Feeling disenchanted already

misschelei · Aug 29, 2005

Have you considered switching to critical care?

Tweety, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2005

Sometimes you have to risk and leave an unhappy situation.

But the grass isn't always greener on the other side. If you put your job satisfaction in your coworkers hands then you're going to be disappointed no matter where you go.

Perhaps you can ask the manager to keep incident reports confidential when counseling employees. When I find a med error, naturally I sign it, but it's not necessary approprirate for anyone else to see the report or even know I wrote it. It's up to the manager to, if possible, to leave you out of it.

Continue to strive to be the best you can be.

Good luck in whatever you do.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2005

Some of the stuff you describe (absent charting, tardiness, continually dumping tasks on other shifts) is due to poor management. It's true that this kind of stuff goes on at other hospitals to some extent because there is no place that is perfect. Confront the people who continually leave you with the same tasks of theirs to finish. I would tell a nurse who does this to me regularly that I resent having to do her work and to stop doing it.

I've worked on some wonderful units where none of this foolishness went on. They are out there. They are people who respect each of their co-workers and treat them like they want to be treated.

It sounds to me like you might be ready to try your hand at management. As a manager you have more influence to change these kinds of behaviors.

lovinghands · Aug 30, 2005

If you put your job satisfaction in your coworkers hands then you're going to be disappointed no matter where you go.
I needed to hear these words today - thank you Tweety! :)

bth44 · Aug 30, 2005

Have you considered switching to critical care?

It's one of the next big goals of mine I want to achieve. I'd like to gain a few year's experience in ICU and then try my chance to be accepted into a CRNA program.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Aug 30, 2005

Sorry to read this. The answer is simple. Like tweety said. Basically think about YOU and look elsewhere for your satisfaction and happiness. You can never rely on others for that. Be selfish is this sense and find another place that will give you that satisfaction you yearn. Good luck to you. :)

FAIRYTALES · Aug 30, 2005

I graduated from school a couple years ago and have been working at a 200-bed hospital in med/surg with opprotunites to float to other units since then. This is the only hospital in the area, and it's our small town's largest employer. I've learned a lot and I've been given a lot of opprotunities. I have no problem with management, but I do have a problem with other nurses and CNAs. Shortly after working at this hospital, I've started to notice the lack of attention to detail, and sometimes even the lack of competence, in nurses and CNAs I work with. I've also noticed problems with nurses on other shifts. Some of them forget to chart, are late to work, and even dump tasks onto the next shift, like, PICC dressing changes and restarting IVs. If there's a med error, I'll write up an incident report. I'll overlook wrong IV fluid infusion rates or not signing the MAR for pain medication, but regardless of how severe, some nurses see it as a personal vendetta against them and get crabby from then on. I'm just wondering if this is the norm at every hospital I will work at. I'm hoping to relocate to a larger metro area in my state (portland, OR), with lots of hospitals, many of which are regarded as being cream of the crop as far as healthcare goes. My mother (who coincidentally, doesn't really want me to leave home) says, "You're going to find that at every hospital you work at. You're not going to see perfection." I'm not looking for perfection, but I'm looking for co-workers who strive for it. I'm just wondering, since I've worked in just one hospital so far, if I should expect this sort of thing everywhere I go, or try my hardest to find a hospital who expects nothing less than their employees trying their best.

sounds to me that you are a great nurse,and one I would want to care for my loved ones.Keep up the good work,and hold your head high. You know the reason you write up errors-they are suppose to be a WAKE UP CALL to people. Nobody is perfect however when your dealing with meds and people's lifes there are no room for errors.Good luck to you!!

mysterybe · Aug 30, 2005

I agree with the great advice given here so far.

Tweety you're so right, you can't put job satisfaction, your own happiness, etc. in anyone else's hands....I also needed to hear that today.

I also agree with the posters who suggested critical care and/or being a manager. Perhaps it's time for you to grow at another place. Sounds like you are already thinking like a manager, and yearning to grow into a more critical care type of nursing. You sound like a great nurse. Good luck to you.

William_SRNA · Aug 30, 2005

Move on to advanced practice you will be much happier

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 30, 2005

Sometimes you have to risk and leave an unhappy situation.
But the grass isn't always greener on the other side. If you put your job satisfaction in your coworkers hands then you're going to be disappointed no matter where you go.
QUOTE]
Wow, Tweety ... that is a great line. I'm sure I'll use it myself someday. Thanks!
llg

trudlebug · Aug 30, 2005

IShortly after working at this hospital, I've started to notice the lack of attention to detail, and sometimes even the lack of competence, in nurses and CNAs I work with. I've also noticed problems with nurses on other shifts. Some of them forget to chart, are late to work, and even dump tasks onto the next shift, like, PICC dressing changes and restarting IVs.

Sounds like where I work. It's a 700 bed level 1 trauma, largest employer in the county, but when it comes to management, there is no consistency. Morale is low, and I just received a call for an interview at another job, closer to home and more money. I just hate thinking I'll have to leave my co-workers on my shift...they are great, my ANM is the best and has taught me so much in the 7 months I have worked with her....Feeling a bit at odds right now. Guess I'll go to the interview and decide what to do next.

But the grass isn't always greener on the other side. If you put your job satisfaction in your coworkers hands then you're going to be disappointed no matter where you go.

well put, Tweety...I too needed to hear that from someone else right now!

Good luck!