Ask questions, ask questions.....

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I get it, asking questions is a big deal when you're new to the ICU. I feel like I ask a lot of questions, the how's the why's the what's but it is perceived by some nurses, that aren't my preceptor, that I'm not open to learning or I'm not interested in the ICU. I don't get it? My Preceptor says I ask good questions and apply the knowledge, and she has told those that brought this "concern"to her that as well.

Do these other nurses feel left out that I'm not asking them as many questions as I ask my preceptor?

I have a feeling my R.B.F. is the culprit. I do my best to keep a smile on my face and cheerful disposition about my person. I have had many instances in my life where people initially dislike me but then once they get to know me where fine. I just don't think my not asking questions is the problem here :c

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Specializes in ICU.

R.B.F. ??

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Resting ***** face. The expression on my face at rest(my normal relaxed face) appears to others that I'm angry or unhappy when I'm usually neither.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

How sad...I really don't understand things right now...what is up with people?

((HUGS))

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Damned if you do, damned if you don't! If you ask two many questions they think you don't know enough or are too lazy to look it up. If you don't ask enough, you're uninterested or not thinking critically! At least your preceptor seems to understand you and will back you up.

One of the new nurses on our floor has RBF and has a very flat tone. She had a rough start but once everyone got to know her, realized she is doing pretty good and actually has a great sense of humor.

Just do your best, try to smile, help out around the unit, if one of the nurses has an interesting pt or procedure, politely ask if you can learn about it. Hang in there, sometimes it takes a little while for people to warm up to you. From my experience, in ICUs especially, you don't get the respect until you earn it.

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Just empathizing with you re RBF. I used to get cr@p in high school for "giving people dirty looks," and I would never remember even seeing these people! In reality, I was always just worried about getting to my classes on time, so Johnny Depp could have walked by and I wouldn't have seen him. Point: this is an ICU, not high school. If these alleged grown adults want to know something about you, they can talk to you, rather than judging you from afar by the (totally innocent, beyond your control) look on your face!

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