lose the attitude

Dinith88 · Jan 26, 2007

I have worked in a sicu for several years and have seen the way RN's treat each other and I just don't understand why we are so critical of each other!! We have a tendency to act like "monday morning quarterbacks!"...
Looking over the decisions that were made by the rn, things that were completed and (god forbid) not completed. (Remember that there are 3 shifts)
Bottom line is, we serve NOBODY when we act this way. We perpetuate nursing's tough reputation...(we eat our young) and put our patients at risk.
This behavor seems to be "justified" because we are in "'critical care" and we have a stressful work environment....arent we really just adding more stress! Does this help us or out patients??
Nursing could be a very strong profession, but we don't allow it, because we can't even get along with each other.
We are the reason our profession struggles...
What do you guys think???

I think...

You've had a bad experience.

Dont let a few dummies ruin your impression of critical-care. These people are EVERYWHERE...not just icu. Learn how to disregard them...your life will get better.

LadyNASDAQ · Jan 28, 2007

I won't allow anyone to feel that they didn't finish their work or feel substandard giving me report and I expect it back. I am working in a hospital that is extremely busy and exhausting. Right now I am sick with a bad head cold and feel horrible. I am thinking 28 years of Nursing and I remember that kind of treatment when I first started out. I vowed never to take that stupid uppity attitude and you know what? Never have. I just expect the same kindness back. It's a pity that some Nurses can dish it out and when it's their turn, can't take it. Thank goodness that older generation is going out to pasture and the new attitude of respect is slowly coming into the forefront.

blueheaven · Jan 30, 2007

I won't allow anyone to feel that they didn't finish their work or feel substandard giving me report and I expect it back. I am working in a hospital that is extremely busy and exhausting. Right now I am sick with a bad head cold and feel horrible. I am thinking 28 years of Nursing and I remember that kind of treatment when I first started out. I vowed never to take that stupid uppity attitude and you know what? Never have. I just expect the same kindness back. It's a pity that some Nurses can dish it out and when it's their turn, can't take it. Thank goodness that older generation is going out to pasture and the new attitude of respect is slowly coming into the forefront.

I remember that kind of treatment "back in the day" and also vowed not to get ICUitis. I have had at times in my career that I have been a bitchy nurse but then my conscience stops me and I check my attitude and get back to the Golden Rule. I thank God that the older generation meanies are leaving, but there are a lot of young whippersnappers out there with the same bad attitude.

kate1114 · Feb 7, 2007

I remember that kind of treatment "back in the day" and also vowed not to get ICUitis. I have had at times in my career that I have been a bitchy nurse but then my conscience stops me and I check my attitude and get back to the Golden Rule. I thank God that the older generation meanies are leaving, but there are a lot of young whippersnappers out there with the same bad attitude.

I think a lot has to do with the culture of the unit and the leadership of the unit (both formal and informal). I just started working adult ICU in September, and I asked around to find which unit would be the most accommodating. There are 3 ICUs in our hospital, and the vote was unanimous for the medical/neuro ICU.

I've found the staff to be pretty great. They are supportive and the unit's culture is one of mutual helpfulness. I floated to the surgical ICU last week and was dismayed at the staff attitudes there. I was laughed at when I asked where certain items were, and one nurse even thought it was "funny" that I did a cardiac workup for a particular patient who was complaining of chest pain. Yes, I know she had a history of anxiety, but she also had a history of an MI! Her enzymes and EKG were normal, and I would do the same thing tomorrow. Just amazed me that someone would react that way!

Anyway, the NICU I came from had a lot of problem people (attitude wise) and a lot of disparate practices. The current manager was new, and the previous manager was apparently a shrew, but the previous manager was well respected. I talked to several like-minded RNs who had been through all 3 managers, and stated that the earliest manager really set the tone for the unit, which then deteriorated with the next 2 managers. Also, there was an informal leader who was one of the charge nurses, who was really running the show.

So (long post coming to a close;) ) I really think that there are many reasons why we see these toxic environments, but it's just so sad that we can't all work together for the benefit of the patients

Pompom · Feb 7, 2007

The "getting along" you refer to can back fire. As critical thinkers we should not just go along for the sake of getting along. Sometimes people need to be made aware of mistakes so they don't reoccur. That does not mean we back stab and trash the other nurse, but critical examination and explanation can be beneficial. I mean face to face in a calm and professional manner, not running to other staff behind their backs. Contempt breeds comtempt. If we function as professionals and accept no less than we will be respected by other professions.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Feb 9, 2007

I tell you, I love nursing-except shift change.

Then is when I will expected to roll over and get yelled at and criticized like I'm a child. I get a full report of everything that they would have done better. Then I get my sermon, you know, on how they are such a better nurse then I am with the appropriate stories to back it up. I can't do a single thing right, and they love to relish in my impending demise...

Not a bad day. A typical day...

I'm 8 months in, and the only reason I want to quit is because there always has to be SOMETHING that the next shift is better at then me. God forbid they teach me a better way to do something. Nope. They need to stomp on other people to feel better about themselves...

catamounts303 · Feb 10, 2007

In our Trauma ICU we had this one complete nut whose been there for years who they simply won't get rid of. (went to Nursing school with the Manager etc) As a resault of the abusive and demeaning nature of this RN four real good Nurses have left the Unit. I believe in constructive critisism like everyone should in an ICU environment but there comes a time when a person is just downright mean, nasty, and needs to be fired. I don't even know if it's a generation thing because we have a lot of very senior Nurses over 28 years critical care experience who are just great teachers. They are critical but it's the constructive feedback. Not the laughing, making fun of people saying things like "stupid" and name calling. Whomever made the post about the snide remakrs about the Cardiac Workup I totally can see where you're comming from. To heck with them it's your license you made the right choice. Have you all ever noticed that one bad apple can really ruin the morale of a Unit? And everybody fears the person because they don't want to be the next "target". Our Night shift is the way to go. I wonder if thats the norm across the board the wack jobs work days only?

Long Post sorry guys big rant but this one really hit home.

curleygreen · Feb 22, 2007

Boy does this thread stand out for me!

This is among many of the things about nursing that is and always has driven me insane.....following nurses who have all kinds of loose ends that I then have to take care of, and I am nice about it and just say, "ok", and go and take care of it. But when I give report, do I get the same courtesy extended to me? NO!

We have this one ex-mgr who is by far the laziest nurse I have ever known, she "talks" a good job, but she gets everyone else to do her work and won't lift a finger to help anyone. When the assignmt is made, she goes and erases it if it looks like her patients are "too heavy" for her....she won't take admissions, isolation pts, pts going for Scans, etc.

Since her nose is way far up our Head Bananases booties, she gets away with this nonwork plus negative and critical attitude towards her coworkers....we have all complained about her but if you ask my mgr if she gets any complaints about this nurse (and I know she does....from pts and my coworkers), my mgr "sweeps this under a rug" and forgets about it.

Nursing has been one of the most stressfulled things I have ever done, bar none! Everybody involved...patients, visitors, family, doctors, nurses, other depts.....all seem to be on warp speed and in a seriously bad mood and take it out on each other!

ICU_floater · Feb 26, 2007

I have worked in a sicu for several years and have seen the way RN's treat each other and I just don't understand why we are so critical of each other!! We have a tendency to act like "monday morning quarterbacks!"...
Looking over the decisions that were made by the rn, things that were completed and (god forbid) not completed. (Remember that there are 3 shifts)
Bottom line is, we serve NOBODY when we act this way. We perpetuate nursing's tough reputation...(we eat our young) and put our patients at risk.
This behavor seems to be "justified" because we are in "'critical care" and we have a stressful work environment....arent we really just adding more stress! Does this help us or out patients??
Nursing could be a very strong profession, but we don't allow it, because we can't even get along with each other.
We are the reason our profession struggles...
What do you guys think???

I think there are lazy nurses who will find ANYWAY out of any type of work, I think there are nuses tripples who place pt. care before paperwork and pass it on, I think that ANYTIME I verbalize a short-comming of another Rn, it's with her standing over my back to hear my comments and I'm ok with my statement.

Making you look bad, brings down the team, it doesn't eleavate me.... that's an insecurity I must be called upon immediately If I present it unfounded. I won't say to your back during my shift that I won't return in report the next day as well as ask you to document, compete or whatever to finish care. We may be here 24/7 but I know what you can and can't do.... and I'll tel you personally first, then share your crap with my coworkers so THEY don't take it back....You've had a bad day.... I already know you and and see this.... leave it alll.... I'll do it, go home and rest, catch ya tomorrow.....

it's so simple how we care or demand better from each other

bluesky, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2007

The "getting along" you refer to can back fire. As critical thinkers we should not just go along for the sake of getting along. Sometimes people need to be made aware of mistakes so they don't reoccur. That does not mean we back stab and trash the other nurse, but critical examination and explanation can be beneficial. I mean face to face in a calm and professional manner, not running to other staff behind their backs. Contempt breeds comtempt. If we function as professionals and accept no less than we will be respected by other professions.

No one is talking about lowering the standard of care. Of course a nurse needs to be informed when he/she has made a mistake. But does the informing nurse have to badmouth the error-making nurse and let everyone else in the unit know... I think not_ or treat the error-making nurse contemptuously from there on out?

ICU_floater · Mar 1, 2007

I agree with bluesky, you KNOW who leaves work and who doesn't. I simply say I'd appreciate you not leaving that admission assessment that is 5 hours old for me to do. If you say you will and don't, it will be waiting for you the next day if you return. If this is a trait that you've acquired, I let management know that in no way can I provide an ......... this far out and will leave the medical record # with a note to compete in this nurses mail box.

I won't be taken advantage of, but I sure as all get out will do the form if that nurse had been busy but you can tell by the shape of the unit walking in how things really were.

When other nurses complain I offer the above suggestion and add that they should take it up with the "offending nurse" and quit complaining and move on, there's work to do. If I started adding about how they suckered me in last week and tell tales... I only add to the problem. No matter how true it may be. But I'm finding less work being left for me that could have been done. The rest is ongoing effort:chuckle