Feeling a bit cheated

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

Maybe you smart and wise nurses can give me some insight.

Not sure how to take this...

I developed a standing order for myself (the only diabetes educator in our clinic among several RNs) to titrate patients' insulin doses based on their reported blood glucose readings. I researched the literature carefully, approached our head doc, wrote it up, and use it all the freaking time. It seems to be a great thing for our docs and patients. I knew that other CDEs do this elsewhere.

Anyway, this head doc did a hospital wide presentation about the wonderful things we as a clinic are doing for our patients with DM. I wasn't invited, I knew about the presentation, thought it was just for docs (marketed as such) but the main "clinical excellence" nurse was there, and then she asked my clinic head nurse for copies of all the stuff we use to help our patients with DM. So head nurse asked me for a copy, I got it for her, I mentioned, "can you tell her that I wrote it" you know, and then head nurse was like, wink Dr * wrote it, wink right? Because obviously an RN can't write an order.

!!!!

!!!!!

So, I feel kind of put out, I feel like Melanie Griffith's character in Working Girl (old but excellent movie) when Susan Sarandon's character steals her idea. I did some, but not all, of it on work time. So is it mine? I just don't know what to think. I keep telling myself, it's about the patients. It's about the patients. It's about the...

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

legally if you do something like this on your work time it belongs to your employer anyway. For it to be an order the medical staff or a committee would have to approve, unless you are an advanced practice nurse and it fits in your state's NPA and scope of practice. SOOOOOOO. Consider this a lesson learned. I have had this happen often and decided it really is not an issue any longer for me. I am responsible for writing most of the policies and people know that and that is good enough. I get the MD's to sign off when needed, but I do all the research. My secondary gain is from people knowing I am the go-to girl for this project.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

Yes, I just want people to know that I did it. These are people who work at other sites in our system.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Policies, procedures, standing order sets, discharge instruction sheets, new chart forms, patient education materials, etc. are developed by hospital employees every day. All of the forms and sheets of paper you have ever seen in healthcare were designed/written by somebody. It's rare that someone's name gets attached to them. Move on.

If you really want credit for the work, make sure your boss knows. Put it on your resume. Develop a poster presentation for a professional conference. Publish an article about the project. etc. That's where the "glory" is. It's rarely in normal operations.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I develop policies, order forms and standard forms every day. I have never once thought to ask for credit for anything that I create/develop while an employee.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

Yeah, ok. :)

It's the stuff I want to do more of, so I'm trying to figure out how to "get" to do more of that kind of thing.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Yeah, ok. :)

It's the stuff I want to do more of, so I'm trying to figure out how to "get" to do more of that kind of thing.

Talk to your boss. Tell him/her how much you enjoyed working on that order set and how gratifying it is for you to see it used and being helpful. Ask him/her to keep you in mind if any similar projects need to be done. Keep your eyes open. Volunteer to help others. Get involved on committees, task forces, etc. Get involved in whatever quality improvement activities are going on. Most workplaces need people to help with such activities. Good luck!

[elkpark]

Yeah, ok. :)

It's the stuff I want to do more of, so I'm trying to figure out how to "get" to do more of that kind of thing.

One sure way to not get to do more of this kind of thing is to make a fuss about not getting sufficient credit for this project ... :) I agree with what the other posters have already said.