I am really confused by the stigma and negative attitude towards new nurses from experienced nurses as I am a new nurse and just plain do not understand? aren't we all new nurses at one time, so why are "some" nurses (as I do not think it is an all inclusive thing) forgetful that they were once the person whom they reject or whatever they do? I am unclear on the reality of what transpires in reality, I just know what I hear and what I have gone through myself.
I am really curious as what the stigma is all about from real nurses and not just rumors? I have heard that an experienced nurse will refuse to help a new nurse in a situation where the new nurse does not know what to do and the experienced nurse does??? I have been told this but really this actually happens in reality? plus, who is the one who suffers in the end of a situation like that? I have a really hard time believing that nurses would do that to their own, and for what purpose or reason does anyone justify doing something like that? it was clear to me that when I entered the field of nursing that I would always be a teacher once I possessed something to teach because it is a field that is based on a foundation of knowledge in addition to experience that cannot be acquired any other eay than to be taught on a situation basis.
are the experienced nurses tired of teaching new grads or they do not feel that teaching is part of what they signed up for? are there such an abundance of new grads with the shortage that experienced nurses are overwhelmed by the new grads and their needs? I am not a twenty something new young nurse. I am a early thirties starting my career after children new nurse. I can understand from the point of going to nursing school with younger people that it is easy to be rubbed the wrong way by younger people with less life experience, is that the issue?
I can see new nurses in relation to the above statement not acknowledging the proper respect in regard to an experienced nurse, and I can see that as a big problem is this the issue? I know in my clinical experience I had great experiences with nurses that other students had poor experiences with because of the attitude for which they approached their clinicals. I met my nurse at the beginning of clinicals introduced myself and followed them everywhere they went except the bathroom all day long. we were always assigned to just one of the nurses patients, but I never met a nurse that said no to a student observing and helping with all the patients and why would I sit around while I the oppurtunity to learn just because I was only assigned the one patient. I have seen students get totally ignored because they don't act or they just don't put forth any effort. my first goal was to find and learn to do things that would be helpful to the nurse I was working with. I understood that I rank low and I do what is needed to be done and thats that, whatever it may be. I had to be cognizant of the nurse I was working with and their comfort level with me handling whatever I would handle for them. I always did things no other student did, I was trusted with more after time worked with the nurse, and I had really positive experiences and was always the person the other students went to because they didn't know how to do much or work the computer software. I was eager to learn anything I was offered, as the nurses saw my eagerness to learn they began teaching all through the day. one day, I was paired with a nurse that had 30 years of experience. I would have liked to spend a year with her, she was like my own private encyclopedia of secret information. I love to learn new things, anything new and so that drives me too.
I did face complete rejection from a whole er of nurses. our clinical instructor did not know any of the er nurses, so she stood there trying to get "noticed" at the nurses station for more than 20 minutes. even the nurses ignored her. she addressed the nurses working and said she had nursing students, and only one nurse acknowledged her with a so what and turned and walked away. our clinical instructor told us follow some person who did not acknowledge that we even existed as a human being in the world. we stood at the nurses station and when the new nurses arrived we were paired up with another nurse. I tried to plant myself in, but I kept following her as she tried to find places to use her cell phone and she kept exiting the area of er. she was not happy about my stalking her when she was doing what she was. it was the longest day of my life, I cannot do nothing but was forced to. I finally exited the nurses station and learned from the residents, as they were willing to teach me. I felt unbelievably uncomfortable because all of these nurses where aware we were students and refused to even speak to us, to say a simple hello to us. I mean we basically treated lesser than a human being by people that I had such a high regard for before I decided to become one. I felt awful that day truthfully because if this is reality for me, I don't want to be a person that treats people poorly ever. one nurse said she takes the students and set us up with a nurse that found us invisible, so we took one set of vitals and returned to stand at the wall. finally, one nurse acknowledged us that we were assigned to but she just wanted to get rid of us. it was the best day when that day was over.
I also was treated poorly in relation to an interview I want to get some opinions but I am too detailed and my posts are too long. I really just want to understand this and try to make sure I do not do any of the things that have created this stigma most importantly.
my biggest question is, when if ever will I be treated like a deserving human being in the eyes of the nursing world? a nurse told me that she likes new grads (yeah) during an interview and stated that nurses eat their young but I from what I see in relation to how nurses treat one another they are not partial they eat each other too. why are nurses not supportive of our own, and unified as one large force?
this is a real serious question, I just don't get it?
I have to say I completely agree - and the ER seems to be the worst place for a student nurse. We only got one day as an ER rotation and my day was spent being the charge nurse's helper! She constantly was telling me to go clean or do very simple tasks like taking a patient's temperature.
We had a patient who had been given charcoal for alcohol poisoning and he had vomited it all over the floor. She said that I had lucked out because they already called housekeeping, otherwise she was going to have me clean their floor! Another time she asked me if anyone had shown me how to make their beds? I was stunned. I was there for only one day and hoping to learn and practice skills like starting IVs, giving meds, doing assessments, etc. Instead, she thought I was there just to help them clean!
Other than the ONE incident in the ED, you haven't had any issues with the old "Nurses eat their young?" Is the situation really as bad as you think it is? I've been a nurse for 20 yrs, and I volunteer to have students, as well as new hires. Not all "vetrans" dislike teaching. I would like to point out, that some nurses do NOT want to teach nursing, and are very happy to restrict their teaching to their patients. Often, seasoned nurses are expected to carry the load of "teaching" students and new hires, without any compensation or reduction in their assignments.
As far as students in an ED, I question if they should be there at all? I do work in an ED, and I do still precept student nurses, but most new nurses and students do not have the clinical ability to function in the ED, and ED nurses literally run from the time they get there. Imagine holding on by the skin of your teeth, trying to keep up with patients, and then get students added? I honestly believe that most nurses do not treat newbies poorly. Act professional, and direct any of your concerns to your teachers....you know, the people who are teaching (and getting PAID) to teach by choice. Good luck in your future nursing career, and I hope you find something you love.
There is NO excuse for treating students as shabbily as you were treated in ER, but I do think some of the fault is with the C of N that is arranging the clinical experiences. No RN wants to get saddled with a student when there is no instructor around to help supervise. It's like being told you are responsible for someone elses job for which you have no specialized training, and recieve no pay- just added liability- but you don't have any less of your own job to do. If a school really wanted to be fair, the instructor should take part of the patient load from each team in the department they instructing- taking the students under themselves as they gain skills on the floor. The staff nurses should get extra compensation for assisting with the teaching process by taking a student when the need arises. After all- you are paying tuition to the school, they are paying the staff to teach- where does the staff nurses get compensated for the extra work of having a student. IT IS EXTRA WORK,-if it isn't, then the RN isn't doing a good job of teaching. If the instructor takes some of the patient load, and there is no other reduction in staff for the same number of patients, then I guess I'd be happier to help teach since she(or he) is doing part of my job. I know instructors that have said exactly " I love being an instructor- I just hand out assignments and my job is done for the day until post conference unless one of the students has a problem" .
No instructor on the floor,- no I don't want the students on the floor either- I have no time to do all the skills instruction you need as a student nurse- but that is still no excuse for not being civil with the students.- treat the instructor like crap- yes- not the students.
Obviosuly everyones experience differs, but I think on many units, new nurses have an enjoyable experience. It's all about perception.
1) I notice a lot of new nurses that have a rough orientation are the ones that go into with a mentality that it is going to be rough. The best new nurses I have had aren't always the smartest but the most eager and willing to learn. Yes, we know you don't know everything, and yes, we expect there is going to be a different learning curve for each new nurse.
2) Some nurses or units just plain stink and they have the feed the young to the wolves mentality. If this is how your unit is you might need to rethink where you are working. Now, don't get this confused with your preceptor or charge nurse wanting to challange you. You aren't a student anymore and you need to be weaned. For me personally it took my clinical educator telling me "nursing school is over, it's time for you to step up and start being your own nurse". I never looked back from that day. 5 years later I manage a CVICU.
3) While I'm sure some older nurses are crabs that don't want to help new people (I have them on my unit), they are by far the minority, and if they aren't on your unit, run, run far away. The best preceptors are the ones that can still draw on their own experiences as a new nurse.
I have to say I completely agree - and the ER seems to be the worst place for a student nurse. We only got one day as an ER rotation and my day was spent being the charge nurse's helper! She constantly was telling me to go clean or do very simple tasks like taking a patient's temperature.
We had a patient who had been given charcoal for alcohol poisoning and he had vomited it all over the floor. She said that I had lucked out because they already called housekeeping, otherwise she was going to have me clean their floor! Another time she asked me if anyone had shown me how to make their beds? I was stunned. I was there for only one day and hoping to learn and practice skills like starting IVs, giving meds, doing assessments, etc. Instead, she thought I was there just to help them clean!
Umm, YES. Now that you mention it, you WERE there to help the CN. You are on HER floor, and have NO CLUE all that she is responsible for. If you are allowed in her ED, do everything asked, up to and including cleaning the floor. If you manage to do that without screwing up, then we might actually allow you to watch/learn something. BTW- as a student, our job is NOT to give you a day to practice your skills on our acutley ill patients. I respectfully tell you that I, as a nurse who has my BSN, and has been a hospital nurse for 20 yrs....STILL MAKE BEDS AND CLEAN FLOOR if needed. Lose your sense of entitlement FAST, or you are going to be one of those who "Job hops" because you "Don't fit in on that MEAN floor of nurses who EAT their young!?!?!?" Good grief.
Sorry to all about the funny font colors. I try to use them to help to summarize better. As you can see it really worked well! No more colors for me. Sorry again.
Thanks everyone for your input I really learned a lot from them. Things that never crossed my mind, and I can see the both sides of this. Interesting Thanks all!
This was really informative. I was good at the book smart part, and I have been reading everything I can since I graduated to. The book knowledge more helps to get what going on and understand what should be happening sorta.
I am fine with learning slowly, and I feel like I know nothing so I think I am good at not knowing! Thanks for the post!
I think my hardest thing is going to be that I am the overachiever of the overachievers, so I am drastically hard on myself when I do not do things well. I know that this is not a case where I am going to go in and its all going to be great, so I am concerned how I will handle having to go through the motions.
I got a message to not do that because I will get made fun of, lol. Thank you to that nurse! I have huge issues where I cannot summerize. I include every detail relentlessly.
If that long post is based, from my skimming it, on what you have heard, not what you have actually experienced, I have only one thing to say. Stop propagating generalizations and wait until you have enough experience to speak with authority on the subject yourself. Your questions are redundant and insulting to experienced nurses everywhere.
On the whole you tend to get what you look for in life. If you look for problems, you will have no trouble finding them.
Best of luck to you.
Sorry to offend it you. I did not mean to offend any experienced nurses as it a whole paragragh was dedicated to the fact that I believe new nurse should have the utmost respect for experienced nurses. I got the information from a DON, who I interviewed with. I wanted to ask the experienced nurses if this is reality because I do not have experience to speak about as I stated in the post.
Sorry for any misconceptions. I think you got the wrong impression from your skim. I value experienced nurses and want to know what not to do to get under their skin like I have here. Hmm, did not work the way I wished.
Thanks for the if you do not look for trouble you won't get trouble. I really encourage you to read the whole post because you will see that I do show respect to experienced nurses if you know what the whole thing says.
Thanks for your advice. Any advice on how to summerize better?
If that long post is based, from my skimming it, on what you have heard, not what you have actually experienced, I have only one thing to say. Stop propagating generalizations and wait until you have enough experience to speak with authority on the subject yourself. Your questions are redundant and insulting to experienced nurses everywhere.
On the whole you tend to get what you look for in life. If you look for problems, you will have no trouble finding them.
Best of luck to you.
Oh, opps I did not see the if you look for problems you'll have no problem finding them. Well, I never look for problems but that sounds really negative. I am sorry that it is like that, but people shouldn't be starting problems either. Who wants that negativity around them.
RFRN
39 Posts
I have to say I completely agree - and the ER seems to be the worst place for a student nurse. We only got one day as an ER rotation and my day was spent being the charge nurse's helper! She constantly was telling me to go clean or do very simple tasks like taking a patient's temperature.
We had a patient who had been given charcoal for alcohol poisoning and he had vomited it all over the floor. She said that I had lucked out because they already called housekeeping, otherwise she was going to have me clean their floor! Another time she asked me if anyone had shown me how to make their beds? I was stunned. I was there for only one day and hoping to learn and practice skills like starting IVs, giving meds, doing assessments, etc. Instead, she thought I was there just to help them clean!