wouldn't a 6-2 nurse have to be experienced and know what the heck they're doing

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I work 2-10 in a nursing home. I come after a rn that is just as dumb as rocks. She has been a nurse for a while but at times I feel like I know more than her, and I've only been a nurse less than a year. I regularly have to explain how to do things to her. My question is wouldn't a 6-2 nurse have to be experienced and know what the heck they're doing since 6-2 is a fast shift where almost all the orders come in???This woman regularly leaves a bunch of her work undone like orders, labs not faxed, and its not a occasional thing either. I'm a team player and I don't mind coming in and helping when its been a hard day, but everyday I have to end up staying late because i'm finishing up my work plus stuff unfinished from the day shift. So i'm pretty much getting sick of it. I'm not lying but she asked me this once...lol..."When you fax a doctor and the fax u back with a new order...Do u have to write a telephone order for it?????" I was like wowwww......you're the rn im just the lowly lvn...I'm not implying I'm perfect in no way, or that I know everything, and I've made my share of mistakes, but I always try to pay attention and learn. I'm just afraid shes gonna mess up and order, or make a big error, and I'm going to get dragged up and it. What can I do??? I'm in no way insulting rns so please no one get offended.=)

Specializes in Psych, LTC, Acute Care.
I don't see anything particularly wrong if this nurse asks for a second opinion. If she's not sure that something's wrong, she's taking prudent action by asking a competent coworker to assess the patient.

She is probably cognizant that her assessment and clinical skills are weak, so she's being safe by asking for your opinion. This is a whole lot better than the nurse who does not realize or care that he/she is dangerous.

Totally agree! I would just stay on top of your work and try to be patient just a little while longer. 6 months is not that long.

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Specializes in Gerontological Nursing, Acute Rehab.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and probably get flamed, but here goes.

It's been my experience that LTC RNs are not the cream of the crop. LTC for most RNs is not a desirable practice area. (There is a very non-scientific poll on here in the polls section; if you took it, I think LTCs were chosen as least desirable as well.) Many that cannot get a hospital job, cannot hack a hospital job, get fired from a hospital job, etc. end up in LTCs. They also don't get to learn how to be an RN in their fullest capacity if they start out there -- their patients may be medically complex (multiple comorbidities), but they are not clinically complex (multiple, high acuity therapies/treatments.) The ones that stay there ... well, they just don't know very much.

I have also come across many RNs that work LTC that are power-hungry egomaniacs. It is relatively easy to climb the managerial ladder in LTCs with just an ADN as most off the staff that you supervise are LPNs and CNAs; and ADN can easily be the highest educated nurse on a floor in LTC. Most RNs know this, and the ones that want to be bosses straight out of school flock to LTCs.

I am not knocking all LTC RNs. I am sure there some very good ones out there that chose to work where they work. From what I've seen, however, with quite a few of them, that is not the case.

Way to generalize there, grandma....

I SWORE that I wasn't going to touch this, I even went and checked out other threads, but to state that RN's in LTC aren't functioning in their "fullest capacity".....wow. Take note, world, I am officially speechless. As if one's capacity is only filled when one works in a hospital with different technologies or tasks under our responsibility.

HOWEVER, I do understand the point you were trying to make. I don't agree with it, but I get it. It's been my experience that there are nurses that are content to function sub-par in every setting, and I've seen them both in LTC and in the hospital. Your specialty area has no bearing on your desire to function competently and eagerness to learn.

Hijack over.

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Specializes in adult ICU.
Way to generalize there, grandma....

I SWORE that I wasn't going to touch this, I even went and checked out other threads, but to state that RN's in LTC aren't functioning in their "fullest capacity".....wow. Take note, world, I am officially speechless. As if one's capacity is only filled when one works in a hospital with different technologies or tasks under our responsibility.

HOWEVER, I do understand the point you were trying to make. I don't agree with it, but I get it. It's been my experience that there are nurses that are content to function sub-par in every setting, and I've seen them both in LTC and in the hospital. Your specialty area has no bearing on your desire to function competently and eagerness to learn.

Hijack over.

I actually was trying NOT to generalize, and if you read the third paragraph, there is a disclaimer in there. What I was stating has been truth according to MY EXPERIENCE...not saying this is everyone's experience. It's an opinion. You don't have to agree, and it's ok if you don't.

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I don't see anything particularly wrong if this nurse asks for a second opinion. If she's not sure that something's wrong, she's taking prudent action by asking a competent coworker to assess the patient.

She is probably cognizant that her assessment and clinical skills are weak, so she's being safe by asking for your opinion. This is a whole lot better than the nurse who does not realize or care that he/she is dangerous.

Ditto. It is good to collaborate even if you are sure of your assessment skills.

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Ditto. It is good to collaborate even if you are sure of your assessment skills.

the problem with that is I'm a newer nurse than her so I'm still working on improving my assessment skills and im still learning.

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