just venting out.I know lots of you can relate.

Nurses Stress 101

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I am a new grad. Just passed my nclex after 2 attempts. I can say im not the smartest in my class nor the dumbest. I admit I am slow when it comes to rendering my care coz I take the time and let my patient talk to me.

I always get called by the assistant dob for my mistakes and she verbally corrects me on how to properly do it. I really appreciate that. I dont take it as an offensive action of hers or the other bosses.

We had a staff meeting all rn's. The don commented that we should not be molasses and she doesnt want to hear that the pt family would say that she hired an incompetent nurse or is our license is valid I know shes talking about me.

She also commented that some of the pt that we discharged said that the rendered care we gave was awesome and we do know what we are doing and how they want things done. I felt so happy and relieved that its not all about negative comments. Boy, how I wanted to write my resignation letter on that time.

Ill rant the other ones later. I need some banana and the sun to relieve depression and stress.

anne919

130 Posts

Have you overheard ur pt family tell their mom that I dont want her to become ur nurse?

She doesnt know what shes doing and the aide reinforces the negative comment of the family member. The aide states that shes new and she clearly dont know what shes doing.

As soon as I heard the family member said dat I want to barge in and just say to her that why is ur mom still here and not living with you in ur own home since u know damn well how to do my job properly. But because of nursing ethics i didnt go in there and dare to say those but rather put on a big smile and give ur pt their medication. I know my aide felt that I am a burden to them since I cant finish my job on time nor help them out. So, I let the aide pass this time.

But what wud u feel if your own patient tell her daughter/son to let the nurse be and I like her. She does her job how I want her to do.

Nursing is just both ridiculous, tiring, and absurd!

anne919

130 Posts

Everyday youll learn how to walk and face everybody with a smile but deep inside u just want to cry, curse them out, and go home.

Yes indeed, I do have a double character in my work. I dont know who my friends are. And so I learned how to treat everybody as my enemy and competitor. I was not like this. I know that people are all good and when they did something wrong is because they really dont have other choice but now things had changed.

They say its always better to keep urmouth shut so youll have less mistake.

In my work, you really dont know who is your real friend or camaraderie. Newsflash, it is a very common work environment.

You never know what is waiting for you out there gossiping about you or reporting you to the oficials. Everyday is a big surprise for you!

allnurses Guide

Hygiene Queen

2,232 Posts

I am a new grad. Just passed my nclex after 2 attempts. I can say im not the smartest in my class nor the dumbest. I admit I am slow when it comes to rendering my care coz I take the time and let my patient talk to me.

Everybody starts out slow. You need time to adjust! You have to learn the routine, learn how to think things through properly and learn how to organize, prioritize and delegate. It's rough stuff and you just cannot rush through things and nor would it be wise to. You also want to give your patients quality time because you know your patients aren't just sacks of potatoes! You care and you want to interact with them.

That said, there is a point where you really need to concentrate on getting the time management thing under control. Unfortunately, it may mean learning how to tactfully and firmly terminate a conversation with a patient who just wants to talk and talk and talk!

It's is a catch-22. You want to be slow enough to be safe and give your patient quality time, but you have to learn to step it up to get the work done!

It's frustrating, I know.

I always get called by the assistant dob for my mistakes and she verbally corrects me on how to properly do it. I really appreciate that. I dont take it as an offensive action of hers or the other bosses.

I don't either! That's part of how we learn and improve.

We had a staff meeting all rn's. The don commented that we should not be molasses and she doesnt want to hear that the pt family would say that she hired an incompetent nurse or is our license is valid I know shes talking about me.

If you think it's about you, then think about what you can do differently. Come up with a plan and put it into action. For example, what things can you do faster/more efficiently without compromising safety? How can you accomplish this?

When I think/know someone is talking about my performance, there is a stubborn and proud side of me that won't let me make the same mistake twice!

She also commented that some of the pt that we discharged said that the rendered care we gave was awesome and we do know what we are doing and how they want things done. I felt so happy and relieved that its not all about negative comments. Boy, how I wanted to write my resignation letter on that time.

Well, that's how it should be. If you have to address something negative, it's good to balance it off with something positive. The DON gave you the negative message so you can take corrective action, but she also tempered it with a positive message so that you keep doing the right things and your morale isn't completely crushed.

But it still is disheartening to have to hear what you are doing wrong!

Ill rant the other ones later. I need some banana and the sun to relieve depression and stress.

Have you overheard ur pt family tell their mom that I dont want her to become ur nurse?

She doesnt know what shes doing and the aide reinforces the negative comment of the family member. The aide states that shes new and she clearly dont know what shes doing.

That aide is completely wrong in doing that.

Period.

I don't know if the aide is reinforcing these negative comments to earn her brownie points with the family or if the aide is just ignorant of professional communication, but she is out of line.

Staff should be supporting each other, even if by keeping a dignified silence when others bash the staff.

What she is doing is undermining the confidence the family should have in the care their loved one is receiving and these comments are injurious to your reputation as a professional.

You are the nurse. You can address this directly with the aide in a calm professional manner.

Maybe your facility needs an inservice on building each other up and standing by each other when negative family comments about staff occur.

I would not tolerate this.

As soon as I heard the family member said dat I want to barge in and just say to her that why is ur mom still here and not living with you in ur own home since u know damn well how to do my job properly. But because of nursing ethics i didnt go in there and dare to say those but rather put on a big smile and give ur pt their medication. I know my aide felt that I am a burden to them since I cant finish my job on time nor help them out. So, I let the aide pass this time.

You were right to hold your emotions in check. That's professional.

Regardless of how that aide feels about you and no matter how true it may be that you need to improve your time management, that aide had no business encouraging such negativity with the family!

Work on your time management and I encourage you to nip this unprofessional aide's behavior in the bud.

But what wud u feel if your own patient tell her daughter/son to let the nurse be and I like her. She does her job how I want her to do.

I would feel vindicated in that I would feel the patient, who I am actually dealing with, is satisfied with my performance. Families do not always know everything they think they know. If your patient likes you and the care you give, then you must be doing something right.

Nursing is just both ridiculous, tiring, and absurd!

I agree.

Everyday youll learn how to walk and face everybody with a smile but deep inside u just want to cry, curse them out, and go home.

Learning to be good at what you do is all in baby steps. Every day under your belt is experience and improvement.

Keep going and hold it together!

Yes indeed, I do have a double character in my work. I dont know who my friends are. And so I learned how to treat everybody as my enemy and competitor. I was not like this. I know that people are all good and when they did something wrong is because they really dont have other choice but now things had changed.

They say its always better to keep urmouth shut so youll have less mistake.

In my work, you really dont know who is your real friend or camaraderie. Newsflash, it is a very common work environment.

You never know what is waiting for you out there gossiping about you or reporting you to the oficials. Everyday is a big surprise for you!

I'm sorry you feel this way. Just keep at it, keep learning and thinking about how you can improve.

Show them that you don't give up easily!

Just get in there, do your job, stay professional and chin up.

Best of luck to you.

It's hard to be new and it's not made an easier in the midst of gossip and unprofessional behavior.

I don't know if I have any answers for you that are particularly helpful, but I offer you encouragement and support.

I think most of us have been in your shoes at some point.

Cheers.

anne919

130 Posts

Thanks. It felt so good to vent out and knowing that somebody else had been in my shoes. It means that I am not alone and if you guys walked pass by this, I know I can do it as well.

I worked my ass hard to gain this nursing degree. Didnt enjoyed life for a year of studying for nclex. Had to fight for having a license and work. Swallowing the low salary that I can get. All I can say is ill be doing my job as best as I can!

And I swear from now on, I wouldn't meddle with somebody else's patient. They can watch over their own patient call lights and falls! If they put their pt beside my med cart ill stop and drive that patient to them! I've had it with them. It is just not right with what they are doing. They are unprofessionals.

anne919

130 Posts

I do have the best cna that I can always get. I know they always complain of me not helping them out. But what can I do. My patients are all demanding. One call after another. And yes, you need to set limits for them but they are really near on their end of life crisis. I barely get the time to sit. As a matter of fact since I started working, I can count into my fingers and toes how many time I ate my dinner or use the washroom.

All they can see from me is just passing on the medications. But the patient view me as more than that. If you will actually take the time to talk to your patient, youll find out that they dont have dementia or any short term or long term memory loss. Youll be surprise.so better treat them right coz battery is just around the corner.

Please dont give me that killer look if I promised you that ill do the vitals and ended up asking you to do it. I am always doing my quick assessment that is the reason why I am always stuck in that pt room. Havent you noticed that our call lights is not being used much? Havent you noticed that those hollering around isnt yelling?

Being a charged nurse is just f*in tiring! If only we can trade half of the day and ull know what I am talking about.

You see me as a dumb nurse and u dont think I got the license. I am not dumb if I ask the other nurses on how to go about a certain situation or how to do a procedure. It just shows that I dont want anybody to get worst. You'll see good nurses and lazy nurses who thinks they are way better than anybody.

Those doctors are just nuts if you can actually see it. Ull page them and you'll surely be waiting for 3-4 hrs before they call you. And when you do the SBAR talk, you'll get a reply. Ok ok good.continue to monitor the patient. And when you go back to work ull notice having an order at 3am! 6Hrs after you talked to them!

chinacatRN

20 Posts

Specializes in None - yet ;).

Believe me, I know how you feel. A lot of it depends on the work environment. I feel like nursing homes/long term care facilities breed more gossip. In my last job, I worked at a nursing home and the CNAs ran that place. They would seriously make up stuff about certain nurses to get rid of them. There was one nurse who was AWESOME - been a nurse for 20 years, cared about the residents, knew how to do her job and how to talk to people. But the aides hated her because she'd make them do their job. Don't think you could get away with forgetting dentures, glasses, or grooming/hygiene when she was around. And the aides hated her correcting them, even though she was always nice about it. They complained to the DON so many times that she was written up several times and they made work a living hell for her and she quit. I think it's absolutely ridiculous. CNAs have no idea what training or schooling we've had nor do they know everything that's required of us. They should not be allowed to get us in trouble. The DON should have investigated and gotten the CNAs under control. They should have been written up for retaliation.

Anyway, workplace gossip is awful. You never know who's going to run off and tattle to the boss about the most stupid, asinine things. If you have a good boss, she'll realize that these people are just trying to kiss up and get on her good side. If you have a boss who is less observant or who doesn't care, she'll play into the hands of these people and your job could be on the line. My ex don even admitted she took the don job because of the hours, pay, benefits, and how close it was to her home. She didn't give a flying you-know-what for the residents and the scary thing is that there are a lot of professionals out there just like her in the nursing field.

I'm sorry you're dealing with the stress and pressure from your job. I wish I had advice to help you but I don't - I'm struggling as well. Just know you're not alone and many of us feel the same way you do. Good luck!

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