fed up, negative and wrong

[momeekisses]

I have been working at the same place since becoming a nurse. Over the past three years I have worked with a really great staff of people. I often find myself getting frustrated with the things I have no control over. Lack of proper staffing (acuity of care for geripsych), lack of supplies, new admits ( stretched thin already and can't get to the ones we have) and so on and so on.

I clean up pudding and residue from crushed pills in med room, don't have a place to sit a minute to do charting, restock cups and such then there isn't one next time I come in and a patient is thirsty. Filing is left for days and sometimes important papers dont get signatures (unless a select few get them).

I have become very negative. I complain about these things and more, as well as being critical of others not pulling their fair share of work load. I hate that the patients are the ones to not get the kind of care I believe they deserve. So naturally I have become a PIA to my co-workers. I am begining to make enemies of them. I don't want that. I hate being negative and I know I wouldn't like to be one of the people working with me. I am working with my sponsor with these issues and I realize that when something bothers me then it is about me and I need to dig deep and find out what it is. I pray for Gods will not mine to be done. I am thinking about leaving where I am but I know that where ever I go I take me with me. I have 5 yrs sober on New Years Eve. I am struggling with practicing these principles in all my affairs. I know I am the problem. I am frustrated with myself and although I truely love being a nurse, I wonder if it is not the right fit for this recovering person. Anyone with feedback on how to not let thing at work get to me so much I would really like to hear it.

[chiefshewho]

I am sorry you are fustrated. I do not know the answer but I suggest maybe a change. I can get bored if things are not changed up a bit. It could be transferring to a different unit, taking on a preceptor role, or different position. I would not give up on nursing just yet. It sounds like you are a good nurse and thats is what the patients need. God did not make you one for no reason.

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

I do this too. But then I realize what I'm doing and I have to tell myself to back off. It can't be that big of a deal! All the crap that other people do that get on my nerves,, like stuff that they SHOULD be doing but DONT,,, that gets on my nerves.... I just have to LET GO AND LET GOD,, take care of it. You know, just think to myself.. whatever, if they want to act that way and be sloppy pigs, I can't do anything about it. I just do the best that I can while I"m there, and that's all I can do...

So, maybe if you tell yourself that... do the best that you can while you're there, and that's all you can do,, it might help a little.

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

I just try and remember there are a lot of things I can't control but I can control how I react to them

[mummasheesh]

Momeekisses,

I think that you are doing an amazing and wonderful job staying sober and helping others, namely your patients! You might be at a place in your sobriety where a change is coming. I've hit those places before, where I get complacent and itchy. On those days I ask God to show me what to do next, and I talk to him throughout the day and I keep it humorous. ("OK, God, if pudding scraping is what you want me to do, then pudding scraping it is!")

Are you helping other sober women? Sometimes helping others helps me to get out of my own head and gets me out of the complacent mode. Also, don't discount he fact the the holidays are upon us, and they are STRESSFUL.

Keep moving forward. You are a miracle. :redbeathe

[nurselsteele]

i think we have all gotten to that point before, i have been at my current job 6 yrs, in nursing for 18 yrs, & i find myself becoming the negative nelly some times, along w/ my co-worker who has been at our current job for 8 yrs, people are people & sometimes they suck out loud & its hard not to see or here that they are dropping the ball, and you have to pick it up. so we have adapted our way of thinking, if we come in & our cups are empty, we restock them, and leave a little note on the cart saying: tag your it, its your turn to stock cups after your shift!

little suttle hints are sometimes enough to get someones attention.. don't let it get personal... there will always be people that don't work as hard as you do or don't pick up after themselfs after their shifts, they are just who they are,, can you imagine their houses? we actually make jokes about the nurses we have to follow, it helps ease the pain, say"wow jeans house must be a pig stye if she leaves her work station like this",

you have to make choices, but remember no matter where you go there is going to be those people, there isnt a place that has all perfect staff members or we would all work there!!

good luck!! make the best of a bad situation! keep your area clean, & leave little "tag your it" notes, thats what we do to make fun of a bad situation! works for us!! may or maynot work for you!

good luck