Burnt Out and showing it

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Today I went on a clinical rotation to a PEDS floor that I have never been to before. I had heard stories about the nurse there who was absolutley nasty to children but I HAD NO IDEA! She called all the children brats, looked at a baby and said "Your F$%^&", every other word she used was a curse word, and when an alarm would go off she would say "Oh Jesus Christ what the #*$(@ now!.":uhoh3: I felt like a deer caught in headlights. Then she tells me and another student " Hey watch the floor I gotta run down and talk to the police about my kid for a couple minutes." When she gave meds she stuck the needle cap in her mouth to pull it off and then left the med bottle sitting on a low counter on the PEDS floor! My teacher I think got her written up before for her bad language in front of students. I never expected to see anyone who was this burnt out, not to mention on a peds floor!

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Now that's an interesting experience if I may say so myself. Imagine how she treats her own children. Especially if she had to go talk to the police about her kid. I could only imagine what the home life is like. WOWWWW :angryfire

Today I went on a clinical rotation to a PEDS floor that I have never been to before. I had heard stories about the nurse there who was absolutley nasty to children but I HAD NO IDEA! She called all the children brats, looked at a baby and said "Your F$%^&", every other word she used was a curse word, and when an alarm would go off she would say "Oh Jesus Christ what the #*$(@ now!.":uhoh3: I felt like a deer caught in headlights. Then she tells me and another student " Hey watch the floor I gotta run down and talk to the police about my kid for a couple minutes." When she gave meds she stuck the needle cap in her mouth to pull it off and then left the med bottle sitting on a low counter on the PEDS floor! My teacher I think got her written up before for her bad language in front of students. I never expected to see anyone who was this burnt out, not to mention on a peds floor!
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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Today I went on a clinical rotation to a PEDS floor that I have never been to before. I had heard stories about the nurse there who was absolutley nasty to children but I HAD NO IDEA! She called all the children brats, looked at a baby and said "Your F$%^&", every other word she used was a curse word, and when an alarm would go off she would say "Oh Jesus Christ what the #*$(@ now!.":uhoh3: I felt like a deer caught in headlights. Then she tells me and another student " Hey watch the floor I gotta run down and talk to the police about my kid for a couple minutes." When she gave meds she stuck the needle cap in her mouth to pull it off and then left the med bottle sitting on a low counter on the PEDS floor! My teacher I think got her written up before for her bad language in front of students. I never expected to see anyone who was this burnt out, not to mention on a peds floor!

Hello, IvoryLena,

When I read your post, my first impression was not burn out.....it was sheer lack of compassion and a neglectful attitude. This woman needs to leave this profession.

I really am aghast at this individual. Reading your post, I,too, felt like a deer in the headlights, eyes wide and mouth open :uhoh21:

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The reason I say "burnt out" is because thats how my instructor described her in the nicest words. But believe me there are alot of other words that could describe her....:chuckle

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Watch the floor?????

Good grief!

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Specializes in Med/Surg..

Hi Ivory,

Wow, what a heartbreaking thing to hear about a Nurse left in charge of people's most precious gifts "their children"!!!! Have to wonder how on earth this person still has her job? Just curious, did your Instructor happen to mention what you should do when she talks & acts like that - or are you just supposed to smile and deal with the situation? Take Care, Sue

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Specializes in Hey I'm now an RN!!.

Oh my God...Children are amazing gifts, and are a privledge to have & an honor to raise. If anyone treated my children like this...watch out...:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

On the flip side, her life must be out of sorts...no excuse for treating children and babies like this but she needs to be placed elsewhere. That is not acceptable behavior. Period. They need to take more serious action against her than previosly implemented. She needs to know this is wrong-this is ABSOLUTELY unacceptable behavior.

I am on fire right now...

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Specializes in Critical Care.

edit - wrong place, wrong thread. sorry.

The lady needs to retire or be retired.

~faith,

Timothy.

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This kind of nurse is not uncommon, unfortunately. Hard to imagine she was probably once a young, eager student exited about her new career in nursing, but I bet she was.

Some people have all of their caring wrung out of them by nursing, and by life in general.

Symptoms of Nursing Burnout

The symptoms of burnout are as varied as the sufferers. Some people become angry, blowing up or growling at anyone who crosses their path. Some resort to blaming any annoyance, large or small, on external factors. Some become quiet, introverted and isolated, which can indicate the start of a serious depression. Others manifest burnout by under or overeating or abusing alcohol or other mood-altering substances. Still others may experience a range of physical symptoms, including chronic illness, high blood pressure and frequent headaches. Some people on the verge of burnout actually become obsessive workaholics. Others become chronically late or psychologically absent.

http://www.meredy.com/nursetips/nursingtips.html

Scott studied stress in his department and found three measures of burnout. "One is emotional exhaustion, where you just feel spent and empty inside," he said. "Another is depersonalization. You start to treat patients and other people in a callous or uncaring manner. A third is a low level of personal accomplishment, feeling that you don't get anything from your work and don't want to do it anymore."

http://www.nurseweek.com/news/features/00-11/stress.html

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

The nurse is beyond burnt out.

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I have a real problem here, Burnout is not the word, unprofessional, dangerous, inappropriate, and unworthy. This is an administration problem the administration at this facility needs to put this woman on the street. :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire She is a sad pathetic excuse for a nurse. She has no business around kids much less providing medical care to them She is not worthy to take care of kids and she is not worthy to be called NURSE this is really sad and I rue the day that this behavior could simply be called burnout. NO NO NO NO. :bluecry1:

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This is an unfortunate situation. You are obligated to report this nurse to the appropriate authority. Burn out is no excuse for abuse!

Today I went on a clinical rotation to a PEDS floor that I have never been to before. I had heard stories about the nurse there who was absolutley nasty to children but I HAD NO IDEA! She called all the children brats, looked at a baby and said "Your F$%^&", every other word she used was a curse word, and when an alarm would go off she would say "Oh Jesus Christ what the #*$(@ now!.":uhoh3: I felt like a deer caught in headlights. Then she tells me and another student " Hey watch the floor I gotta run down and talk to the police about my kid for a couple minutes." When she gave meds she stuck the needle cap in her mouth to pull it off and then left the med bottle sitting on a low counter on the PEDS floor! My teacher I think got her written up before for her bad language in front of students. I never expected to see anyone who was this burnt out, not to mention on a peds floor!
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