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Eaten in the ICU
Ani Burr | Scrubs Magazine
It’s been a very long first week of summer. School started and we’ve been thrown head first into the ICU. It’s exciting, and horrifying all at the same time. The way my school’s program is set up, we have our first year dedicated to fundamentals and med-surg, and then we break out for the second year into OB, peds, and psych, finishing up this 9 month non-med-surg run with a super intensive ICU (or SI-ICU, super intensive for us, ICU for the patients) rotation.
So, now that we can’t remember the last time we hung and IVPB and haven’t had to go pick a patient (and do the subsequent 5 million hours of paperwork the night before) we are not only expected to hit the ground running, but we have to pick up where we left off last summer. Thanks nursing school.
But hey – it’s the ICU! I’ve been looking forward to this, although, now that it’s started, I really can’t remember why…. Oh yes! It’s because I really enjoyed working in the PICU, and so I thought this would be sort of like that. But somehow, the stress of it all has sort of diminished any happy thoughts I ever had of picturing myself as a PICU nurse.
Despite this, I tried to stay optimistic on the floor last Thursday when we went to do our “scavenger hunt” of the floors, figuring out where supplies are, how to find what we’ll need when we’re actually working next week. So here we are, the professional looking students, donning our unflattering white uniforms (yes, I had to throw that in there again), and we’re looking around the floor.
As a student nurse, I always try to ask questions politely, I don’t like disturbing other nurses, because I know they’re busy. I’m used to getting short answers and not taking it personally. That’s sort of how it goes. But it didn’t really take long before we started to really get the feeling like we weren’t welcome on the floor.
With the exception of ONE nurse (and we talked to, or tried to talk to, quite a few), we were greeted, so to speak, with blank stares and monosyllabic, albeit borderline rude, responses to questions. A friend of mine literally had to ask 3 nurses (all sitting in the nurses station) how to print a 6 second strip before another nurse sighed loudly and said, “Just push the record button!,” without taking her eyes off the screen in front of her. I mean, seriously, I know you’re all busy, I get it – I really do. But I felt like saying, “You were where I am now not that long ago, don’t you remember that?!”

rajkumarjonnala
over 1 year ago
100 comments
Interesting article.
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kidsHCnurse
almost 3 years ago
8 comments
I am a nursing student also with only 6 weeks to go. Your description of your experience along with the long drought between skilled clinicals is eerily familiar. I must say that most of the nurses in the ICU and CCU have been pretty helpful and understanding, but there are always a few who aren't. I don't want to just plow through and do things that aren't the way they want, so I ask. Some appreciate it, some are annoyed, but I will learn and become an RN (with much thicker skin).
melody_melton
almost 3 years ago
4 comments
I have found that in working with other nurses and those who are "seasoned" as we can refer to it that they have a routine and most dislike anything that disrupts that routine. Most new nurses are "going by the book" so to speak and though the book is good for the classroom and testing purposes it has nothing at all to do with real life. One thing you can remember is that they won't really remember "the book". Because for us as "seasoned" nurses we don't use the book. It went out the window a long time ago. The biggest problem for student nurses and new nurses is the preconceived notions that they have about the job. We want to tell them it won't be like this when you get out of school or once you have been here a while. You basically have to suck it up and understand that they are in a fixed routine of their own creation and that you may have to "suck up" for a while. Realize also that you cannot just assume their methods of doing something are incorrect. They have been doing this longer than you and have learned shortcuts and other methods of acheiving their goals to save time. It is easier if you simply be quiet and learn from them, do the sucking up to get them on your side as suggested by LPNStudentHTS. It will work and you will find them more than willing to help you learn. Me on the other hand I have no problem with student nurses. I lay ground rules down and explain I have my own methods for doing some things. If they have a problem with how I do it I am happy to explain my rationale for my method and I am quick to let them know that my method may not work for them, but they will find their own methods once they are turned loose. I also explain that if they have suggestions on how to do it differently I am not unwilling to listen. I have learned some things from new/student nurses that have enabled me to find newer shortcuts to certain things. Also, depending on the type of setting you are in, ie: hospital, nursing home, psychiatric hospital, etc. You will have to understand some shortcuts are born of repetative work scheduling. Like med pass. It can become quite routine for some nurses in long-term care settings. It is not always easy for them to enjoy having a student around or a new nurse because that causes a disruption in their routine. So the best thing there is to remember that. Most of those nurses look at new or student nurses as a disruption of their routine, therefore you should try to let them know that you are open minded and realize they have a routine. In those cases, you may want to save your questions for times when she/he is sitting to do paperwork and more able to speak about some of the things you have questions about. Most don't like the questions while they are performing the actual tasks. Also, the patients comfort levels won't be changed. Most patients do not like questions being asked while they are receiving care, it makes them feel less confident about the care they are receiving. There are many considerations to look at when dealing with nurses who have been doing something for a long time. You must just remember that unless you see actual harm to a patient from the care given that it obviously is not bad care. Just because it doesn't follow the book you used in school doesn't mean it isn't effective. As to dealing with them, well, let it roll off your back because they won't be the only people giving you a hard time. Just wait for the doctors to get ahold of you. Most nurses won't warn you about the Doctors and their potential attitude problems with nurses. I have had that happen to me many times. I have had doctors curse at me for calling them with a valid reason. I have also had to report doctors for their unacceptable attitudes towards myself or even coworkers. Thankfully, I have never had to report one yet for any unacceptable treatment of a patient; and I hope I never do.
LPNStudentHTS
almost 3 years ago
4 comments
I am a student nurse and was paired up with a veteran nurse that none of her co-workers had anything nice to say about her. I basically just threw myself at her mercy (used some sweet talk with her) and told her that I was there to help her in anyway I could. Anytime she went to check on a patient, I was there. What do you (the nurse) need? Can i go and get the supplies you need? I tried anything and everything to make HER job easier. I know I was there to do and learn patient care but if you don't have someone willing to teach you, why even be there. I used the first day doing all I could to get the nurse on my side. After that, learning and asking her questions was no problem because she then understood that I was not there to take her job from her but to learn and be of HELP to her. Not only that, I found that she wasn't as bad a person that some of the other nurses made her out to be.
MickeyC
almost 3 years ago
54 comments
I am sorry for your unfortunate experience. I had that sort of experience when I was training to work in the ER, and I am not a new nurse - only new to the ER. I ended up leaving after 6 months - mutually. I felt I wasn't getting trained, only expected to already know things, and they felt I didn't already know things. I used it to motivate me to go find the missing pieces, but even as an experienced nurse, it left a bad taste in my mouth. I would agree with M_Brown that unfortunately there are those nurses who have been there a long time who feel entitled. Keep asking questions, and don't take it personally. Use the experience to make YOU a better nurse and mentor! I look for new people to help when they come to my unit/floor, and end up with new friends as well. Best wishes - you will be the better person!
M_Brown22
almost 3 years ago
2 comments
I am sorry for your bad experience. I was trained in the ICU and my preceptor was a wonderful woman, who took care of me like her own. However, she was the exception on that unit. I got a job there and had to deal with those not so friendly nurses. Unfortunately most places are like that, especially if the nurses are on the job for long time, somehow they entitle themselves to behave like bitches with young nurses. Just get used to, don't let that bother you, keep asking questions etc. This is THEIR problem. You can be a better nurse. I love to have students in my unit because I know how important this is. Good luck!
sylviawilliams
almost 3 years ago
2 comments
Apologize for the nurses that are less than helpful when asked a question. The nurses that are rude to nurses students should be ashame first of all and also concerned. If a student nurse does not learn from seasoned professionals this could come back to haunt them. Someday that same nursing student may be taking care of them as a patient, as for me, I would want that nurse to know how to run a test strip.