Does Upper Management Even Have a Clue?

Specialties Emergency

Published

So when we new grads were first hired everyone was excited to see us. Of course they were...night shift was WAAAY short staffed. We have a short class time each week and then we work with a preceptor for their 3 12s each week. That's our training for 16 weeks. Anyway, the upper management keeps saying "Noone expects you to be perfect. We want you to ask questions" yet when we do some nurses roll their eyes, talk smack behind our backs, and are just down right Rude. I was sitting beside a preceptor the other day, who was not mine, when one nurse came by and asked "Oh, are you on babysitting duty today?" The preceptor didn't hear her...but I sure did. I may be a new grad, but I do NOT need babysitting. I'm so tired of people being ridiculous and petty. I understand that many of these nurses have been in the ER forever, but they too were new once. Noone comes to a job knowing everything, but acting like we're bothering you may actually make us not want to ask questions....and then how will we learn? I don't ask tons of questions. I mostly try to look things up myself, but you get my point. The funny thing is is that most of the nasty nurses have never even spoken to me. I mean really..."If you are not going to speak TO me, then please don't speak ABOUT me." I feel like this is highschool drama/popularity contest, more than I feel like it's a job. The upper management seems oblivious and sometimes I feel like they just don't want to make waves with these seasoned nurses. I understand not wanting to lose those nurses, but a hostile work environment is not something anyone should have to come in to.

End Rant............. :o

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I'm not sure what this has to do with upper management.

Some of your colleagues sound like jerks. Don't sweat it, though. You'll make it through and become an independent practitioner.

Then, pay it forward and go out of your way to extend a genuine welcome to the new grads whom you will be orienting... and take a stand against those colleagues who propagate the lousy attitude that you're seeing.

And to answer your question: No, of course management has no clue... about much of anything that happens on the clinical floors.

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I'm sorry you're having a rough time with your preceptors. Probably not what you want to hear, but count your blessings that you got in. Suck it up for however long it takes for you to build your skills, get your 1-2 years experience and then you'll have the world of nursing at your feet. Really, what's a little eye-rolling and muttered comments behind your back when you have such a great opportunity here? Don't get caught up in the drama, just give it the best you've got.

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Hi Shmily:

You make some excellent points that we as "seasoned" nurses need to remember at all times. I try to remember when I was new. It was some initiation. I kept saying to myself when one of the been-there-forever nurses would delight in mopping the floor with me: 'This teaches me how NOT to treat new coworkers'. The one thing I do suggest is document the hotile incidents: date, time, if any witnesses etc. The documentation may come in handy. Most of all,hang in there! It will pass. Just think how encouraging you will be to the newcomer down the road because of what you are enduring. Best of luck to you.

Bigred

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that is horrible. i feel for you. when i was new there was a nurse on day shift that loved to make me feel dumb. I dreaded giving report to her in the mornings. really now that i think back, it is because she was insecure in herself, talking down to me as if i was stupid made her feel smart. that is the only reason for bullying, insecurity in the bully. just remember that. I actually did go to my manager about this person and came to find out others were having issues with her too, 2 weeks later she was let go. :o

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Specializes in Critical Care/Coronary Care Unit,.

There are jerks at every job....not just nursing. I hear stories from people who work in all types of fields regarding the pettiness they deal with every day. And nurses being mean doesn't necessarily have anything to do with management. It's not their job to make everyone play nice. This is the reality. Never mind those mean nurses. Just do your job. If it becomes workplace bullying, that's a different issue...that goes to management. Ask questions to the ones who don't mind. If those mean nurses say something, stand up for yourself in a polite way. I personally like new nurses...but not everyone feels that way. Just remember this when you have experience and you have to train someone new. Good luck.:)

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I realize that there is unpleasantness in lots of jobs, because this is not my first job....just my first RN job :D And I also know that management can't fix everything, but it'd be nice if they wouldn't turn a blind eye to it either. Some of these seasoned nurses are good friends with the higher-ups, so it's hard to get anything done about the situation. I was basically just wanting to rant about the "old boys" club at my job. I will survive, as the old song goes, but I shouldn't be dreading going in to work already..............

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

I agree this is found in all types of jobs..why?? Insecure mean natured people who are immature. Advice? Upper mgmt will take the survivors of the fittest. Try to avoid the bad ones and buddy up with smart ones who can treat you right. Realize the mean ones may not mean anything personal , they could judt be tired ot training and training and not getting good quality of newbies to stay. Stupid way to handle it but.....

My personal trick that has worked for me over the years when changing jobs or type of nursing was to..Ask trainer..So what do you think was most scary/hardest/easiest/whatever suits your situation....when you were a NEW grad/ or new in this department?????

This causes them to pause to think about their fears as newbie and most times for me it brought them out of the Attitude.

Good luck and remember this for when you get to train nurses in yrs to come...Best of luck, learn each day and succeed!

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To answer your first question, no upper management doesn't have a clue. I'm not sure they could solve the problem of your preceptor though. That's something you and she/he have to work out. I have found that the preceptees that have hard preceptors turn out good nurses though. The preceptors are usually pretty knowledgeable nurses themselves and just expect everyone to be that way.

If you are having a really bad problem, I would go to your nurse manager. They may be less clueless than upper managment. The other thing you can do is just casually find another mentor that is easier to ask questions of. They are out there.

I certainly don't mind answering questions. I don't always have all the answers either.

I don't precept anymore because I don't feel like I'm a good teacher. You have to have a certain amt. of the teacher instinct in you to precept.

Good luck. It will get easier and before long, you will be one of the experienced nurses.

Don't forget too, that precepting is time consuming. Reguardless to how good a new nurse you are. Your preceptor has to follow up on you and check your notes and so forth. She wouldn't be a good preceptor if she didn't.

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

I do think that management has a clue, sometimes. It is essential that management assures that new staff have an adequate orientation and hopefully support for new employees. If you are having difficulty on your shift, it is important for you to give this feedback to your manager and ask how he/ she would like for you to deal with these matters. Or you might start by talking to the charge nurse on the particular shift to see what he/ she can advise. However, if you don't have clearly defined charge nurses on your shift... nurses who are actually hired into that specific position, then go to your manager. You manager cannot fix what he/ she does not know about.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Don't 'rookies' in a lot of fields get treated different? I mean, I guess the babysitting comment really can come down to the spirit in which it was made. I can see how someone could be using the term playfully as easily as using it in a mean spirited way.

Do your best, ask questions in spite of the attitude, and demand respect. You'll do fine!

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Please, don't stop asking questions! That is how your learn.It's better to ask a question that to do something (or not do something) on your own and have a bad outcome. Maybe there is someone more approachable that you can go to if you need help. You just learn to stay away from the mean spirited ones.

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