[abbaking]

The past few weeks at work more and more demands are being placed on me...I don't mind hard work...but only this time I am not charting "on time", all my patients are not getting weighd on time either and I am being belittled and insulted nearly everytime I work. I seems to me that Its NEVER about the things I have done right, but only my shortcomings and "late charting". The morale on my unit is at an all time low, myself and other nurses are exhaused with the high volume/acuity needs of the paients and STILL we ge NO recognition for our hard work.

I am begining have thoughts of leaving nursing all together....It seems just when you think I cant get worse - IT ALWAYS DOES!!!

And...Its all my fault. I wish I could part the Red Sea, feed 1000 with only 1 fish - BUT I CANT!!!

Help me

[flygirl43]

I know the feeling...I'm off on stress leave for the same. I suggest you rethink your career, as I am doing, and find a more user friendly field. They will eventually get it, when all their nurses leave. Your physical and mental health is more important than your job. Without it...you can't give what you need to!

[Dorito]

Maybe you should consider a different unit or environment. There are lots of different types of nursing jobs out there and certainly some are in more stressful environments than others. Also, it varies a lot depending on co-workers.....maybe you just aren't working with the right team.

[snowfreeze]

Its time to write a letter to the unit manager. Outline your concerns, use examples of patients who declined and 'should not have' if proper staffing had been utilized. Make suggestions on how this can be corrected. Make a copy and don't send to the director of nursing this first time. Ask for a meeting and list two nurses who will present this issue, don't deter from that. If you dont have something in writing and some changes in 2 or 3 weeks (make your deadline known in the meeting) then the DON will be notified and the medical director will be given meeting minutes and copies of the request for meeting.
Sometimes fixing things is a bit of work but worth it in the long run. If your job is close to home and you dont want to travel far or you have the unit or shift you really want for your career/resume etc then take some time to fix the problem.

[GrumpyRN63]

Don't forget, according to the powers that be, it's really your 'time management skills' it has nothing to do with acuity and staffing

[TheCommuter]

Unfortunately, people tend to focus on the negative.

You can do 1,000 correct things in a single day, but the one mishap is what people will pay attention to. I sometimes think that others actually get thrills out of looking for something that was done wrongly, especially in nursing.

[SoundofMusic]

Our unit is like this. You sound like many of the nurses on our floor. Many are just getting plumb worn out by the negativity of management. I've heard management talking and saying good things about certain nurses during shift change, but somehow it never seems to make it back to that specific nurse? I mean, how kooky can management BE not to directly compliment the nurse for a job well done?

How many managers have ever taken a class on motivation and/or teaching. You absolutely cannot teach without positive reinforcement of some kind once in a while.

And quit with the pizza parties, the donuts, the FOOD rewards -- how about a pat on the back, a smile, a genuine compliment or thanks. All we seem to get are group food rewards -- like we're a bunch of trained seals or something.

[MzMouse]

Originally Posted by SoundofMusic

Our unit is like this. You sound like many of the nurses on our floor. Many are just getting plumb worn out by the negativity of management. I've heard management talking and saying good things about certain nurses during shift change, but somehow it never seems to make it back to that specific nurse? I mean, how kooky can management BE not to directly compliment the nurse for a job well done?

How many managers have ever taken a class on motivation and/or teaching. You absolutely cannot teach without positive reinforcement of some kind once in a while.

And quit with the pizza parties, the donuts, the FOOD rewards -- how about a pat on the back, a smile, a genuine compliment or thanks. All we seem to get are group food rewards -- like we're a bunch of trained seals or something.

I completely agree. My manager buys us donuts to "thank us for all we do," then turns around and nitpicks us about trivial items as we bust our behinds. Skip the bribes and try honest, sincere appreciation for what we manage to accomplish.

It's a sad state that we all tend to hear the bad far more than we hear the good. We can have twenty patients be thrilled with our care, but we only hear about the one that complained.

[TheCommuter]

Originally Posted by SoundofMusic

And quit with the pizza parties, the donuts, the FOOD rewards -- how about a pat on the back, a smile, a genuine compliment or thanks.

How about a pay raise (a reward that's more tangible)?

[showbizrn]

First, I commend you and your co-workers for your hard and loyal service to patient care.

Second.
Give it to
the complainers
STRAIGHT-UP:

"Kiss my grit
where the sun
ain't lit."

You're doing your best
don't have time to rest
You need cheerleaders
not some useless browbeaters.

My final word:
You're TOO GOOD of a nurse to let some pathetic, miserable souls drive you out of nursing.

YOU MIGHT CONSIDER WORKING SOMEWHERE ELSE.

Between you and me(and our forum colleagues), I don't last in toxic work environments. I give 'em the THE RED SLIP,

SORRY, THIS ISN'T WORKING. DON'T EXPECT ME BACK TOMORROW

You deserve better!!!
GO FOR YOUR BETTER JOB!!!