you CANNOT eat me!

Specialties Emergency

Published

I will soon be starting my first RN job in an ED. I am confident and eager to learn. I know have a TON to learn, and the coming months will be a struggle. I have thick skin but I know that there will be people who will try to eat me for lunch. So what I am asking for is a simple one liner to use, tactful but gets my point across, that even though I am new and may have asked a "stupid" question; doesnt mean they were born knowing all this stuff. I don't want to be rude, or insulting, just a statement to let them know they can't walk on me. I don't need comments about dealing with it or just letting it roll off my back. I know its coming, I know I will make plenty of mistakes, but already in my short stay I have seen the nasty that can come from coworkers. They were new once and made the same mistakes I will. I just want a friendly reminder that they were just like me.

I have to agree with the "kill em with kindness" strategy. Being positive, and eager to learn will get respect and it may inspire other nurses to give you pointers and more education!

I will soon be starting my first RN job in an ED. I am confident and eager to learn. I know have a TON to learn, and the coming months will be a struggle. I have thick skin but I know that there will be people who will try to eat me for lunch. So what I am asking for is a simple one liner to use, tactful but gets my point across, that even though I am new and may have asked a "stupid" question; doesnt mean they were born knowing all this stuff. I don't want to be rude, or insulting, just a statement to let them know they can't walk on me. I don't need comments about dealing with it or just letting it roll off my back. I know its coming, I know I will make plenty of mistakes, but already in my short stay I have seen the nasty that can come from coworkers. They were new once and made the same mistakes I will. I just want a friendly reminder that they were just like me.

So, a thought crossed your mind? Must have been a long and lonely journey.

Pardon me, but you've obviously mistaken me for someone who gives a damn.

I'd like to help you out. Which way did you come in?

I'm busy now. Can I ignore you some other time?

If ignorance is bliss, you must be the happiest person alive.

I don't know what makes you so stupid, but it really works!

Have you considered suing your brains for non-support?

Don't you need a license to be that ugly?

I see the wheel is spinning, but the hamster looks dead.

If you had another brain, it would be lonely.

It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying.

I can see your point, but I still think you're full of it.

A snappy, reheorificed one line come back may feel good, but it won't necesarily get you what you want, which is professional respect and acceptance. What wil earn you what you are looking for is helping your peers, and looking out for your patients.

Relax. If you go in looking for a conflict, I am sure you will find one.

People who work hard and try their best are respected. People who mistreat their peers, whether new or not, are not respected. A snappy, reheorificed one line come back may feel good, but it won't necesarily get you what you want, which is professional respect and acceptance. What will earn you what you are looking for is helping your peers, and looking out for your patients.

As far as getting walked on: Is this a problem in other areas of your life? If not, it shouldn't be a problem in this environment. Treat yourself with the same self respect you do in other areas of life, and you will do fine. ER straight out of scool, ICU one year later- I never got walked on. That doesn't mean everybody was polite, curteous or professional.

Another suggestion: Don't ask stupid questions. While some people say there is no such thing, they are wrong. Some examples:

Something you really know the answer to.

Something in which the answer is easy to find without asking the question.

A question that isn't really a question, just an excuse to hear yourself talk, or air an opinion in a backhanded way.

Any question asked to a person who isn't in a frame of mind to answer questions, because they are busy, stressed, etc.

Good luck in the ER. It's what I do, and I generally look forward to going to work, and wouldn't want to work anywhere else.

hherrn

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
So, a thought crossed your mind? Must have been a long and lonely journey.

Pardon me, but you've obviously mistaken me for someone who gives a damn.

I'd like to help you out. Which way did you come in?

I'm busy now. Can I ignore you some other time?

If ignorance is bliss, you must be the happiest person alive.

I don't know what makes you so stupid, but it really works!

Have you considered suing your brains for non-support?

Don't you need a license to be that ugly?

I see the wheel is spinning, but the hamster looks dead.

If you had another brain, it would be lonely.

It sounds like English, but I can't understand a word you're saying.

I can see your point, but I still think you're full of it.

BWA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!! hysterical.gif Thanks for those, I needed a laugh today!

Specializes in ED.

They can not eat you. Some may try. Just remember, you are in charge of your day. If you find you have a preceptor that is less than professional in their mentoring ability, you CAN ask for another. It is your time to learn. While a question may seem stupid to an experienced RN/ Employee, it may be just so basic to the task they they have forgotten to teach you. Try to find someone who was recently a new grad and who knows what you are going through. Call them when things get hard. And remember, you can always get encouragement here on Allnurses.

The first old bat, burn-out shell of a nurse who said to me "you know nurses eat their young" got this response from me: "Do I look young to you?" That smart-mouth answer got me in trouble with my instructor as I was still a student. But it stopped the games coming at me by that nurse in that rotation. It only works for old broads like me tho.

Seriously, try to know a little about your subject before asking question, helps preceptor to know that you are intellectually curious. Carry a emergency care book in your pocket and take a quick peek before you ask your question. That may help you retain info and prevent repeated questions on the same subject. I taught college for a while and never minded answering questions provided the info had not already been assigned as homework. I could see right thru the posers; the ones who thought they could slide thru my class by getting me to provide answers instead of doing some research on their own. Good luck on your new job.

Maureen GN

Look them in the eye, smile big and say, "Wow, were you always this good?" Slightly backhanded compliment that might get them to think about when they were new and weren't always THAT good!

Specializes in general surgery/ER/PACU.

From my experience, I also want to share with you that due to it being a high stress environment you may even find nurses that you like and respect can hurt or offend you without meaning to. I work with a great team of nurses. Sometimes we make each other mad, but in the end we always come through for each other. It's kinda like a big family. Good luck.

Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.

They will definately test you at first. I think it is because they don't know you. If you have questions about meds The best thing to do is look it up, read policy and procedures when you can. I remember being new and some of the best advise I got who I thought was out to get me becuse she was so gruff. I thought she was rude when I ask her about a med one time and she literally growled and said "Look it up" but I found I retained it better reading about the stuff. But like everyone else has said if you go in with an atttitude you WILL get attitudes back. You won't be new forever.

Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

ER or not, we're always looking at the newbies. Think about it from our perspective -- we don't know you. We don't know if you're bright or stupid, if you'll step up or fold in a crisis. We're not going to assume we can depend on you, or that you know how to do anything. We don't have the luxury of guessing wrong, because it can cost a life. If you make it, you'll do the same thing. We try to give folks the benefit of the doubt; most of us are still new enough we remember being new ourselves. But if you come in (like one we've got on the floor now) thinking that you know everything, and you're going to show us how to be a nurse, you're going to have a very lonely, brief experience.

If you come in looking for a problem, you will surely find it.

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Funny, I thought about this thread tonight, my first night in the ED.

It was a busy night and I felt like a complete idiot. I didn't know where anything was or what I should do. My preceptor didn't know she had a newbie to precept, and then was put on a hall to take patients because they were short an RN or two. So, I didn't get much direct teaching. I had to learn by osmosis.

Then, another nurse was badmouthing me, saying that I wasn't doing enough to help my nurse, when it was my very first night and I didn't know what I was supposed to do because my nurse was too busy to teach me.

I did what I could, took some vitals, cleaned some rooms, asked some questions, but mostly just shadowed and tried to stay out of the way.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I did what I could, took some vitals, cleaned some rooms, asked some questions, but mostly just shadowed and tried to stay out of the way.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

I hope tomorrow is better for you, Virgo_RN ... it often seems that the ED is very much a sink-or-swim environment. But don't be afraid to jump in and help, and get your hands in there! What I found from day one of being an ED RN is that there often won't be time to ease into your new role, with lots of teaching -- it's more like being thrown right in. Good luck, and I do hope it works out for you!

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Thank you. I'm sure I'll be a great addition to the department. The learning curve is steep, and it's a completely different world from the floor. But, that is what I signed up for, so you'll see no whining. Just a little amused, cause I haven't been anyone's snack for a while. ;P

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