What makes you irritated by student nurses?

1 Hi everyone. I'm just wondering about some opinions that I could maybe learn from. After googling some articles and thoughts of both nurses and student nurses, I am seeing that either some are having a difficult time coping with interactions as a student nurse or maybe are given a hard time by nurses.

We're all human but I'm wondering.. What traits, habits, comments or behaviors make you annoyed or irritate about student nurses?
It doesn't have to be logical but hopefully it is. Just looking for insight and possibly things I can avoid when I get there.


Thanks!
The whole CRNA thing. Its nice to have hopes and dreams for your future. But have some room for error and don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Things that irritate me with students (and even new grads):know it all attitudestudents who attempt to correct the nurse in front of the pt because they read differently in their textbookstudents who disappear frequently during the shift, where do they go? i don't remember being able to just vanish/come and go as i pleasedfinally, students who park in the nurse's station and sit there......and sit there (even though call bells are ringing off the hook)

As a student I just have to say it's very frustrating when the nurses are difficult. I can understand constant interruptions or unprofessional students disrupting your work but sometimes I just have to show up and the nurses are automatically in defense mode. I mean, at some point everyone started as a student.... just saying...

All the reasons so far are logical and justified and would annoy me to in my current field if someone did those things. Anything else? Hopefully I can learn from this and maybe someone else can too. Make both students and nurses lives easier. Keep the replies coming.

I never mean to be irritated by student nurses. Many nurses were very good to me when I was a student and I can only think of a couple that weren't.No. 1..........Please do not sit in the very limited space at the nursing station to sit and write your notes...........this is the only place I can sit. I stand for 70% of my shift. There are plenty of places to sit as a student nurse. You'll get it when you are a nurse.No. 2. Do not nitpick in your questions that I did not roll insulin for "long enough" or wait for a site to dry for "long enough" or listen to all four quadrants for twenty minutes in front of the patient. Don't question anything at all in front of the patient If you want to ask questions of the nurse, do it out of the patients earshot. Specifically do not, do not say OMG out loud when I take off a dressing (this happened)Most nurses were good to me when I was a student because I kept all my criticism inside my head and then only vocalized it in front of my nursing instructor in clincial wrap up.

ok i have one more.... students who come to this forum to ask for help on their homework, or what a term means.... that may be approaching number 1 annoying for me. it never even occurred to me to do this, i was a student pretty recently too (grad only 4 years ago). i just looked it up, or discussed it with a study partner.

Again, all very resonable reasons. I think what tends to happen and correct me if I'm wrong is that nurses are already working under high stress with their work life and maybe personal life as well. SO, when you add into the equation a student nurse doing any or all the above it can do nothing but almost form a stereo type in your head. I'm sure some try not to and give students the chance (until proven otherwise) but for the majority I think it's hard to do that. If I continually had student nurses doing less then proffessional things I'd probably start to cringe at the sight of them also. OR it would take a lot of effort not to.

Quote from FancypantsRNok i have one more.... students who come to this forum to ask for help on their homework, or what a term means.... that may be approaching number 1 annoying for me. it never even occurred to me to do this, i was a student pretty recently too (grad only 4 years ago). i just looked it up, or discussed it with a study partner.

I am not a nurse yet -- I am taking my prerequisites. But wanted to say thank you for posting this thread. I have trained and taught so so soooo many individuals in my previous careers (2 different fields and sometimes VERY frustrating) that I would also like to know what the answer to your question, for my own edification when I am a nursing student and/or new grad.

Quote from jollydogg_RN OP, are you looking for ways not to irritate nurses when you start nursing school clinicals?

@ jollydog - yes, care plans were my least favorite part of nursing school. i am just tired of seeing the threads asking for help on what to write a paper about or whatever (or what does *insert basic term* mean). it's like come on! you must start thinking about things for yourself or you will graduate and be helpless.at OP.... i think the fact that you are interested in how to be a successful student nurse is a good thing. there are a lot of great mentors out there (and some not so great) but you will know pretty fast who to go to for help.just remember to try and learn as much as you can, most of us do not mind answering questions - we like to educate. it's a major part of our job. yes, we are busy - but whenever i have a student with me, i take the few minutes here and there to ask if they have any questions about patient care. also, let the staff know to seek you out if they are going to do any procedures, you learn a lot that way.

From the nursing school student perspective of a non-traditional student and potential career changer...Students are required to attend clinical rotations in sites that are some times uninteresting and unappealing. Occasionally, the quality of work that goes on there is laughable. They're quite literally paying to be there. We all know nursing education, particularly with respect to the clinical environment, is nothing less than lousy. It's unrealistic and often unchallenging. Some nurses and other staff members like to have students to precept. Others couldn't care either way. Finally, there is the group that doesn't want students present. I can understand all perspectives and having been a student, trainer, and supervisor of other professions (one of which carried heaps more pressure than nursing) I have some thoughts. 1. If you don't like students there then close your mouth and deal with it. Chances are they don't want to be around you anymore than you want them around. You're paid to show up and do your job. The students have no choice other than drop out. If you have this attitude you're only going to perpetuate students disdain in volunteering for other duties. I wouldn't volunteer to help someone that's acting like a jerk. Most other people wouldn't either. 2. Some students are nothing short of idiots. Others are brilliant. Most fall somewhere in between on the spectrum. With any sort of perception one should be able to ascertain where the student falls on that spectrum in a matter of minutes. Do that, and if you're "forced" to precept them then use your gauge and precept on their level. Never assume someone's level of ability, experience, or education. 3. Above all, even though I'm only ringing this in at number three, there is an organization to run with goals and expectations to meet. If the student actually interferes with that then utilize your chain of command and get the detriment out of the way. In a clinical setting you have your patient's health to worry about as well as revenue. Yes, I made mention of money. If a student jeapordizes health and safety take them out of the picture. If the student squanders supplies in a futile hope to learn something then halt it and, utilizing your chain of command, have the student's instructor re-evaluate elsewhere. 4. To whatever negatives may come to mind with this; students are not there to learn the gimmicks, time savers, and half-assing that often comes with the workplace. Look around anywhere. We'll see people in ALL walks of life doing things in a way that no longer even resembles the instructed, researched, and proper way to do something. This isn't manifested in just nursing. A scenario I often run across in healthcare is aspirating for blood return with an IM injection. Some schools of thought suggest it isn't necessary and many practicing nurses don't do it. Likely, all nursing schools are still teaching it and expect/require their students to give IM injections in that manner. It is not the place of the precept to admonish the student for taking time to do that. You're barking up the wrong tree when you fight that. Whatever way they're taught to do something is how they shall do it until they hold their diploma and are no longer affiliated with the educational institution. 5. Students are not personal assistants. As much as you may want them to be (and I'm from an organizational culture of hazing) they're there to learn - not do your bidding. They are not there to buy sodas, get coffee, file your papers, or do anything most befitting to you as a preceptor. Students are present to meet educational objectives established in a contractual agreement between the educational institution and healthcare organization. Despite what we all think, there really is no such thing as paying your dues.