Where are all of the "experienced nurses hiding?"

GilaRRT · May 8, 2010

Meh, relax it's not all that bad.

StrwbryblndRN · May 8, 2010

I still see alot of seasoned nurses post. It will depend on the topic too.

I pick threads now that I can learn from as a nurse. When I was a student nurse I would read thread that pertained to my schooling. The topic of the thread makes a big difference as to who reads and/or responds to the thread.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · May 8, 2010

I'm here and I share your frustrations. I'd love to have a way to block some forums the way we can block posters we don't want to see. No offense intended but I'm just not interested in the latest NCLEX thread.

SlightlyMental_RN · May 8, 2010

Perhaps if enough of the "seasoned nurses" complain, they could open a forum area for those of you with 10+ years of experience. I think that would be a wonderful way for you to share stories. What do you think? (I may be 40-ish, but I only have 1+ years as an RN, so I don't think I qualify for the "seasoned" designation )

Up2nogood RN, RN · May 8, 2010

This will be a good one. As a student I always went to what pertained to me and commented on what I knew not get up on my soap box and preach to those in the trenches. Unfortunately not everyone shares the same etiquette or common sense as others. Does make for an enertaining read though

heron, ASN, RN · May 8, 2010

Especially when we push back!

Argo · May 8, 2010

Make a forum just for those people to go have their discussions about "what ifs" this forum and many more that they post on are general NURSING forums or at least have the word NURSE in them which would lead me to believe they should be a nurse to give their sometimes VERY critical and judgemental replies. I am not an old seasoned nurse with 3 years under my belt but I am a nurse and I do have numberous hours in my specialty area an can give an educated opinion on it.....

cb_rn · May 8, 2010

I want to preface this by saying I love mentoring nursing students when I have time. I have gone to graduations and preceptored some of my former student nurses.

I'm willing to bet that most of those "I'd never do that!" posts are made by students with little to no experience in a clinical setting as a CNA or other job that is subject to the occasional misuse and abuse by pt, family, and coworker. I would also bet you that most of those posters would never voice their opinions (at least in the harsh manner that they post them here) to the OP's face. Of course there are those people that aren't afraid to speak their mind and they, too, are going to learn that in a field like nursing where there is a hierachy, that can be a hinderance to your career if you forget tact or speak up in an inappropriate situation.

I remember being a student and it had its rough parts. I remember feeling like my nurse thought I was a bother and that she didn't listen to my concerns. I realized once I was out on my own that having a student is stressful. The system (often but not always) does not facilitate a safe, monitored environment to help the student learn. Usually the nursing instructor has too many students and may be spread out between 2 for 3 floors and unavailable. I worry that the students have poor supervision and little to no feedback on live clinical skills and it seems they are held more accountable for paperwork and theory than nursing care.

Through no fault of their own are also not always being taught the appropriate way to do certain skills. I have seen arguments from others that students near graduation should be allowed to practice independently with the things such as PO meds that they feel comfortable with but I feel that the whole purpose of school is to have a safe, monitored environment. They are working off a license that is not their own and, as the primary care nurse I am ultimately responsible for what happens with that patient that day, whether I gave the meds or did the treatments or she did.

You can get your bottom dollar that if something happened and that patient got meds they weren't supposed to or something happened with the NG tube or dressing that the doctor isn't going to stop dead in the middle of a rant because I say, "Well the student did it." He would be exactly right when he asked me who the hell was watching the student when they did it. At this hospital, the NI doesn't document in the electronic record. There is no record of her having witnessed any dressing changes or med passes or any other treatments. Excuse me for being a hard**s when I say I want to be there to see the wound or watch the NG tube being used. Please understand students, that I am not saying you are stupid, incompetent, or incapable. You will understand the stress and responsibilty I shoulder one day when you are mentoring your own set of students. The purpose of you being in a monitored environment is to practice under supervised conditions. Your preceptor will monitor you at first at your job too.

You must understand that when that RN gets put behind your name, you become a moving target for family, patients, doctors...not saying everyone is looking to ream you a new one but I AM saying that for the most part as a student you're treated with a semblance of decency (or indifference at worst). Once you aren't a student you are magically supposed to be competent and know what you are talking about. I didn't know any more the day after I passed my NCLEX than the day before.

I love being a nurse but the fact is its not all rainbows and dancing unicorns. It is hard, often thankless, with long hours and a tasklist of responsibilities that I would argue most occupations cannot compete with - we do so many varied tasks simultaneously. I could be a better nurse if I had a secretary to do my paperwork or a maintenance man to sit there and troubleshoot the beeping IV pump so I can get in another room.

Student nurses do enjoy insulation from the doctor having a meltdown or the charge nurse having to insist you take another patient on top of a load that seems heavy to begin with. Students go home on time and have immediate back up if something happens beyond their control. I would defend a SN to the end from anyone being inappropriate. I cannot say that my charge nurse or my nurse manager feels the same way about me. There are a million things that change once you become a nurse that will influence how you feel and think. As a human, I don't always make the right decision in my interactions with others and I am not always an angel of mercy or a saint in my thoughts and feelings but I believe you will come to understand that none of us are super nurses that can always rise above personal feelings.

OP I agree with you that there are some topics we post on that they cannot empathize with because they have not been there. Thanks for representing the side that's "Been there, done that."

metal_m0nk, BSN, RN · May 8, 2010

Perhaps if enough of the "seasoned nurses" complain, they could open a forum area for those of you with 10+ years of experience. I think that would be a wonderful way for you to share stories. What do you think? (I may be 40-ish, but I only have 1+ years as an RN, so I don't think I qualify for the "seasoned" designation )

And separate it into sub-sections: paprika seasoned nurse...thyme seasoned, Tabasco...honey lemon...Just so I know what I'm walking into.

pebbles, BSN, RN · May 9, 2010

I'm an experienced nurse.

The reason I don't post too much on this forum is that I have worked in the field of nursing for 11 years and reading all these threads on here is sometimes like reading work stuff. I'm on a couple other online communities for nurses that aren't as active as this one too. The sheer volume of what's posted on here and the small amount of threads I find interesting, stimulating or relevant to my own working life means I can see however many pages of threads and still feel like there is not much I want to say in them. YOu've also seen how some of the same topics come up repeatedly, that has an impact as well.

My time off and my break time, I just prefer to do other stuff. I'm more choosy about which threads I want to post in now. It could be that the majority of posters are people who just haven't gotten to that point yet. The world of nursing is so new to them, it's all interesting, it's all worth hashing out in discussions. So they are more active. :cool:

roser13, ASN, RN · May 9, 2010

My primary gripe with current threads is that more and more MA/CNA applicants/practitioners are posting here, under the assumption that their positions are classified as "nursing." And why shouldn't they since their employers are calling them nurses?

I struggle with answering politely, while attempting to educate the poster with the disparity between licensed nursing positions and assistive positions.