IM going to FLipOUt on my coworkers!!!

Dolce, RN · Jan 23, 2008

:icon_hug: Ahhh, sorry you have such rough co-workers.

The best advise that I can give is to "muscle up" before going into report. You do not have to be treated like a piece of dirt. Do not be apologetic about the things that did not get done on your shift. Nursing is a 24 hour job. Your job is to report the things that did not get done or the things that still need done and that is it. Do not make excuses, apologize, discuss, or debate with the oncoming shift. Make your report about the facts only. I'm sorry to say that you may need to even be slightly rude to the oncoming shift if they interrupt, insult and disrupt your report. Firmly tell them that you need to finish giving report and ask them not to interrupt. Continue to ask them to not interrupt if they continue with their behavior.

Its too bad when we have a horrible shift and then get treated like dirt from the next shift. I very rarely have to deal with this kind of problem from nurses on the next shift but when I do it sure does ruin my day.

MIA-RN · Jan 23, 2008

I got a LOT of that attitude when I first graduated. Report would make me so anxious, and I never felt prepared. After a while it got better, because I basically analyzed all the next-shift nurses and gave report based on how I knew they would act. (some would want a quick report and some would want reasons for everything I did or thought for the whole shift.)

Not that the way I did it is exactly right, but it beat going home crying and at least I felt I had some control.

Just prepare your report as well as you can and understand that some people are just like that. Its not your job to tell them what meds they will have to give.

ebear, BSN, RN · Jan 23, 2008

Blearn, if you'll buck up one GOOD time, they'll back off! Try it! Unfortunately, that's the only way to get people like this off your back. You've tried being nice and diplomatic--didn't work. Don't wait until you're so angry that you "flip out". Just let them know firmly and "matter of factly" what the deal is. Just like teaching a child. It's not your responsibility to let them know when their meds are due. Good Grief!! They know full well that some treatments cannot be done if the pt. is not in the dept! Gotta grow some bawls, girl!

Mulan · Jan 23, 2008

Most of us probably, have followed behind people who instead of giving the dulcolax suppository at the beginning of their shift when it was ordered leave it until the end of their shift so that they don't have to deal with cleaning up the ensuing bowel movement. Or the person who instead of taking out the foley when it was ordered at the beginning of their shift leaves it until the end of the shift so that they don't have to deal with the patient who can't void after the removal.

Maybe that is where those following nurses are coming from.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Jan 23, 2008

That's a good point....as far as sitting in poop goes...are there no aides..or nobody to help clean them up before test/PT? Sure it's nice to be on time..but none of us can help when our bodily functions occur....and PT could certainly go work with another on the unit, and then work with person after they're done....

You just gotta buck up.....some people just don't get it...and it's not your fault...it's just the way the day entailed....

annmariern · Jan 23, 2008

On the other side of the coin, if my new grad RN had come back that evening, I swear I would have lost it. Oh leave me a mess if you've had someone go bad, its been a nutso night etc. Yes you followed another new grad who doesn't know and doesn't give a damn. Don't leave me at 7.30am with OR on the phone coming for the 2 pts who are are not even close to being ready to go, no iv access, (one was a AAA repair who had fluids and she was 24hrs NPO and lost her site on Day shift the previous day) Oh, and when she needed pain meds at 0700, you gave her percocet rather than start an iv, and now OR are freaking she just had PO meds and fluids an hour before major surgery. Don't leave every IV dry, every IV site 4-6 days old, no you can't do all of them but 1 or two? In 12 hrs??? Don't have every one of your 7pts calling for pain meds at 7am, several after calling for hours for it. We are 24/7. I left things for nights I didn' get to, minor stuff, none of the above. Passing on is one thing, dumping crap is another. Oh, I forgot, if you can't work a PCA, get some help from someone who does; That morning she set it

for a basal that wasn't ordered.Good job I got to him, after dealing with above for 2 hours before he knocked himself in to a coma. There are nurses who leave you stuff and nurses who dump. And this blew my mind because she just didn't bother to even try or seemed to give a damn. More and more my shifts lately. :angryfire. Oh and I;; let the surgeon know his pt has an ischemic ulcer 2 days after the cast came off, and take the heat. No problem. What is up with this?

Tait, MSN, RN · Jan 23, 2008

As far as report goes, and I know this isn't what the thread is entirely about, what I did was find someone I really respected from the next shift, and then I had them critique my report style, info, etc.

I didn't catch if you are a newer nurse, but I think if you prep yourself for criticism it is a lot easier to take and you might even have an "ah hah!" moment!

Best of luck!

Tait

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Jan 23, 2008

ALWAYS prep for getting questions back...that's what some of us need to do to understand why we are doing what we're doing...I sometimes ask simple things (i'm a tech, so granted it's not as detailed...) Blood sugars-BID (is that 6/4, 8/8, or 6/12?) IV fluids or lock? How do they go to bathroom? are things set up for new admit at 4? Does said admit have water pitcher, ice, etc...?

don't tell me you couldn't do it.....tell me why.....

It always reminds me what kind of nurse I don't want to be when I get that degree.....and knowing some nurses are just attitude bringers at report....

fultzymom · Jan 23, 2008

I remember a nurse here who made me nervous every time that I would give her report. We called her "Polly Perfect." She was the only one who ever did anything right around here. I would sweat bullets practically when I knew she was who was going to be relieving me. I am not sure why I let her make me feel that way. Then one day when we were doing narc count she had messed up and gave the wrong dose to the patient. HMMMMM......never again did she treat me like that.

Dorito, ASN, RN · Jan 23, 2008

I'm not sure if you are a new grad either but unfortunately it's not uncommon that nurses give new grads the "third degree" in report. I don't condone it but I know it happened to me and I've seen it happen with others. Just be prepared and get as much done as you can. We have all been handed stuff that didn't get completed on the shift before but if it gets to be a trend you may get some rough treatment. Hang in there.

bigsyis · Jan 24, 2008

Then one day when we were doing narc count she had messed up and gave the wrong dose to the patient. HMMMMM......never again did she treat me like that.

ROFLOL!!!:rotfl:

There will come a time when everybody gets brought back down to earth. I'm glad you were able to witness her descent from among the angelic throng that she must've thought that she belonged to.