embarrassed myself! Need to vent....

Yvette Acute ER RN · Jul 19, 2007

I have been an ER nurse for quite a while.....and once every couple of years something is my kryptonite(getting sweaty, room begins to fade a bit) ....Usually it involves something extremely distasteful with children. This does not make me any less an ER nurse and many nurses I work with GAG at sputum (myself included). What I question is why they would feel you aren't "aggressive" enough with the other nurses. Unless you are working in a dog-eat-dog department I don't find I have to be aggressive with my colleagues. Unfortunately, there are some rare ER nurses that feel that they are too good to do the "minor" stuff, and look down on new nurses as if they were "hatched" fully educated.

You seem like a conscientious and kind individual, perhaps another ER may work better. I hate when motivated new nurses are chewed up in the ER by the vets, we need more motivated and fresh nurses. I sincerely hope that you examine the situation (have you complained about being tired at the 10th hour, are you dragging by after 8 hours?) and if you feel you are being treated unfairly, move on.

Best of luck.

Yvette

TraumaGirl1018 · Jul 19, 2007

jeez, where's the compassion? I cant believe they changed your shifts just because of one incident! Heck, everyone has their little things that set them off...

abundantjoy07, RN · Jul 19, 2007

That is terrible. I mean, it's not like you could control your queasiness especially if it's something new and disturbing to you. I mean it will probably get better after the 20th time...but that was really harsh. I do understand what she's talking about with the hypothetical code situation, but I feel that your "punishment" was a quick decision that was not well thought out.

I'm sorry this is the type of environment you work in. Just do your very best at the shorter shifts for a month or so before requesting to have the 12s again. Show them you can do it and that you have what it takes. When they see this again, especially when your preceptorship is over, I'm sure everything will be fine.

BTW preceptors can be hell to deal with at times. The old nurses eating their young type scenario. I don't know why so many nurses are so crabby and take it out on others.

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Jul 20, 2007

We all have things that bother us as nurses. I've been in on amputations, but D&C's gross me out. The 1 time I almost blacked out in the OR was during a D&C...I know other nurses and techs that can't handle eye cases...We're human-and it sounds as though your preceptor has unrealistic expectations.

JennaRN1006 · Jul 20, 2007

I agree with the other posters and feel you have been treated unfairly -- yes, I too can see their point about the "code", but we are all grossed out by something -- we dont have stomachs or bodies made of steel. its a human response and something you cant control -- I still have been unable to overcome the gag resposne when I see or smell feces. If I need to obtain a specimen, I do try my best not to get ill and try to be creative to accomplish this, however, I cant control the response.

Is there someone you can complain to? You are being treated unfairly and rather harshly, imo. I agree you can overcome and prove them wrong...you are a great nurse, dont let them get you down

Anjann, RN · Jul 20, 2007

awww, thank guys!

That really does make me feel better. At least tomorrow morning I can go in with the illusion of confidence even if I'm not quite feeling it. I don't know, it's kinda wierd but my preceptor told me no one would respect me down in the ER until I picked a fight with someone and didn't back down and that is how you earn the respect needed to work there. It sounds to me more like a bunch of monkies in the zoo who can't use intelligent conversation, so they just beat up on each other and fling their own crap around. I don't need that to keep my patients happy. I'm fine just the way I am. :) I don't think the patients would be too impressed with that behavior either, just wierd to me. I can get the same thing done by being super nice that they get done by being total dill-holes! so I choose nice!

kimmymom · Jul 22, 2007

I did the same exact thing on my 3rd week of orientation. I work on a med-surg floor and we have a day where we follow a patient pre-op, thru surgery and post op. Well, while anesthesia was doing a femoral nerve block for a total knee patient, I had the same experience you did....got hot/cold, felt funny and blacked out. Luckily for me, everyone got a good laugh out of it and I recovered to follow my patient thru surgery and afterwards to our floor. The first thing my patient asked when coming out of anesthesia was, "How is Kim?" because she was alert when I passed out:-) I still laugh about it. I'm sorry that your preceptor was so hard on you.....that's not fair at all. I thought it would make you feel better to know....you are not alone! Hang in there

Anjann, RN · Jul 22, 2007

Thanks for the support everyone, I really feel much better about the falling out incident. I have talked to some RN's who told me it happens to everyone and we are all human. :) I think the suggestion to do the 8's for the next month and ask to go back to 12's is a good one.

I had not been complaining about being overly tired around the 10th hour or so, the change was pitched more as there is not enough rest time for me between back to back twelves because of my 50 mile commute and I needed to take care of myself. But that is exactly why I only want to drive 3 days a week.

Yes, this is a "dog eat dog" environment, at least that is what I am being told by those who say I have to "squabble" with another nurse, push back on the docs, and "show my horns" before they will respect me. I happen to think picking a fight with a co-worker is just plain rude. And I certainly would not respect them anymore for it.

Of course I think that is totally ridiculous, I am a mature professional, but I don't back down when it comes to advocating for my patients, either. I really feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. I don't want to leave because I like my job, and they are the ones with the problem, not me. Thanks for listening!

justme1972 · Jul 22, 2007

Take a deep breath...ride it out. Make a trip to a physician just to make sure there isn't anything wrong.

Work the 8's...don't make a fuss..you are too new..work them for about 6 months, and then ask to be put back on 12's...they will probably let you.

rn/writer, RN · Jul 22, 2007

awww, thank guys!
That really does make me feel better. At least tomorrow morning I can go in with the illusion of confidence even if I'm not quite feeling it. I don't know, it's kinda wierd but my preceptor told me no one would respect me down in the ER until I picked a fight with someone and didn't back down and that is how you earn the respect needed to work there. It sounds to me more like a bunch of monkies in the zoo who can't use intelligent conversation, so they just beat up on each other and fling their own crap around. I don't need that to keep my patients happy. I'm fine just the way I am. :) I don't think the patients would be too impressed with that behavior either, just wierd to me. I can get the same thing done by being super nice that they get done by being total dill-holes! so I choose nice!

I wouldn't advise you to pick a fight necessarily, but maybe the preceptor is waiting to see if you'll stand up to her.

If you truly don't want the schedule change, get your ducks in row and, in your nice way, take her on.

You can say something like, "You made a lot of assumptions about me the other day, and I want to tell you that they were wrong. I didn't have a problem because I hadn't eaten right or had gotten dehydrated or didn't have enough sleep. The room went dark on me because of what I was seeing--and LP on a child. That's the one and only cause. For you to jump to conclusions and report them to the director is a real problem. The schedule change doesn't fix anything. Instead, it causes me problems for having a queasy moment that passed. I want you to go with me to the director to straighten this out."

Even if you're okay with the schedule change, You cans still say the bolded portion to let her know that you do have a spine and you will not take this kind of treatment well in the future.

You can be as nice as pie, but still set some much-needed boundaries.

Do NOT let this pass unchallenged, or you will get more of the same.

danissa, LPN, LVN · Jul 22, 2007

Anjann..chin up chick!!! Go in tomorrow and show her what your'e made of. I agree, you have been given such a rough time over this, but ride out the storm, I'm sure you will do it. best of luck to you.