[nanacarol]

Hello, Stardogdaisy, Ruby Vee, Psychnurse 1998, all of you have great observations about what it is like being on the receiving end of negative nurse to nurse interactions. One of you asked why stay (paraphrasing), Nursing is more than being encouraged by peers and doctors, nursing is more than the pay and minimal stress, nursing is more than a pay check and benefits and finally nursing is NOT for everyone, even many of those who stay. Nursing is and will always be a calling, we have managed in this politically correct environment to relegate it to a job with entitlement to pats on the back, being acknowledged by peers and physicians and managers and the organization at large. I have mentioned this on other posts, you must be able to encourage yourself and extrapolate fuel for tomorrow from the minor experiences and interactions you encounter during the shift. You need to have a space that is not nursing, this will prevent the anger build up and frustration that easily is defined by the term of burn out. Those testy, non helpful nurses you encounter in the workplace are not the called they are the hired. The nurse turned lawyer is worthy of our applause, she has made a life altering decision, she has found her passion. She is showing maturity, to stay at a job because it pays the bills cries for reconsideration of how one sees and values oneself. Yes, we do teach others how to treat us. Each of us has the power to redirect rude, disrespectful behavior regardless if it comes from a peer or a manager or a physician and it can be down so there is no opportunity for retribution. nanacarolynn

[BuffyJan]

I am a nursing student and have had the opportunity to work with MANY nurses during my clinicals. So far I can honestly say they have been nothing but good to all of us. I have yet to have a bad experience (fingers crossed and knocking on wood) with ill treatment.
I know this is a bit different than actually being a new grad , but then again, it's not... In our area, as well as many others, there is such a shortage of nurses that the patient: nurse ratio is rediculous. They are just glad to have the extra hands, eyes, and ears to help out and relieve the burden of worry when strectched so thin. I was amazed at the amount of experience (work) we were allowed to do.
I know that I have probably deviated from the original topic. I just wanted to share .Sorry, I'm young...please don't eat me!

[Katie91]

Nanacarol ~ you hit it right on the nose ~ nursing is not for everyone and it is truly a calling. Many of us have had experiences with chronically ill family members, or ones who pass on way too early.

The last few posts have been filled with love and understanding for our fellow nurses. I thank you all for your kind posts to me. NurseHappenin', a reply epistle is in the works Great big hugs to you!!

In the meantime....

Love to all of you

[BuffyJan]

Katie91,
you sound like me. No patience for slackers either, these slackers in school turn out to be slackers in the workplace = slackers taking care of our loved ones, friends, and neighbors and giving the hard working nurses / nursing students a bad name.
There are certain students in my rotation that I don't like to work with for this very reason. I love people, but I try to steer clear of these types. Negativity and laziness can be contagious if you let it. There is no room on a floor for this type of behavior.
My thinking is this.. If I am gonna be responsible for other people's well being, I want to know all I can to better take care of them. Yes, it may mean less sleep and less free time, but I will be a better nurse in the end.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by BuffyJan

I am a nursing student and have had the opportunity to work with MANY nurses during my clinicals. So far I can honestly say they have been nothing but good to all of us. I have yet to have a bad experience (fingers crossed and knocking on wood) with ill treatment.
I know this is a bit different than actually being a new grad , but then again, it's not... In our area, as well as many others, there is such a shortage of nurses that the patient: nurse ratio is rediculous. They are just glad to have the extra hands, eyes, and ears to help out and relieve the burden of worry when strectched so thin. I was amazed at the amount of experience (work) we were allowed to do.
I know that I have probably deviated from the original topic. I just wanted to share .Sorry, I'm young...please don't eat me!

Promise me this please. When that nurse does come along to eat you, you remember that most of the nurses you've been in contact with have been either neutral or decent and you don't come back to this thread...."yes, nurses eat their young because I was just eaten........". Take it for it is. If you're an nurse, you're going to come across crabby nurses, but they aren't representative of us all.

[BuffyJan]

Originally Posted by Tweety

Promise me this please. When that nurse does come along to eat you, you remember that most of the nurses you've been in contact with have been either neutral or decent and you don't come back to this thread...."yes, nurses eat their young because I was just eaten........". Take it for it is. If you're an nurse, you're going to come across crabby nurses, but they aren't representative of us all.

I hope I didn't sound too naive in my last post, but this is a topic that is talked about and joked about often with us students. I am sure the day will come when it will happen . I am also sure that I will just take in stride and go on. Knowing that it isn't personal against me, it is just personal to my inexperience. (I hope..) I am not easily roused or offended, so maybe I won't even realize it if/ when it happens.

By the way, everyone of you "regulars" on this chat site has been a God-send to me. I may not have been posting since I joined in 2006, but i have definately been reading. I have come across soem very good advice and some really funny and sad stories. I especially found the thread about what NOT to do once you get to clinicals EXTREMELY helpful. So a great big hug and thank you to all of you!!!!!!!

[misserella8036]

Originally Posted by BuffyJan

I hope I didn't sound too naive in my last post, but this is a topic that is talked about and joked about often with us students. I am sure the day will come when it will happen . I am also sure that I will just take in stride and go on. Knowing that it isn't personal against me, it is just personal to my inexperience. (I hope..) I am not easily roused or offended, so maybe I won't even realize it if/ when it happens.

By the way, everyone of you "regulars" on this chat site has been a God-send to me. I may not have been posting since I joined in 2006, but i have definately been reading. I have come across soem very good advice and some really funny and sad stories. I especially found the thread about what NOT to do once you get to clinicals EXTREMELY helpful. So a great big hug and thank you to all of you!!!!!!!

I second that. I am starting nursing school and I am scared to death. It helps so much to be able to talk to nurses on the site. Everyone on this site has been so nice to me.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by BuffyJan

I hope I didn't sound too naive in my last post, but this is a topic that is talked about and joked about often with us students. I am sure the day will come when it will happen . I am also sure that I will just take in stride and go on. Knowing that it isn't personal against me, it is just personal to my inexperience. (I hope..) I am not easily roused or offended, so maybe I won't even realize it if/ when it happens.

Oh it's going to happen. One day you'll come across "that nurse" or maybe even an entire unit of them. Hopefully knowing this you'll have the skills to cope and won't scream "nurses are so catty with their constant bickering and backstabbing", but realize there are those nurses, but the rest of us are decent people, trying to make a living in a tough and demanding field and it's not fair to judge us based on those bad nurses.

Good luck to you.

[Nurse_Newbie]

It's definitely not true that all nurses eat their young. Being a new nurse on a ICU step-down unit, GOD only knows what I would have done without the support from the other nurses. I could have a disagreement with a nurse and ask her to assist me with a patient in the same breath and it's done!!!

Nurses are under a lot of stress and sometimes you may say the right thing in the wrong way and unintentionally hurt someone's feelings. Also, I've learned that some people just cannot handle constructive criticism and take it as being put-down. And if another nurse is just being "plain ole nasty," then too bad for them because that's their problem & don't make it yours. We are in a profession that does require thick skin.

If nothing else gets you through the shift, then remember..............you work with these people, you don't sleep with them. Better to respect you then like you.

[Katie91]

BuffyJan ~ yes, some degree of sacrifice is necessary to become successful, but not to the point you become embittered toward your co-workers and God forbid, your patients.

We must choose our battles wisely and know when to simply walk away from a negative situation. It took me way too long to use this tool during a recent incident in my career. I allowed myself to be intimidated by my former departmental director. Shame on me for staying as long as I did in that toxic environment, but I've never been a "job hopper" and took pride in my loyalty and longevity with my employers. Now, I'll hop around on a pogo stick if I have to; no job is worth compromising my health and sanity!!

And Misserella, please don't be scared. Your fear will show in everything you do. Walk with your head held high and remember why you are in nsg school ~ to be a public servant of those who need your care and compassion!
And hugs back to you, my dear