and at the same time I feel great to have saved the patient
Lots of time there are emergency situations at night and they have new interns covering who basically because they're new have a lot to learn still.
So when my patients are going bad I call them and tell them what to order basically labs, tests, meds, and everything. And they didn't have a clue at first until I told them. And then come their superior with them at bedside and they were like" I ordered this and this and that" and the superior was like good job.
And I was like right there, kinda feeling rotten because they just took credit for my input.
I have to deal with this the healthy way because it happens so often, i guess is the up side is the patients are saved. And that's the most important thing. I guess I just have to let go of my pride and do good for the sake of doing good I do that butI'm human I'm bound to act less divinely sometimes,
You know I gues where this is stemming from is as nurses we get so little appreciation at times.
Oh, yes, great idea! When I was a new grad in a PACU we decided to see if we could do some behavior mod on some of the anesthesiologists. Got a packet of gold notarial seals-- you know, the big round gold foil ones with about a hundred points around the edge, cheapcheap at the stationery store. Every time one of them did something really good, we'd say, "Hold it right there!" and run and get one and slap it on his/her scrub top. Soon we had no more antecubital IVs in kids, more gentle transfers, better reports ... and coffee and doughnuts getting delivered. We heard that some of them were saving their scrub tops to wear the next day so they could show off their gold stars.
Then the surgeons started to want them, hinting broadly, like, "Wasn't that a good thing I did?"
What's not to love?
Ha! Love it. :)
I think we often fail to recognize that most physicians really do care what the nurses think of them not only as people, but as providers. A little recognition goes a long way in promoting mutual valuation.
I think we often fail to recognize that most physicians really do care what the nurses think of them not only as people, but as providers. A little recognition goes a long way in promoting mutual valuation.
If you remember back to your early days on the floor, there were probably many times someone else gave you guidance. And, more than likely, your head was spinning so furiously you never recognized that someone saved your butt. This is simply the nature of people transitioning into jobs and learning from those who learned before us. Today you're the student, tomorrow you're the teacher.
When people allow their egos to get in the way and require recognition for their contributions, it usually reflects poorly upon them. You'll gain more respect and form more positive relationships if you help others without expectation of gratitude or recognition. In the end, that quality will serve you best.
A good doctor will acknowledge when your input has helped a patient. We have a few I work with who will acknowledge and thank us for our work. The intern is learning, doesn't want to admit that they needed your help and I understand where that comes from. But what he'll get out of this is a lesson that YOU taught him and I bet next time he will remember how your suggestions helped the patient.
So maybe he won't ever thank you, but you can take something out of the notion that your experience has made a difference.
you might not get immediate recognition, but more importantly that intern will learn to RESPECT nurses in their future practices... so thank you!!!!...
When I was a younger nurse it used to bother me a bit, but nowadays I know they know, and I know the attending knows, and we all just know. You know?
The fact that he took your advice shows that he has some respect for your experience and your opinions. Besides, i haven't met an intern yet who would ever say, "The nurse told me to do xyz and so I did it."
If I had a dime for every time this has happened to me, I could buy something off the $ menu at McDonalds. Performance evaluations are a good time to stand your ground & get the acknowledgement for your contributions. I learned the hard way that people are not shy about taking credit for your hard work or your ideas.
Got a packet of gold notarial seals-- you know, the big round gold foil ones with about a hundred points around the edge, cheapcheap at the stationery store. ...Soon we had no more antecubital IVs in kids,
THAT is all it takes to stop the AC sticks?
Commuter and others are "right" in that it's the nature of the beast in any profession.
The healthcare "team" has many players.
Is it "Nursing Against the Odds" that talks about the games played to get physicians to do what they need to do? Nurses manipulating physicians to do the right thing? Playing the game where we lead them to what the patient needs but don't DARE act like it's our idea, because if it is, it's not right. We have to make them think it's their idea?
I too am tired of the attitude that nurses should just be happy that the patient gets better, even if the physicians get all the glory.
If it's sooooo unimportant who gets credit, then why isn't the resident making sure the attending knows who should REALLY get the credit? After all, shouldn't the resident just be happy that the patient got better?
Ha. Have a kid right now that's not a candidate for a port or pic or midline. Only place to give this vital medicine is antecub. So I guess we nurses are bad guys too sometimes.
When you have been in this field for some time, you will learn that your smarts and interventions, whether acknowledged or not, helped the patient, and that's the real end game. Everything else is ultimately BS. Hopefully the newbie docs will appreciate you; but you can tell the inexperienced or new ones on student doctors network. They can trash nurses--until they realize it's a nurse that had some insight and caught something that helped or saved some patients. They may or may not acknowledge it though, but you and God know, and many times the patients somehow know.
There can be a boatload of egotistical junk in medicine, but it doesn't stop with them. I have seen nurses do exactly what you described. Just keep doing what's in the best interest of the patient, go home, go to bed, and know that b/c of your insight, hardwork, and care, you made a difference. Take the sleep of the just. Don't underestimate it's value! Often after busting your butt, you'll find that is one great reward--just being able to put your head to the pillow knowing you did your very best.
Guttercat, ASN, RN
1,353 Posts
Ha! Love it. :)
I think we often fail to recognize that most physicians really do care what the nurses think of them not only as people, but as providers. A little recognition goes a long way in promoting mutual valuation.