Do you think some people just "dont have what it takes"

99_99africa · Jan 17, 2006

I have seen them come and seen them go! But, what was my input into their lives. A passion for nursing, or have I turned them away disillusioned, through my careless practice or thought. You can turn from into productive nurses, given time.

starcandy · Jan 17, 2006

I don't know, Marie. A few years ago I would have agreed with you 100%. But now, having worked for two FANTASTIC facilities (both contract jobs) I have seen the difference between a fantastic facility and your average run of the mill facility. It's like... once you have tasted Chocolate, fake Chocolate just doesn't do the trick. You have to have the real thing. Honestly, working for Mayo ruined me for hospital nursing. I have now seen true nursing and what it is all about. Having less is no longer good enough. I now know what real Chocolate really tastes like.
Since I have worked for two places that I was able to do my job to the best of my ability with all the equipment needed to do the job well, I am ruined for your average hospital. One was Mayo and the other was a home health specializing in infusion. Both places put patient care above dollars. I'll bet if folks here are honest they will say that in the last 10 years they have not worked for a place where patients come before dollars. Until I experienced that I had no idea what true nursing was. I've been bouncing around with contract jobs to find something similar and I am no longer satisfied with "good enough."
I have also been in management and I KNOW what a difference management can make. When it isn't up to par, it really is hard to stick it out. I look at some of the toush kissing managers now and slowly shake my head. I quickly realize that honestly, they don't have a clue. They are no more prepared for the job of managing a large floor, unit, facility than a new grad with no experience.
If a nurse is REALLY good AND they have tasted real Chocolate, they will easily become bored in a so-so facility. How many here can say they only stick it out because they will be vested soon, or their kid(s) are in college and they need the money? Or a multitude of other reasons? They know they aren't at the best place and they can quickly and easily see the problems and they know the answers. It's quite difficult to stay at such a place.
I no longer look at a resume with a variety of jobs with a raised eyebrow. I'm beyond that. I would be one of those folks if I didn't work contract. I've had the opportunity to see what a LOT of facilities are like merely by working there for a few months each yet it is all through one employer. I have my own opinions on each one. Some I would work for again, some I wouldn't.

What is true nursing in your opinion?? Can you compare your experiences in hospital nursing?

scooterRN52 · Jan 17, 2006

I am in the process of orienting/precepting a nurse to our surgical floor. This nurse has been a nurse for 10 years, has a masters degree in nursing administration. The first day of orientation he makes the comment, he believes he will be an asset to the nurse manager on our floor because of his management experience. To make a long story short we are 5 1/2 weeks into this orientation process and I feel like I am beating my head against a wall. He continually neglects basic tasks such as noting orders, will NOT independantly review protocols I have printed for him and I believe he has no desire or ability to be a good staff nurse. His background is long term care and management, he has worked in multiple facilities and says he has worked some med-surg as an agency nurse. I have relayed my concerns to the nurse manager but because of his impeccable resume I dont think she is willing to see the problems. We are in the process of switching his preceptor but I personally dont think he has it in him. Do you agree, some people just dont have what it takes?

Sounds like he has too many initials after his name and no experience to back them up. It sounds like he has minimal experience as a staff nurse.

I believe that a good superviser or manager should have many years staff experience in order to really understand the whole picture. Long term care nursing and hospital nursing are very different. I have worked in all 3 roles

and I am a staff nurse in a specialty hospital now. I don't want to have anything to do with management again, although I supervise at times.

:uhoh21:

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Jan 17, 2006

I believe a lot of people "don't have what it takes" to be a nurse. It is a tough and demanding profession.

99_99africa · Jan 17, 2006

most nurses here when employed use lots of sick leave, hence the use of agency staff, the nurse must shape up or get cancelled. This is most frustrating to permanent staff. :saint: :saint: all try to be as good as gold!

scooterRN52 · Jan 17, 2006

I believe a lot of people "don't have what it takes" to be a nurse. It is a tough and demanding profession.

I agree with you, nursing is very tiring and demanding, it takes special people to handle this profession with integity and physical demand.

rita359 · Jan 17, 2006

Please get this guy out of your institution. Ten years of experience and he is acting like a student. The patients who will be assigned to him after his orientation deserve someone who can take care of them. This individual is book smart but needs a refresher course in basic nursing care. I'd even hate to see him in a management role as he understands so little about bedside nursing.

rita359 · Jan 17, 2006

llg refers to "only 5.5 weeks orientation". That may be ok for a new grad but as an experienced nurse switching jobs I have never had anywhere near 5 weeks orientation. My current prn position had 3 days day shift and 2 or 3 days for other shifts. Long before 5 weeks this guy should be flying on his own needing only minimal assistance. :rolleyes:

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 17, 2006

llg refers to "only 5.5 weeks orientation". That may be ok for a new grad but as an experienced nurse switching jobs I have never had anywhere near 5 weeks orientation. My current prn position had 3 days day shift and 2 or 3 days for other shifts. Long before 5 weeks this guy should be flying on his own needing only minimal assistance.

If he has been away from bedside nursing for several years, it is reasonable to expect him to take much longer than the minimum. Practice changes and skills become rusty -- a lethal combination. That's why some states REQUIRE that nurses out of practice for a given number of years take a refresher course before returning to work.

It sounds as if this particular man is not well-suited for the staff nurse job that he has been hired for. He probably needs to be counselled out of the job. However, in general, it is not reasonable to expect nurses who have been away from the bedside for several years to quickly pick it up again. Some people may be able to do that, but many others can not -- but can be successful if given to re-learn and adjust in an orientation similar to that of a new grad.

We can't afford to discard such people lightly. Some of them make great long term employees because they appreciate the time and effort that was given to help them re-enter the hospital environment. I'm not saying that this particular guy would as he doesn't sound like he would stay in that role for long even if he were successful -- but other people who are similarly struggling should be given a better chance to succeed.

llg

scooterRN52 · Jan 17, 2006

Please get this guy out of your institution. Ten years of experience and he is acting like a student. The patients who will be assigned to him after his orientation deserve someone who can take care of them. This individual is book smart but needs a refresher course in basic nursing care. I'd even hate to see him in a management role as he understands so little about bedside nursing.

I agree this nurse should know what he is doing but it sounds like he doesn't, so i say also that he requires a refresher course in med-surg, it might be unsafe to let him work on his own! Maybe he should find an other

kind of work.:rotfl:

AnnemRN · Jan 18, 2006

If he has been away from bedside nursing for several years, it is reasonable to expect him to take much longer than the minimum. Practice changes and skills become rusty -- a lethal combination. That's why some states REQUIRE that nurses out of practice for a given number of years take a refresher course before returning to work.
It sounds as if this particular man is not well-suited for the staff nurse job that he has been hired for. He probably needs to be counselled out of the job. However, in general, it is not reasonable to expect nurses who have been away from the bedside for several years to quickly pick it up again. Some people may be able to do that, but many others can not -- but can be successful if given to re-learn and adjust in an orientation similar to that of a new grad.
We can't afford to discard such people lightly. Some of them make great long term employees because they appreciate the time and effort that was given to help them re-enter the hospital environment. I'm not saying that this particular guy would as he doesn't sound like he would stay in that role for long even if he were successful -- but other people who are similarly struggling should be given a better chance to succeed.
llg

Totally agree with you llg,your approach probably saves a few good nurses that some others would have scared away!:)

islandhopper · Jan 18, 2006

I must be working with his sister. If I hear one more time "well at the nursing home" I just want to say hey you aren't at the nursing home and you haven't been for almost a year. Apparently, these people test well because heaven knows they have no common sense or ability to put theory into action.