Be Careful!

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a senior nursing student. I was SO dissapointed on the unit the other night when a group of RN's were talking loudly about "that new GN who made a HUGE med error" they explained details and talked about how disgusted they were. They gave enough details that me and my classmates could figure out who they were talking about(a girl that just graduated in may). We were so upset b/c this could be us in just a year. We were later discussing with our instructor and decieded that we don't care what your opinion is of us as a GN or an RN but please just keep your talk and opinions about our mistakes or short-comings to yourself. If you have some important feedback or support please confront us directly. I'm sure the GN did not want all of the students knowing about her mistake, I am sure she feels bad enough about it as it is. Just a reminder from a sensitive student....be careful what you say and how loud you say it.

I agree that the gossiping gets out of hand. I'm ashamed to admit that I've listened with interest to some of the stories told around here. I think part of it is human nature. We talk about someone else's mistake while trying to show how it could NEVER have happened to us. Just a form of self-delusion I guess. Anyway, thank you for giving me a new perspective on the situation.

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Specializes in Burn ICU, Psych, PACU.

Done here.

P

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Specializes in Emergency and ICU.

Old nurses never really give any nurse a break in regards to mistakes. Pack mentalityas a whole. Pecking orders exist with nurses. Anything like perceprtions about if a staff member is respected by doctors,has better schedule or considered "a know it all" will start the backstabbing.

Very sad but true.

Lead by example with this types of nurses and don't follow the pack. Keep your side of the street clean with regards of undermining and gossiping.

Hey,a thought. A discussion about safety issues and education to prevent mistakes.

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I find the sniping of this sort on the board to be just another version of "nurses eating their young", a mentality I find non-professional and damaging to the profession and, if taken to the workplace, damaging to the patients.

Therapeutic communication doesn't have to be limited to our patients; we can actually use it when educating, correcting or just having dialogue with another nurse.

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I think what the OP was asking of all of us was to examine our own behavior and not be party to such "lynchings" of fellow nurses (whether graduate or experienced). At least that's the gist of what I took from the OP's post.

We all should remind ourselves as well, that the blame, if you will, for any med error - more often than not, is a system problem...could be staffing issues, orientation issues, pharmacy issues...seldom is an individual nurse totally to blame. (I really hate that word blame).

anyway, let's please show this kid some support. we need all the fresh faces we can get!

While I am on my soapbox I will take it a step further and state that gossip of any kind at the nurses' station, out loud for all to hear, is unprofessional. It's only human to raise an ear for salacious tidbits, but do you really think patients and their families want to hear that garbage? Can you really guarantee, even at 3 am, that they do not? How would you feel as a patient or a family member if you heard a conversation about ANY nurse making a huge med error?

Be thankful that I have to leave for an appointment...otherwise I would have more to say on this issue.

peace

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

And when we single out one group of nurses "old nurses never really give any nurse a break" we are setting ourselves up to fail.

To the original poster - I would discuss this with your clinical instructor. I love to precept new nurses and try always to be supportive of new grads - after all I was one once! If we do not treat others as we would like to be treated, then we have no recourse when we, in turn, are treated badly.

I wish you the best in your nursing career.

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Specializes in med-surg.

The same thing happened to ME when I was a brand new RN. I overheard the float nurse say (at 11:30pm, the start of the shift) "Who had the patient in room such-and-such last night??" (won't go into details, it involves a PCA pump with not enough training for me,) and when I realized that I had possible mis-set the pump, right away I asked the RN (mucho experience) who was replacing me to check the settings, she said it was fine, but it wasn't! I saved my job just because I had an experienced nurse double-check for me. Yes, everyone got a great laugh out of that one, and everyone in the hospital was aware that it was me. Did I feel AWFUL? I could not have felt worse. But, strangely, I felt a little sad for all those staff members who felt the need to laugh at such a (possibly) tragic outcome. Patient was fine after a bit, and no one got sued. (and no support from colleagues). I will never forget that, but I will never spend time in any henhouse that treats others this way.

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Why not direct this at the people you're actually annoyed at instead of ripping total strangers here a new one?

I didn't feel that the OP ripped anyone a new anything. She/he can reach a much wider audience by posting on a forum that thousands of people read. Seems like as legit of a post as any that I've seen on allnurses.

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I find the sniping of this sort on the board to be just another version of "nurses eating their young", a mentality I find non-professional and damaging to the profession and, if taken to the workplace, damaging to the patients.

Therapeutic communication doesn't have to be limited to our patients; we can actually use it when educating, correcting or just having dialogue with another nurse.

:yeahthat:

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Let (s)he who is without sin (mistakes) cast the first stone!! Thank you for your reminder to "be careful". In my opinion, when a nurse makes a mistake (s)he needs a hug, and if open to it, suggestions on how that mistake might be prevented in the future.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Case Management, also OR/OB.

SN Kerri: I heard what you were saying, and support your feelings (that's the Psych nurse in me coming out, sorry), But the important lesson in this whole deal is what was learned from this experience. You just reinforced a critical issue that often is "forgotten" by us older more experienced nurses. Think back to your student days, and I'll bet you had a time when someone made you feel lower than dirt! I've been around quite a few years, and I believe it crucial to support our up and coming nurses. They are, after all, our future. Kerri, you're right. It's inappropriate to discuss other's mistakes in a public forum such as a nurses station, just as it's inappropriate to discuss your date last night, or other info of a personal nature. Oh well, I don't want this to turn into a rant. Kerri, good luck in your career in nursing. We all make mistakes from time to time, we are after all ... human.

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Specializes in critical care transport.
She wasn't "ripping total strangers a new one"! She was appalled at the behavior of the nurses she witnessed and was embarrassed for them and by them! No one is so rightous that they should totally degrade a new nurse or old, especially in a public forum. Why can't we bond together? Why can't we support each other? Does your wisdom make you so much better than everyone else? We need to suport each other, not bring each other down.

I didn't see that they she was comming down on anyone either, other than the lack of proffesionalism displayed by those perfect RN's who don't make mistakes and take great efforts in humiliating the person who made the mistake.

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