no one will return the favor and HELP OUT

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

My days in a nutshell...

I have a routine down at work. By noon, I have assessed, passed meds, and charted initial diagnoses. Then that leaves me to procede with my day on schedule with some "down time" here and there. When I have down time, I always pitch in and help others, whether it be helping the CN take off orders, place patients, etc. OR I will help my fellow nurses catch up by passing their meds, starting their IVs, etc. Well, due to the economy, we have changed our nurse:patient ratio so now we have more patients than before which leaves my routine thrown off and Im "behind" all day long. Today, one nurse ended up with only 2 patients mid-day and she would NOT help me get caught up. I had a blood transfusion going, Lovenox teaching, trach care, etc. At the end of the day, all my fellow nurses had gone home and I was still at work charting and calculating I/O's. Everyone, just something to keep in mind...if others are willing to help you, please return the favor when you have the time/opportunity and you seem they are drowning.

I just dont feel right sitting while others are behind schedule, but I just dont want to help people who wont help me when I need it. What do you think?

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I'm like you... I cannot sit on my bum and be completely caught up and see another nurse buried up to his or her eyeballs and do nothing. Even if I only have a few minutes, I will go and ask the other nurse if there's anything I can do and I'm more than willing to do it. I work with some nurses that, no matter what, will NOT help out whatsoever. I've been buried with admissions and paperwork, IVs, etc. and the other nurse will be sitting at the desk reading the newspaper. It's very frustrating! When something is said, the excuse is that they're 'on break' or they just needed a quick 'breather' because they're loaded with work too when I know that's not the case. At any rate, I'm all for working together if possible even though I know each nurse has his/her own responsibilities. Things just go smoother when you're willing to extend a hand. Everyone benefits.

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

I just dont feel right sitting while others are behind schedule, but I just dont want to help people who wont help me when I need it. What do you think?

i have the same problem at work. my co-workers kind of take advantage of me sometimes i think because they know if they get a little behind and just ask i'll do it. i think you are probably an awesome nurse and a great team player. the world needs more of you.

i wish i knew how to tell you to fix this, but unfortunately... i don't know either. i'd be interested to see what others have to say.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.

Did you ask her for help? If so, what did she say to you?

Maybe she didn't realize you were drowning.

I've seen nurses sit around while I was busy, but I will usually ask if they

don't mind starting an IV, or whatever it may be, to help me out. Generally, they always agree to help out.... if I ask.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

I asked for help, one nurse responded with..."I cant go into room 18 because the smell makes me sick, I cant go into 16 because I know him." It was one excuse after another. So later I asked her if she would help me with I/O's, again another excuse. I finally just gave up. She then went and was helping the CN take off orders and was doing them wrong. She timed my meds wrong, she missed some orders, and she would rack the chart before I had a chance to read any new orders. she actually made my shift more difficult. I hate it. She would rather play Charge Nurse and feel important, rather than do something constructive. The CN wasnt even needing help, she wasnt behind. I, on the other hand, was literally drowning. Honestly, it hurt my feelings because I always help her out. I help everyone out, but the lack of appreciation and return of the favor makes me not want to help them anymore. I cant help how it makes me feel. I know I will end up still helping them, but inside I harbor resentful feelings toward them.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.

I feel for you. This is wrong of her to make excuses. Maybe you should have a talk with your manager and suggest having a meeting about teamwork. That's what I like about my floor, we work as a team and help each other out in busy times.

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Take the problem to the charge nurse that is why they are there (to see that the entire unit gets taken care of the best way possible). I hate it when people have a problem or are behind and don't tell me so I can help. I did not take a course in mind reading, and can't see everything ( I get focused on what I'm doing sometimes) so you have to talk to me.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I've had this problem in other jobs. I became much more selective about who I helped. If they didn't help me, I didn't help them. If they didn't cover my breaks or shifts, I didn't cover theirs.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Seriously..."the smell makes me sick."? What a lazy excuse....In that case, I'd have offered a mask, and said "please? I'm really far behind."

I have nights where I'm drowning...and we all lend a hand. CN will input orders and verify...but then you still have to do that so you know what's going on.

If it's night 3, and sometimes I can be done charting by say 8 oclock..if I'm done with meds, I ask everyone if I can do anything....even the secretary....I hate sitting around, I would rather work when there's work to be done, then just be done for a while. Makes the shift so much smoother.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

This is not a new trend. It's gone on for years! I had the same thing happen in many places where I worked. This is what happens when nurses see what they do as just a job. Nursing stopped being a profession of people that they cared about a long time ago. Sad, isn't it?

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

When I offer to help others, it is with no strings attached. No expectations, no disappointment.

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Specializes in M/S, Travel Nursing, Pulmonary.

I ran into this myself. Being a male nurse, its easy to let people get you caught up in their pt's ADLs. Nurses were constantly telling me to "help lift that pt, they are too heavy for me" or "put that pt. back in bed for me, I dont have the energy and its easier for you" or "can you put my pt. on the cart to go to radiology, it takes me forever and you're faster".

Problem was, I'd spend the whole day doing this stuff and fall behind, big time. Everyone else would go home and I'd be scrambling to get documentation done. Plus, cause I was bogged down with transfers all day, sometimes I'd even miss an order or something. And dont think for a second the RN taking over for me took into account that I was the human fork lift for the unit. It was a serious problem on a lot of days.

I didnt quit helping, but I became more selective about who I helped and how often I did it. If my meds werent done and I was just simply staying caught up......not getting ahead of the game......I declined to transfer people. Their RN could figure out how to get it done. Its no good getting everyone else's pts transfered and to tests on time just so my patients get their meds late and my attention to detail slips.

Being a team member is vital to the survival of every RN. Unfortunately, not everyone see's it that way. If I'm going to be inconvenienced helping you, you'd better return the favor otherwise, I'll find somewhere else to use my time/energy. And thats the difference between being a team member and just doing things for someone isnt it? Team implies the assistance is going both ways. If I see it becoming a one way street, forget it, I'm not doing it for you.

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