[adrienurse]

I used to work with a nurse with OCD, this involved her being exactly 5 minutes late for every shift, having to spend exactly 45 minutes in the bathroom at 1000 hrs, having to continuously apply hairspray until there was a sticky film over everything we touched, and having to spend 20 minutes at the and of every shift in the med room smoothing her skirt. That is OCD.

Being vigilant about procedures, routines, cleaniliness at work is a sign of caution and responsibility. Holistic nursing is very important, but I'd say in the ICU the necessary details to preserving life need to take priority.

[nurse-lou]

ICU nurses are intense because the acuity of the patient population requires it to be this way. You sometimes have to make split second decisions in the ICU. Sometimes theres no time for socialization. And yeah after a rough day, it's important to go home and research the new diseases, treatments, medications that you are learning about. It's part of the job of being a new nurse. Just because you aren't in nursing school anymore, doesn't mean that you are done learning and studying new things.

What bugs me are the messy nurses. There are two of them in my unit. Their patient rooms are a mess. Open syringe wrappers all over the room, trash cans overflowing, linen strewn about the pt's room. I may be messy at home but am a neatnick at work! I wonder how these two nurses are in their own homes? Does their mother come in and clean-up after them?

Good luck in your career!

[emmycRN]

I can see both sides of this. I definately understand why ICU nurses have to be extremely vigilant and may be seen as OCD when actually it is just that the bar for knowledge and skill level has to be a lot higher in the ICU. But I also see ICU nurses who are eaters of their own young and it seems that some do not want to see new nurses succeed.
I am so glad to read the posts about the next shift picking apart your work and making you feel like you didn't do everything humanly possible when you come back the next day. I am having issues with a nurse who does that to me each time she follows me. Glad to see I'm not alone here. I think that when this occurs it usually has more to do with intimidation than actual problems with pt care.

[slou!]

Originally Posted by adrienurse

I used to work with a nurse with OCD, this involved her being exactly 5 minutes late for every shift, having to spend exactly 45 minutes in the bathroom at 1000 hrs, having to continuously apply hairspray until there was a sticky film over everything we touched, and having to spend 20 minutes at the and of every shift in the med room smoothing her skirt. That is OCD.

Exactly. OCD isn't just being clean and not wanting to touch germs. It's about doing things until they feel "just right", even if you have to repeat it 60 times to get it just right.. If you have OCD it doesn't just mean that you are really neat and freak out about messes, while that may be a symptom of OCD, it's not JUST that. Part of a nurses job is to be neat, am I right? I'm not a nurse (pre-nursing student) but I always assumed all nurses were clean (Should I say all good nurses? Because I'm sure there are some nurses out there who don't clean up after themselves..) I guess being in ICU you have to really really be on your toes about it..

[nursern20]

Originally Posted by slou!

I know you didn't mean to offend anyone, but I just wanted to say that there is definitely a difference from OCD and being clean, or anal. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is not just being really clean and a germaphobic. Being clean and having things done a certain way is a part of a nurses' job. OCD is not something that you just have "sometimes" or are a little, it is something that takes over your whole life and way of doing things. I suffer from OCD, and have as long as I can remember. Too many people over use the term OCD. It's not just being clean, it's about doing things until they are "just right". It's hard to explain it but you need to redo things until you feel like they are just right, even if you have to do them over and over again. I'm not saying some nurses don't have OCD (I'm sure many actually have it, it's the 4th most common neuropsychiatric illness in the US. I'm also not saying people on this website don't have it, because I'm sure many do!)

Your tone also states that having OCD is a bad thing. It is not at all. When I was first diagnosed with OCD I really resented myself. I can see why, too. People act like it is something people can control and just stop doing, when in reality, you can't. It's a disorder you can not help so please don't act like having OCD is a bad thing. Would you say the same thing about nurses suffering depression? I can't imagine someone saying "All ICU nurses suffer depression and it really bothers me! They are all so mean!" I'm not saying it's okay for nurses to have OCD when it puts their patients at harm and it is interfering with their work, either. I'm just saying I don't like how there is a negative tone associated with this disorder.

Once again I know you probably didn't mean to offend anyone by posting this, and I am really sorry you are going through a tough time in ICU. I am not a nurse yet so I don't have any advice on handling these nurses, but I just wanted to show you OCD from a different perspective.

You're right, i really didnt mean to offend anyone. Just venting my frustrations so i apologize if i used the term ocd in the wrong way. Another thing, i should clarify is that not "all" icu nurses have this behavior. Im just experiencing this on my unit. Also, thank you for sharing your story

[nursern20]

Originally Posted by adrienurse

Holistic nursing is very important, but I'd say in the ICU the necessary details to preserving life need to take priority.

thank you!! this was an issue i was a little confused about, but you just made it a little clearer for me, im understanding more now.

[nursern20]

First, thanks to everyone for their input whatever it may be, i appreciate it. I just wanted to say that i dont want it to seem like i go into work seeking to socialize and make new friends. Honestly i really am too busy for that. But what i have been hoping to see from my co-workers is KINDNESS! Does it really hurt to be nice to the person you work with? especially the newbie!!! I'm not looking for hour long conversations, a date to the movies after work, or even unit parties, im not the least bit concerned about that. But when i have a question about a procedure, medication calculation, etc... so god forbid i dont kill the pt. it would be nice if i dont get looked down upon for asking these questions or then go talk about me behind my back. Thats what i mean about being nice and stuff. You dont have to be my friend, but common courtesy would be nice since we really are working as a TEAM!

[gracie05]

Right on!!! I agree with you nursern20! I am a new grad (5 months out) in ICU and there are a few people who breathe fire if you ask them questions! I have moved to nights and have found the unit to be a totally different place. The people on nights are more open to new grads and willing to teach, which was refreshing. Hang in there, I hope things get better for you.

[Hoozdo]

Originally Posted by nurse-lou

What bugs me are the messy nurses. There are two of them in my unit. Their patient rooms are a mess. Open syringe wrappers all over the room, trash cans overflowing, linen strewn about the pt's room. I may be messy at home but am a neatnick at work! I wonder how these two nurses are in their own homes? Does their mother come in and clean-up after them?

Good luck in your career!

Me too We have one I hate to work with because the med room looks like the worst kitchen disaster you ever saw. Sodium bicarb leaked all over the counter and left to dry up, bits of smashed pills all over the counter, lactulose or any syrupy substance all over the place, syringe wrappers all over the counter. Hey, am I your maid?

I also find very interesting things in the patient's beds frequently. Hey, any one loose their scissors in here? Missing your ink pen? Try looking underneath the patient.......amazing what is in there.

Cleaning up clutter is the first thing I do after patient assessments. I am ambidextrous in picking things up. I have been known to throw away the repiratory therapist's tape while he is retaping if I am in cleaning/throw away mode, LOL.

[slou!]

Originally Posted by nursern20

You're right, i really didnt mean to offend anyone. Just venting my frustrations so i apologize if i used the term ocd in the wrong way. Another thing, i should clarify is that not "all" icu nurses have this behavior. Im just experiencing this on my unit. Also, thank you for sharing your story

I figured as much That wasn't really directed torwards you just in general. Sorry you are going through such a stressful time, this place is a great place to vent!