We were at clinical today and a few of us (students) were sitting with two of our LTC patients, filling out packets that were assigned to us about our views on growing old and health care. One of the questions was what role do we feel government should have in health care. I explained how I wanted to answer the question to another student, and asked her how to best word it in my answer. I won't go into who had which position on this sensitive issue, but the charge nurse happened to be doing meds at a cart right next to our table, and literally butted into our discussion (which wasnt even really a discussion at all at that point) and made some rude comment to me about my answer (basically attacking/challenging my belief). I questioned what she said to me, and basically stated why I felt the way I did...I did not get loud or in any way abusive or anything with her, but I did strongly disagree with her back and forth for about 30 seconds. She told me to "get a clue, girlie" and another student came to me and said to "come over here" to me, and I walked away.
Now I'm nervous that this nurse will make a big deal about this to my instructor/school, and I'm petrified of getting kicked out for lack of professionalism or something simialar. We were not loud, and no one was around except for two patients who can't hear well and didn't seem to be bothered at all or even aware that a disagreement occured (no one was yelling or anything even close to that). I'm just so worried now and regret engaging back with her and not just ignoring her comment. Do you think this is something that will cause problems for me?
Some of the more experienced nurses will see this as an ethical dilema, but you shouldn't. Do what your clinical instructor says, when she says it "as long as it is within reason." Many experienced nurses may forget or not know how some clinical instructors demand certain activities at certain times even when it goes against good judgement, such as doing course work while at clinicals. Unfortunately, it often takes a few pages to explain all the background considering a simple question. By definition, nurses should be passionate about their patients. And although I don't agree with other posters, I do understand their criticism.
My take on your question is similar to the others. If voices were not raised, nothing inappropriate was said, and she engaged you while doing what your were instructed then there is no problem. However, as the above poster stated, politics and work seldom mix well.
Truly, I would be shocked if anything came of it. The WORST I would expect might be if the charge nurse complained to your instructor and your instructor asked you to explain your side of it. That should be that. You had a difference of opinion with a nurse (that had zero to do with patient care, experience, knowledge base, etc), and since SHE engaged YOU and you didn't raise your voice or do anything more than have a differing opinion, there's nothing more to say of it.
I remember a clinical rotation where something I said to a patient in the presence of a nurse caused that nurse to drag me out of the room and read me the riot act. Did I think she overreacted? Yep. Did I apologize and swear I mispoke, I did not mean anything I had said, and that it must have come out all wrong? Yep. Did I really mean it? Nope. But I knew she was ticked off, and had the power to b*tch about me and possibly cause me trouble. In hindsight, I realize my instructor would have just told the nurse whatever she wanted to hear and maybe talked to me, and that would have been that...but at the time, I was worried.
My point is, it seems to you now like a bigger deal than it probably was. Until your program is over, if something like that happens again, I'd just say "Huh, that's worth thinking about" and move away--quickly
You should be fine. Every school and clinical instructor have different rules. I've had nurses try to get us to do extra stuff or help out more even when I've wanted to help. However, our clinical instructor expected us to have our mini care plans on our patients completed by post conference at the end of the day.
When we would tell her that we couldn't complete it because we were helping the nurses or so and so needed our help, she empowered us to decline politely and say that we had clinical paperwork that we were required to have completed by post conf.
The lesson to be learned here is religion and politics are not to be discussed on the job, if part of school assignment, perhaps in a more private enviroment.
To the charge nurse, that was awefully rude of her to interrupt a private conversation and give an unsolicited opinion. Not cool and just because she is the charge nurse doesn't make it right either!
p.s you sound like a conscientious student and not a slacker. Good luck
Another thing, you did as you were instructed, the clinical instructor assigned you the task, the patients wern't put at risk or offended, no voices were raised,t he NM ENGAGED you inappropriately, you should be fine
and
if by the off chance something comes of it ( I doubt it), I'm sure everyschool has an appeal process.
I hate the belief by some that nurses students are sub human and have no rights when in nursing school That's ridiculous!
I know that you said you were encouraged to work on the packet during clinicals. I am not caling you a liar about what your instructor told you, but I think it is really bad form to sit at clinics with you clients and focus on your classmates and your theory work, rather than your clinical assignment. At my school, many of the clinical instructors were adjuncts. Perhaps the adjunct said to work on your homework during clinicals...at my school, if it got back to the professors that someone was working on a homework assignment rather than doing clinical 'duties,' the students would have been "written up" (or whatever our program called it).
As for the "discussion" with the nurse at the facility...do whatever you can to avoid "getting into it" with staff. I wouldn't necessarily be concerned with this one incident coming back to cause problems, but you don't want to be someone whom is reported multiple times by multiple staff members from clinical sites.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Depending on your instrutor's personality - you could proactively tell him/her about the incident before anyone else does. Say you feel bad about it, it was a lapse in judgement and assure her that you will handle these issues in a professional way. It would be pretty cold of your instuctor to kick you out based on the busybody's account of things when she already knows your side of the story. You don't need to be right. You need to get through school.
You could avoid making that step and nothing will ever come of it -- it's a gamble but public spectacles are in the top tier of stuff that spreads like wildfire.
I agree with the posters who said nothing should come of it. As mentioned, the charge nurse interrupted the conversation and engaged you about something that has nothing to do with experience. It is an opinion, and a lot of nurses on this board have differing opinions about the topic you mentioned.
As for doing homework during clinical time: While I think it is a bad idea, when an instructor TELLS YOU to do it during clinical time, there are only two options and consequences:
1) Do it, and have nurses at that particular facility (and on message boards) think you are lazy.
2) Don't do it, and have your clinical instructor ream you for not having it done on time when it needs to be done by post-conference.
While in nursing school, do as your instructor says.
ETA: A short story about one of my clinical instructors. Halfway through the term, we found out she had taken another job. This explained why we all felt that she had completely "checked out" of our clinical and had forced us to work on homework during clinical time. Her explanation? She wanted to be able to grade it on the same day as clinical. It was an uncomfortable situation.
People keep bringing up that the OP was doing paperwork while in clinical. Stop, it is not really the point here.
Your school may have frowned upon that but there are schools that REQUIRE it. Mine is one of them. We have to do all of our paperwork, care plans, etc, while in clinical and they must be turned in at post-conference.
now....
OP, you are not going to get kicked out over that. Maybe you will get reprimanded but oh well. Don't worry about it. At least you know for next time if a situation like this occurs again.
People keep bringing up that the OP was doing paperwork while in clinical. Stop, it is not really the point here.
Your school may have frowned upon that but there are schools that REQUIRE it. Mine is one of them. We have to do all of our paperwork, care plans, etc, while in clinical and they must be turned in at post-conference.
now....
OP, you are not going to get kicked out over that. Maybe you will get reprimanded but oh well. Don't worry about it. At least you know for next time if a situation like this occurs again.
I think that the OP is worried. Reading all of the post from students Nursing schools have turned into hell hole were if you look cross eyed at one of these teachers you could find yourself out of the school. That said, OP you have to try and relax. It was the Idiot Nurse that corrected you that's at fault. Not you. I remember when I was in school and I was showing two candy strippers how to bump a baby using a teddy bear This woman, whose title
was the play lady, came in and said "What are we doing playing with our toys?" Without missing a beat I said,"No I'm Breast feeding." The to young girls laugh, but the Play lady was beside her self. She ran to my instructor and my instructor pulled me aside a said,"You have to watch your month.It seems to have a mind of it's own. Later that same day I was again alone talking to the to girls, and the play lady came in. One of the girls said," I wonder if we ask him, he'll show us how to breast feed again?" The play lady vanished and I am happy to report that the two young girls are both RN's today. Laugh, Kid.
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
I find frankly the discussion of politically charged topics in front of others to be far more concern than the paperwork issue. Maybe the OP will come back and update us. I am certainly hoping nothing at all came of this.
Hope it all works out for you!
grpman
172 Posts
Some of the more experienced nurses will see this as an ethical dilema, but you shouldn't. Do what your clinical instructor says, when she says it "as long as it is within reason." Many experienced nurses may forget or not know how some clinical instructors demand certain activities at certain times even when it goes against good judgement, such as doing course work while at clinicals. Unfortunately, it often takes a few pages to explain all the background considering a simple question. By definition, nurses should be passionate about their patients. And although I don't agree with other posters, I do understand their criticism.
My take on your question is similar to the others. If voices were not raised, nothing inappropriate was said, and she engaged you while doing what your were instructed then there is no problem. However, as the above poster stated, politics and work seldom mix well.