I am posting this on behalf of myself and 2 other "newer" nurses at work. We need HELP!
I received report on my patient load at 0700 and I work 8 hours. I received a report that a patients "drainage tube needs to flushed "daily"" and the night nurse reports to me that it was being done at 2000 in the evening since the patient has been on the unit for days and it is written that way on the report kardex. NOW, in between A THOUSAND "daily" medications, doctors rounding during the day, radiology/lab and pharmacy interruptions all with that important "patient AM care" that the RN's do during the day, I must have not RAN MY BUTT off enough in the 8 hours, I did not get time to do the "drain flush".
I got a tongue lashing from a PM nurse at 1500 that "daily" means only 7-3pm. She was bent out of shape :angryfire and states "well.. I am not doing it... when you are done here you can go do it yourself.. you should not leave that for me to do!" :angryfire She was rude for the rest of the report and ordered me to stay late and do the procedure:o I got up and I did it. I felt as though my 8 hours of hard work was for nothing and to be honest I felt lower than dirt. NOW, this is a trend on my unit, evidently. I spoke with another newer nurse who has had the same issue. Pm's receive the same # of patients day shift does, with a significantly less amount of meds to pass, no AM care, few doctors, and minimal procedures. Another new nurse on the unit is experiencing the same attitudes and we feel like we are just being "pushed over". I can't always give a "nice, pretty patient package with a little bow on top" in which nothing else needs to be done that day.
How can we stand up for ourselves?
Does "daily" only mean 7-3pm?
What is wrong with saying "I did these 10 things for this patient, I could not get to 1"? I rarely leave anything and will stay 1-2 hours late taking off routine orders written at 1430-1530 by late rounding MD's just so I don't have to listen to the PM shift complain. How can I (we) get out of this cycle? We feel like we are powerless because we do not have the "experience" or NERVES to tell them.... "this is a 24 hour hospital facility.. I can't do everything."
You need to grow a backbone now or you'll be run out of nursing pretty fast. If someone tells you to stay late, you say no. Period. This is a 24 hour job for a reason. Or ask them to show you the policy that says daily means between 7and 3. Who cares if she's mad or doesn't like you? Do you like her? Aren't you mad? Time to do something about it. I understand it's scary, but trust me, if you do it once you won't have to do it again.
I actually had the opposite problem the other day. The day nurse was mad I gave the caffeine at 2300 for my baby because it is routinely given at noon. She was being a freak and I let her know.
OK, several thoughts. First, if you were told it's for 3-11 to do, that should be on the Kardex, treatment sheet, med sheet, or somewhere where anyone could easily know that.
Secondly, you need to realize that no one has the right to talk to you disrespectfully. If this person who bullied and intimidated you doesn't shape up, here's what to do - Hold up your hand, say "excuse me, whoever she is", and ask if she wears glasses or if you can see that she is wearing some, ask to hold them a moment. Then, when she is totally astonished, wipe them off. Then, hand them back and tell her this, "I hope you can now see that I am not a turd. Not a ball of dirt. I hope you now can see that I am a human being and expect you to talk to me like a human being in the future, starting now. Do ya got it, Sparky?" (as the Genie said to Aladdin). LOLOLOL Alternatively, you could put down a doormat and tell her she can wipe her feet on it instead of on you, because you have resigned that particular function.
Listen, I'm kidding, of course. But you must get her attention and make her understand, directly, not involving the NM, just the 2 of you, that you will not tolerate her speaking to you in anger or rudely. Try to keep it light, try not to involve managers or do write-up's, try to just talk to her. Ask for her help, as someone suggested, remind her that you're new and that the night nurse told you "daily at 2000".
i have no words of wisdom, only much empathy-because this happens to me on a regular,(daily) basis...busy floor, not enough nurses, I am a 'newer' nurse, and it really can be a mess. I read the replies to your post with much interest-as you and I are in the same boat. i hope it will get better for us!!
Wow...if any one of us got caught treating a new person like that we would be in deep doo-doo. You need to tell your NM that you aren't going to put up with this much longer, or you will be looking for another job. This evenings chick is way out of line. Once daily where I work depends on what it is ....if it is a dressing change, on all our floors we do it with the AM/PM care so that we are not doing a lot of things thru out the day and bugging the patient. It is also timed on the Kardex. Somethings do get done on Days so that the docs can see certain wounds, incisions, etc. Central line dressing we do with baths.
You need to say to this nurse...is their a SPECIFIC problem with me? See what she says. Like someone else said, unfortunately you do have to grow a back bone of steel and a really thick skin to be a nurse. You are one person and can only do so much. But, every day that I stayed late, I would make sure to leave the manager a note as to exactly what you were doing and why. She will eventually get sick of paying out the OT.
Good luck! and stick up for yourself...no one else is going to do it for you!
I just started as new grad as well, in our hospital it is divided in half. Anything ordered "daily" like assessments or procedures, treatments etc. (pretty much everything but meds) gets divided between dayshift and evening shift according to room number. Dayshift does the odd rooms and evenings does the even rooms. They have been doing it like this for years and years and really seems to work for our hospital. Less confusion. I would check your facilties policy and if there is no definate answer there talk with your NM, if you still aren't satisfied and continue to be treated like crap leave and find a job somewhere where they respect their nurses and have a good support team for the new nurses. There are some place like that out there!! I am glad I found one!!
You're an onco nurse in VA?? Sounds like you work in my hospital setting - I am a new nurse there now and experiencing similar treatment from a couple of the older, seasoned veterans who are making the end of every one of my shifts pretty unbearable....they refuse to even listen to my report because they "know" the patient from the previous night etc.....just plain rude is the only description I can think of that's printable!!
I have talked to my NM about these 2 individuals and was told that I just need to be more proactive (???).....Other new nurses on my unit all have the same complaints about these 2 specifically and have also taken them to the NM, so at least I know that it's not just me. They want proactive???? I can be proactive....one night I just kept talking when she walked away.....the other nurses saw her do it...she's only hurting herself in the long run, but my only hope is that the patients don't suffer!!
I am so sorry that she treated you like that. It is a shame that some nurses will "eat their young". Nursing is 24/ 7. You cannot possibly do everything in 8 hours.
I work with a per-diem nurse who has only been a nurse for 5-6 years or so and she just criticizes everything I do - now the interesting part is, everyone has said how easily I have picked things up, give great reports at the end of my shift, am organized etc. And I know I have a lot to learn still . . .But this woman just picks at everything -- I know she does it to others and I am being too sensitive about it but . . .and what makes me laugh, is when she is working, she is busy "visiting" others in the hospital, taking multiple smoke breaks, or sitting at the desk chatting with others, not even with paperwork in front of her to make it look like she is doing some work. And like has been said many times, it is a 24/7 job, if I cant get it done, please assist and do your part --- oh, one less smoke break for her I guess - she might have to do something! It took her almost an hour after getting to work to actually do some work and stop gossiping . . . I could go on and on . . . .it just makes me so mad!!!!!!!!!!!!
Specializes in Medical/Surgical, Intermediate and Home Care.
As I have worked both days and nights I can see your plight. Day nurses are (as you have stated) incredibly busy. YOu have family members, docs, procedures, labs...all of this to deal with. At night we get less...much less.
For her to treat you that way is
A. Unprofessional
B. Ignorant
C. Disrespectful
D. All of the above
The answer is obviously....D. There is really no excuse for that to happen. You have a few options -tell your manager, take her aside and explain to her that her type of attitude will not be tolerated or ...next time that happens...politely confront her in front of everyone and let her know that her attitude is unacceptable. You'd be amazed how many people just "take it"...and there's no need for it.
It's all about attitude, your attitude toward your coworkers, patients, families, et cetera. And she just needs a good swift kick in the ass.
Best of luck.
vamedic4
Yup, this is the truth. Too bad we aren't totally prepared for these situations coming out of Nursing School. "Disruptive Behavior" is coming to the forefront in Health Care,and we must monitor WHERE we take someone aside because this person is already rude and the conversation could escalate. Yes, I do agree it should be done in front of everyone -- just make sure it is out of ear shot of patients and guests. Like the post before yours, the person mentioned that if you don't initiate support, you will be the one getting written up, and the person violating the code of conduct is invited for afternoon tea with the Director:biggringi . The good news is remembering what goes around, comes around, eventually.
That's the way we did "daily" procedures. The person who did it first put it on the MAR or Kardex with whatever time it was done and it was done at that time from then on. Worked well because ALL tx's were spread out a little more. :)
to tell them.... "this is a 24 hour hospital facility.. I can't do everything."
I can be proactive....one night I just kept talking when she walked away.....the other nurses saw her do it...she's only hurting herself in the long run, but my only hope is that the patients don't suffer!!
fergus51
6,620 Posts
You need to grow a backbone now or you'll be run out of nursing pretty fast. If someone tells you to stay late, you say no. Period. This is a 24 hour job for a reason. Or ask them to show you the policy that says daily means between 7and 3. Who cares if she's mad or doesn't like you? Do you like her? Aren't you mad? Time to do something about it. I understand it's scary, but trust me, if you do it once you won't have to do it again.
I actually had the opposite problem the other day. The day nurse was mad I gave the caffeine at 2300 for my baby because it is routinely given at noon. She was being a freak and I let her know.