[EmerNurse]

Ever have one of those days/nights where you run your sorry lil butt off, work like a one-armed paper-hanger to keep your patients taken care of, labs done, imaging done, no tech in sight, rescue after rescue that YOU get set up and stable before doc even sees 'em, etc ad nauseum and then have a doc make some moronic comment about "well, did this get done...?" in a tone that implies you've been sitting around playing solitare all night? And he's BEEN IN THE ER with you all night and knows damn well you haven't sat down in 12 hours?

Ok that's a run on sentence from hades, but geez - give me a BREAK already. Coulda smacked him silly but I just didn't have the strength. Hope I get some sleep today - one more night.

Thanks for letting me whine, guys.

[Angie O'Plasty, RN]

No problemmo, EmerNurse. We totally get it.

Hope you get some rest.

[azreddun]

Yes! yes! I so get what you are saying......grrrr. And then half the time your were running your a** off, the doc was looking up properties on the internet and eating takeout, grrr

[TrudyRN]

Hmm, I'm wondering if there's any way you could slow yourself down somewhat. Not declare a strike or the formation of a nurses' union but just slow down a little. Without jeopardizing patient safety, of course.

As for any breaks you are not taking, just stop donating them. Just STOP. Only you can make yourself stop. It's hard but doable. Just simply go to the restroom. Just simply drink your water - in the break room, not standing up in the med room or at the triage desk. Just take your bod off the floor for your allotted 30 minute lunch break and take your break. And when you get back, work at a human pace. If people have to wait a few minutes longer, they will wait. You do not have to kill yourself for anyone. Learn to preserve yourself. Pace yourself, give yourself permission to be human. Take care of you. No one else will, certainly not the doctor or your employer or the insurer or Congress.

OK. Deep breathing now. Do some yoga. Look at pretty sights, pretty pictures. God bless you as you care for His children.

[jannrn]

I can relate, because I have heard that same thing from the day shift during report....

[CHATSDALE]

there are days like this, unfortunately they come in clusters like grapes
hope next shift is better

[muffie]

Originally Posted by TrudyRN

Hmm, I'm wondering if there's any way you could slow yourself down somewhat. Not declare a strike or the formation of a nurses' union but just slow down a little. Without jeopardizing patient safety, of course.

As for any breaks you are not taking, just stop donating them. Just STOP. Only you can make yourself stop. It's hard but doable. Just simply go to the restroom. Just simply drink your water - in the break room, not standing up in the med room or at the triage desk. Just take your bod off the floor for your allotted 30 minute lunch break and take your break. And when you get back, work at a human pace. If people have to wait a few minutes longer, they will wait. You do not have to kill yourself for anyone. Learn to preserve yourself. Pace yourself, give yourself permission to be human. Take care of you. No one else will, certainly not the doctor or your employer or the insurer or Congress.

OK. Deep breathing now. Do some yoga. Look at pretty sights, pretty pictures. God bless you as you care for His children.

excellent advice

[EmerNurse]

Thanks for the cyber-support! I generally pace myself very well, get what I need done, mostly get my breaks etc. And really, our charge is great co-workers are pretty good, etc. Just last night - it all broke loose and then that stupido comment (and yes the doc was busy too, not slacking). Just was frustrating to feel like that. I was exhausted. A simple thanks for the patient he didn't have to do more than glance and order because I'd done it all - that woulda been nice.

I thank the Lord every day that these days aren't common. It's superbowl weekend coming off a full-moon. I should have known better LOL.

Again, thanks for the whine - I needed it!

[Ruby Vee]

Originally Posted by EmerNurse

Ever have one of those days/nights where you run your sorry lil butt off, work like a one-armed paper-hanger to keep your patients taken care of, labs done, imaging done, no tech in sight, rescue after rescue that YOU get set up and stable before doc even sees 'em, etc ad nauseum and then have a doc make some moronic comment about "well, did this get done...?" in a tone that implies you've been sitting around playing solitare all night? And he's BEEN IN THE ER with you all night and knows damn well you haven't sat down in 12 hours?.

I'm afraid I'd be real tempted to deal with that question by asking HIM to do it! Just the other day, a resident came up behind me while I was cleaning up the Go-Lytely results on an active GI bleed and told me he'd just ordered a bunch of meds and I needed to talk to the pharmacist about whether the dose was correct. I told him I had my hands full, and HE could talk to the pharmacist, and while he was out there, he could fax the orders to pharmacy. He did! And when the units of blood he ordered came up, he brought them into the room and checked them with me!

[RN-Cardiac]

WOW Ruby,..did you give a great big Kiss??????