Hey, all, I have a situation that's been driving me nuts, maybe y'all can help me with it!
I work in the MICU, and I've been there about 6 months. I really enjoy what I do, and I do enjoy the people I work with. There's the same frustrations as everywhere else (low staff, high acuity pts, etc), but I really enjoy the experience overall.
Anyway, every now and then, I feel like some other nurses (very few) kind of give me an attitude if they feel I'm doing "too much" for my pts. Last night is a good example- woman with ESLD and ESRD, on CVVHD, mostly A&O on room air/occ NC (not common for us, most pts vented). We mostly sit right outside the rooms. Anyway, occasionally when she's startles awake, she is confused and will call my name. She just forgets about the call bell (little hepatic encephalopathy);on day shift she uses the callbell. She doesn't scream or shout, just calls my name. One of the other nurses says, "You can't let her call you like that! Tell her she must use the call bell or you won't come!" Honestly, I prefer her to call my name then try to crawl out of bed!
Also, I helped her brush her teeth, and another nurse stared @ me like I was an alien!! :uhoh21: I mean, she has to drink Lactulose and Bicitra- this is the least I felt I could to to help her. This pt is alert, and tired, and asked to do her bath in the morning, which was fine with me. So I was helping another nurse, because I had the time, and when I told her about it in passing ("oh, I'm going to do my bath in the morning, she asked and needs some rest.") I got a lecture! "You need to tell your pt that if she doesn't take her bath when it's offered, you may be too busy later! That pt is so annoying, she demands too much! You need to set some limits." The only thing this pt ever asks me for is a bedpan w/powder on it to make it more comfortable & to mix her Lactulose real well. I don't find this overly demanding!
Plz keep in mind while I'm doing this "extra" (not in my opinion) stuff for her, I'm still answering other pts alarms when other nurses are tied up, intervening on a pt who desated and had to be re-intubated, taking over midnight care of the nurse's other pt so she could stablilize the decompensating pt, helping turn and bathe other pts (we do not employ NA's)... etc. I'm not in my room giving my lady a manicure while the unit falls apart and then claim "I was too busy to help."!
Finally, one nurse finally grumbles something like, "I hope if I ever have her, she doesn't expect all this stuff from me!" What, a bedpan? Sleep? A toothbrush? Are they just upset that I'm setting a good example?? I don't know! I feel I'm a compentent nurse, and I feel this woman is just sick as anything and feels like poo and doesn't want to crap all over herself!
Seriously, guys, I feel good about the care I gave her (and my other pts), but then I feel bad about how those few nurses react to the "over" care I give!
Blah. That was long. Thanks for listening!
Peace,
Sharon
PS I did have some Gardenia lotion in my bag, so I put a little bit into a medicine cup to share with my pt because she's been here so long and I know she's tired of the hospital stuff, and I wanted her to have a little pampering. One of the other nurses complimented me on how my pt looked/smelled after her bath, and I was afraid to tell her what I did because I thought I'd get another lecture! What am I doing wrong?!?!
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Those saying this I BET, lack a lot in their care. It makes them feel better to put you down. It takes more work and effort to meet your standard. Far easier just to criticize you. Given that, I would consider it a COMPLIMENT and keep on keepin' on.
You aren't doing anything wrong, if you are, then, there are a lot of us out there in the same boat. You can be my nurse anytime. I'm like you, I had rather a pt. call me by name than hear a call light anyday.
I think you're wonderful; too often, people forget the human side of nursing. When I graduate, I'll remember your example and I'll be grateful for your inspiration. Thanks!
I worked in the surgical unit of a major hospital years ago whose unit manager was a sorry excuse for a nurse, berating a co-worker of mine for spending "too much time" with one of her patients, who was a fresh post-op radical mastectomy. This woman was in a lot of pain and required a great deal of care, and I will never forget to this day the devastated look on my co-worker's face, after "Nurse Ratched" hung her out to wash for taking care of her patient! I resigned shortly after that incident, no longer wanting to be part of a hospital who allowed its managers to undermine their nurses' ability to carry out quality care. :angryfire
I get a lot of the same comments from my co-workers. I primarily work days but pick up nights for a little OT. When I work nights I tend to save an hour of time for each bed bath (we consistently have 2 patients). I put my other patients monitor on picture/picture so I can see them and get to work. I do everything I can by myself including starting my new sheets and completely changing all the linen I can. I get mocked because I shave men's facial hair and if a woman wants I take the time to shave their legs. I always carry detangler in my bag and wash everyone's hair...just a habit. When other nurse's comment on my care I always throw it back at them and say "what if this was your mother?"
I despise when someone tells me that a patient does not need to be turned q2 because they are on a hill rom sport bed that's on rotation mode!!!
Sounds like you are doing a great job caring for your patients! I always try and think about if I was in the hospital and how special it would be if someone would bring in some fresh scented lotion or powder...the little things go such a long way and I'm sure that patient you mentioned will remeber you letting her brush her teeth and the powder on the bedpan. Keep up the great work!
...Anyway, every now and then, I feel like some other nurses (very few) kind of give me an attitude if they feel I'm doing "too much" for my pts. What am I doing wrong?!?!
You aren't doing a darn thing wrong...you identified there are a 'very few' nurses giving you an attitude. It may be because they are feeling a little guilty that they aren't delivering the type of nursing care that they should be...OP identified burnout as a possible cause.
Whatever the reason, continue to give the excellent nursing care to your patients that you have been. You have no need to apologize or hide the type of care you give!
TRINI_RN
608 Posts
I think you're an outstanding nurse. Keep up the good work!