Does seniority = superiority

PANurseRN1 · Feb 14, 2007

We have 2 nurses on our floor who have been there 20-25 years. They are very smart and very experienced. However they are VERY lazy! They sit around and chat... talk on their cell phone and order the younger nurses around. I am still on orientation and one of them is often my preceptor. I leave work wanting to scream! She says quote "I love it when you are here, I get to sit around and drink coffee while you do all my work, he he." She doesn't mean it in a mean or hateful way....She just likes not having to do anything. I feel she should be along side me, teaching me and helping me. They don't chart everything they are supposed to, they don't take home meds to pharmacy, they don't chart on the pathways... ect ect. I am a new nurse.. I want to learn the correct way to do things. And I respect their seniority but I don't feel it is right for them to order us around while they sit on their butt....
All the other nurses on the floor put up with this and run around doing their job for them... I like the women and they are smart but what should I do? Should I go along with this nonsense as well?

There are plenty of new nurses who are like this too. This is not a problem related to age/experience, it's an individual problem. Please do not restart the anti-older nurse rants. We have enough of them already.

PANurseRN1 · Feb 14, 2007

In this case,
Seniority=Senility

That was extremely rude.

TigerGalLE, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2007

Yea I guess I am learning a lot doing all the work. And my other preceptor is very good and teaches me the correct way to do things. But I am only with her half of the time. The other half of the time I am with the lazy preceptor who doesn't do everything how you are supposed too... So I get frustrated because I know she isn't doing it right. And Jcaho is coming this month.. I need to be ready!!! I know she knows the right way to do it... she just doesn't do it....

And what I mean by doing it wrong is... not labeling crushed meds, not charting on the pathways, not completing all the discharge papers, not labeling IV tubing, not changing IV tubing... ect..

And I will even say... shouldn't we probably finish charting on this pathway... and she'll say... no we don't have to do that.... ? and I want to say.. yea we do!!

I don't want to be the annoying new nurse that thinks we should do it right because that is how we did it in school or whatever... But I think with Jcaho right around the corner it is important... And I think it is only fair to be taught the correct way on orientation.. If i choose to slack later in my career fine... but at least teach me correctly from the get go so I don't get in a mess with my NM later down the road because I was never taught the correct way to do things..

And instead of seeking opportunities for me during down time.. she makes me go into the break room with her so she can gossip!! I want to pull my hair out...

She is also very good friends with the nurse manager? So is it inappropriate to go to the NM and just request I no longer be assigned to her?

Also the lazy nurse is my friend's mother... so if I no longer want to be with her she'll take it personally and probably get my friend mad at me!

burn out · Feb 14, 2007

Would you like some cheese to go with that Whine? You are on orientation, you will shortly be performing this job on your own. You have all the puzzle peices you just need to put them together, you just need to prove yourself to your employer and your preceptor that you can do this job. Quit spending so much time worring about what your preceptor is doing and concentrate on what you should be doing. You are not a student any longer so noone expects you to be a shadow...now you are the light-let it shine.

You don't need someone to hold your hand while you do assessments. You should be able to pass meds independly by now. Surprise your preceptor and start an IV without her telling you it needs done. Take the initiative because if you don't they may say you can't function independently and it could cost you your job. Gosh, I was doing this as a student nurse, I could handle the whole assignment by myself by the time I was out of school.

You are the one under the microscope not your preceptor..she has been there for 20 years she must be doing something right. Maybe she orients people well to work independently.

TigerGalLE, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2007

I can do assessments by myself and I can pass meds by myself. I don't think it is so wrong that I want a preceptor to teach me how certain things are on the floor. I didn't learn in school how to fill out the appropriate documentation for someone going to surgery. And yes I do need some instruction when hanging blood.

I'm not going to go out on the floor and pretend like I know how to do everything!! That is how patients get hurt!!

burn out · Feb 14, 2007

No you don't want to pretend you know what you are doing but show what you do know. There are other people you can use as resources. Ask the unit secretary if you have the right surgery papers then fill them out, show your preceptor and force her to show you if you did it correctly or not. Yes you need help hanging blood because it always takes two so she should be there with you or another RN no matter if you are on orientation or not. Look for opportunities to do what you can. Just as you think your preceptor is doing nothing she is really watching everything you do and checking behind to see what you have done.

Yes I have been at my job 22 years and alot can be said for that. I love what I do and can not think of another place I would rather go to.

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 15, 2007

This can be a great time to learn assertiveness skills, and if you truly feel you are being dumped on, mention it politely the offending people doing this. If it were I going through this (And I have), I would take each of them aside (privately and separately) and tell them of these concerns in a calm and respectful manner. If this does not help or you are met with rudeness or inappropriate behavior, then it is time to take it to your manager and see what can be done. But do make sure you address this with the offenders, FIRST. A good manager will want to know you tried to resolve these things as adults before coming to him or her.

Also, understand: You will get "dumped on" a lot in your career as a nurse, by one person or another. Self-assertion is something you will need to develop, hone and use again and again. Start now, by telling these people of your concerns. You have the right to be treated fairly and well, just as anyone else on the unit does.

I wish you the best.

Cattitude · Feb 15, 2007

i can do assessments by myself and i can pass meds by myself. i don't think it is so wrong that i want a preceptor to teach me how certain things are on the floor. i didn't learn in school how to fill out the appropriate documentation for someone going to surgery. and yes i do need some instruction when hanging blood.
i'm not going to go out on the floor and pretend like i know how to do everything!! that is how patients get hurt!!

deep breaths, relax, it sounds like you're doing fine. from previous posts this is only like your second week of orientation right? you have plenty of time to get it together. you will still not know everything after orientation is over. it's 10 years for me and i don't know everything yet :clown: . seriously, it takes about 8 months to a year for you to feel truly comfortable. your first 6 months will be all learning. there will always be a new form coming out or a new pump to in service.

what happened to your first preceptor? i don't think you should go to the nm just yet. after 2 weeks, it will brand you as a complainer. just suck it up for a bit. do not compromise care, certainly ask, if you don't know something and do what you do know. i understand your frustration, i've been there,most of us have at one point or another. we survive! fall back on all your strengths, maybe you and the other newbie can bounce thoughts off each other. she may know things you're shaky on and vice versa.

good luck, orientation is not forever:d .

TigerGalLE, BSN, RN · Feb 15, 2007

Well my first preceptor is great.. I'm with her half the time.. So maybe I'll just try to get with her more. Y'all made a good point as I should just show them what I know and do it... And if I need help I'll just ask. I don't want to complain to anyone.. I guess that I why I come on here and vent... haha...