Frustrated at work

[AprilRNhere]

I've been working at my job now for 9 months. They hired me in as a new RN..and trained me to work CCU and med/surg. I work mostly nights with the occasional evening. WHen I work the unit...I'm almost always with 1 charge nurse when I work nights. We're a small unit with only 4 beds. Because she's been a nurse for 30 years..and I'm young..she always gives me the light assignment..even when I ask for more difficult pt's.

WHen I work with anyone else (evenings, or her nights off)...They always assign equal loads..OR based on what I need experience in.

The last 2 weeks I've learned more than I have in the past 9 months..because this charge nurse was on vacation. I had difficult pt's, drips, BiPAP, and much more. When she's here i always have the pt's either ready for discharge..or ready to move out to the floor.

I'm just frustrated! I'm her backup! If we had a code elsewhere in the hospital how can I manage the unit while she's gone if she never lets me experience anything!

Our hospital is on 8 hour shifts..and tonight I picked up part of the evening so I was working a 12. I had 2 GREAT pt's. When she came on she had a student..first night back from vacation..and this student's first night with us. She tried to have me give up both my patients and take 1 pt (stable pt on suicide watch) to her. I gave up one, and said no to the other one.

Anyway..this is getting long..sorry. Now she's watching my 1 pt as closely as if she were assigned to him. He certainly survived the first 4 hours of me!

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

Seriously, if there's no challenge you need to be firm in stating that "I NEED TO BE THINKING!!!!"

[Agnus]

It sounds like she is trying really hard not to eat her young. She would like to keep you and it working hard not to over tax over burden you beyond what you might be able to handle comfortably.

TALK to her. Discuss that while she was on vacation you took some harder patients and you found it to be a welcome learning experience. Tell her you want to take a some more challenging patients and you feel ready for it. Tell her you feel frustrated that is not happening when you work together.

Remind her that she is not exactly leaving you alone she will still there as a resource. If this is not acceptable see if she might be willing to teach you with her more complex pts to start out.

If you get no where then time to go to your manager and explain how you discussed this with the charge nurse and ask if something can be done or if not then ask if you can be scheduled with a different nurse.