New nurse wanting to know how to deal with co-workers

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi, I am a new grad working on a very high acuity step down station (we get pts who should be in ICU alot). There are some staff who come on to follow you and question every little thing that didnt get done. One tiny, minor example is today a pt had ordered LR TKO. what was hanging was NS TKO. The pharmacist dosent answer their phone, you have to look for them. When I finally did, to ask if I should get a bag of LR for TKO (yes) and when it finally came (hours later) it was shift change.

I was extremely busy all shift. The aide I had was new. I had to hunt her down in the am, basically to ask her to help me turn a pt q 2 hours. I didnt even ask her to do vitals for me at noon (or at all). I did the bed and bath on all but one pt. I basically never saw her all day. When I did see her, she was at a computer, I asked her for help with a pt to wash her up and give oral care, and she basically handed the pt a swab and left. So I had basically no help all day.

I had to figure out a way to hang multiple lines, extension tubing, and five pumps with going on one pt, who also had multiple drains. you get the picture.

so when the new RN comes on she asks me, 'And WHY is LR not running?' (I mean come on, its TKO...)

I am getting frustrated that I work hard, have not had a break in weeks, stay late to chart, am trying to be diligent, and get comments like these at the end of my shift... How do I handle this and not start to develop a bad attitude or alienate myself with wry comments or get burnt out...I want to keep positive. I want to learn and do my best, but this type of thing is very discouraging.

How can I handle this to keep my chin up as a new grad?

Nothing warms up nurses, like food.

All the running around. I say take in donuts.

Umm, I would try to talk with the aide, to see, what is overloading her.

You can not do 2 ppl's job.:welcome:

Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

Plaster a smile on your face and be honest with the oncoming shift as to why things were left undone. As far as the LR not running; explain that it just arrived, that you have NO CONTROL over when pharmacy will deliver those items you order---any nurse should know that.

Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

You'll have this problem your entire career if you continue working on a floor with more than 1 shift. When I complained to my NM she wasn't in the least concerned knowing that I would not purposely leave work undone. As long she and I were on the same page I didn't sweat it.

That's not saying you have to be a door mat. Keep your own notes about what is left undone and when confronted dish it right back. i.e. the other shift would say "Why didn't you do _______" and I'd say "the same reason you didn't get_______done", thanks for understanding, I do the very best I can. There is a reason why there are two shifts.

i think you need to start to delegate your aide more efficiently. i dont understand why you are making bed, giving bath while your aide is sitting at the computer and doing nothing. arent these duties suppose to be in her job description? you need to talk to her more firmly and ask her to assist her patients, so that you have more time to focus on your work. if it doesnt work out, then talk to your nurse manager for advice and ask her what can be done in this kind of situation.

i think you need to be firm with the nurses. if she keeps going on and on about why this and that wasnt done, just firmly tell her to stop and listen then give her reasons why this and that wasnt done. or have another nurse in your shift come and look at the med room and let witness that this med wasnt in the med room so when the next shift nurse start going off on you,she can personally tell this nurse why the med wasnt given.

Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
i think you need to be firm with the nurses. if she keeps going on and on about why this and that wasnt done, just firmly tell her to stop and listen then give her reasons why this and that wasnt done.

respectfully....you don't have to give reasons or have people check meds behind you. your word is good enough.

Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.

Hopefully, with a brief explanation of the challenges you faced during the day, another nurse would understand why you are passing things on to her. Nursing is a 24/7 job and sometimes, the shift runneth overeth. Unfortunately, not every nurse is so understanding. (But they sure do expect you to understand when THEY have run out of time.) In that case, try not to let it bother you. Work to resolve some of the issues that caused you to get behind. You really need to have a talk with your aide. Maybe you could have a talk with pharmacy about being able to get ahold of them more easily, too? Most of all, cut yourself some slack, even if the nurse who takes over doesn't. You are new. YOu are learning. Be safe. If that means you are slow for a while, then that is what it means. It has happened to all of us. Hang in there. :)

Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
I was extremely busy all shift. The aide I had was new. I had to hunt her down in the am, basically to ask her to help me turn a pt q 2 hours. I didnt even ask her to do vitals for me at noon (or at all). I did the bed and bath on all but one pt. I basically never saw her all day. When I did see her, she was at a computer, I asked her for help with a pt to wash her up and give oral care, and she basically handed the pt a swab and left. So I had basically no help all day. How can I handle this to keep my chin up as a new grad?

Those working under you have to know who is in charge. Take s/he aside and tell her that s/he has a job to do and if s/he cannot handle it then you will discuss it with the NM. If s/he doesn't shape up stay true to your word and report her/him. I've had to do it a few times and in the end they end up respecting you or getting the axe.

Specializes in ICU, M/S,Nurse Supervisor, CNS.

I agree with the others, you need to delegate more to your aide. If I need help and the aide on for the day is just sitting around, darn right I'm going to let her know, respectfully, what needs to be done. You said she is new, so maybe she doesn't realize what is expected, so you need to give her a report of the vital sign frequency, blood sugars, total care pts, incont. pts, and whatever data she will need to do her job and when you see her sitting at the computer, make sure her duties have all been completed.

In the case of the nurse, like some other responders stated, you are going to come across attitudes like this throughout your entire career, so just have a ready response. Nursing is 24/7 so what you were not able to get done needs to be passed on. You deserved to go home on time and have your scheduled breaks. I've noticed that most nurses that do this are the lazy ones who want everything done so that they won't have to do much on their own shift. I get done as much as I possibly can on my time, up until the end of my report, but I'm certainly not going to stay after to hang a bag of LR when the next nurse is totally capable of doing that.

Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

You are new, and that makes everyone nervous. Give it some time and get a chance to prove yourself and the nit picking should go away. "Why is NS hanging when LR is ordered " may actualy be "if you can't follow simple orders and get them right how can I trust you with complex patients that require a lot of judgement-I'm afraid for our patients". Once people see you have good judgement things should improve. By the way, I have been doing this a loooong time and still get quized every now and then by a cranky next shift. "It was a test to see if you were paying attention-congratulations, today you passed" is one of my favorite answers.

Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

I agree that you just need to explain that your workload was quite heavy and your aide is not being helpful. This aide sounds like she needs constant prompting to do stuff, maybe you need to let her know that her performance is unsatisfactory.

Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

My main question is Why doesn't your unit keep NS and LR as stock so you don't have to go to pharmacy? Our unit keeps these iv's in our store room...I guess all units don't do this?

There will ALWAYS be at least one nurse you will hate to give report to...every nurse takes report differently. Some are very casual, some question everything, some give YOU report and don't let you talk, some ignore you and talk to their friends...I think you get the picture. Hang in there.

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