I've been in two different hospitals in both my first and second semesters and come up against some ROUGH nurses who would rather do everything themselves than let me touch a thing.
I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact that they are BUSY, they have a TO-DO list, they have patients that NEED meds, help, EVERYTHING. But, I'm here to help. I'm wearing these bright purple scrubs not because I like the color, but because I want to learn, I NEED to learn. I will take them to the bathroom, I will bathe them, I will take their vitals, just PLEASE let me.
When I say 80% of the nurses I've followed have done NOTHING with me I am not exaggerating. Why is this? Last week the nurse I was following wouldn't even let me take vitals, VITALS!! I am in my second semester of nursing school, I think I can handle that.
Anyway, I wanted to know whats up with that! I recognize that they are busy. I also recognize the few nurses that have taken me under their wing and shown me SO MUCH. I'm thankful for that, and grateful.
Please be civil to each other. Several posts have been deleted as they are personal attacks. Thanks.
Why in the heck was mine deleted? It was not in the least bit a personal attack. It was confirming that we were actually in agreement and how the poster's school was doing things the right way and how lucky they were. There wasn't a drop of snark in it.
I'm so confused. I worked really hard to make sure I worded it nicely.
Report this post all you want, but you "actual nurses" sound bitter, burnt out, and closed-minded.
Mmmmm...I may be slightly singed around the edges, but regardless of my attempts to point things out to the students who are the ones saying that we need to be thankful to the students sounding like I'm on my way to COB-hood, I love students. I love teaching. Every time I'm asked to be a preceptor I get excited - hey, front row seats to the evolution from student nurse to graduate nurse! Woohoo! (No, not sarcasm. Stupid inability to show tone of voice through a purely text medium, Nonyvole sighed as she rolled her eyes and shook her head slightly.)
Also, while there are nurse residency/new grad programs popping up all over the place, not every hospital has them. Reasons that are only evident to the people making the big decisions. And sometimes a new grad lands themselves on a unit that is know to chew people up and spit them out, and the best way to get through the first six months is to keep their head down, ask for help, and not go roaring around with the "I am nurse! I know everything!" attitude. That way leads to termination notices and people posting here about "what did I do wrong???? They were so mean to me!"
Or, students both on- and off-line need to have that little life lesson given to them before disaster strikes. Enthusiasm helps to open doors, too much ego gets them slammed shut and locked. How much ego is too much? That answer varies. Too many variables.
Sorry, by the way you were writing I thought you were an entry to practice student. But what I say still stands and I think you should be able to understand that most nurses would absolutely love to give to the next generation of nurses but the ridiculous job demands makes that nearly impossible.
Wholeheartedly agree. As nurses, we have a passion (and duty) to educate. So so difficult when we barely have time to teach our own patients.
Not rude, just assertive. As I reply for the last time, since I know nothing as I'm only a student, the floor nurse is HELPING the student put into practice what they have been TAUGHT in SCHOOL. I hope I never get so jaded as some of you are.
I hope I don't become jaded either, as some of these folks seem. However, I'm an "actual nurse" with a significant background in patient care but less than yours, and I found the comment to you "come back when you're a real nurse, blah blah, you don't know what it's like to be a nurse," offensive and downright rude. I had a pretty good idea of what being a "real nurse" would be like prior to finishing school, and that idea is unchanged now that I'm working as an RN. Not sure what kind of rainbow unicorn nursing school that poster went to, but it's pretty legit to have an idea of what being a nurse is going to be like. Therapeutic Communication 101 must not be a required course everywhere, haha. Oh well. Good luck with everything!!
Specializes in Cath/EP lab, CCU, Cardiac stepdown.
I do want to point out that although I am in a RN-BSN program now, I'm not just a student. I'm an "actual nurse" with an "actual nurse" job. The posts from students (and mine included) have not occurred to me as giving a know-it-all-attitude. Speaking for myself and probably some other posters, yes, there were things that we did know and we were confident that we could be trusted to perform certain tasks like vital signs.
Thanks for your opinion, though!
Oh no, my apologies if you thought I was calling you a student nurse. I thought we were sharing pet peeves, you shared yours about bitter nurses and i reciprocated with my tidbit on student nurses.
You didn't find that attitude in what some of the student nurses said, but I certainly did, and there probably are others who did too. Just like how you found it rude in what some people have said and I didn't. Different people different opinions.
And my reference to know it all attitude is for those students who come here telling nurses what they need to do or what they owe as nurses. Nope, I do not owe anyone anything, they're not my patients, nor am I under any contractual obligation. Once again it's right vs privilege. Do I have to teach nursing students? No, but will I? Yes, if I have time.
Students need to take initiative for their own education. If the floor nurse is too busy then do what you know. You can still do your vital signs and assessment on the patient yourself. As long as the patient is willing, then there shouldn't be any problems. You can still develop your care plans and perform certain interventions. Therapeutic communication, deep breathing, distraction techniques for pain, etc. If a clinical group is on the floor, the hospital and nurses know that the students will be some sort of patient interaction. As long as you're following the guidelines of your instructor and the hospital to university agreement then there shouldn't be any problems.
Anything more that you would like to do or see you can hope that your instructor is free or the staff nurse is not busy. Otherwise, go ask other nurses around. Sometimes one is less busy than another and they are willing to show the student how it's done or even let the student do it in a guided manner.
Oh and you're very welcome, it was no problem at all in giving my opinion. Aren't we just super polite to each other. I like writing my opinions and reading what others have to say as well. That is the spirit of all nurses after all.
As a floor nurse, you are not my responsiblity. The patient is. I don't know you from Adam and I am not placing my license at risk.
Now saying that. I have been given high feedback from instructors on my teaching of the students. They prefer me over most, and I am just a stupid ADN. (Tongue in cheek) I say that out of the Magnet hospitals opinion I am no longer quailfied to be a nurse at their precious facilities, even though I have in the past. I have more knowledge and experience in my little pinky, then most. Sorry went on a tangent. I hate Magnet....
Oh no, my apologies if you thought I was calling you a student nurse. I thought we were sharing pet peeves, you shared yours about bitter nurses and i reciprocated with my tidbit on student nurses.
You didn't find that attitude in what some of the student nurses said, but I certainly did, and there probably are others who did too. Just like how you found it rude in what some people have said and I didn't. Different people different opinions.
And my reference to know it all attitude is for those students who come here telling nurses what they need to do or what they owe as nurses. Nope, I do not owe anyone anything, they're not my patients, nor am I under any contractual obligation. Once again it's right vs privilege. Do I have to teach nursing students? No, but will I? Yes, if I have time.
Students need to take initiative for their own education. If the floor nurse is too busy then do what you know. You can still do your vital signs and assessment on the patient yourself. As long as the patient is willing, then there shouldn't be any problems. You can still develop your care plans and perform certain interventions. Therapeutic communication, deep breathing, distraction techniques for pain, etc. If a clinical group is on the floor, the hospital and nurses know that the students will be some sort of patient interaction. As long as you're following the guidelines of your instructor and the hospital to university agreement then there shouldn't be any problems.
Anything more that you would like to do or see you can hope that your instructor is free or the staff nurse is not busy. Otherwise, go ask other nurses around. Sometimes one is less busy than another and they are willing to show the student how it's done or even let the student do it in a guided manner.
Oh and you're very welcome, it was no problem at all in giving my opinion. Aren't we just super polite to each other. I like writing my opinions and reading what others have to say as well. That is the spirit of all nurses after all.
I apologize, we all know that it's hard to decipher tone over written word.
I completely agree with everything in your post and this is how all of my clinicals went, in various hospitals even. Because of the consistency throughout organizations here and their policies for nursing students, I pretty much assumed it would be like that everywhere. It is hard to tell what exactly is going on at OP's clinical sites, but it doesn't sound like what you and I describe. It's also impossible for us to know where that breakdown of communication/understanding is happening. We do have an obligation to be assertive and take initiative, so perhaps staff is giving the students a chance to "bite" and jump in after determining how they can help or what they can perform independently. Who knows?!
WRONG. The floor nurses are there to help; to instruct, to mentor. The hospital accepted the students, therefore that is part of the mission as well as patient care. As for quicker and easier, that is not relevant. It is about quality of care to the patients and instruction to the student. The nurse should look at the student in the aspect he/she is training their relief. Students disrupting the routine? Since when is patient care a routine? Patients, as varied as they are, constantly disrupt the so-called routine. For example, the patient(s) who watch the clock and call at one minute after their pain meds are due while you are dealing with your other five patients. Clinical instructors are there to lead and manage the students and provide liaison with the charge nurse and the staff. You mentioned compensation twice. I didn't know nursing was all about compensation. You are an MSN and Guide, and I am surprised by your response. You might want to rethink your responses given your credentials and position before you respond this way to a student. I have had great nurses during my clinicals and the occasional Piece of Crap who was burnt out and/or dumped on me and my fellow students. They were the exception rather than the rule. Student nurses aren't an extra PCT or a burden. They are a future nurse.
Hahahhahahahahhaaha this is adorable coming from a student nurse who literally has no clue. I wish I could be there to watch as the reality of what real nursing is comes to slap you in the face.
traumaRUs, MSN, APRN
87 Articles; 21,289 Posts
Please be civil to each other. Several posts have been deleted as they are personal attacks. Thanks.