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.
You may have been over this before, but when you sign up to this site you do not automatically know all the prior posts and topics that have been covered before, maybe if we got that magic pill we would! (
What, you can't be bothered to read the thread you're posting in?
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Of course I do. It was almost 40 years ago, but I remember.
I remember our CI telling us in no uncertain terms that we were guests of the hospital, we were to stay out of the staff's way, and if she heard any complaints about us we would be looking for something else to major in.
I remember going to my CI if I had any questions. She was never very far away, and indeed it sometimes felt that if she had been any closer, we would have been wearing the same uniform.
I remember NOT bothering the floor nurse. At all. For anything. None of us did. We didn't hog the chairs at the nurse's station. We actually came in the day before to do our chart review and gather the information we needed.
At the end of our shift, our CI reviewed our notes, which had been done on scratch paper. Once they passed muster, we re-copied them on a real patient note. We reported off to the floor nurse, and then met for post clinical conference.
Hope this answers your question.
I've not been a licensed nurse as long but I had the same experience. When I worked in the ED as a tech I onserved the same scenario.
Of course I do. It was almost 40 years ago, but I remember.
I remember our CI telling us in no uncertain terms that we were guests of the hospital, we were to stay out of the staff's way, and if she heard any complaints about us we would be looking for something else to major in.
I remember going to my CI if I had any questions. She was never very far away, and indeed it sometimes felt that if she had been any closer, we would have been wearing the same uniform.
I remember NOT bothering the floor nurse. At all. For anything. None of us did. We didn't hog the chairs at the nurse's station. We actually came in the day before to do our chart review and gather the information we needed.
At the end of our shift, our CI reviewed our notes, which had been done on scratch paper. Once they passed muster, we re-copied them on a real patient note. We reported off to the floor nurse, and then met for post clinical conference.
Of course I do. It was almost 40 years ago, but I remember.
I remember our CI telling us in no uncertain terms that we were guests of the hospital, we were to stay out of the staff's way, and if she heard any complaints about us we would be looking for something else to major in.
I remember going to my CI if I had any questions. She was never very far away, and indeed it sometimes felt that if she had been any closer, we would have been wearing the same uniform.
I remember NOT bothering the floor nurse. At all. For anything. None of us did. We didn't hog the chairs at the nurse's station. We actually came in the day before to do our chart review and gather the information we needed.
At the end of our shift, our CI reviewed our notes, which had been done on scratch paper. Once they passed muster, we re-copied them on a real patient note. We reported off to the floor nurse, and then met for post clinical conference.
Hope this answers your question.
My experience, also, as a student and as a clinical instructor in ADN and BSN programs.
From seeing nursing student's rotate through my unit it's usually the instructor is the one giving them the guidance. The instructor is the mediator saying have this and this student can they pass this med so forth. I love when nursing student's are on the floor no vitals need to be done. Does feel awkward teaching them things though.
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.
You did not just call a staff nurse a "Piece of Crap," right???? Wait, you really did.
And you wonder why said staff RNs find it so off-putting to teach you for free?
I promise, if I ever so much as sensed a fraction of your attitude from a student, you would be reported to your CI, my charge RN, and to the hospital's liaison to the school. And that would be the end of our working-for-free relationship... unless maybe, if you were to submit a paper on the concepts of gratitude and contrition. That with an evidenced change in attitude, and I might consider it.
The proper response to one who takes time for you is, "Thank you," not "that Piece of Crap dumped on me," "they owe me," "I paid for my education, too bad if YOU didn't get paid for my education." The proper response is "Thank you."
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.
What exactly are your qualifications to evaluate her response? Instead of attacking her, why don't you consider that given her credentials...maybe, just maybe, she has some knowledge about what nursing is. Maybe she has been the recipient of a model of nursing education that doesn't take advantage of uncompensated staff--otherwise, wouldn't she agree, if that's how nursing education is done? Maybe she has a ton of experience and wisdom as a practicing RN? And careful, this one may shock you...maybe she knows more than you or any other student in here, put together?
And then, consider that the appropriate response to someone trying to teach you is "thank you?" Even if said teaching is informing you that you're wrong, because if you're wrong you should be made aware?
Less than 30 seconds looking up the current HM rating description and yes, they are assistants. Do a portion of them serve in commands where there is no RN/PA/APRN/MD/DO? Yes. But that's after proving that they can actually hack it as a Corpsman and get that specialized training.
I tend not to tell people that I was on my way to NTC Great Lakes when I got sick...wasn't allowed to join because hey, I suddenly didn't meet the physical requirements of a Naval recruit. I was enlisting as an HM, so yes, I did as much research as I could before signing that paper.
You.Are.Awesome. I work around military (veterans and active duty) ALL the time, and I can tell you that the truly GREAT ones are not thrilled to have *certain* ones as representatives of their unit, their branch of service. Claiming military experience isn't the same thing as doing something that others should be proud to recognize. It's not interchangeable.
icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN
1,970 Posts
She was referring to the previous 272 posts on clinical experiences in this thread.