How long does it take before the other nurses aren't afraid of me???

hi, the answer to your question is: no, if you wish to progress and move to more challenging assignments and be treated with more respect, you must get feedback. in fact, in order to become a stronger nurse, you will need more challenging assignments along with additional training. btw, i have a similar issue.

i started in the er while i had less then a year nursing experience in acute care. since i changed over, i started (like they start all new nurses who are also new grads) with easy assignments. long story short, i have almost spent the last 6 months on beds that have become a joke to me! once in a blue moon i get cardiac traumas or assignments but that is usually by accident (the er is full) or because the charge nurse who does not think i am weak assigns me such patients. in fact i have begun to hate my job because i feel insulted plus i feel that i am wasting my skills every shift i show up to work!

for example, i have been in situations where nurses who have less ed experience, no certs (acls or pals), who are pt, and put in about 1-2 shifts per month assigned the difficult beds over me. i was never given an explanation as to why, though i heard rumors that the other nurses are "strong" nurses (meaning i am not). anyway, long story short, i finally had enough when the other night two new nurses that graduated in may got assigned more difficult patients. btw, one just got off of orientation and this is her first job!! therefore the other night i spoke to my nurse manager.

during our meeting, i completely kept the focus on me and my goals even though i was angry as heck and wanted to say a lot more then i should!! well, guess what? i found our meeting insightful and helpful.

my nm agreed that there was no way i was going to gain more critical care clinical skills given my current assignments. however, there are other areas of nursing in the er i could improve on while i take such assignments. in fact, we came up with a plan that will get me off of the easy beds and back on track to the more challenging assignments, which ironically i had prior to moving into this ed (i worked a cardiac step-down, a general med surge floor, an icu, and a chest pain unit prior to working in this ed). gl!

Do you ask questions after you try and figure it out on your own or before? Sometimes asking a lot of questions that can be problem solved on your own can look like your not ready for complex patients. I always try and look things up or call pharmacy etc BEFORE I ask for help. Questions ARE good but only if you try to use your critical thinking skills first.