(Nursing only, dearest mods, lest not we turn blue.)
Not one, BUT TWO, abuse reports. Busted my butt to advocate. Guess how much I was able to do? NOTHING!
Very dangerous disease that is contagious is diagnosed months after multiple admissions. I went out of my way to piss off the right people so we can FINALLY get a grip on this situation. How much did I accomplish? NOTHING!
Terrified blind and deaf person unable to soothe from panics. I do everything in my power to ensure no triggers present during my last shift with her. Worked my tail off for that. How much progress did that make? NONE!
I got off work late as hell for the first time in ages because my group was so hard and heavy. My boss decides that would be the best time ever to sit me down and scold me for being late. THANKS, OBAMA!!!!
I built up so much trust with this patient. What a sweet, wonderful guy. Apparently he was grumpy with everyone else, but not me. You know the kind. The type that makes you feel like a rock star for getting below the crusty exterior. But then a conversation happened making me have to report a dangerous situation (dangerous to the patient). I had to violate his trust. I HATE HATE HATE this part of nursing. And what came of that violation of trust? NOTHING.
I told a doctor that a PICC had a puncture or tear in it at an undetermined place, internally, near the insertion site. I told him nursing isn't able to safely remove it. He told the next nurse to remove it. They always say, DOCUMENT TO SAVE YOUR BUTT! And I HAD documented it. I had reported it. I had given it to the next nurse in report. But when she removed the PICC, thank god it was okay, but she was surprised by the look on my face when I asked - how did the MD verify it was okay?! What did he do? NOTHING. And she forgot I said anything.
You guys are totally welcome to contribute to this b fest thread. Please do. I'm a grouchy pants and you know misery loves company!
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
Which is why I am now seriously considering per diem local area travel nursing. I eventually want to get into travel nursing and feel this is a way to start.
I love my residents, the people I work with and the basics of what I do. Iowa is privatizing Medicaid and this is adding more to our responsibilities. No nurse that I know who is affected by it appreciates what is coming down.
The facility in which I work also uses a nurse consulting service. They don't have a clue of many of the things they are asking. So many people are unhappy with the continuing adding of things to our already maxed out staff.
Of course. They'll pay big bucks for a know-nothing consultant but not for another nurse. They won't even save a few bucks and just ASK A NURSE what needs to be fixed.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
Manager has now posted a chart in the bathroom noting our lunch clockings. So if you (God forbid) clocked back in from eating your lunch at the desk one minute early- it's a yellow box on the chart. If you are honest enough to not clock out if you don't get an unrelieved break - yellow box AND an emailed nastygram!
Recent eight hour downtime of our medical record system. The paper forms we were given to document on had a 'last revised' date on them of 1997.
Very nice of them to want you to get your break. How do they keep missing the part about sending someone to look after your patients when you're not there?
I got off work late as hell for the first time in ages because my group was so hard and heavy. My boss decides that would be the best time ever to sit me down and scold me for being late. THANKS, OBAMA!!!!
I sympathize with your post ixchel, but what does President Obama have to do with your getting scolded by your boss for getting off work late?
Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.
There is some respiratory virus taking out a good portion of the staff currently. I think I've been fighting it for a week. It may finally be gaining on me, and I don't think I can take anymore pseudoephedrine and still act like a civilized human.
Tons of administrative changes, 4 of my beloved team members from my shift leave this week, and a slew of feces happening every single night (not just to me) ranging from petty irritations carrying over from previous shifts to big problems - incorrect orders, meds stopped with no orders, biggish issues missed, surgeons frustrated, tons of brand new nurses (no offense intended) and new(er) nurses still trying to find and figure out protocols.... With the nurses who have been resources forever leaving in droves.
I'm really starting to get worried. I've been irritable and judgmental which doesn't help. Trying my best to refocus and recenter so I can help to the best of my ability while things even out.
I guess this unit goes through these episodes periodically as it serves as a launch pad for those whose aspirations are to become CRNAs or flight nurses.
Needed this vent. Gotta get a grip and pull off just a couple more shifts this week.
Kaly, do we work on the same unit, even down to the respiratory virus?? I feel like our senior staff is leaving for more advanced positions and I'm like Oh S---, we're screwed.
The only thing saving me from getting pushed into precepting too soon is the fact I need to take a bunch of classes and get trained up on more technology (LVADS, pacers, etc.) and get competent with all that.
So I've changed jobs to a rural hospital. My old job is blowing up my phone. They have no prn staff related to the fact staff is stretched to the breaking point. Hey folks I really do have a life. I mean if this place didn't constantly talk down to folks they would have staff.
Of course. They'll pay big bucks for a know-nothing consultant but not for another nurse. They won't even save a few bucks and just ASK A NURSE what needs to be fixed.
We just wish they would come work the floor as CNAs for few shifts to see how all the pickiness plays out with a short staff.
Last shift I worked, med surg rushed a 90 year old lady back to the unit at 3am...I worked on her for 4 hours straight, falling behind, neglecting my other patients. And while I was still there charting at 830 am, doctor rounds and family decided to make patient a dnr on comfort care.
I can't even remember what all happened on the first, but I didn't leave until an hour after my shift ended.
The second, I followed an arrogant know-it-all new grad who ignored post heart cath orders because he felt the blood pressure was too high. Did he ask anybody? Nope. He just blustered when the patient had chest pain at shift change and got in my way while I tried to deal with it. Urgh. At least the patient ended up being fine after I worried about stent collapse. This patient was nice, too. He was the only one out of 6 that wasn't a dick that night.
Then, our CT department had a major meltdown and our results weren't coming back for five and six hours. I had a conditional discharge pending the CT result and had to call every half hour for three hours to get an answer. The family was anxious, the patient was irate, and I barely got them calmed down and straightened out, and discharged them at 10PM.
Then, I got an admission. A sweet little old man with dementia who had a UTI and was constipated. I'm just glad I didn't have to cath him. Instead, I practically raped him with an enema. He was so hard of hearing that he had no idea what was going. I did my best not to scare him, but I basically assaulted him. At least the enema worked. He pooped for a solid three hours. It is amazing what the human body can produce. He was no longer my friend afterwards, and I nearly got a poop hand to the face. Yuck. I was mostly upset at having to invade the poor man's body without even trying laxatives first.
We only had one aide and our census was rising. The aide had a crap attitude and didn't do half the stuff I asked her to, and didn't tell me she didn't have time. She never once asked me for help. I did my best not to call her, but there are times when you really don't have time and need to delegate. Never again with this aide. The next time we work together, we're brawling.
I had three more admissions after midnight. One was an alcohol patient, and he was actually the best one. His scores were midrange and he was still coherent enough to do paperwork. Score!!
The other two were stone cold witches from hell. One ripped me a new one because the doctor told her she could have clear liquids and put in an NPO order after midnight. Well, she got to the unit after 2AM. I actually asked this one why she was being mean to me. She proceeded to have a full out meltdown like a toddler. I called the doc, got her some effing cranberry juice, and was suddenly her best friend.
The last one came up from the ED with nothing done for PNA. I had to get blood cultures, start antibiotics, yadda yadda. All the patient cared about was that I was a Nazi because I wouldn't let her smoke. When I told her mother that they don't allow e-cigs in the hospital, they both had a fit. What is up with the ignorant people these days? I didn't even try to coddle this one, I just offered AMA papers. The mom got all worried and talked the patient into staying. Jeez, thanks, Mom.
YES!!!! I sent a nasty gram to our managers the other day because I went through three computers and two point of care devices before I could get anything to work. I am not the IT department!!!
What I am sick of this week:
I amCONSTANTLY having equipment break down on me in the middle of the shift. I will be trying to hang a vasopressor or anti-arrythmic and the pump has a "fatal error" message or some bs.
Cords with frayed wires. Computers locking up, getting, hot, freezing.
Patient refridgerator temperature is out of range.
Can't find a remote to the patient televisions that works. And the TV is the first aspect of the stay the patient is worried about!
I put in numerous work orders, none of which get answered.
Night shift has no pharmacy where I work. Constantly having to hunt down and mix meds.
We have no dietary and have to hand out plates of food with vegetables on them that nobody wants (people think we have McDonald's food or something.)
Doctors never put orders in for nausea or pain meds (hello, they are here for abdominal pain of course they want pain meds!)
And the doctors order vancomycin for everyone...haven't the MDs heard of superbugs??
Not to mention I do so much for my patients and their families without recognition, and I say nothing about it, then the laziest people (or the ones who are friends with managers) get employee of the month and yada yada.
If someone comes into this forum stating "oh nurses are so negative," or "wow, why don't you quit if you hate it," I will seriously go off. GTFO, trolls,
So who authorized the enema on the dementia patient? I'd want to have a word with them. Being a hospice nurse this sounds like something that should not have happened. This very well may have BEEN an assault. It angers me to no end when the right to dignity and comfort are forfeited just because a patient suffers from cognitive impairment. Why wasn't the patient at least given medication to relax him prior to the procedure. Don't we do this much for our pets? Why do we treat our elders with such disdain and dishonor? This is one of the big reasons I left hospital nursing after 15 years. I just got tired of trying to convince people they needed to have painful treatments done that they didn't really want.
Kaly, do we work on the same unit, even down to the respiratory virus?? I feel like our senior staff is leaving for more advanced positions and I'm like Oh S---, we're screwed.
The only thing saving me from getting pushed into precepting too soon is the fact I need to take a bunch of classes and get trained up on more technology (LVADS, pacers, etc.) and get competent with all that.
I just finished all of my classes a couple of months ago. Guess who's up next to precept. [emoji30]
I sympathize with your post ixchel, but what does President Obama have to do with your getting scolded by your boss for getting off work late?
I haven't read through to see if anyone answered this already, but you know how people blame stuff on the president when the president had nothing to do with whatever he's been blamed for? It was in the spirit of president blaming (sarcastically). Go google the hashtag #ThanksObama. #ThanksBush should have some fun stuff, too.
TriciaJ, RN
4,328 Posts
Of course. They'll pay big bucks for a know-nothing consultant but not for another nurse. They won't even save a few bucks and just ASK A NURSE what needs to be fixed.