linens, "Let me make that bed for you" and when she demurs, say, "I know you have something more pressing to do. Let me do this. I really don't mind." Do the same with bed baths.
Your arrival on the floor will be eagerly anticipated.
EmmaG, RN
2,999 Posts
Wow.
I'm wondering how much of this is due to the instructor?
The one that brought students to our floor was fantastic; she'd post the schedule for the entire rotation at least a couple of weeks in advance. There was also a list with the students' names, what patient(s) they were assigned, how long they'd be on the floor, what exactly they were responsible for (patient care, or meds, or both).
I was night charge, so I didn't have students with me, but these schedules were such a big help to us. I'd run off an extra set of kardexes and labs for the students, and try to make the assignments for the staff to accommodate for the fact they were precepting students.
The instructor actually worked prn for our unit, so we knew each other well. As charge, I would get a pretty detailed report on all patients (not just the ones I was assigned to) and so knowing we were going to have students I'd be able to make a list of those patients who had procedures and treatments I thought would be a good experience for the students. When the instructor came in to make the assignments and when she would come early the day of clinicals, she would meet with me to ask if I had any concerns or suggestions about the patients she'd assigned, and she was open to my opinions regarding the assignments. Then she'd tweak the student assignment as needed.
I always made sure to include the student in report (we gave verbals), and ask them as well as the nurse receiving my patients if there were any questions or concerns. Even though I wasn't there during the day, from what I saw the students were treated very well, and generally had a very good experience, thanks to their superb instructor :)