Feeling extremely underappreciated

[Medic2RN_]

Hi everyone!

So, to cut to the chase, here it is:

I work in a PEDS ER as a Paramedic. Going to school to apply to nursing at this time. This is my issue:

im approaching 12 weeks employment. And I love my job, there's just one problem; I feel like I'm constantly underappreciated and everyone's little toy. All the nurses can be sitting on their phones or something and they're like do vitals on this patients. Do this. Do that. I need this. I need that. When I need a little help too you know. Also I wipe down the beds before and after patients and it really aggravates me when I'm busy with patients in the triage area and i walk back and find dirty rooms. WHAT WERE YOU DOING? Sometimes I just feel like I'm constantly being pulled. They won't do their own vitals. Or even wipe down a bed or table. They won't EVER do crutches or splints. I enjoy my job but sometimes I get extremely overwhelmed when all these nurses are sending me to do things while they're sitting down. Mean while, I barely sit, if I'm drinking water it never fails for someone to tell me to do something. They all get to eat their lunch at a reasonable time and here I am waiting till 2:30 or so to eat because I'm just too busy to break away. It's really aggravating me. It makes me think, you're a nurse, but you can't do these small things? Or is it that they think they are above taking vitals or doing splints. They also refer to me as a nurses aid, when I am a PARAMEDIC. I have a license. I went to school for this. How do I handle all of this?

[DowntheRiver]

I am a paramedic in the hospital. That is my job title.

Yeah, I see this a lot in the Tampa Bay area. Usually it is the medics bringing people back and initiating triage, getting vitals, etc. No CNAs or Techs in the ER, just medics. Probably why so much is delegated to you. They do go by their title of Paramedic. Unfortunately 12 weeks isn't that long to put your dues in. Suck it up, buttercup - we've all been there one way or another. Give it some more time and if it doesn't get any better you can speak to your supervisor or move on to other employment.

[jky004]

Well I work in the ICU on night shift... so believe me in between labs somehow they find a way and it's not just phones it's tablets as well and it happens almost every night when I work... we may just have nurses that do it more often than many you have met but our unit also has managerial issues and the nurses behave quite brat-like when it comes to assignments.. we've had many nurses and even our manager leave due to the fits.. so yes mine probably is a special circumstance..

[jky004]

And as far as education... even if it's true for the majority, why unnecessarily generalize or even say it at all... it seems as though the only reason to call techs uneducated to a tech is to insult.

[AJJKRN]

In my entire career, I have never observed a nurse having the time to do that. I'm not saying you are lying, but I am willing to bet that scenario is strikingly rare. Nurses are being given more and more patients; the powers that be are wringing everything possible out of them to the point that nurses are being burned out and disillusioned in depressing numbers.

The fact remains that when non nurses observe nurses, they often do not understand what exactly it is that they are seeing. Again, there are too many posts to count here written by new grads or CNAs turned LPN or RN who admit that they were incredibly (and mistakenly) judgmental about nurses, what the job entails, the knowledge required, the scope, the responsibility, and the stress involved in never quite being able to get it all done in the time allotted with the quality they desired. THAT's the norm, not the exception being described in the OP and in your own post.

Look through the numerous threads written by new grads about how overwhelmed they are, TO THEIR SURPRISE. In other words, they really thought they "understood" what the life of a nurse entailed, but when they actually had to walk that walk, they finally "realized" they didn't really know diddly.

I have. Unfortunately I think this is why night shift gets such a bad wrap. When I was a CNA, both in LTC and hospital as a float, more nurses than I could believe got away with leisure activities while delegating me to run my tail off and I was already running my tail off because of my own work ethic.

I still work nights but as a nurse now and still run my tail off six years in as a nurse. In my opinion, it's all in ones work ethic...and sometimes it's about having management looking over your shoulder to make you step up your game if needed hence making it harder for more day shifters to goof off on the clock.

I don't know how anyone (CNA/etc or nurse) finds time to goof off but lazy people will find a way regardless of work expectations. I knew a new grad once...which probably still tries to pull this...that would round on the other nurses asking them for help with a separate task that she needed done. If she succeeded in getting others to help her out on multiple tasks then she gained even more down time that shift. Sad but true.

Now I can make a bigger impact on teamwork any where I float at because I'm a nurse, I'm experienced, and I'm often in charge.

Didn't matter how experienced I was as a CNA because it held no consequences or motivation then to my lazy peers.

OP, I think the best advice you're getting right now is to speak up for yourself and give a quick synopsis of your current workload to give a respectful insight to your peers when they're asking you to do more than you can. It's a coin-flip on whether or not they've ever walked a mile in your shoes, remember their time if they did, or even give a damn about anyone else other than their own current needs.

Good luck and remember you're when you're on the other side of the delegation scope.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

And as far as education... even if it's true for the majority, why unnecessarily generalize or even say it at all... it seems as though the only reason to call techs uneducated to a tech is to insult.

While I can see why you would feel that way, it is a legitimate point when CNAs or techs are stating they are the equivalent of a nurse, that they "do everything" and get themselves worked up in resentment over the difference in pay grade. There is a reason nurses are what they are and that comes down to having put in the time at school. That isn't an insult. It is just factual.

[Paws2people]

So, in my application it said : requirements, paramedic license of ____ state. Acls. PALS. NRP. I'm allowed to do other things that CNA's are not allowed to do in this ER. Let me clarify myself again, I don't have a problem doing my job. I have a problem with running ragged, as another member said, while someone sits on their phone viability on Facebook or gossips to another coworker about something while telling me to do this and do that. I understand what a nurse does. Not first hand, but my boyfriend is a nurse and I understand the amount of charting and busywork that comes with it.

Again: Are there any CNA's or PCT's working with you?

If not, then you fill that role.

[Paws2people]

I'm not sure as to why people are getting so defensive for these nurses you do not know. Many of you have told her that she's only been working there three months so its too early to judge these people.. you guys don't even know them, a profession does not necessarily say anything about their personalities... they may be a nurse and a lazy person who loves to sit around and gossip.. it's possible people. I'm in nursing school right now and work as a tech and can say that without a doubt there are quite a few nurses who are not on their computer (therefore not charting) and sit there actually with earphones in watching HBO or Netflix.. some even leave their stations to go gossip at the front desk for 30 min at a time.. it's very possible that she is not wrong about their negligence and it seems wrong that many comments on here completely neglect (funny) her statements about how her coworkers are simply chit-chatting and not charting... you can tell the difference very easily.. So I'm done venting for this individual and I hope everything get better, honey! Just get through school and it will all be worth it :) Best of luck!

On my medicine unit they do exactly that; catch up on the latest shows. Earphones in, blankets on, cell phone/tablet in front of them.

[jackie10]

Medic2RN,

Ignore these RNs that are telling you to suck it up, "that is your job". That mentality is so frustrating!!! No, you are to assist me with my responsibilities. I have worked with good and bad, lazy and intrusive, nurses, techs, medics, etc. If I have a patient who needs anything, it is my responsibility, to provide by direct or deligated. If you and I are sitting at the desk, shooting the bull, whatever, and my patient needs anything, I am going to do it. If I am charting, I may ask you to do it, if it is appropriate. If your nurses are making a patient wait for you to get a drink, blanket, bedpan, because it's your job, while they are not busy, they should be ashamed. I have seen this nurse to nurse, nurse to support staff, etc. RNs' forget they have a license and that if they end up in a deposition, they will not be asked what the medic, tech, CNA saw, did, didn't do, because they as the RN, are liable. Medic2RN, 15 years ago, I would have encouraged you to become a nurse, but today, nurses receive essentially no support from management, and are being held accountable for everything including the color of the grass outside! Have you considered being a toe fungus inspector, couldn't be any worse!

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

If you are a hard worker there will always be people that enjoy handing off their tasks to you. It's part of the deal, and complaining about it will cause you more trouble than relief. It's hard, because you don't have your own assignment, you have literally three times the work you can possibly do, and no one person keeping track.

I suggest letting people know how long they have to wait. If you're an hour behind on the requests, tell them up front, just say "I'll put it on my list, but I'm about an hour behind." they can wait, or do it themselves. You aren't sitting on your butt, so how can they complain?

Another idea, but one you'd have to run by your manager... Get a white board, and mark off the hours of the shift. For each hour the nurses can put requests in, vitals, ECG, that are scheduled, and add on things that they want done that are extra. You cross out each item as it gets done, and you get CREDIT for working hard. When you have twenty vitals to do at noon, well, who could blame you for saying no to ten accuchecks? Hopefully people will back off, or even discuss it amongst themselves and decide what gets priority instead of blaming you. You'll also have evidence of who is taking advantage, and needs to do some of their own work. Make sure you schedule in your breaks on that board, and TAKE them.

Are there other paramedics in your ER? Get together on this. Or if they all feel there isn't really a problem, then you need to adjust your expectations. I don't think anyone on this board can accurately say that anyone is being unreasonable, only you and your team can hash this one out.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

There is a reason nurses are what they are and that comes down to having put in the time at school. That isn't an insult. It is just factual.

Yes...as nurses, we are not paid for what we do. We are paid for what we know. Some individuals cannot wrap their heads around this distinction.

[bringonthefrogs]

While I am bothered by some things said in the original post, I am also quite surprised at how impassioned some of these negative responses are. The OP is talking about his/her specific experience, and maybe he/she really does work with some terrible nurses (we all know they exist). Why are people getting so hot and bothered in defense of those nurses?

As for the whole paramedic/aide thing. It is uncommon for paramedics to work in a hospital. Maybe the nurses do not know you are one or do not know how much it means to you to be acknowledged as one. Find a professional way to tell them that it even if it doesn't seem like a big deal to them, you are worked hard to become a paramedic and you would appreciate being referred to as one.

[Nursebarebari]

Nurses sit down and gossip and toy with their phone? Where is this hospital pl? I would like to work there. And you being refered to as a nurses aid is because u were hired as a CNA regardless of your degree or diploma. And if you were hired as a paramedic, then u should sit down and have a discussion with the manager on exactly what your job description is.