Things you'd LOVE to tell coworkers...and get away with it!

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Jul 21, 2014

I think the exception to this would be in the south, or people from the south. I work with a couple of people that use those terms and usually it's just part of the way they talk and doesn't sound condescending or demeaning. There is a certain tone with which some people say it that does sound demeaning though, but for the most part a lot of southerners use those terms innocently.

Agreed. I'm in the South. Everybody uses it and nobody bats an eyelash.

Now, for what to say to my coworkers?

They are called Big Girl Panties. Put them on.

FineAgain · Jul 21, 2014

Scrubs DO come in different sizes...please buy some that FIT!!! No one wants to see your camel toe or butt crack. And the ones that you have on just look darned uncomfortable. Thanks!

ClearBlueOctoberSky · Jul 22, 2014

See this. I'm really not smiling, I'm baring my teeth.

Karou · Jul 23, 2014

With all of the resources you have on day shift, you were "too busy" to

Finish your admission

Give xyz medication that was due at 18:00

Re-site an old/infiltrated IV

Call the physician about this or that

Draw a patients vanc trough that was due at 17:00 (or any lab work)

Change that central line dressing

Do wound care

Hang blood

Collect a urine/stool/sputum culture

Ect...

REALLY? You have almost twice the staff of night shift. I have an admission of my own coming and five other patients to assess and medicate before they try to sleep. And you wonder why patients complain that they don't sleep at night? Because I am keeping them awake doing your job and mine.

Ask the charge nurse, team leader, or another nurse to help you if you are THAT busy. Once in a while, these things are okay, but this is consistent. You leave it for me because I grit my teeth, smile, and fix it.

I really am going to stop being so passive. This is out of control.

Aurora77 · Jul 23, 2014

Karou, I can so relate. It doesn't happen too often anymore, but I got so sick of the "we were so busy, we couldn't do....." Every now and then, yes, that's how it goes. But weekly? You have more staff and more resources at your disposal. Get your job done.

If I can give some unsolicited advice, start calling them on this, especially if it's the same person over and over. It doesn't have to be mean, just simply ask "are you going to give that 1700 Coumadin?"

FineAgain · Jul 23, 2014

I don't mind picking up your slack when you have a busy day -- and I know you do! But when it 0715 and I want to give report but I can't because I am still working, am so tired my eyes are red and I can barely walk...please don't "remind" me that there is a Synthroid to be given before I go home. I just haven't gotten there yet...and you could offer to give it as I so frequently offer to give your med. Thanks.

BabyGirl1979 · Jul 29, 2014

I LOVE this thread. I'm just a med tech in an ALF and a pre-nursing student right now, but I have 15 years experience as a PCT so I hope I can play too.

STOP yelling at people from across the memory care unit when they try to open the doors and they alarm. It makes me nuts!! You are going to have to walk over there to reset the alarm anyway, how about actually redirecting the resident?

Every time you use the word HIPAA in a sentence all I see is that meme that goes "I don't think that word means what you think it means." HIPAA has nothing to do with co-workers arguing amongst themselves or gossip. That is called being a dang professional!

Thanks a lot for not sending out that lady that was crying out in pain last night and sweating so bad that she soaked the bed just because you were afraid of getting in trouble for waking up the nurse manager. I sent her out 10 minutes after I got on the floor. She was admitted to ICU with sepsis and they just withdrew all care except comfort measures.

To an aide:

Don't ask if I can watch the floor while you smoke when it's 5 minutes before the shift ends. You know I have to count with the oncoming med tech. The answer will always be no.

My sexual orientation is no one's business. Yes, you found out that I'm a lesbian because you snooped. I'm glad that you see yourself as not homophobic but stop asking me questions and if I think so and so is cute. I have a partner that I love more than breathing. Act mature and realize I am here to work, you do the same. And why would I feel the need to tell everyone here that I'm gay?? No one comes in and announces to everyone that they are straight!

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 23, 2014

For the love of all that is good in the world, this is a locker room with only two bathroom stalls for about 75 women. Why on earth are you insisting on changing your clothes in one of the two stalls during the lunch relief hours when there is a fricking line for the bathrooms? Have a little respect for your coworkers and change in the locker area just like everyone else does. If you need that much privacy, then maybe a job requiring a change of clothes isn't for you or you need to find another bathroom where you won't hold up the rest of the unit's staff.

sideshowstarlet, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2016

Dear Embittered Former Coworker,

I'm sorry to hear you were "unjustly" fired after your ten billionth medication error after three years of loyal service as an LVN. However, a quick look at the State Board of Nursing website shows that your nursing license was issued in January 2014. Maybe instead of making false abuse allegations to state (After you were fired, natch, because God forbid you advocate for a resident while "working" at our facility, and found to be unsubstantiated, of course... I would never abuse a resident) against me because I got hired for the full time job you wanted, you can maybe get that "practicing nursing without a license" confusion straightened out.

Whenever you'd like to stop Skyping that shirtless dude who helped you make the kid you would allow to run about the facility unsupervised. Or just whenever you have a spare moment and you find yourself not on Facebook.

BYYYYYYYYE, Felicia

Mikey31079 · Mar 24, 2016

I am SO glad to see this thread bumped back up! From spending the entire previous 6 week schedule in the telemetry room aka broom closet:

Yes I know it's annoying to hear us page overhead to put leads on patients, but maybe if you would go in and fix it the first time you wouldn't have to hear it and we wouldn't have to hear your pissy attitude when we call and remind you.

THIS one I DID say: Pt. shows asystole/leads off on the monitor. We could tell it wasn't a real asystole but we still have to call the desk. When we called, no one answered, so in that instance, we have to call an RRT to be on the safe side. Of course, someone calls back with an attitude talking about, "that patient is getting cleaned up, god!!" I immediately said "well, it comes down to answer the phone when we call instead of looking at the caller ID, seeing the word "telemetry" and staring at the damn phone without picking it up!!"

SarahJ08 · Mar 24, 2016

You're actually the one who's making your job harder, not your patients.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Mar 24, 2016

You have been here longer than me and are slowly being considered a senior nurse and cannot handle your assignment not want to change enough to improve your practice-THAT is scary and frustrating to me. :eek: