Asking for assistance at work

[Name9335, BSN, RN]

Hello everyone. Well, this is my first post, but I have been reading allnurses for probably a couple of years. I am a new grad nurse, just graduated in May and started at my first RN job in July. I absolutely LOVE it. My facility and coworkers are amazing, and management is super supportive as well! I know that I am blessed. So here is what I am asking for help with...... Asking my coworkers for help if/when I am beginning to drown. I know that some of it could still be some of my time management, but I know that I have come a long way in that department. I work on a pretty acute floor. It's technically med surg, but it is a neuro floor..... Anyways, one thing that I have always struggled with, even when I was working as an aide before this, is asking my coworkers for help, or if they can do something for me, like pass a med, when I have 4 other things due at the same time. I feel horrible, knowing that they have their own patients and to-do lists to accomplish. I work on a VERY supportive floor, and know that my coworkers are more than willing to help out, but when it comes down to it, I try to just buckle down and do it all, because, #1 what I mentioned above, and #2, I don't want to appear as though I can't handle the workload/my job. I have had discussions with my management, and they are super supportive, but I am just frustrated with myself as I can't seem to break through this delegation issue. It is also causing me to not get any breaks at all, which I know is not good. Any other thoughts/suggestions? Stories to tell? Is this just a phase and ill get over it? I only have 2 more orientation shifts before I am completely on my own (although right now, I am basically on my own, due to how our orientation is structured)

[Atl-Murse]

Depends on what the task is. Everyone is super busy , your priority will always be changing. Ask for help if the task needs to be completed now and you are not available. Dont be that nurse who wants others to done their work.

[Sour Lemon]

When you have four things to do, your co-workers probably have four things to do, as well. I typically don't ask for help unless I have two (or more) urgent situations. Medication passing is predictable and rarely an occasion to lean on others.

I do make it a point to look around and help other nurses when I happen to have a few minutes of free time. As a result, my co-workers tend to do the same for me. So I'd say be the helper once in a while and you're more likely to be helped when you're struggling.

[chacha82, ADN, BSN]

Save it for what you're truly unable to do by yourself, like getting someone into the Stryker chair. You need to be able to manage your own patient load. It will take awhile to get your time management down, but you'll get there. And I agree with other posters, once you are able, offer to help others, even if it is just turning patients.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

If your not getting breaks at all, how are you refueling? Do you at least eat a quick snack and drink some water on the run? If not, suggest you do, because if you don't, you may have a harder time concentrating, be at risk of errors, also it will difficult to maintain a steady pace throughout the shift and you can end up even further behind.

[brownbook]

I am very similar to you. I hate to ask for help. I don't have a magical answer. But take a moment to evaluate what you need and what your co workers are doing. Of course ask at an appropriate time, they aren't in the middle of their own mess. Saying "I need" instead of "can you" sometimes works better.

[Orion81RN]

A couple years ago, I started working for a post acute rehab center at the same time as another nurse. About a month in, they let her go, and I remember a few nurses talking one shift right after saying it was kind of a shame bc they saw potential in her, but that she refused to ask for or accept help. They recognized she was new and was of course going to be slower at things, so they were very willing to help her.

I remember specifically her confiding in me that she didn't want people to think she couldn't hack it.

Just remember that you are not the 1st new employee they have, and if they are reasonable, should expect that it will take some time for you to do things more quickly and efficiently. Nurse managers should be able to recognize a new employee learning and growing right on track while requiring some help compared to a new employee just not hacking it.

I agree with a pp to help others when you can. That makes it less difficult to ask for help when you need it. Whenever one of the nurses had an emergency for example, and had to send a pt to the ED, one of us would back the nurse up and, while that nurse attended to the pt, we would print out the pt's most recent labs, med list, face sheet, etc that needed to be sent with the pt. It shows teamwork, YOUR willingness to help, and that your not just taking advantage of offered help