Advice Needed on dealing with my Charge Nurse PLEASE!

[Italia13 RN]

Hey guys I need some advice. I am a new nurse who started in the ED. I am a couple weeks off orientation. We have permanent charge nurses where I work and it seems to me like every time I work they seem to slam me with patients when the other nurses have bed's available, not just mine. I feel like they have it out for me. I can have 5 rooms and everyone of them be full and some of the nurses are walking around doing nothing with their one patient while I am running around like a chicken with it's head cut off juggling 5.I am fine with handling 5 patients, but not when they are back to back rescues who need everything done to them and I am the only one getting them. I do not know how to handle this situation. I have been told by other nurses that things have been said in the past and management does nothing about it. So do I just take it as a hazing because I am a new young nurse, or stand up for myself and say something to the charge nurse about it, although I know if i say something the situation will prob get worse and I will for sure always get all the ridiculously hard patients. ANY ADVICE would be appreciated!!!!

[sassijac]

I'm a former ED nurse (20 yrs) who did charge for at least 8 of those years. I worked in a unionized state (CA ) where the CNA was able to get mandatory nurse patient ratios in place for patient safety in all areas. Highest acuity areas had a 1 :2, next was 1:4, lowest acuity 1:5 - 6 . We also had a float nurse to help out those who needed it and to give meal and BR breaks. Go To CNA website for guidelines

That said, it was still not unusual for some nurses to be slammed while others were handling whatever came their way.

Some had a better ability to organize, others a better ability to start IVs , persuade reluctant pts to allow tx, deal with the angry, frightened, disruptive pts and their families. We all had off days as well as on days.

The bottom line is patient safety. I think if you approach your manager with your opening statement " I am very concerned about pt safety when you give me 5 pts and I can't keep up. I love ED nursing snd I want to stay. How can I improve my performance? Where am I loosing ground? "

Any manager worthy of her title will be able to point out what's going on - you're too slow w/procedures, don't know where supplies and meds are, don't review orders periodically to see what needs to be done. ED nursing is so multifaceted it's like juggling while walking a tightrope and getting interrupted all the while to answer questions and calm the masses. It's not for everyone, so you have to keep that in mind. Give yourself at least 6 more months and reevaluate. Good Luck!

[patrick1rn, MSN, RN, NP]

So should I speak up and say something?? I just don't want to be "that new nurse" who everyone talks about who can't handle my own assignment and b*tches about things being unfair, especially when I am greener than grass! I jut say to myself that this is only happening because I am a new nurse and they want to make sure I can handle my own even when the sh*t hits the fan but then some days I feel like they just like seeing me run around like crazy and like making me feel and look stupid. I was on orientation for 6 months, but I still don't know EVERYTHING. I just don't know whether I should say something and risk this happening everytime I work or just take it as hazing when the charge nurse has her favorites on and wants me to bust my butt and them.... I HATE BEING NEW!

Yes you need to tell this so called charge nurse of yours that the patient distribution needs to be fair. Maybe shes trying to test you, maybe she isnt, I dont know. but fair is fair, loads should be distributed evenly when possible.

You on the other hand should learn how to prioritize ... learn that word, learn it, live it, love it..

there is no way you can learn everything, but keep your references handy and make homework for yourself when you get home to learn more about the disease processes and the trauma that comes through the door