You know whats annoying...

Boog'sCRRN246, RN · Oct 22, 2012

It's not just you. When I first started on my floor, I was blamed for anything and everything that was missed or done incorrectly. Most of it was paperwork nonsense that was "taught" to me just in passing. I think it took about six months before my fellow employees realized I really wasn't an idiot, and when shown the proper way, I could "out paperwork" the best of them.

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2012

complete crap. w/e... itll make me a better rn i guess

teeniebert, LPN · Oct 22, 2012

It's not just you. Welcome to 2nd shift.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Oct 22, 2012

Day shift complains that night shift "doesn't do anything" and leaves stuff for the overworked day staff. Evenings complains that prima donnas on dayshift waited until eve staff came in to unload the crap they never got done. Then nightshift arrives, and complains that no one does anything at all, so they're stuck with everything that's left over.

It's not because you're new. It's because you are there.

Welcome to nursing

Pneumothorax, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2012

im on 3rds &... believe me i know the crap storm that days has to deal with..worst part of my orientation..

however when patient outcomes are affected because you were too "busy"..well it becomes a problem.

i literally have never been chewed out so badly in my whole life., and it coulda been avoided if day shift got thier crap together and did what they were supposed to do before i got there..

meh.

& night shift. oh god we have a bunch to do LOL

rn/writer, RN · Oct 22, 2012

Each shift thinks they have it worse than the other (s). That's the nature of the beast.

Here are some realities:

Floor nursing is a 24/7 job. That means patient care, including the non-bedside stuff like orders, labs, etc., is ongoing. Each shift needs to keep in mind that there will times when it's necessary to pass something on to the next nurse. Patients might be off the floor for tests or treatments, charts can go missing while other disciplines use them, labs may not come back in a timely manner, etc. The list goes on.

That said, we all know that there are slackers who habitually dawdle or avoid things that need to be done. Those people need to be called on their behavior. "You know, Sue, this is the third time this week you didn't do [fill in the blank]. This is getting old. If this keeps happening, I may have to say something."

If you're on the receiving end of complaints, filter out any bad attidutes and then evaluate whether or not you deserve any of the criticism. If you do, work to make improvements, if you don't, just let the other person know you get their frustration, but you did the best you could. Let them know if you got dumped on with a lot of leftovers from the previous shift.

Don't fall on your sword and feel horrible. Don't take it personally. Don't bite back. It is what it is.

Also, take into account that newbies may get picked on because the seasoned nurses might have developed an immunity to the constant complainers (some have learned to snap back). You will, too. But it takes a little time.

Constantly work to separate who you are as a person and as a professional form what you do. Yes, your practice might need honing and shaping, but the need to improve your time management or work techniques should not have any bearing on whether you're a worthwhile human being. Hold criticism at arm's length and evaluate its worth. Take in only what is truthful, useful, and worthy of consideration. Toss the rest.

Remember this early struggle when you're a few years older in the profession, and do your best to be constructive with others.