[WindyHill]

Okay, this is the second interview that I have had and in both hospitals the nurse manager has told me, "You have to have thick skin to work here, we get kind of snappy." Does that translate into we're going to bite your head off here watch out? Is telemetry super stressful? Why so snappy?

[NancyNurse08]

I couldn't tell you, sorry. I think rather than this being a "telemetry" thing, maybe it's more of a unit specific atmosphere. I work in tele and yes, it's stressful, but our unit is actively promoting a positive working environment where we compliment each other instead of criticize.

[Dinith88]

Originally Posted by WindyHill

Okay, this is the second interview that I have had and in both hospitals the nurse manager has told me, "You have to have thick skin to work here, we get kind of snappy." Does that translate into we're going to bite your head off here watch out? Is telemetry super stressful? Why so snappy?

No. That translates into "...we're a bunch of beeeeches here...with complexes and we're likely to be arse-faces to you...or anyone else...so if you're smart you wont subject yourself to our stupid way of handling things..."

[Spatialized]

No. That translates into "...we're a bunch of beeeeches here...with complexes and we're likely to be arse-faces to you...or anyone else...so if you're smart you won't subject yourself to our stupid way of handling things..."

Actually no. It's the combination of docs (cardiologists and heart surgeons are not always the most pleasant people to work with), the patient population we serve and the high acuity of the patients we take care of. It's not a matter of we're going to tear people apart, in fact, our unit is really welcoming and supportive, but more of a warning that it isn't for people who can't take a hit. The folks who internalize everything, every little criticism, every negative doc, patient or family member will get torn apart and burnout quick. I think having thick skin is an important asset for a nurse on any floor, not just necessarily just a tele floor.

Do we have attitude at times? Yep. Don't we all? Everyone gets stressed and snaps...we all can't be the Dali Lama and having a thick skin makes it so you realize it's not personal, you just happened to be the first person we came across.

Maybe I'm just a jerk. I don't have thick skin, it's more like Teflon...

Cheers,
Tom

[Dinith88]

Originally Posted by Spatialized

Actually no. It's the combination of docs (cardiologists and heart surgeons are not always the most pleasant people to work with), the patient population we serve and the high acuity of the patients we take care of. It's not a matter of we're going to tear people apart, in fact, our unit is really welcoming and supportive, but more of a warning that it isn't for people who can't take a hit. The folks who internalize everything, every little criticism, every negative doc, patient or family member will get torn apart and burnout quick. I think having thick skin is an important asset for a nurse on any floor, not just necessarily just a tele floor.

Do we have attitude at times? Yep. Don't we all? Everyone gets stressed and snaps...we all can't be the Dali Lama and having a thick skin makes it so you realize it's not personal, you just happened to be the first person we came across.

Maybe I'm just a jerk. I don't have thick skin, it's more like Teflon...

Cheers,
Tom

Ach! Teflon Tom, i wasnt speaking of tele in general...only the dumb statement made by an interviewer about her own unit. Should have been handled/worded better by her...in my opinion. An effective supervisor wouldn't revel in the fact that her staff are occaisonally spastic and/or perceived as mean by outsiders. Instead, a GOOD supervisor would work to squash this reputation and ongoing attitude issue....NOT tell potential newcomers to strap on their teflon helmets/body-armor. Just my opinion though..

Teflon Dinith88

[NewEnglandRN]

I am starting a Telemetry position tomorrow morning (I am so nervous!). When I went to Employee Health last week, two different people said "Oh, you're brave" when they found out the floor I will be working on.

[suzy253]

Originally Posted by NewEnglandRN

I am starting a Telemetry position tomorrow morning (I am so nervous!). When I went to Employee Health last week, two different people said "Oh, you're brave" when they found out the floor I will be working on.

And you'll thrive...just like I have fresh out of school as a new grad 2 yrs ago in telemetry(known as the trainwreck floor of my hospital).

[ghillbert]

I can't believe they think that's a good recruiting strategy to say at interview that they are snappy! I would ask "well, if you know that, why do they still do it?". That just sets you up for problems later.. if you have conflict issues, who do you go to? The NM already told you that they are snappy.... ugh.

Being busy, or having demanding docs, or sick patients is NOT an excuse to be ****** or snappy. I worked in CTICU in a large teaching hospital for 10 years and that's about as stressful as you can get... but the staff were great and supportive.

Bottom line, I would NOT take that job unless I was desperate!