Major Vent...

1. UGH.. Work last night was horrible.... I work on a Ortho floor as a PCA... Well our hospital census has been so low, that we have had 14 maybe 15 pts at the most for a long time... With 2 PCAs and 2 RNs.. That always works well, plenty of time to get everything done... Well last night we went to hell and back... We had 27!!! With 3 RNs, 1 LPN(she only passed meds) and 2 PCAs... Well that sounds like it would work out just fine.. Well it didn't.. I had 14 of my own, with 4 being fresh post-ops Needless to say I never got caught up... I was constantly running back and forth between the post-ops, then trying to take care of everyone else.... Had one guy who thaught it was fun to vomit 30mins after we changed his bed... He did that 3 times.. And he has a broken hip and was in Bucks traction, so his bed was ALOT of fun to change... Well PCAs on our floor also do I&Os and chart them along, with a flow sheet and charting vital signs. We got a fresh broken hip at 11pm.. Shift is over at 12... Nurse tells me that she will need a Pre-op bath, and I said I'm behind, but if I get caught up, I will get it.. Otherwise I will tell the night shift PCA.. And that is what we are suppose to do.. If we can get it done, then we do it, otherwise the night shift can do it.... Well new shift comes on at 11:30, I still haven't charted ANYTHING.. Everyone decided they needed a bed pan.. So I tell the new PCA coming on that room 97 is gonna need a pre-op bath, and she says ok... Well I'm charting at 12 and the RN comes up to me and says "Don't worry about that bath, I did it" I was like Ok... Not much I can do.. We get into big time trouble if we go OT... So I was trying not to... Well at 12:15, I'm finally done and ready to go.. And I hear the RN say to someone else.. "I shouldn't have to do these baths"
   
   WTF.. It was ONE bath, and she was finished with everything... GEESH.. Sorry this is so long, but I was very aggravated by that comment, ONLY b/c she makes it sound like I wasn't wanting to do it, rather than I have ran my butt off all night with 14pts, when she only had 6

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   About Ortho_RN

   Joined: Nov '01; Posts: 1,616; Likes: 37
   New RN Grad... Just passed NCLEX.. Working on a Ortho floor

   15 Comments

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3. 
   Jun 11, '03

   I'm sorry you had a rough night. These things happen once in a while.
   
   I wonder, was the Nurse running her butt off too? 6 patients for a nurse can be just as demanding. She may have been just as frustrated as you were. She may not have been directing the comment to you. Many times we are short staffed and not only with RN's. PCA's and CNA's are very valuable to us. Yet, staffing is not done by how much care a patient needs, unfortunately.
   
   Please try to get past this. There will be other nights that should be easier for you. Thank God, these nights don't happen to us very often.
   
   Hang in there and good luck in your last year of school. I know you will have compassion for PCA's when you are a nurse.
4. 
   Jun 11, '03

   What????? you lazy nurse, you didn't have fresh coffee waiting for the next shift either I bet!!! Shame on you for sitting on your rear all shift, LOL.. Ok go ahead and vent away, we all have those shifts.
5. 
   Jun 11, '03

   That was a bad comment. Hopefully she was just venting,but it hurt anyway. I don't work with aides in the ICCU,but know they are extremely valuable on the regular floors. My daughter is a CNA. She has told me some bad stories about lazy nurses who treat the aides like a personnal slave...but it was mostly just one nurse. Unfortunately there are always ones like that ,that give RNs a bad name. The good RNs will treat you with gratitude and respect.
6. 
   Jun 11, '03

   Originally posted by nurs2b
   And I hear the RN say to someone else.. "I shouldn't have to do these baths"

   Should tell that catty woman not to do you any favors! SHEESH!
   
   Can I buy you a cuppa coffee, hon? Those nites are a b....
   
   {{{{{{{{nurse2B}}}}}}}}}}
7. 
   Jun 11, '03

   
   
   Hang in there chica, sounds like she was just venting too, things will get better, it was just a b.... of a night. I have read your posts here and from what I can tell you are going to make one hell of a nurse, don't let one bad night get ya down girly!
8. 
   Jun 11, '03

   There will always be someone who can't appreciate you for what you have done, only get upset if you leave one small thing left undone. I think navynurse has it right....you will make one hell of a compassionate nurse.....hang in there....
9. 
   Jun 11, '03

   Just remember------ This too shall pass!! Hang in there Chick!
10. 
    Jun 11, '03

    Thanks everyone...
    
    Just want to clarify I was NOT saying the nurse was being lazy by any means.. She is just the type of person that stresses VERY easy.. We have had a disagreement before, and we got over it.. I love her to death, she is a great person... But if she has more than 5pts she starts to freak, whether it is busy or not... It usually isn't like this, but this was one of the worst nights I have had in a LONG time...
    
    I guess the main thing that bugged me was the fact, that I had been going NON freaking stop all night, and JUST because I couldn't get one lil patient bathed, she throws out that comment and makes it sound like I had been doing nothing...
    
    Oh well.. That is in the past now
11. 
    Jun 12, '03

    Whew! Hope the next night is better. Hate those kind of nights. Too bad the nurse couldn't have been more supportive and realized the bath was just as much her responsibility, that is if there is teamwork involved.
12. 
    Jun 12, '03

    We've allllllll had those kinda suckie nights unfortunately and unless everyone works together things are left undone,and feelings are hurt. It just amazes me that one person can "watch" as another busts his/her butt and won't step in to help out.Be it RN,LPN,or CNA.......for the love of GOD people help each other OUT!!! isn't that what we are ALL there for???
13. 
    Jun 12, '03

    You had 14 and she only had 6.
    
    Was she reading magazines? sleeping? doing her nails?
    balancing her checkbook?
14. 
    Jun 12, '03

    Find the balance young weed hopper. This is the worst night in a long time?? Well, I will hope for you not to have another bad night for another long time. You have two good hands, two good feet, a strong back and a very giving nature, passing on pts is why there is another shift coming on. You did your best and can only do so much with the time alotted.

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