Okay, So I have learned very well that new nurses (wet behind the ears) are not the best company to have as friends. Yes, that is a bit harsh but considering my long term nurse friends from school or my first job, It seems that the probies honestly do not have a sense of humor at all.
We all go out for coffee or out to dinner. We share our own "war" stories (we've all done it people, don't lie). My aged co-workers and myself joke and laugh about certain situations.
Then comes the probie "Well I think its unprofessional to make those comments and laugh about a person pooping all over the bed" .
KILL JOY!
What the probie does not seem to understand is that (and I quote my mother here) "If we didn't laugh, we'd cry".
Or for example the probie calling me to to say he is going to call in sick from work that night for a headache. My joking response is to take a Lindsay Lohan milkshake (Milk of Mag, Norco, and 2 shots of Vodka).
Probie's response "How dare you assume I am a druggie - you have no clout or professionalism".
Really - I have no professionalism?
I my opinion, calling off sick for a headache is a sign of unprofessionalism.
My advise to probies under 1 year of bedside experience : Learn to laugh at yourself and the world as a whole. It not all textbook in the real world. Sometimes you have to go out for coffee and make jokes and laugh.
I've noticed that as nurses we tend to develop a rather dark sense of humor. We sit in the break room and laugh about the code brown we just came from while eating our sandwich, etc. I have to agree with one of the posters that if we didn't laugh, we'd have to cry instead. Quite frankly, I rather laugh.
Maybe the new nurses you work with are uptight because of how you treat them.
Perhaps you've forgotten what it's like to be new and scared. You could do a lot to ease some of that tension, rather than make things worse by mocking new nurses.
Ok..I have a perhaps too. Maybe "OLD" or "USED NURSES" as they call themselves might should remember who are going to be providing their own care someday when they are retired. NEW NURSES!
Specializes in drug seekers and the incurably insane..
I don't see calling new nurses "probies" as offensive....there are too many other things in life to get offended about...JMHO. However, since they are new...perhaps they don't quite understand the humor that goes on between co-workers who get along well. It is also a fear thing too. Maybe if they're seen joking around...maybe the other nurses and management will think they don't take their jobs seriously enough. As far as all new nurses being humorless; I haven't found that to be true....in fact, they like humor because it helps them feel better about the situation around them. I sure did when I was new. At my facility....we do seem to get a lot of new grad know-it-all types...had one spend nearly 30 mins arguing with me about where to put bladder irrigation solution in a catheter. She insisted that it went into the port that inflates the balloon!!!!
NEW fireman ARE called "probies" that is the way it is, I don't think they feel less of a fireman. I think it was just a figure of speech jeeechhhhh! I have alot of respect for fireman new or old, I married one 34 years ago, he is retired now, I have respect for new Nurses too, I also know that with out a sence of humor we really have nothing. --- Lighten up folks.
Specializes in CT stepdown, hospice, psych, ortho.
I dunno. Most of our FNGs seem to have a decent sense of humor.
Remember that part in Forrest Gump? I didn't know that the hell he was talking about until I met my husband and got exposed to the military. Gave me a giggle.
What is a proper term? Probie? Newbie? New Nurse? Wet behind the ears? Youngin?
If I take the advise of the veteran nurses on here, the conclusions thus far I have learned are: My sense of humor is tasteless, I have no respect for my fellow professionals, I am dark and morbid, and I have zero clout. But why stop there - Perhaps I know nothing and I am anti-social, I lack empathy, and I have to be right in all situations.
I need to take a break from Allnurses.com for a while - its becoming too much like high school all over again.
Goodbye Folks
Its been real and its been fun
Too much like high school? You're the one talking smack about new nurses like they're the freshman class. And you're pretty snippy to the "probies" in your other posts too. Maybe your new coworkers just don't feel comfortable around you.
And I'm not really sure you understand what "clout" means. Either that our you're using it in a very weird way.
i think your sense of humor is out of line, how do you suggest a Narco and vodka before coming to work even if its a joke, and pt pooping all over the bed, really, you dont have any jokes that thats what you are joking about?? If it were me, you would expect to hear from the DON or administrator and if the actions they take were not appropriate or brushed it off their shoulder, i would contact state and the board of nursing and see what they have to say about your "jokes." Just curious btw what joke to you tell when a pt slips and busts his/her head open, when 1 misses their meals, or better yet when u find 1 expired/dead. U really need to take a deep breath and be cautious of what you say and to who u say it to because next time it might be what gets you to loose your licence. Have a joke free day
Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.
i think your sense of humor is out of line, how do you suggest a Narco and vodka before coming to work even if its a joke, and pt pooping all over the bed, really, you dont have any jokes that thats what you are joking about?? If it were me, you would expect to hear from the DON or administrator and if the actions they take were not appropriate or brushed it off their shoulder, i would contact state and the board of nursing and see what they have to say about your "jokes." Just curious btw what joke to you tell when a pt slips and busts his/her head open, when 1 misses their meals, or better yet when u find 1 expired/dead. U really need to take a deep breath and be cautious of what you say and to who u say it to because next time it might be what gets you to loose your licence. Have a joke free day
SERIOUSLY?? You would get the STATE BON involved over a stupid joke?!?! (As if they would even give such a silly complaint a second look!) Talk about needing to lighten up...sheesh. I think the narco and vodka would do you good...might wanna try it sometime.
It seems to me situations such as this aren't in need of a 'solution' that requires someone to change to suit ourselves (good luck with that one) OR a determination of who's right and who's wrong. This OP finds the sharing of war stories and the poking of jabs to be a means of camaraderie building and stress decompression. There are, unsurprisingly, a number of similar-minded individuals. She's encountered some people who experience these same things as humor at the expense of others, and/or behavior with (quite real) potential to tarnish the image they're working to cultivate. There are, unsurprisingly, a number of similar-minded individuals.
Successful team building here would require giving everyone room to be themselves without expectations that they suddenly change their personalities. Avoiding and/or running away from the non-like-minded is no solution either. Surrounding yourself exclusively with people who think only like you makes for easy company, but limits your growth as a human being.
NEW fireman ARE called "probies" that is the way it is, I don't think they feel less of a fireman. I think it was just a figure of speech jeeechhhhh!
We are nurses. Not fire fighters. Maybe call them Newbies?
I can remember back to when I was a student and how differently I use to think. Things that would have offended me back then my old classmates and I joke about now. They will come around once they realize they are in the hospital and not the classroom; and that they are two different worlds.
i think your sense of humor is out of line, how do you suggest a Narco and vodka before coming to work even if its a joke, and pt pooping all over the bed, really, you dont have any jokes that thats what you are joking about?? If it were me, you would expect to hear from the DON or administrator and if the actions they take were not appropriate or brushed it off their shoulder, i would contact state and the board of nursing and see what they have to say about your "jokes." Just curious btw what joke to you tell when a pt slips and busts his/her head open, when 1 misses their meals, or better yet when u find 1 expired/dead. U really need to take a deep breath and be cautious of what you say and to who u say it to because next time it might be what gets you to loose your licence. Have a joke free day
I said this in a joking context outside of work - Anybody with a brain and common sense would know not to come into work with narcotics and alcohol in their system.
Honey, based on your over-reaction to this post - I think you need to breathe and relax. The Salem Witch Trials are over - thus I won't be burned.
In regards to how you assume i make jokes about a patients injuries or death - perhaps you and everyone on this thread need to understand that its one thing to make a joke about C-Diff on the mouth, its a whole different ballpark when someone dies or a patient has a serious injury
:lol2:
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himilayaneyes
493 Posts
I've noticed that as nurses we tend to develop a rather dark sense of humor. We sit in the break room and laugh about the code brown we just came from while eating our sandwich, etc. I have to agree with one of the posters that if we didn't laugh, we'd have to cry instead. Quite frankly, I rather laugh.