Is it me or 'memorex'?

[Eschell2971, BSN]

I've been working here for almost 7 months, trying to stick out my one year for experience and my resume'. However, I am conscientious and aim to do a good job for my patients and company when I'm working.

However, the culture & climate here are very negative, to say the least. Staffing is extremely short, and on night shift, no matter the census, there are only 2 or 3 nurses for 48 or more patients.

Management treats nurses like poop, and the nursing assistants are basically allowed to do what they want and/or what they've always done, no matter what the nurse delegates to them. For example, I asked a nursing assistant to, "I need you to empty a foley in room #ABC, and could you please get room #123 a fresh cup of water. Thank you." This nursing assistant responded, (in her accented voice), "You do not understand, I not able to do all that. You stress me out. I need peace and I can not rest."

I walked away from her while she was still going on and on. I informed the Charge nurse and I was told, "You shouldn't say, 'I need you," and you don't have to ask like that." Note: Both the nursing assistant and the Charge nurse are from the same continent, with very similar cultures, as are many of the nurses and nursing assistants in this facility.

The nursing assistant continues with her antics and raving, while loudly talking to the Charge nurse, says, "This girl (pointing to me) is stressing me out. She is asking me to do this and do that and I can not rest. I am tired. I have no peace. This girl is stressing me. I will leave. I call my husband and he come to get me, because of this girl," (again, all while pointing to me, as I keep tending to my patients, ignoring them both, and not responding.

Management, by and large, are no better. Management seems to play the 'divide and conquer' technique and they pick their cliques-nurses and staff that they manipulate to report back to them what nurses are talking about, hearsay, etc. I was even accused and flat out told my manager, "I find your accusation professionally demeaning, and since you are accusing me of this foolishness, I want to see/know what was said, by whom, when, etc." To date, I have received nothing. Keep in mind my direct supervisor & DON are RNs, too.

Needless to say, professional growth & development are not encouraged. Continuing education are not supported; and don't dare present yourself as an independent thinker, looking to grow and learn and develop professionally, personally, skillfully, and as a nurse, in general.

I'm curious. What are some of your thoughts, feedback, suggestions, comments, criticisms, etc? I'm open to hearing from you.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to Pt/Colleague relations.