new grad here working on med surg

TheLionessRN, RN · Sep 19, 2002

Incognito, welcome to nursing, my dear.

The best you can do is keep your head down, don't complain, do your best for the patients and realize that you won't ever be told you are doing a good job. If you get zero feedback, then things are great. Look for feedback from your patients. Do something to try and elicit a compliment from a patient and you will live on that small treat all day.

This career is a very self motivating one. You have to know in your heart that you did a good job, or the best you could do.

Good luck to you.

cactus wren · Sep 19, 2002

:nurse:

Sorry you`re first job is like that. Unfortunately the old tale of nurses 'eating' their young is sometimes very true.........(((HUGS )))). Hang in there, it`s NOT like that everywhere........I left one job because of conditions like you`ve described.......now am in one with GREAT people, have a NM who thinks we all walk on water, and she tells us that daily...........so it does happen, and I think we are soo..happy to get any nurse that our newbies feel cherished and valued.As we are a very small hospital those younguns usually go off to bigger pastures after they get their sea legs, but I hope we have been able to set them on the right track of a happy,productive nursing career.

TheLionessRN, RN · Sep 19, 2002

Wow, I must not be very lucky, lol. I have been swimming with barracudas since I graduated.

sjoe · Sep 19, 2002

Incognito--Take some time by yourself and give some objective thought to the negative feedback you have been receiving. It may or may not indicate some real things you need to know about--abrasive manner, learning gaps, lack of organization, whatever. If you can profit from it, good for you. It was good feedback.

If, however, on careful and honest reflection, you are convinced it was simply malice and/or abuse of authority, you can take things from there. Like talk with your boss about it and/or look for another job where you'll be better appreciated and/or tell these people to kiss your butt.

IMHO.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2002

Howdy yall

from deep in the heat of texas

I aint sayin its right, but its reality. You can do a thousand things perfectly and have many compliments, but make one mistake and you are hung..

I know another male nurse, who is a excellent nurse. Has very good IV skills and people skills. He got hammered by one mistake. While starting an IV on a teen female, he said hold still you are going to feel a little prick....... The girls mother was incensed over this. He ended up being fired and has had difficulty finding work because of it. He meant nothing by it, but he got nailed.

doo wah ditty

l.rae · Sep 19, 2002

Originally posted by teeituptom
Howdy yall
from deep in the heat of texas

I aint sayin its right, but its reality. You can do a thousand things perfectly and have many compliments, but make one mistake and you are hung..

I know another male nurse, who is a excellent nurse. Has very good IV skills and people skills. He got hammered by one mistake. While starting an IV on a teen female, he said hold still you are going to feel a little prick....... The girls mother was incensed over this. He ended up being fired and has had difficulty finding work because of it. He meant nothing by it, but he got nailed.

Tom, l think this is horrible just beyond words....did he ever consult an attourney?......l can't even find the words!...LR

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2002

Howdy yall

from deep in the heat of texas

He tried but no shysters would take it. All over an unfortunate choice of words.

doo wah ditty

zudy · Sep 19, 2002

Tom that story makes me positively ill. Sometimes, we can't do anything right. That woman's mind is in the gutter. :confused:

fulwood · Sep 19, 2002

Tom - I can't believe that guy got fired for something like that! Should one wonder why there is nursing shortage? Excellent nusre as you stated gets fired over use of word - ridiculous.. I still sometimes wonder when I hear cases like this do I really want to go into nursing! Poor chap. I hope things work out better for him. I am just astounded..........

Furball · Sep 19, 2002

Originally posted by teeituptom
Howdy yall
from deep in the heat of texas

I aint sayin its right, but its reality. You can do a thousand things perfectly and have many compliments, but make one mistake and you are hung..

I know another male nurse, who is a excellent nurse. Has very good IV skills and people skills. He got hammered by one mistake. While starting an IV on a teen female, he said hold still you are going to feel a little prick....... The girls mother was incensed over this. He ended up being fired and has had difficulty finding work because of it. He meant nothing by it, but he got nailed.

Geesh Tom...that' awful!

askater11 · Sep 19, 2002

My 1st job was a horror story.

I was a PCT at a hospital...it was an Oncology floor. The nurses loved me....and so did the supervisor.

I stayed at the same hospital...wanted to learn more so went to med. surg. stepdown. I blended in there as a Nurse Tech.

When I became an R.N. on the SAME unit I was a N.T. on....talk about nurses eating THEIR young. My supervisor turned against me.....she ridiculed from day #1 of becoming a R.N. She at one time yelled at me and said, (in front of a patient) "you are the worse nurse on the floor"

I left that floor and headed to a different hospital. I gained confidence...at first even at that hospital I was down on myself. But then I "turned around" calmed my nerves. I went to my 1st evaluation....the supervisors were so positive....and til' this day they say I'm one of the best nurses.

I've learned a lot in the years.

...I've learned to stay calm....act confident (even if I know little), always ask questions, and learn about the nurses.

On a floor, there's usually a nurse that will help (she's usually resourceful and informative) A nurse that's never happy. (I usually stay away from her....friendly and if she's upset about something. Explain the situation to a supervisor...with my head up and be non-judgemental)....and there's indifferent nurses. (they are very quiet and just "do" their work....rarely do they answer your questions....) I'm usually distant but friendly until I learn the dynamics of the floor. I'm always super thankful to collegues...and offer to help if I'm not doing anything.

Ask a supervisor to critique you. Listen to what she has to say....if you meet a supervisor like my 1st job....RUN don't walk to the nearest EXIT (just kidding) I agree with what sjoe said.

There's lots of jobs out there!!!!! Good Luck!!!!!