Colleagues who always need help, but never reciprocate...

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

You know the one. They have fewer patients, fewer tasks, lower acuity patients, and still every small hiccup is a disaster. They routinely stay hours after their shift to wrap things up even though they have exhausted every other nurse on shift by hounding them, interrupting them, and guilting them into completing a large sum of their tasks. These nurses are also the ones who, when you are in an impossible situation and need a quick hand, can't be bothered...demand that you find someone else to help because they have patients of their own to take care of. Nevermind the fact that your own situation might have been a bit less dire had you not taken 45 minutes away from your patient load to help them through some emergency.

Ugh. Getting too damn old and too damn tired for this ****.

Does this nurse exist everywhere or just on my unit?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

We have several nurses like this at my workplace. They approach their jobs with a 'chicken little, the sky is falling' outlook and tend to waste time through blowing small issues out of proportion. Poor time management and a severe lack of prioritization characterize their shifts.

And yes, these nurses constantly beg for help, but are always seemingly unavailable to assist others who are in a bind.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Unfortunately they exist everywhere....I think they have been like this their entire lives.

I was about to say that they don't exist in my ED... they simply wouldn't survive orientation or probation.

Unfortunately, I can think of one example of someone who tends in this direction, though not nearly to the degree that you describe.

I'm way to the plus-side of the ledger, though, so I never have trouble rallying the troops to bail me out when needed.

For the most part, though, our workplace culture is very, very supportive and the newbies are quickly indoctrinated into how we do it.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

They're everywhere, although to varying degrees. It's difficult to be the only experienced nurse on the night shift in a 24 bed ICU!

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

What gets me is that she IS the experienced nurse in our small ICU. I am relatively new to critical care and to nursing in general by comparison. She's got 15 years on me at least. I am usually more than happy to help. And for the most part, our team is extremely supportive and we truly work as a team. But she seems to truly misunderstand what it means to work as a team. And the lack of reciprocation is wearing on me.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

What gets me is that she IS the experienced nurse in our small ICU. I am relatively new to critical care and to nursing in general by comparison. She's got 15 years on me at least. I am usually more than happy to help. And for the most part, our team is extremely supportive and we truly work as a team. But she seems to truly misunderstand what it means to work as a team. And the lack of reciprocation is wearing on me.

There are was to deal with these people. Be busy when you see them approach. Change your IV tubing right then instead of later. Pick up the phone right then to check on your lab/blood/x-ray. When they ask say "Sure!... I was going to go do...xyz...you help me first and then we will go help you!" They will either come help or they will say "Oh...I can't I need this right away, I'll ask someone else" or I'll be right back" They eventually stop asking you....or they will help you first. Problem solved. Smile say it nicely...they will have to make a decision.

[amygarside]

There are was to deal with these people. Be bust when you see them approach. Change your IV tubing right then instead of later. Pick up the phone right then to check on your lab/blood/x-ray. When they ask say "Sure!... I was going to go do...xyz...you help me first and then we will go help you!" They will either come help or they will say "Oh...I can't I need this right away, I'll ask someone else" or I'll be right back" They eventually stop asking you....or they will help you first. Problem solved. Smile say it nicely...they will have to make a decision.

Nice tips you got there. I might put it to good use. lol.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

They have worked for me.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I worked with one who had it down to a plan though. She was terrible at charting because everything was a disaster and would often stay hours after each shift charting.

I asked her one day how she did that and not getting a good nights rest everyday. Her response "The overtime I always get helps out" She would deliberately get 2 hours x 6 days overtime to do the charting she wouldn't do during the shift. I stopped helping her.

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

I have often wondered if that was the motivation...

I worked with one who had it down to a plan though. She was terrible at charting because everything was a disaster and would often stay hours after each shift charting.

I asked her one day how she did that and not getting a good nights rest everyday. Her response "The overtime I always get helps out" She would deliberately get 2 hours x 6 days overtime to do the charting she wouldn't do during the shift. I stopped helping her.