Need advice/giving report to uninterested nurse

rebel_red · Jun 22, 2005

You care because you care about your patients and want to insure continuity of care. We have the same person at our facility. She perceives herself to be the "super" nurse, knows everything about every patient better than any of us ever will, the only time she listens is when admin is speaking, because she is all about brown nosing. The rest of us treat her as a joke, and when the patient is in a potentially adventitious situation, we tell the UM. Because supernurse has no follow through.....and somehow manages to finish a 2 hour med pass in 45 minutes.... Ack. So glad I don't follow her.

As to advice....I still give supernurse a full report, make sure everything goes on the 24 hour report sheet seen by our DON, UM and LPN supervisor.Myself or our house sup also verbally gives report to the UM and we make sure to include patients requiring follow up. It is the only way I know there will be follow up. I have tried discussing this with her to no avail, because she is so convinced she is just that much better than the rest of us. We just live with her little ego trips and make sure that our admin team is aware. Sucks, but with the nursing shortage she isn't going anywhere.....

Tres

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2005

We too have a nurse who percieves herself as super nurse and is lovely until you get to handover and then she starts, never a nice word, no understanding of what happens on day shifts so feels she can turn up her nose.

I so understand how you feel, I have tried ignoring her in handover and just give the details, finish and go.

The problem with super nurses is they are not team players, they have no conception of supporting your fellow worker and whilst they are excellent at technical skills they are incapible of remembering The Patient is a person too. :angryfire

mydesygn · Jun 22, 2005

Hi all,
I guess I need some advice from those of you who have been around awhile and dealt with all personalities. There is one nurse who follows us on nights. When she comes in-she is all smiles and giddy. But when I start to give her report, she is short, curt, and looks away like she is interested elsewhere. Tonight, she is like"so what's up with three". I don't observe her doing this when she takes report with other nurses. I almost get the feeling she dislikes me or is annoyed by me...but yet I don't know her at all and we don't even work the same shift. I have really worked on getting my report concise ...
should I say something-or should I blow it off.
It got me irish up tonight and I drove home so pissed thinking about it.
I feel this attitude coming from her-almost "now what could you possibly have to tell me-"
its really annoying me but yet why do I care?

I would love to give report to supernurse. You are so lucky. I always get the nurses who want long reports covering every conceivable aspect of patient care. Constantly interrupting with questions completely throwing of your train of thought, wanting you to repeat information that is already on the kardex. My personal opinion is don't be long-winded, don't repeat info that is already on the kardex, don't tell me norms, don't go into long diatribes about social issues (honestly, if his wife/mother visited will not in the least bit affect my care) Fortunately, we've gone to written reports -- only way to get my night started and get out on time in the morning. I have feeling she has been around as long as I have and appreciates focusing on issues and abnormals. Don't get me wrong, there is no need to be rude. I would tell her what is important for her to know and head home. If she dismisses information then any issues coming from that are on her. Why are you so concerned about her "liking you". Pardon my french - but screw her. You are there to take care of patients. One of the worse traps on nursing units is allowing personalities and the "need" to be liked interfere with your mood and behaivior on the job. The best thing you can do is leave that nonsense at work. Next time that happens - Take the advice of Cartman from South Park and repeat this as your mantra "Screw you guys (or that nurse)! I'm going home"

DG5 · Jun 22, 2005

I would love to give report to supernurse. You are so lucky. I always get the nurses who want long reports covering every conceivable aspect of patient care. Constantly interrupting with questions completely throwing of your train of thought, wanting you to repeat information that is already on the kardex. My personal opinion is don't be long-winded, don't repeat info that is already on the kardex, don't tell me norms, don't go into long diatribes about social issues (honestly, if his wife/mother visited will not in the least bit affect my care) Fortunately, we've gone to written reports -- only way to get my night started and get out on time in the morning. I have feeling she has been around as long as I have and appreciates focusing on issues and abnormals. Don't get me wrong, there is no need to be rude. I would tell her what is important for her to know and head home. If she dismisses information then any issues coming from that are on her. Why are you so concerned about her "liking you". Pardon my french - but screw her. You are there to take care of patients. One of the worse traps on nursing units is allowing personalities and the "need" to be liked interfere with your mood and behaivior on the job. The best thing you can do is leave that nonsense at work. Next time that happens - Take the advice of Cartman from South Park and repeat this as your mantra "Screw you guys (or that nurse)! I'm going home"

I have that frustration as well. We have written reports, and basically, a verbal report is just reading what is written so it is there for the "supernurse" to read and I am sorry, I am now going home. When I worked nights, I had a condescending nurse look me up and down every time I gave her report, so I would just have it ready before she would come on the floor, and make sure I was on the other floor giving that report when she came and I would go off the floor at least in a happy mood, and good about my shift.

needsmore$ · Jun 24, 2005

I would continue to give a thorough shift report. If the on coming shift isn't paying attention-that's their decision and could be their loss. At least you are giving the oncoming nurse the info they need to care for this patient.

Sometimes down and dirty reports- although quick- can miss important tidbits. There is nothing more frustrating than having to call the previous nurse to find out if a lab test was done, was this med given, etc.

Keep being thorough. It's good nursing practice.

When you feel comfortable with this other nurse- discuss it with them sometime. Maybe not at work when busy, but during off times- shift get togethers , etc.

Good luck

Anne

nurse1986 · Jun 24, 2005

Hi all,
I guess I need some advice from those of you who have been around awhile and dealt with all personalities. There is one nurse who follows us on nights. When she comes in-she is all smiles and giddy. But when I start to give her report, she is short, curt, and looks away like she is interested elsewhere. Tonight, she is like"so what's up with three". I don't observe her doing this when she takes report with other nurses. I almost get the feeling she dislikes me or is annoyed by me...but yet I don't know her at all and we don't even work the same shift. I have really worked on getting my report concise ...
should I say something-or should I blow it off.
It got me irish up tonight and I drove home so pissed thinking about it.
I feel this attitude coming from her-almost "now what could you possibly have to tell me-"
its really annoying me but yet why do I care?

from a nurse of 20 years

Keep on giving her report just as you have. cont to be a good nurse and care about you pts. Do you have a superviser over you and the other nurse ?? if so speak to the superviser. If not take the rude , uninterested nurse to a quite place and confront her. some people are just that way but they should not be in the field of nursing I would also make sure that all reports you give that nurse you have a written copy of , just in case you ever need it .

Good Luck

live4today, RN · Jun 24, 2005

I would continue to give a thorough shift report. If the on coming shift isn't paying attention-that's their decision and could be their loss. At least you are giving the oncoming nurse the info they need to care for this patient.
Sometimes down and dirty reports- although quick- can miss important tidbits. There is nothing more frustrating than having to call the previous nurse to find out if a lab test was done, was this med given, etc.
Keep being thorough. It's good nursing practice.
When you feel comfortable with this other nurse- discuss it with them sometime. Maybe not at work when busy, but during off times- shift get togethers , etc.
Good luck
Anne

Excellent advice Anne!!! :yelclap:

ernurseafterall · Jun 24, 2005

All good advice and thank you. Just to end this thread and let you know how it wound up...I talked to my mentor. She basically comfirmed she observed it also but that I should blow it off since this nurse is apparantly known for this. She confirmed its not just me but she does that too whoever-old, young, experienced, newbies-everyone. So I guess that is that.

The next night, I gave a full report to an awesome nurse who I respect and look up to. She asked questions, made eye contact, and seemed truly interested in the info. It was a pleasure.

Thks again to all..

pricklypear · Jun 24, 2005

ernurseafterall - you have a great attitude. It's tough being a new nurse, or the new nurse on a unit. There's always those nurses who have to be %^&$#^%* with the new kids. I think it happens almost everywhere. Just keep your chin up, and give whatever report YOU feel is necessary. Eventually, this nurse will get bored trying to intimidate you (or whatever she's doing) and move on. I bet someone treated her like that sometime in her past!

judy ann · Jun 24, 2005

:stone I hope all ends up okay.

I worked one place where the off going nurse would meet me at the elevator, toss me the keys and tell me "Everybody is fine. I counted" and jump on the elevator. ---- and this was a L&D unit! I tried to talk to her,but only got to see her back. I went to the unit manager and we had a talk with her. Her answer was that she didn't see why she should need to give report. Just read the charts! The nurse manager disagreed, and told her she would give a report--at the nurses station--and I should let her know how this works out. I got report at the nurses station, somewhat grudginly, but complete.

wayover20 · Jun 25, 2005

I would continue to give a thorough shift report. If the on coming shift isn't paying attention-that's their decision and could be their loss. At least you are giving the oncoming nurse the info they need to care for this patient.
Sometimes down and dirty reports- although quick- can miss important tidbits. There is nothing more frustrating than having to call the previous nurse to find out if a lab test was done, was this med given, etc.

While I'm not a supernurse I do not like blow by blow details like where the iv site is and how many sticks it took you to get it, how many family members are with the pt and bugging you, or reports with personal opinions thrown in, etc. I work in a busy ER and when our shift starts, we head for "our charts" and read about the patients we're taking over and what has been done for them up to now. Then we get report from the nurse that tells us where we are now in the care of the pt and any PERTINENT info. I should not have to call to ask if a lab was drawn or a med given....you are charting and checking off as you go right?