Depressed about other staffers

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2008

Seizure precautions are universal and can be looked up in a myriad of sources including your nursing textbooks, the internet, professional magazines, and so forth. ABC Hospital should expect the same seizure precautions to be utilized as 123 Hospital.

I hope your situation improves. Good luck to you!

blaaveispiken · Dec 13, 2008

Run...and don't look back!

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Dec 13, 2008

Sounds like a terrible work environment - not the place you want to start your nursing career. The entire hospital (from what you described) seems very poorly managed. Do you have any other job prospects?

carbaminohemoglobin · Dec 13, 2008

Wow!

I'm so sorry you're going through that!

My advice is to LEAVE that place! The main thing I was told while in nursing school was when you're out in the real world: "ask, ask, ask again." and "when in doubt, ask!" This work environment is obviously not welcoming your questions. I would say that is a VERY dangerous thing to happen to a new nurse! Just think- you wing something you had no idea how to do because you didn't want to ask the other staff.. Something goes wrong! Boom. Your license is history, hon.

So quit! Find a job where you feel comfortable (with the staff, pt load, etc.). Try and get a REALLY long orientation!!

I'm a new nurse too -- and I am still concerned that I'm going to come across what you're going through! We are still learning, yet we have all the responsibilities of a seasoned vet! We need a working environment conducive to learning; we need to work with people who understand what it's like to be a new nurse and are willing to help when they can!

I wish you the best of luck! :loveya:

Medic2RN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Dec 14, 2008

Whether you are 52 years old or 25, you work in a terrible atmosphere. It appears to be very cliquish, immature, and selfish. I can't believe that you, as a new grad are running around feeling helpless and you have coworkers farting around, not helping.

There are better places out there. If the hospital location is good for you, perhaps try to find another unit to work in??

You need to find a place that is more receptive and conducive to a new grad who wants to learn.

Good luck to you!

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2008

I'm sorry you have to deal with that. It makes me thankful I work with great people. I do strongly agree with other posters, quit and don't look back. I too have to ask questions because nursing judgement isn't something we necessarily learn in books.

I have great nurses I work with on my floor, they're always there to help me. One of my team leaders praised me and said I made a good employee because I ask questions. It surprised me to hear her say that, but it's very true that she did.

As new nurses, we get a foundation in nursing school. The rest is built on experience and seasoned nurses should know that and be of assistance to new grads. These so called nurses on your floor sound absolutey despicable to me. You need to go work where you can learn! However, I advise you to find a job first before you quit or else it may be very hard to find another job.

PS. You may want to educate your fellow employee's on what TEAMWORK means.

~'JesusRocks'~ · Dec 16, 2008

First of all take a deep breath, you are going thru a lot. It might be a good idea to keep your mouth shut for now. Just go to work and do the best you can. On your days off spend your time looking and interviewing for something else. Not every place is like your current job. Think of this job as "where you wouldn't like to work", and be very selective on your next job. You can learn something from every situation. Also w/ the current economy I would definately have something lined up before I went to the VP.

Eirene, ASN, RN · Dec 16, 2008

Aw, sweetie. I am so sorry this is happening.

The job market stinks right now. I agree with looking for a new job on your days off.

In the meantime, try not to get overwhelmed. Write all of the important stuff down (meds, tests, dressings) and get those done after your assessments. When things get overwhelming, go to the bathroom and breathe. Seriously, deep breathing helps and just being alone for 3 minutes.

Let the mean co-workers snide remarks roll off your back. You aren't there for them, you are there for your patients. Just remember their actions when you are a seasoned nurse and nurture the new grads.

lpnflorida · Dec 16, 2008

Your story reminds me of when I first moved south and began working in a new hospital system in an area I was not familiar with.

I had many of those same types of questions as you. Such as where is your policy book and just how in the heck is it cateloged to find the information I needed. I had never seen such an unuser friendly book. ( it has since been changed )

When I would ask questions not so much about nursing care, but how is something put in the computer and where. The response I often heard was " I don't know" Most of the nursing had only been on the unit for under 2 years , so no real resource nurses available. This also has changed since.

Man o man,, it was a nightmare for awhile. I hung in there. In many respects I ended up self teaching myself that darn computer program.

I think you can do this. I hate what your co-workers are like and will not make excuses for them. Sounds like they have several things going on.

Bring your lipincot on nursing basics/skills to work with you. Keep it in your locker as a reference if there is not one available on the unit. I found out our policies nine out of ten times at the bottom of the page after reading paragraph after paragraph of fluff end up saying refer to lipincot for actually nursing procedure. Heck that sound have been at the top of the page, lol.

You can look for another job as you continue this current job. You can also see if things will not improve as you become more comfortable. Your co-workers, well they will either improve their own attitudes or not.

Bottom line, I am glad I did not quit. So much of what made it hell, has since been changed. I am glad to have stuck around long enough to be apart of the solution not just a part of the problem.

caliotter3 · Dec 16, 2008

I'm sorry to hear that things are going badly for you. You can take the advice about finding a new job, depending upon the job prospects in your area, or you can ride it out. Unfortunately, if there are not many employers in your area, you may go through your options very quickly and find yourself unemployed. Hospital jobs are hard to get. After you go through the hospital employment avenues, you may find yourself relegated to long term care facilities. And from my experience in LTC, I can tell you that what you describe is quite common there. So this was a long way of telling you that you may leave the frying pan for the fire if you start job hopping. Try to hang in there as long as you can. Take charge of your situation. Sit down and write a list of all the questions you have and all the tasks and skills you need to master. Get a calendar and start tackling your self education plan. Find the person that is responsible for you, most likely your immediate supervisor, and go to them consistently with your questions when no one else will help you. Learn to look up stuff, like seizure precautions, on your own. I wrote out 3 by 5 cards on everything I needed to know when I got a night shift job where I was "it". One of my cards had everything I needed to know about diabetes and insulin, when to call the MD, what to do if low or high blood sugar, etc. Another card was every place I needed to chart for something important, like a change of condition. You know what you know and don't know. So basically make your own little binder with all your useful info, cards, etc there. Sorry but this is all I can tell you now. I think you will start to feel better if you take this as a challenge to be overcome rather than seeing yourself as a victim to be swept away. Good luck.

jam2007 · Dec 16, 2008

I am a newer nurse as well and I work at a "very good" hospital but I am finding that no one has time to answer questions. Not sure if this is a theme or not. I, too, had several preceptors. No one ever went over where to find policies and I feel like it's a profession where you are encouraged to figure things out on your own, but if you make a mistake, you're in trouble. As far as the issue with seizure precautions, you don't know what you don't know; I think it is valid to ask someeone else and I don't know that I would've known that it was a universal protocol. I find that in the moment sometimes common sense escapes us!

I would document everything (i.e. asked about such and such and was not supported) so that you have something if you do go to the vp since there is no NM.

Good luck!