Did I miss the memo???? (rant)

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Specializes in LTC.

sorry everyone this is a rant.. i just got out of work. i work 3-11 @ an ltc.

on our unit we have 3 orderlies, me and 2 new nurses. me and 2 of my orderlies (i've worked with these 2 since i started and they are awsome) are there every night until 11:30 at the least working and trying to get stuff done. everyone else leaves promptly @ 11!! it's really getting on my nerves!!!

our unit is set up so we have 2 med nurses. each one gets a hall that has 20 residents. i take the harder hall because she refuses to take it, because the one night she did take it she screwed things up very badly. so i get the harder side.

so anyways.. tonight we had a pcn that does all the paper charting, treatments and tube feedings. all i had to do was my med pass and computer charting!!!!! i finished my med pass a little after 9pm and one of my orderlies asked me if i could give a resident a shower because she doesn't want men giving her a shower. me being my usual self said sure, i grabbed all the stuff and mrs. x and gave her a shower. after i'm done with her shower i get her a snack, help her into bed and then clean the shower room. not a big deal to me, it was fun!!!!

when i get back out to the nurses station the other med nurses screams at me "why are you giving showers that's an aides job you're a *bleep* nurse" :angryfire

i will do anything to help out the orderlies/aides i work with. whether it be helping with a 2 person lift, mechanical lift, taking someone to the bathroom, taking a person off a bed pan if i'm in the room, or even getting the residents into bed.

and then today was secretary's day. well i stopped at the store and got our unit secretary some fun stupid stuff: a survival bath kit, a stress ball, and glittery pen with feathers and sparkly things on it. just fun stuff and i signed the card saying to a fabulous unit secretary from your fabulous 3-11 shift! she got a kick out of it and so did everyone else, and yet the other med nurse was madder than heck.

and then to make matters worse: one of my residents turned 99 today, and she was all bummed out because she has no family. so i got her a birthday crown that said "birthday queen", and beaded necklace that had a shot glass on it saying "1 more birthday shot" and she thought it was hysterical, she loved it and she perked right up, her poa came in and he thought is was funny too.. and then for our other residents i brought in beaded necklaces and flower necklaces and it perked everyone up... the residents loved it, the men were telling people they went to hawii and got "leid" everyone has seemed so depressed and down lately on our unit and i had to do something, even if outsiders think it's stupid i know it means something to our residents... things just seemed better after all this, i don't know why but they were..!!! but of course the other med nurse was mad.. "you're a nurse you don't need to do this crap" :devil:

i take offense to this big time...

i'm here for my residents!!!! if they need something i will do my best to get it for them.... i already give them their pills and take care of them, so why not give them something to smile about and have fun with????

so did i miss a memo somewhere out there that said you can't have fun or make people happy and smile... or am i going about my job all wrong???

:uhoh3:

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Specializes in Onc/Hem, School/Community.

All I can say is this: If my father ends up in LTC, I hope and pray to God you are his nurse. You have the gift of compassion and caring. The other med nurse needs to mind her own business. I once worked in LTC and there was LOL with only two pair of underwear and they had huge holes in them. Family never visited her, so when I was in Wal-Mart one day, I purchased a bag of undies for her. What's the harm?

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We need many more nurses like you!! When I was a CNA years ago and worked in a LTC, I can't tell you how many time I had a resident that I needed help with, and was told by several nurses "I didn't go to nursing school to clean up ****, that's YOUR job!" Doesn't help when someone is covered head to toe, side to side in the bed from constant dosing of MOM!! Bless you for making some sunshine in the lives of your residents! :)

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Keep on doing what you're doing--you clearly enjoy it, and it makes work more fun when the "customers" (pts) are happy.

Just tell her you LIKE doing stuff for the pts, please don't ran on your parade.

After all, you are there to take care of the pts, not just crank out the work. I think she's jealous.

You go, girl!! :yeah: :flowersfo

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OMG, you are the LTC resident's dream!!!! A pox on that sourpuss you work with, she needs to get out of nursing. What right does she have to get mad about something that you do, unless it's really because you're making her look bad because she didn't think of it herself? Tell her to get over herself and keep on doing what you're doing, 'cause I think you're terrific!

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Specializes in Operating Room, Med-Surg, Home Care.

It sounds like you bring joy to the residents. You are someone that the nurses here would love to work with, and it is great that you value your coworkers and treat them well.

The person you wrote about has her own issues that have probably been brewing for years. Dont let her dampen your enthusiasm, and absolutely dont let her ruin the atmosphere you are creating for the elders. Take care

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Wow. Youre awesome!

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Specializes in ER.

Sure you don't HAVE to do any of that stuff, but you did and it made her look bad. Tell her you've got your own wing covered, and she can mind her cranky business.

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Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

What you did showed the COMPASSION and CARING that nurses should have and show!!!

Unfortunately, with heavy workloads, this is the piece of the art & science of nursing that gets delegated to others!

Giving a shower and spending quality time with your patients is wonderful!! Blessings to you for all you do...please dont stop for someone who has no clue!!! :trout:

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Thanks for posting this...I LOVE what you did...nurses like you should be cloned! :)

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I loved reading your post. It made me smile. I especially loved the part about getting 'leid'. It seems, IMO, that most people think that just because they are old that they have no sense of humor. In my experience I laugh more often with the elderly than with the young. They have lived their lives and have so many funny stories to tell.

It's things like this that I'm going to miss. After trying to get into nursing school for years (with a 3.5gpa) I've changed my major. I will certainly miss the laughs.

As for the other nurse, just ignore her. She obviously is one of those who does just what is needed and nothing more.

I work primarily med surg but we also have a LTCF in our hospital. I was chastised last Easter for decorating wheelchairs and hiding easter eggs with little trinkets in them and then wheeling them down to med surg so the other pt's could see them and hand them easter eggs. The residents loved it and wanted to do it again this year, but I had to explain to them that management that it was a bad idea and that I was treating them like children. I also got yelled at for doing a resident's hair and putting barrettes in it - yelled at my social work who just happened to be passing by and thought it was demeaning.

I guess our elderly residents are to sit in the halls in their wc and geri chairs and stare at the wall like a zombie. That makes management happy.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

I thank God for nurses like you! You truly appear to enjoy your career.....it's not a job for you. Thank you and keep up the good work. :smiletea2:

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