Why are nursing students so completely disrepected?

colleen10 · Oct 10, 2003

The funny thing is, as far as the nurses go, is that I was at the same hospital, just different floors!!! - Icesk8ie

Word up!

There is a lot of truth in the statement "Attitude Reflects Leadership"

If you have 1 or 2 negative people that make life a living He-- for other employees on the floor, it's like a domino effect. Then everyone's morale and attitude starts to go.

Same can be said for the way sub-groups of people are treated in the hosp. ie. RN's, PCT's, Students, Phlebotomists, etc. If a couple people start disrespecting them, then you have everyone disrespecting them. Conversely, if they are respected by a couple, hopefully everone starts respecting them.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Oct 10, 2003

On my very first day of clinicals, we all walked down the hall of the LTC facility, decked out in our fresh new white uniforms, holding our heads high and feeling we'd arrived at last.......only to hear one of the staff CNAs snicker, "Oh look, here come the baby nurses!"

That was the first, and last, time I ever felt disrespected in nursing school. When I mentioned the comment in post-conference, our instructor was outraged and marched down to the DON's office to demand that the staff treat us with the respect we, as future nurses, deserved. That meant everyone, from Karen as the oldest member of our class at 47 to Nicole, our youngest at 19.

As an older student myself, I tended to have more trouble with instructors and preceptors thinking I knew more than I did.....yes, the life experience was there, but I was just as new to nursing as Nicole, and newer than those who had been CNAs or medical assistants. Now, as a preceptor, I evaluate students on their capabilities and knowledge base, not their age; in fact, this week I had 2 students, one who was only 20 but a real go-getter, while the other was older but less assertive about her learning goals. The first girl was already checked off on all her PO and IM meds skills, the second still needed the instructor present. (Of course, being very anal, I supervised them both when they were doing meds and assessments.....but that's just me.)

As for my feelings about students in general: Bring 'em on! I love seeing them grow into nurses.......Lord knows we need them!

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Oct 10, 2003

The exact reason why some students are not rescpected: some run around thinking that the nurse ought to be kissing their *** that they are there to help them, and then they get a rude awakening once they get there.

I just saw this morning, a student picked up a pt.'s chart, the nurse for that pt. asked "hey is that _____'s chart?" and the student replies "oh don't start your crap with me, i know what i'm doing" rather loudly. The nurse went to the instructor, explained that the reason why she asked whose chart it was is that it needed a sheet of labs put in the front before the dr. got there. Needless to say the student was pulled aside by the instructor, but i overheard the stiudent say "that **** of a nurse had the nerve to try and cut me down". Hell she deserved it, the "worship me" attitude would have ticked anyone off.

Carolanne · Oct 10, 2003

I don't think it's always the fact that we're student nurses, I think it's the personality of the offender, period. I think this type of person would treat people like their inferior in whatever field they were in, we're just feeling vulnerable because we're students. Some people take every chance they get to be in control or make someone feel not good, it's a sort of a high for them. On the other hand, there are plenty of wonderful nurses who are glad to share their knowledge with you and remember they were once in your shoes too. Gravitate to these individuals, avoid the ones with the bad attitudes. It's not you, it's they who have the issues. Radiate toward the positive energy and hold your head up high, you'll profit from it!

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Oct 10, 2003

I think some people take crap from others and some don't.

Marilyn

MandyInMS · Oct 10, 2003

Bad attitudes come in all shapes,sizes,and forms..be it a new student, nurse,instructor,or MD..Keeping YOUR own attitude in check despite the others is the tricky part.I've found in most (not all) cases you get the respect you give..and guess what? everyone deserves respect..no matter what position you are in, or what letters may follow your name.But back to nursing students .. a lot of what we were taught in school didn't become clear until long after graduation..so many times I can remember cursing under my breath those "mean" instructors for making us undure what I thought was disrespectful and down right cold hearted..but yanno what..those were lessons within themselves..and made me stronger and more prepared for what was ahead..all the diff.attitudes/personalities of the patients,famlies,coworkers,ect. We all know nursing is no candy coated profession, and some of the 'lessons' aren't easy...but are put before us to help us learn and develope our coping skills,and how we act and react to others.

EvilJen · Oct 11, 2003

i dont think student nurses are completly disrespected everywhere! some students make a name for themselves and maybe thats why they are treated that way. for example on my last placement i was working with two other students who talked constantly on there mobile fones in the side rooms, with the patient there. they also used the hospital fone for personal use and didnt ask before, they also went for breaks before being told and took twice as longer than other people. students need to give respect to gain it. after all, maybe when weve been qualified for ages we wont want people we consider unsuitlable to be the future of our profession.

oldiebutgoodie, RN · Oct 11, 2003

Well, I think you have to have a sense of humor about it all. I am a nursing student, age 50 (yes, I am the OLDEST in the class), and I have to have a gooood sense of humor. Yeah, we all get made fun of at some point, but so what? The person making the fun probably has some issues (maybe CNA is jealous they aren't in nursing school). It's their problem, not yours.

It's no better in the corporate world. In the corporate world there are a lot of people who want to see you fail, and will try to help you do that. At least as a nurse, you are working toward improving someone's life.

So, keep your head up. You know that YOU will be a good nurse, and in 2 years or less, you will have the license and the cred.

I haven't gotten any disrespect from floor nurses when I'm on clinical, but then, it probably freaks them out that I am as old as their mom.

altomga, ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN · Oct 11, 2003

MED students get respect??? Oh man do you have that wrong....they get plenty of humilation where I work at....maybe more of put in there place (some have the "I know it all" attitude)

Nursing students will get the respect, but they must earn it....work hard, admit when you don't know something, take the time to find the answer, be compassionate, etc......

I don't think you sound like you will have a problem!

Sari_noel · Oct 11, 2003

I have been pretty lucky when it comes to respect. I'm on my third week of clinicals at a LTC facility. The nurses have been great, maybe it's because I show so much enthusiasm about the job I'm going to be doing one day. If they ask if I want to see something (wound care, cath change, FSBS) I jump on the chance. The only problem I've had is with one of the CNA's who likes to try to tell me what I should be doing next. I guess my clincal instructer doen't know what's important for me to do.:chuckle

mrdoc2005 · Oct 12, 2003

I am just a little olde than most the people in my class (23) where most are 19-20. When I go to talk with my instructures in their office I get treated with more respect I think. I have a BS in general science and went to chiropractic school for two years (changed to nursing half way through, 4 year grad program) so I also think that my teachers realize that I am not as green as some of the students. Plus, I had a lot of clinicals in chiropractic school and I think my teachers see that in my performance.

hcfraughton · Jul 13, 2012

The exact reason why some students are not rescpected: some run around thinking that the nurse ought to be kissing their *** that they are there to help them, and then they get a rude awakening once they get there.
I just saw this morning, a student picked up a pt.'s chart, the nurse for that pt. asked "hey is that _____'s chart?" and the student replies "oh don't start your crap with me, i know what i'm doing" rather loudly. The nurse went to the instructor, explained that the reason why she asked whose chart it was is that it needed a sheet of labs put in the front before the dr. got there. Needless to say the student was pulled aside by the instructor, but i overheard the stiudent say "that ***** of a nurse had the nerve to try and cut me down". Hell she deserved it, the "worship me" attitude would have ticked anyone off.

Yeah, that's obviously a problem, but do most nursing students actually act this way? I've personally never seen anything like that from my nursing students. Their the exact opposite, almost worshipful "I'll do whatever you want" attitudes. And I still see co-workers treating them like they are POSs.