Nurse vs New Grad

[Jenny12]

I am all set to go into ICU, but just today i found out that 2 ICU nurses don't like the idea that me a new grad coming into ICU. My friend who is in her 3rd year told me that her preceptor (one of the ICU nurses and her best friend). Keep talking about me and the other person who is also being orientated into ICU, and keep saying were young, inexperienced, and etc to other nurses and that we should work on med/surg for a year. I have not worked with these 2 nurses nor do they know me, i feel like i am already having issues with my future co-workers. I also found out that they are the type that talk behind every nurses back and don't realize that students are listening to them and they also criticize other ICU nurses' work. I am a type of person who can be very shy, but i take all of my work seriously and always give a 100%, but for them to judge me and talk about me is not fair. As i said before there are ICU nurses that have watched me during preceptorship and undergrad and have encourged me to join their team, and are ready to take me in. But these 2 ICU nurses have other things on thier minds. Did i mention that there are only 6 ICU nurses working in this hospital. I don't want to come home each day upset, but at the same time i want to work in ICU.

[meandragonbrett]

Nurses can be a rough group. Keep your head up, go in, ask good questions, and prove yourself. Good luck

[labfreak]

dear new grad,

i am will be a new grad in two weeks and understand where you are

coming from. the thing that i have learned in nursing school unfortunately

is that there is always someone who will gossip about you, a nurse who simply decides that she/he doesnt like you, regardless of your finer qualities. while teamwork is crucial, especially in the icu setting, i would

say to you if you are feeling like other nurses are talking about you that you should ignore them and to focus on your patients. you will earn the nurses respect in the end and if they refuse to be a team player to help you when you need help, as everyone eventually does need help, then they will look like assholes who dont care about patients and you will be the better nurse. eventually someone will notice and you will earn their respect. another suggestion i have is to offer them your help even if

they dont appear to need it. just walking by ask them, "are you ok? do you

need anything?" this shows good teamwork. when all else fails nurses love

it when you bring in food.

to recap:

ignore the gossip

*focus on the patient

offer you help

food

[peds4now, RN]

OP and Labfreak, I'm also graduating and dealing with some of these issues. But I'm not shy, not young, and not stupid (not that you are OP, but you seem to doubt your abilities). When I have to deal with someone, be it a patient or a coworker, who has a personality disorder or who thinks this is all about them, I just hold fast to my therapeutic communication and concentrate on the patient-and thank G-d I have a life and don't have to be such a drama queen to cope with myself. When you start work, keep your eyes open for the REAL leaders on the unit-they probably aren't the loudest, most sociable people. Model yourselves after those quiet leaders, and you will be fine.

I do worrry about working with seriously messed up people, and coming from 15 years in another industry, I do think they are overrepresented in nursing or that management just doesn't demand that they control themselves enough, but I'll do it. Tell you friend she's bringing you down and just do it.

[Jenny12]

Thank-you all for your responses. I needed to vent and this was the best place to do it. It was stupid of me to listen to my friend; i am going to go into ICU and do the best i can, i know my preceptor went through the exact same thing and actually left the ICU for a while, but came back.

[ginger58, ASN, RN]

Jenny, Take yourself right into the ICU and be the nurse that you are. Remember, what the gossips say is reflective of them and not you. Anyone that works with them know what they are and probably have learned to deflect their spewing. Just think how exciting this opportunity is for you.

[labfreak]

Go get em Jenny!

[jill48, ASN, RN]

jenny - get your bum in there and do what you know you can do. be proud and assertive and don't let anyone get you down. you can do this. these crabby rags are going to be everywhere, don't let them get the best of you. show them that not only are you qualified, but maybe even better than them.

daytonite - ***? op came here for some support. while i agree with most everything you said, you could have said it a little nicer. save your tough love antics for your own staff. it's not needed in this situation. the poor girl was looking for a little help, not a life lesson.

[romerog]

I believe in every field you will encounter difficult people. They want to throw stones at you because you bear much fruit. It's either they want you to be like them or partake of your fruit their style. It's sad but it's part of the challenges in our life and would take the kind of foundations you have in terms of emotional and psychological dev't to handle them well. Above all is our spiritual dev't because no matter how huge our obstacle is toward a dream, God will always be right behind you and bigger than any obstacle you will ever face. That's how I am able to survive some people. I lay all of those concerns before God at night and just do what I have to do conscientiously and I would be just fine. I kept promising myself that when my turn comes, I will not be like them. May God continue to bless your career as He always have.