Is it jealousy ??

Nurses Relations

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Been on my own for 1yr now, was an aide for 2. I am sick of hearing about openness to learning and inexperience. I work on a cardiac step down unit that has a plentiful mix of med-surg patients. A few of the more experienced nurses have commented that I shouldn't do this or that due to my experience level. I have NEVER made any sort of mistake on my floor (but sure I will) but have not yet, and receive more positive feedback from patients than most on my floor. I do ask a lot of questions just not of those who criticize my work (imagine that).

Point is this. Experience doesnt make you good at anything necessarily. Lotta people have been driving their whole lives and are still poor at it etc. Some of us can do in 1 yr what others may need 3 to accomplish.

A good nurse is about time management, foresight, understanding complexities of patient processes/meds, bedside rapport, and others. Experience isnt a guarantee that any of those things develop.

So to all you vets out there recognize the talent not the years. I know many of you feel like you gotta earn your stripes in this work. Maybe be more concerned with the environment you create by trying to exert your stripes.

A truly good nurse has all the attributes to be a good nurse far before they are a nurse. Born not made.

Of course there is cattiness. Its nursing. I never claimed to be able to step out of my realm and run trauma in an ER. Also never claimed I knew everything about where I'm at.

I'm simply talking about the attitude that a nurse isn't this or that based on experience alone. If you dont think there are some less experienced nurses who have better judgement than others who are more experienced then.......hmmm.

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" I have NEVER made any sort of mistake on my floor"

How could you possibly know this?

Next question- Are you real, or trolling?

Either way, thanks. I read this forum for a combination of entertainment and information. i am taking a wild gues that I won't be gleaning much information from this thread.

Let me clarify since you want to be so literal. I have never made a med error, never hurt a patient, never had a patient code, never had to call a MIT, never had to elevate to ICU. And also, I also stated that I will, but until that happens units should recognize when they have a good one on their hands.

How would I know this ? Well I suppose there would be evidence.

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Not trolling. Sorry you find that a miracle. Giving a diabetic sugar........come on now. To many ways to tear that apart.

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I will carry on. If you think experience makes you a good nurse then you are the one making a mistake. Care to argue any of the attributes that I listed. Probably not. Does experience trump competency ?

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I hesitate to respond to any part of this silliness, but here it goes...

How do you know? I have worked with several subpar nurses who seem to get 'thank you' notes from patients all the time. Funny how those notes always include those nurses' first and last names--in the nurses handwriting. Yet some of the best nurses I've worked with never seek out the lime light.

Trust me, I'm not jealous.

This is a good once I havent solicited praise once. It's all home grown. I dont want the lime light. I want people to stop being so narrow.

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Well, heck, what am I doing in nursing school? The "NURSE" tattoo wasn't slapped on my tush when my mum's OB got a hold of me. Darnity darn.

I'll just have to go back to my less-than-stellar life and maybe go PA instead. Unless they're born PA's too?

*dies laughing*

Nothing less than stellar about being a nurse. It's one of the most serving, fulfilling careers there are. I've left others that pay more. And I'll let you in on something. Nursing school starts after nursing school. Do a little research about new nurse fallout and you see that if you aren't built for this before school, you wont be one after. NOW any of you experienced nurses must agree with me here......now this is someone that is in outer space. You think school is going to make you a nurse ?

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I agree that some are ready for more responsibility sooner, and yet overconfidence can sometimes lead to disaster. I doubt that "jealousy" is the problem. It might be that the more experienced nurses are looking out for you ...or that they think you're like them, when you're actually a little bit different.

I hope that is true.

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When you look back 5 years from now, I can almost guarantee that you will look back and be horrified at how much you didn't know after one year of nursing and thankful nothing happened to your patients.

There unfortunately just isnt a substitute for experienced it comes with time with experience comes improved critical thinking skills. Not all experienced nurses are amazing, and I think people can reach a plateau of abilities or even decrease if they stop trying.

I've noticed that those with more experience seem to transition more easily in specialty fields as they very had time to develop their nursing judgment. That isnt to say you shouldnt try a specialty- just expect a steeper learning curve.

I disagree that nurses are born. People may be stronger in certain skill sets which make better nurses but we all have to go to school to learn the nursing skill set and I've seen great nurses deteriorate from burnout, not maintaining their education, or not challenging them self.

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Thanks for all the replies. This is just about like work. A few diplomats and bunch defensive nurses.

Here's what I'd like if I may ask from you all.

If i am confident, competent, and feel a lot of criticism for being to "advanced" in my judgement, then how do I gain respect from those who have unfounded negative opinions. 80% of my unit respects me and likes me. But as was pointed out from the "crusty vet" down there, the criticism does come from the more experienced nurses. Save a few who I think see my work and see potential. Perhaps you just cant get some to see.

You all have a good one and be safe.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Thanks for all the replies. This is just about like work. A few diplomats and bunch defensive nurses.

Here's what I'd like if I may ask from you all.

If i am confident, competent, and feel a lot of criticism for being to "advanced" in my judgement, then how do I gain respect from those who have unfounded negative opinions. 80% of my unit respects me and likes me. But as was pointed out from the "crusty vet" down there, the criticism does come from the more experienced nurses. Save a few who I think see my work and see potential. Perhaps you just cant get some to see.

You all have a good one and be safe.

If you're talking about my post, you missed the point entirely. I know nothing about your unit or who works there or how they behave. You decided to write your post specifically addressed to who you call "vets" instead of the more common new person "rant" or "vent" written for a group as a whole about the vets rather than to the vets.

Sometimes us crusty bats will also chime in as a third party in a thread like that and basically is told to get lost by some participants.

Your post, by contrast was designed to get and does deserve all of the defensive replies from people here on this forum.

Hope that clears things up.

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Changed my mind.

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When you look back 5 years from now, I can almost guarantee that you will look back and be horrified at how much you didn't know after one year of nursing and thankful nothing happened to your patients.

[...]

No, he/she won't.

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