Complaints only, please!

Nurses Relations

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Specializes in critical care.

So. Let's gripe.

(Nursing only, dearest mods, lest not we turn blue.)

Not one, BUT TWO, abuse reports. Busted my butt to advocate. Guess how much I was able to do? NOTHING!

Very dangerous disease that is contagious is diagnosed months after multiple admissions. I went out of my way to piss off the right people so we can FINALLY get a grip on this situation. How much did I accomplish? NOTHING!

Terrified blind and deaf person unable to soothe from panics. I do everything in my power to ensure no triggers present during my last shift with her. Worked my tail off for that. How much progress did that make? NONE!

I got off work late as hell for the first time in ages because my group was so hard and heavy. My boss decides that would be the best time ever to sit me down and scold me for being late. THANKS, OBAMA!!!!

I built up so much trust with this patient. What a sweet, wonderful guy. Apparently he was grumpy with everyone else, but not me. You know the kind. The type that makes you feel like a rock star for getting below the crusty exterior. But then a conversation happened making me have to report a dangerous situation (dangerous to the patient). I had to violate his trust. I HATE HATE HATE this part of nursing. And what came of that violation of trust? NOTHING.

I told a doctor that a PICC had a puncture or tear in it at an undetermined place, internally, near the insertion site. I told him nursing isn't able to safely remove it. He told the next nurse to remove it. They always say, DOCUMENT TO SAVE YOUR BUTT! And I HAD documented it. I had reported it. I had given it to the next nurse in report. But when she removed the PICC, thank god it was okay, but she was surprised by the look on my face when I asked - how did the MD verify it was okay?! What did he do? NOTHING. And she forgot I said anything.

You guys are totally welcome to contribute to this b fest thread. Please do. I'm a grouchy pants and you know misery loves company!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Management is upset that they have a 30% favorable rate and is deemed not able to communicate appropriately or staff feels that they are not appreciated; they miss the fact that when asked to help support the staff when there is a day where 50 people are perpetually waiting over two hours, they NEVER come out to support that the staff is working as hard as they can-but they'll NEVER do that... :no:

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Specializes in critical care.

LadyFree I will kick them in their shins!!!

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Man, I had two back-to-back shifts from hell.

I can't even remember what all happened on the first, but I didn't leave until an hour after my shift ended.

The second, I followed an arrogant know-it-all new grad who ignored post heart cath orders because he felt the blood pressure was too high. Did he ask anybody? Nope. He just blustered when the patient had chest pain at shift change and got in my way while I tried to deal with it. Urgh. At least the patient ended up being fine after I worried about stent collapse. This patient was nice, too. He was the only one out of 6 that wasn't a dick that night.

Then, our CT department had a major meltdown and our results weren't coming back for five and six hours. I had a conditional discharge pending the CT result and had to call every half hour for three hours to get an answer. The family was anxious, the patient was irate, and I barely got them calmed down and straightened out, and discharged them at 10PM.

Then, I got an admission. A sweet little old man with dementia who had a UTI and was constipated. I'm just glad I didn't have to cath him. Instead, I practically raped him with an enema. He was so hard of hearing that he had no idea what was going. I did my best not to scare him, but I basically assaulted him. At least the enema worked. He pooped for a solid three hours. It is amazing what the human body can produce. He was no longer my friend afterwards, and I nearly got a poop hand to the face. Yuck. I was mostly upset at having to invade the poor man's body without even trying laxatives first.

We only had one aide and our census was rising. The aide had a crap attitude and didn't do half the stuff I asked her to, and didn't tell me she didn't have time. She never once asked me for help. I did my best not to call her, but there are times when you really don't have time and need to delegate. Never again with this aide. The next time we work together, we're brawling.

I had three more admissions after midnight. One was an alcohol patient, and he was actually the best one. His scores were midrange and he was still coherent enough to do paperwork. Score!!

The other two were stone cold witches from hell. One ripped me a new one because the doctor told her she could have clear liquids and put in an NPO order after midnight. Well, she got to the unit after 2AM. I actually asked this one why she was being mean to me. She proceeded to have a full out meltdown like a toddler. I called the doc, got her some effing cranberry juice, and was suddenly her best friend.

The last one came up from the ED with nothing done for PNA. I had to get blood cultures, start antibiotics, yadda yadda. All the patient cared about was that I was a Nazi because I wouldn't let her smoke. When I told her mother that they don't allow e-cigs in the hospital, they both had a fit. What is up with the ignorant people these days? I didn't even try to coddle this one, I just offered AMA papers. The mom got all worried and talked the patient into staying. Jeez, thanks, Mom.

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cani, you have such a way with words.

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Specializes in critical care.

Sorry for the crappy (pun not necessarily but sort of intended) shifts. [emoji17] Shame on the admitting provider who felt it reasonable to go straight to enema. That could have waited for a big dose of colace and senna.

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Specializes in ORTHO, PCU, ED.

I get tired of micromanagement. Used to, my boss got upset with me if I did not want to admit an overflow pt. NOW, she gets upset if I do and says, "I don't want any sepsis pts admitted to this surgical unit." Umm, lady (who's never worked a medical floor but got hired as the manager...don't get me started on that) septic pts aren't contagious as such. Anyhow, doomed If I do. Doomed If I don't. Go back

to your office and work on the budget please. Am I in charge of not? [emoji51]

And I hate this. The new assistant manager....ugh....I mean, come on, if you have time to stand at the desk and count the census all day and stare at the staffing board, then take off your fancy white lab coat (that only mgmt is allowed to wear) and go help my cna put my 300lb lady on a bedpan for goodness sakes. And don't pretend you didn't hear her ask for help and run and hide either. Mgmt stinks sometimes.

And can we please have computers that work!? I'm tried of this ancient PC that freezes everytime I go to yellowpages.com because I don't have any discharge planners on the weekends so I have to chase down some random wheelchair van service and I have no phone numbers!! Can't wait to start my new job at a metro hospital where I'm sure I won't be hailing taxis every Saturday!!

I feel ya Cani. I love nursing!!![emoji23]

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And can we please have computers that work!? I'm tried of this ancient PC that freezes everytime I go to yellowpages.com because I don't have any discharge planners on the weekends so I have to chase down some random wheelchair van service and I have no phone numbers!!

YES!!!! I sent a nasty gram to our managers the other day because I went through three computers and two point of care devices before I could get anything to work. I am not the IT department!!!

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Specializes in critical care.
I get tired of micromanagement. Used to, my boss got upset with me if I did not want to admit an overflow pt. NOW, she gets upset if I do and says, "I don't want any sepsis pts admitted to this surgical unit." Umm, lady (who's never worked a medical floor but got hired as the manager...don't get me started on that) septic pts aren't contagious as such. Anyhow, doomed If I do. Doomed If I don't. Go back

to your office and work on the budget please. Am I in charge of not? [emoji51]

And I hate this. The new assistant manager....ugh....I mean, come on, if you have time to stand at the desk and count the census all day and stare at the staffing board, then take off your fancy white lab coat (that only mgmt is allowed to wear) and go help my cna put my 300lb lady on a bedpan for goodness sakes. And don't pretend you didn't hear her ask for help and run and hide either. Mgmt stinks sometimes.

And can we please have computers that work!? I'm tried of this ancient PC that freezes everytime I go to yellowpages.com because I don't have any discharge planners on the weekends so I have to chase down some random wheelchair van service and I have no phone numbers!! Can't wait to start my new job at a metro hospital where I'm sure I won't be hailing taxis every Saturday!!

I feel ya Cani. I love nursing!!![emoji23]

Someone get this nurse an AMEN!

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Specializes in OB.

I applied to a hospital for a nurse residency that would end up with a job on the unit you precepted on. Of course it was conditional on them liking you. I applied, submitted a letter of recommendation and resume. I was offered my first choice. I was told today that they are scrapping the whole residency program. Buhbye student who is about to graduate and needs a job.

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Got an admit partway through shift. No problem. Parent only talked about herself. Getting any information about the child was like pulling teeth. Thank God the kid was old enough to answer some questions on her own.

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Got an admit partway through shift. No problem. Parent only talked about herself. Getting any information about the child was like pulling teeth. Thank God the kid was old enough to answer some questions on her own.

Munchausen's?

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