I keep reading articles about the newer generation of workers, and how they just have a different attitude towards work. Well, I'm getting frustrated and disappointed by some of what I see in my workplace.
I know it's not all young people, and I'm pretty young myself.
But I'm seeing a decline in patient care and lack of interest in nursing excellence by the newer staff where I work.
Socializing with each other seems to be taking precedence over patient care. Goofing off and playing practical jokes is seen as okay. Those who disagree or try to point out when behaviour at work crosses the line of appropriate get rolled eyes, and they act like we are nagging or picking on them.
This past weekend, patients didn't get turned properly, and when we came on for nights, we found a patient who had been admitted seven hours previously still in the dirty sheets from the ED stretcher, with alcohol swabs and an empty muko lubricant packet stuck to his skin. The day shift staff had been playing jokes on each other, squirting with syringes. One of the nurses put muko lubricant on the phone receiver in the Stepdown unit for a joke, and one of the patients family members got a phone call, and was slimed. This was a family member of someone who was a seriously injured trauma patient. I was embarrassed, to be honest. Our patients deserve better.
I told the manager, and she'll talk to the nurses who were on duty at the time. But these are just examples of the behaviour I'm seeing every day at work. A trend to care more about break time and hanging out with co-workers than knuckling down and doing the work. Does anyone else see this happening?
I feel some of our staff really don't understand the concept of professionalism, and that you have to act differently at work than you do when you are out with your friends. Maybe part of it is that their friends essentially ARE their co-workers, so work is just another place they see their friends. But still, how do you explain to people where the line is or even teach that concept if it is new to them without sounding like an old hag?
I didn't say any thing about you being a LPN. I was very proud of being a LPN. The reason I changed was because I was doing RN work and they were getting the credit so I might as well get paid for my work. Young lady or Gentleman I'm a very dedicated nurse whether I be PCA LPN, RN or whatever The patient is my main reason for being in this area in the first place. My only wish is the genration behind me is as dedicated to the patient. Hopefully in 7 yr:) s I retire.
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff this is a great book to read for everyone
I didn't say any thing about you being a LPN. I was very proud of being a LPN. The reason I changed was because I was doing RN work and they were getting the credit so I might as well get paid for my work. Young lady or Gentleman I'm a very dedicated nurse whether I be PCA LPN, RN or whatever The patient is my main reason for being in this area in the first place. My only wish is the genration behind me is as dedicated to the patient. Hopefully in 7 yr:) s I retire.
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff this is a great book to read for everyone
Don't sweat the small stuff is a good book for all to read. I bet it covers things like not worrying about things that you cannot change, such as an upcoming generation of nurses. I am sure Marie_LPN appreciated being referred to as Young lady or gentleman. I have already picked out my preceptor-and she is 10 years younger than me. She is a class act-and she would never belittle someone and then pass it off as compassion, and then tell everyone to chill out in advance by suggesting a good book to read.
On problem with "new" nurses is that many may be entering nursing because they've seen the glitzy ads that make nursing seem almost glamorous. They're told that it's stable, they can always get a job, they have flexibility, they can "go places," and so on. What is omitted is the real nature of the job, or at least the fact that before they can move to being a nurse practitioner, CRNA, or nurse exec, they need to have some patient care under their belt. I truly think that many really entered the profession without any real thoughts on why they want to do nursing, what the work is really like, and what their responsibilities. Many schools also allow you to glide through, stuffing your head with inane theory and little practicality.
Just one take on it. I may be wrong, but I think that this massive recruitment effort is merely bringing warm bodies in who may not really want to be doing nursing.
Hmmm? I have to wonder about this seeing that it is almost impossible to get into a nursing program at this point in time . Maybe this recruitment stuff has been the case recently but right now it is so hard to get in that the people graduating in the next 2-4 years will obviously be there (nursing) because they truly want to do it !
i am laughing so hard right now ! i am pre nursing ..meaning taking the pre reqs and pretty much everyone in every class i have taken is there to get into nursing
i am 33 and have been at if for a few semesters now and although i am SOOOOOo thankful that we have quite a mix of students, there are definitely quite a few hoochies ! sorry to offend by when you show up half dressed you deserve to be called out!
i go to a community college in a big city and it is amazing to me how some of these people get through the courses ...their gang banger slang is atrocious :) they do crack me up though :)
I keep reading articles about the newer generation of workers, and how they just have a different attitude towards work. Well, I?m getting frustrated and disappointed by some of what I see in my workplace.
I know it?s not all young people, and I?m pretty young myself.
But I?m seeing a decline in patient care and lack of interest in nursing excellence by the newer staff where I work.
Socializing with each other seems to be taking precedence over patient care. Goofing off and playing practical jokes is seen as okay. Those who disagree or try to point out when behaviour at work crosses the line of appropriate get rolled eyes, and they act like we are nagging or picking on them.
This past weekend, patients didn?t get turned properly, and when we came on for nights, we found a patient who had been admitted seven hours previously still in the dirty sheets from the ED stretcher, with alcohol swabs and an empty muko lubricant packet stuck to his skin. The day shift staff had been playing jokes on each other, squirting with syringes. One of the nurses put muko lubricant on the phone receiver in the Stepdown unit for a joke, and one of the patients family members got a phone call, and was slimed. This was a family member of someone who was a seriously injured trauma patient. I was embarrassed, to be honest. Our patients deserve better.
I told the manager, and she'll talk to the nurses who were on duty at the time. But these are just examples of the behaviour I'm seeing every day at work. A trend to care more about break time and hanging out with co-workers than knuckling down and doing the work. Does anyone else see this happening?
I feel some of our staff really don?t understand the concept of professionalism, and that you have to act differently at work than you do when you are out with your friends. Maybe part of it is that their friends essentially ARE their co-workers, so work is just another place they see their friends. But still, how do you explain to people where the line is or even teach that concept if it is new to them without sounding like an old hag?
I would also like to put my two cents in, I am also a younger new grad (25) and I haven't seen this at all, however (and I apologize if this has been already said, I haven't read all the posts) We as nurses, nursing students or whatever have the responsibility to go up the chain of command and voice our concerns. Most of the examples from the first few posts are horrendous and need to be dealt with. State nursing boards need to be notified and school instuctors. I am so proud to be a new young nurse and I would never think about doing anything that doesn't put my patient first and is unproffessional. Especially the drug use and playing jokes on family or patients. I say shame on all who don't speak up and take action. Sorry if any of this has already been said.
Don't sweat the small stuff is a good book for all to read. I bet it covers things like not worrying about things that you cannot change, such as an upcoming generation of nurses. I am sure Marie_LPN appreciated being referred to as Young lady or gentleman. I have already picked out my preceptor-and she is 10 years younger than me. She is a class act-and she would never belittle someone and then pass it off as compassion, and then tell everyone to chill out in advance by suggesting a good book to read.
As i've come to observe. the working environment has changed. We are not only expose to different attitudes but to different cultures as well. I've known to work with Nigerian nurses ( mainly women) who have very strong personalities and been accused of being rude. There not rude just loud. It took awhile to get use to. but they sure do work hard. Regardless of the ethnic background, attitude towards work is affecting the way we care for our patients. It never ceases to amaze me that the qualtiy of care nowadays has gone to the dogs. I understand your plight. I recall reminding a PCA to turn a patient. PCA replied, "no pillow, what do u want me to do? I said, "improvise, -fold a blanket, stuff it in a pillowcase and voila! Here comes the the rolling of the eyes! As i see it we have got to work together to keep the quality of care at its best. I have always emphasized the teamwork approach and carry that attitude with me when i float to the different areas of the hospital. More power to you......
Heard this all of my life,"pray each generation to be weaker and wiser than the last", "let the brain work and the back rest", and "running in place is still running, you just don't change scenery".
We all have worked with new nurses that are just wonderfully dedicated and others who need to look for another profession. I hope to be able to see each new nurse as individuals and not judge the young by my old brain.
Dragonfair
52 Posts
OK Young People
Don't get so defensive I was a LPN once and at times wish I was right back there.