CVICU - Eating their young

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I am new to CVICU and am trying to learn, but when I ask questions some of the experienced nurses roll their eyes and give condescending answers. Then they complain to the charge nurse about how little I know. That makes me not want to ask questions, but I must put the needs of my patients first. I think they enjoy kicking me around, so I am considering standing up to them a bit more. Have y'all had experience with this problem, and how did you address it?

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

I'm very lucky on my unit that doesn't happen. In fact, people are encouraged to ask questions and if a new nurse wasn't asking questions they would watch this nurse more carefully. That's what one of the charge nurses told me. Better to ask questions than make a mistake, just keep asking and don't let the eye rolling bother you, that's about them not you. Maybe talk to your manager. If you don't like your unit though, you could try to find a different job. I finally decided that I wasn't going to work on a unit where you can't ask questions and where you are all on your own. It's not worth it to me to be miserable and afraid at work. Everyone starts out as a novice, no one knows all the answers. Maybe you can confront the eye rolling and other stuff first, go up the chain of command. That always involves talking to the person directly first and if you feel uncomfortable have your manager mediate. I had a bad situation with a preceptor at another facility that had a nasty attitude who snapped her fingers in my face and that was the final straw. I told her to get her hand out of my face now and I felt like slapping her but resisted and I talked to management and it didn't go well (she had seniority), so I found a new job and it was night an day. I discovered it wasn't me it was that unit, poor leadership, stressful working conditions, and a tolerance for bullying. Another thing you could do is look as much stuff up on your own away from work and start your questions with "I was looking this up and I found this out but I still have questions about that, would you please show this to me?" That shows initiative on your part and then they should be more willing to help you. Like I said before if those things don't help, I might find a different unit, because on a high acuity unit a new nurse has got to feel comfortable asking questions for patient safety.

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Excellent advice amzyRN! Thanks for your thoughtful response! :yes:

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Specializes in ICU.

Every unit has those types of nurses. You give report to them and you just get the feeling that you've dumped on them (knowing that you haven't), but when the shoe is on the other foot and you get report from them, you just roll your eyes at all the stuff they leave for you to finish up. :confused: :nono: Patient safety first ... just keep asking away. You'll get it down just fine.

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Always, always, always ask your questions! As mentioned above, unfortunately, every unit will have the eye-rollers. The problem lies with them, not you. I also agree this behavior needs to be addressed by first talking with the offender(s), and then escalating up the chain of command as necessary. I am curious, are you still working with your preceptor? I would hope this individual is not one of the eye-rollers. If you're off orientation, seek out your preceptor, your charge nurse, or reach out to others who are willing to help you. There will be more of them willing to help you than not. New nurses on the unit that either seem disengaged or don't ask questions make me a bit nervous. However, I will ask them if they need help, have questions, etc. The majority of the time I'll see a tremendous look of relief on their face - I remember being the new kid on the block. After 3 years on my unit (SICU/CVICU) I'm still asking questions. It's all about learning and developing those critical thinking skills that are necessary to safely care for your patient. Keep asking those questions, use your resources (RT, pharmacy, etc), and never doubt your committment to safely care for your patient!

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Specializes in CTICU, CT-Stepdown.

Hey I am also new to the CTICU world worked CT step down for a bit and then made the switch so I can feel your pain. I was given some really good advice by a more seasoned veteran RN.

Here it is: of course you always ask if you don't know, and if you get attitude screw them its all about the patient, but if you can figure out if there are experienced RNs who you have more rapport with or are just not nasty to your when you ask them for help or info then if they are working try to ask them as they will not make you feel dumb and they are probably going to give you some really good info. On the topic of making someone new to a specialty feel dumb, this is a ridiculous thing to do to someone as we all must learn and they were in our shoes at some point, but I digress! It sounds like jssHeartNurse would be someone on their unit who would fit that bill.

I too have been made to feel like really stupid for asking a question and I have found that it helps to single out those who won't do that to you and use them, that being said when push comes to shove it is all about patient safety and you just have to swallow your pride and ask whomever and then when we are seasoned RNs we can make sure we do not do this to other nurses be they new grads or new to our specialty!

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Specializes in Cardiac, Transplant, Vascular, NICU.

I'm also a new Grad on my unit. Been here about a year and Im still asking questions and learning because at the end of the day, I would like to know the information and get the eye roll rather than "faking it" and possibly hurt my patient.

I asked a vet nurse one day about it and she said something that will stick with me for life

"All nurses need to ask questions. Technology is changing all the time and new bugs are being born out of the ashes of the latest and greatest antibiotic. If we can't rely on the wisdom of each other, we are all doomed. The day I stop asking questions or stop learning new things is the day I need to get out of nursing!"

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I have worked in my CCU for almost 13 years and I do charge and occasionally precept. I always tell the new nurses that I'd rather answer a stupid question than code a patient. We all have "brain farts" and need to be able ask those stupid questions. It is those nurses who think they know it all and that don't answer questions that I worry about. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

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Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.

I have Ben working in the CVICU going on 2 months. I'm a new grad. I must say that I and my other new grad hire that started with me have been blessed with a unit that is sooo helpful and preceptorship willing to teach. Everyone, down to the Cardiothoracic Surgeon has been so welcoming and willing to give instruction. I would say its something you need to talk to your unit administration team about, follow chain of command. If its not resolved, you will have some decisions to make and options to way. Like yoy said, It's much better to ask a question and be safe and get "scowled" at than to not ask and something go wrong. Stand your ground.

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Thanks for the advice guys! I will keep asking questions, and will not risk my patient's over pride!

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