AT ISSUE: What is the culture of your floor?

[NurseCard, ADN]

It's pretty much the same way on our floor, depending sometimes on who I am working with that night. Really. I mean, the majority of the nurses that I work with jump right in and help out with all of the patients, and many will even volunteer to start new IV's if say, I walk to the nurse's station and say "Well, my Mr so-and-so pulled his IV out".

Some of them though have that attitude of "it's not my patient" and are upset ENOUGH that they are at work having to deal with their OWN patients, let alone other peoples'.

One night I had to work with this nurse who actually works now as a "resource nurse" for the hospital... heck, I'm still confused as to what this chick's job is actually supposed to be... but anyway, one night she was forced to take a team of patients because we were short staffed. I don't think she was too happy about this. During the "rush" time of 9-10 pm when we are handing out meds, she asked me "Cathy, are you just about done?", because she wanted me to help her get caught up. I HAD to tell her no, but that I'd try to help her when I was caught up. Well, later that night *I* found myself a bit behind and had a man who was a difficult stick, who needed a new IV. I tried twice, couldn't get it. I went out to the station and asked this nurse, who was sitting there charting away, could she try to restart it. "Nope, not going to, go ask someone else". :angryfire

[itsmycalling]

The hospital I work at is totally a team atmosphere. We all look out for each other and if coworker is overwhelmed or falling behind we help out.I have actually been scolded for not asking for help. For example, the other day I was just going to coffee break and one of my pts rang and wanted to use the toilet.I started to go into her room and one of my coworkers said"what are you doing? Get to coffee. I'll do that".Of course we would all do this with the knowledge that the others would too. Assistance with anything is just a request away. No one sits down as long there is still work to be done and no one stays beyond end of shift. I LOVE MY JOB!!!!

I want to work where you work! Unfortunately, I hear it's colder in Canada than in Chicago. True?

[hikernurse]

Sounds like a great place! In my few years of nursing, I have never seen that type of attitude in an ICU setting.

I have friends who work in other ICUs and their experience is different. Maybe because we work with babies, I dunno.

The managers really stress teamwork and how it makes it easier for everyone and I think that makes a difference--they even signed up for Christmas shifts so those who worked last year didn't have to work again :).