New Grad RN with 7 years LPn experience...question

[MMAnurse]

Ey there folks...i have a question for seasoned dialysis nurses...i have 7 years experience as an LpN--4 of them in Med-Surge...i obtained my temp RN in Alaska last december nearly a tear ago( understand in Alaska, a temporary RN has NO restrictions...you are not a GN, but an RN)

I took and passed RN boards in April of this year. I have been employed as a Dialysis RN for a very large dialysis company since then...

Im being told that i cant be left alone (need to have another RN in the building) until i have a full year of RN experience from the time i was given my permanent RN license, not December when the state of AK allowed me to practice with a temp license...ive talked to several friends in other states, and they tell me that it sounds like a power play for the people that have been there longer to stay charge nurse....its hard to get the respect of the techs when they keep circumventing me on the floor, and running to whoever os "charge" that day...i pass meds, put in orders, can run shift etc

Have any if you encountered this in your facility?? And have you seen an RN with under a year experience be left alone as the only RN in the building?? I have looked at the CMS regs and cannot find anything in stone. Serious answers and advice only:). Thanks

[schnookimz]

This is true at my dialysis company as well. Not sure if it's a federal regulation or a company policy.

Why would you want to be alone anyway? The more hands the better IMO.

[MMAnurse]

Its not a matter of wanting to be alone. You would have to understand the dynamics and clinic culture here to understand what i mean:/. You are correct though, the more hands the better i agree. Its a role confusion issue at my clinic. Thanks for the heads up:)

[601Qb]

Dialysis nurse and black belt here. I started my nursing career in dialysis and I'm still here three years and three promotions later. I love this job.

If I'm correct in assuming MMA means we have more than our occupation in common, then I'm gonna tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.

One year thing is legit and federally mandated by Medicare requirements, but the truth is that needing another nurse in the building has nothing to do with how you are being disrespected at your clinic.

Speaking from experience; there are first year nurses more respected and trusted than 10 year nurses. Also, "charge nurse" or whatever other title you have or don't have doesn't matter either.

Do yourself a favor and treat work like you do every other aspect of your life; with honesty, integrity, hard work, confidence, and a thirst for learning and pushing yourself. I promise you that you will eventually earn the trust and respect of your coworkers- more than likely before you can even be "alone" in April.

Here are some black and white suggestions:

1. Be a (compassionate) hardass.

2. Be confident. If you tell a tech to do something and they want to go above you to the other nurse- and you KNOW you are right- then assert yourself with confidence. You are the nurse- the technician is working under your license- you just better be right. That being said...

3. Clean chairs. I don't care how busy you are. Clean chairs. The more times and the more often you roll up your sleeves and help out with the grunt work- the faster you will earn respect and trust.

4. Have a drink with your coworkers or ask them about their kids- decide which is appropriate for which coworkers.

5. Learn from EVERYONE with genuine interest as much as possible: treat whoever you are learning from as you would treat one of the Gracie brothers giving you a bit of advice.

6. Come early and help setup machines.

7. Stay late and help clean up.

8. Educate. Techs listen (ease drop) when you talk to your patients... The easiest way to start showing techs your knowledge and gaining their trust is to do your JOB (many nurses don't) and teach your patients... Everything you can! Before you know it the techs will start realizing how much you really know... And they will start asking you questions!! and BAM! You've earned their respect.

You can do this job and if you can apply what you have learned from martial arts to this job like I have... Then you can LOVE this job and you can be a rock star at this job. It won't be easy... but neither is learning an accurate jump spin hook kick...

[MMAnurse]

Well noted. I clean chairs and take patients off. Apparently well before i got their it was a "free for all" and lacked sound and consistent management. We are about to have yet another shift and another clinic manager, although this one comes from within...thank you for the reminder on things I already knew and practice, but needed a reminder on.