It's always the nurses fault

[stomper]

Been a nurse 15 years and one thing I know for sure and it's getting worse. The nurse gets the blame for everything and management believes others perceptions before the nurse. Never any emotional support from management! The environment at bedside is the worst I have ever seen.

[TazziRN, RN]

Wow....sounds like you need to switch facilities

[stomper]

Yeah, I guess you're right. Nurses are leaving in mass exodus. Even the nurse manager has interview for a new job.

[LPN1974, LPN]

Yes, I agree with that. It's always the nurses fault.

And here's another one for you......if something needs done, or needs to be put on a routine schedule to be done, the nurses can do it.

[ERNurse752, RN]

Sadly, I agree. Everything and everyone is your responsibility...and if something happens, watch out, it falls on you.

I don't usually like to be such a downer, but I have freakin had it.

Bottoms up!

[stomper]

Do you ever feel like that everyone (visitors, doctors, therapists, social workers, managers etc...) come into your world and point out what nursing needs to be done, what hasn't been done, etc.. with a better than thou attitude? I've watch this is getting worse the past three years in this facility. No professional respect. Barely get a pee break sometimes and these people have the nerve.

[APP]

Not wanting to pour salt int he wound, but could you give some specific examples?

I ask as someone considering going into nursing.

[Nurse-o-Matic]

Here's one example of "it's the nurse's fault" that happened last night....

A patient was brought to me (to ICU) straight from the OR. The patient was originally scheduled for a minor surgery and was supposed to go to the surgical floor. Things got a litttle hairy during the procedure so the physician had the patient sent to ICU for overnight observation. (The patient was doing excellent, by the way.) So, the patient had arrived to me around 4pm with physician orders written. The OR staff told me the elderly patient didn't have family in the area and that his brother would call later for an update. Okay....Well, lo & behold 8pm rolls around and a tirade of angry family stomps into the room. They had been waiting since noon in the OR lounge for the doc to speak with them. YIKES! The OR staff didn't even bother to let them know when the surgery was finished or where the patient was sent for recovery. I felt horrible for them and completely agreed with thier right to be upset; however, the 500 decible screams in my ears and the "in my face" insults were uncalled for. Had I known they were in the OR lounge I would have sent someone to bring them up immediately. I called the OR to let them know how upset the family was and paged te doc to give the family an update. But, wouldn't you know how sweet as pie they were to the doc!!!! Sheesh....I'm the nurse so I guess it's my fault

[BKRN]

But, wouldn't you know how sweet as pie they were to the doc!!!!

Gosh is'nt this always the case? I will have a patient and their family madder than heck at the doctor-but as soon as he arrives all is forgiven and I bare the brunt of their abuse!

[LPN1974, LPN]

Not wanting to pour salt int he wound, but could you give some specific examples?

I ask as someone considering going into nursing.

I don't want to discourage you. If you want to be a nurse, you'll have to just plow right in there and make/leave your mark just like everyone else.

An example of the nurses being responsibile for everything, on my particular job, are the monthly weights of our people.

The aides used to do the weights. But they decided the nurses had to do them. That's one example.

Another example, is in a paperwork/documentation procedure in our particular charts.

Now, when the nurses call parents about anything it has to be documented on a particular piece of paper...a casenote....for the CONVENIENCE of certain staff who don't want to go to the trouble of reading the nurses notes.

So, now legally, we have to document the call in the N's N's, and on this "case note" form. For other staff's convenience. That's how I see it.

So I usually say something like this....parents notified of incident or whatever....see N's N's for details.

Ha ha ha. {only I don't say ha ha on the case note.}

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Not wanting to pour salt int he wound, but could you give some specific examples?

I ask as someone considering going into nursing.

I don't experience "it is always the nurse's fault" at my facility. We have a DON and nurse supervisors who do not have that attitude. They are advocates for the nurses.

It depends on where you work and in reality, how much you will put up with.

You can only be taken advantage of with your permission . . for the most part anyway.

Don't get discouraged. Just make sure you can stand up for yourself. And that you don't allow others to treat your co-workers badly.

steph

[stomper]

Yeah, I agree with that to some degree it does depend where you work. Those facilities with a strong union like in California probably have a better working environment. Family and some doctors expections are so unrealistic now days. Not to long ago while eating out some women sitting behide me was bad mouthing nursing. Talking about how mean the nurses were and how they didn't do such and such, lazy etc..I was not in uniform so there was no way she could know I am a nurse. And took all my self control not to turn around and let her have it. Then some weeks later at a different restaurant some other women was bad mouthing nurses too.