Are nurses unwilling to help each other out?

Surprised1, MSN, RN · Jul 19, 2015

Sounds like your unit has a culture of every man for himself. My unit is the opposite. We automatically help each other with heavy total cares, etc. I do realize that my unit's culture is not the norm, but hopefully neither is yours.

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VANurse2010 · Jul 19, 2015

I'm a nursing student and currently working my 1st CNA job!
At my job we are all assigned patients to care for each evening. One of my patients is a "2 person assist". It says this in all capital letters on their chart, on the door, and the walls of their room! Another is a hoyer lift, which requires 2 people at all times. I was told if I do a hoyer on my own and something goes wrong I will automatically loose my license!
I will call for help and no one is willing to help out. I will even approach some of my coworkers and ask them individually for assistance. They say "Thats not my patient." Meanwhile my patient is laying in their own filth or waiting to get up. Yet they are sitting on their phones and talking. Its not like they are busy. I am always friendly and help them every time they ask.
Is this something I have to look forward to after I graduate?
I don't want to break my back trying to lift or move someone who's a 2 person assist. Its a huge struggle everyday and I would like to bring it up to management or something...but I'm not sure if this is the norm and I need to just tough it out.

First of all, you will not "loose" your license, you may lose it, but that's doubtful based on the situation you describe - reprimanded sure. It's not really appropriate for your employer to be talking about losing licenses anyway, as they do not make that decision and do not sit on the board of nursing.

You need to talk to the nurse for the patient to get adequate assistance, either form her or someone she delegates. It's ultimately her responsibility that the patient is assessed, cleaned, and turned, not yours. If she refuses to help or delegate a helper, you have to go above her head to the unit manager or director.

chicookie, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2015

It should not be the norm but it does happen. There are some units I have floated to where no one helps each other out. I always look out for my tech and help out as much as I can because I have had techs that have saved my behind. It always annoys me when nurses A) monopolize our techs time with things the RN can do or B) don't bother to help other team members.

My advice is to get out if it's an unsafe environment. Also remember what annoys you and when you become an RN, don't do those things.

Farawyn · Jul 19, 2015

Also remember what annoys you and when you become an RN, don't do those things.

"Words of wisdom, Lloyd. Words. Of Wisdom."

Jack Torrence, The Shining

NOADLS · Jul 20, 2015

Get the floor nurse involved. If they are not of any help, or unable to get the lazy CNA's off of their phones, go to the charge nurse or get management involved. I would not tolerate this and if your charge nurse on duty uses their authority, it should be enough to resolve things. When I work the second shift, I ensure that communication for 2 person assignments are clear at the start of shift and I recommend that those patients or residents are done prior to starting any individual assignments.

On that note, during your start of shift report would be the best time to bring it up. The charge nurse, floor nurse and CNA's will all the there and witness what it said and agreed upon. If there is any deviation from that, I would push to have the offending CNA written up.

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Jul 20, 2015

I've become more selective about helping out over the past few years. I found myself frequently behind, while everyone else was caught up, and finally realized why. I answered their call lights, fixed their beeping IVs, etc. while they did nothing to help me out, in return.

I remember one occasion, in particular. A patient (not mine) had a bad episode of diarrhea. It was all over the bed rails, the floor, the patient's hair, etc. The nurse was giving a med and I felt bad for the CNA, so I stepped in and we took care of it together. When we finally finished, the same nurse was sitting in the nurses' station waiting to tell me room 405 wanted a blanket and room 403 wanted ice. I was annoyed, to say the least.

I could give 80 more examples, too. So while I'll still go out of my way for a lot of my co-workers, I won't do much for others unless it's an emergency. I've learned that some people will let you do all of your own work and all of theirs if you're willing.

annie.rn · Jul 20, 2015

I've become more selective about helping out over the past few years. I found myself frequently behind, while everyone else was caught up.
I've learned that some people will let you do all of your own work and all of theirs if you're willing.

Amen to ^^this ^^.

I will bend over backwards for my fellow team players but the others, not so much.

kirstens · Jul 20, 2015

The other day I was in the middle of giving a shower when another one of my patients called. I couldn't leave my patient naked in the shower alone as they are a fall risk and had dementia...so of course I paged and asked for help. The nurse came in a while later and yelled at me for not helping my patients in time. I explained I was giving a shower and I would be out ASAP. I came out the shower a while later and no one had helped the other patient! turns out the patients family was in there and was timing how long it took for someone to come in and clean up their family member.

The family stated they are going to be reporting the situation b/c their family member laid in their own filth for quiet some time. Having staff members sitting out in plain view on their phone while patients are dirty and needing help NEVER looks good.

Its just so frustrating to me b/c I feel this attitude doesn't help the patient. I have no issues grabbing something if I'm not busy. I'm getting paid the same rate and my job is to help people. I can't pick and choose who to help especially if I'm sitting on my butt at the nurses station

Libby1987 · Jul 20, 2015

We help each other at work, from the top down. Key being from the top down where leadership begins.

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Jul 20, 2015

The other day I was in the middle of giving a shower when another one of my patients called. I couldn't leave my patient naked in the shower alone as they are a fall risk and had dementia...so of course I paged and asked for help. The nurse came in a while later and yelled at me for not helping my patients in time. I explained I was giving a shower and I would be out ASAP. I came out the shower a while later and no one had helped the other patient! turns out the patients family was in there and was timing how long it took for someone to come in and clean up their family member.
The family stated they are going to be reporting the situation b/c their family member laid in their own filth for quiet some time. Having staff members sitting out in plain view on their phone while patients are dirty and needing help NEVER looks good.
Its just so frustrating to me b/c I feel this attitude doesn't help the patient. I have no issues grabbing something if I'm not busy. I'm getting paid the same rate and my job is to help people. I can't pick and choose who to help especially if I'm sitting on my butt at the nurses station

If the family wants instant service, they either need to help out themselves or hire a private, 1:1 caretaker. The nurse was wrong to "yell" at you for not being able to be in two places at one time and the family needs to be gently set straight.

xxMichelleJxx · Jul 20, 2015

Sounds like my job. I currently work at a LTC facility as a LPN. The CNAs for the most part do help.. But there are many CNAs that don't help their fellow CNAs out. Many times I have the CNAs come and ask me to assist them. I always help whenever I'm asked. It does annoy me though, because in LTC facilities the med pass and treatments for me are a lot. I consistently leave late- without taking a break or anything. So helping does put me even more behind. Oh and I don't get paid for the time extra I spend. Management scares us nurses into punching out early and continue our work to avoid disciplinary action. I hate my job. Now that I'm a RN I am looking for jobs and hoping I find one real soon. Even the nurses don't help anyone out. I always offer to help with treatments on their side if I'm done (which is always past my shift) and if the other nurse is still doing work, I always offer to help and actually help. I help with flow sheets for the other nurse as well as notes, putting in orders, checking labs..anything I can to help. Whenever I'm drowning and in desperate need of help ..(which is practically always) I never get assistance. Nurses will look me dead in the face and tell me they're going down to their break and not even offer to help when they see I'm seriously in desperate need of help. I'm not expecting them to give up their break but idk .. Even asking would mean a lot to me. Oh and then sometimes there's those charge nurses who have to sit at the desk and write notes and deal with labs and doctors orders etc. I'm not sayingg that their job is easier..no actually I am. It's a given. Compared to running around like a chicken without its head trying to give meds out to all 35 pts and do treatments. It's like a race against time. Consistently I see these nurses just sitting at the nurses station on their phone. I'm sure you're not busy if you have time to go on your phone. Which by the way isn't even allowed. And then these same nurses will be by the elevator on their way to their break and while waiting will tell ME- Someone they see is already busy- to do some other random task they can easily do on their own. Something that isn't part of my duties. I can't. In so fed up of my job. That place gives me anxiety and makes me depressed. I cry before going to work. I don't think that's normal. I get scared to go to work. I don't know. ðŸ˜¢. I can't wait to leave this toxic work environment.