I am a B.S.N. Student in Texas. After talking to several other students from my school, it seems that very few nurses we have encountered even acknowledge that the students are there in the hospital. I feel as if they do not "wish" to have time for us. These are nurses with four or five patients who seem to have plenty of time for everything else but no time for students. Granted, I understand that students can get in the way and slow nurses down but most of us truly want to help. Maybe my persepctive is a lot different because I am in school and I see things idealisticly. I know everyone was a student once. I am just wondering how nurses feel when students are in the hospital? Do you personally feel differently about nursing than you did when you were still in nursing school?
Oh, this has been revived, but seems relevant enough, that I'll now re-answer it, from the other side (i was a student when I first answered this thread)
Here is a way not to make a good impression on the staff nurse:
Night nurse is giving report to day nurse(me). nursing student listening, b/c she had one of the patients (we'll call her patient A). night nurse mentioned that patient A had been hypotensive, in the 90s, and sometimes 80s. Mentioned that he put her on falls precautions (b/c of the hypotension).
Nursing student says, in a very incredulous loud tone, interrupting, "Why is she on falls,there aren't any triggers on her chart?"
When I was a student, heck now as a nurse, I wouldn't have the balls to interrupt and half yell at a nurse if I didn't understand something.
I like having students and I like teaching. If the student is far enough along, I will basically turn over a pt to them (obviously I'm still supervising meds etc) and give them the chance to have the resposibility for a pts care. I love questions though, even if they seem stupid! It shows me that the student isn't afraid to ask before doing something that they aren't sure about. Always be honest with your nurse, and if you aren't sure about something or are confused by what she or someone else says, ask! I'm sorry that there are nurses out there who are treating you badly, but unfortunatly you are always going to run into people like that -- no matter what profession you are in! Maybe they are/where having a bad day? Don't forget that they are people to, and you don't know where they are coming from just as they don't know where you are coming from. I am not excusing bad or rude behaviour at all; I hate that things like this happen, but maybe if you think in those terms, it will help you not to become as discouraged.
I had an experience my senior year where the nurse I was working with didn't like something that I did and instead of talking to me about it, she went straight to my supervisor who then came and accussed me of negligence. When I talked (and yes, I admit, cried!) and she heard the whole story, she (my supervisor) apologized and said that I was not in the wrong. I was hurt though that the nurse didn't come and talk to me and find out the whole situation before going to my supervisor. However, the next day when I came in, this nurse pulled me aside and apologized and said that she had been having a really bad day, and had made an assumption that she shouldn't have. She asked for my forgiveness and gave me a big hug: we are still friends today! I try and think about this whenever I am in a difficult sitaution with a student and remember to talk to them and get a clear picture of a situation, and help them to work it out. If I make mistakes than I apologize to my students - honesty is a two way street!
Sooo, my suggestion: be as prepared as you can, be honest, be diligent, ask for it if you need help. If you are doing those things and a nurse is being mean or rude know that you are doing all that you can, and try not to get too discouraged; eat chocolate! Good luck all you students - it is worth it in the end.
HappyNurse2005, RN
1,640 Posts
Oh, this has been revived, but seems relevant enough, that I'll now re-answer it, from the other side (i was a student when I first answered this thread)
Here is a way not to make a good impression on the staff nurse:
Night nurse is giving report to day nurse(me). nursing student listening, b/c she had one of the patients (we'll call her patient A). night nurse mentioned that patient A had been hypotensive, in the 90s, and sometimes 80s. Mentioned that he put her on falls precautions (b/c of the hypotension).
Nursing student says, in a very incredulous loud tone, interrupting, "Why is she on falls,there aren't any triggers on her chart?"
When I was a student, heck now as a nurse, I wouldn't have the balls to interrupt and half yell at a nurse if I didn't understand something.