Nurses who act incompetent...

[RN and Mommy]

Where I work, there are several nurses who act like they can't do anything on their own! They constantly act like they are sooo behind all the time. One nurse, who only works weekends has the charge pass like half of her morning meds everyday. Then there was a nurse yesterday who only had 4 patients the whole shift with her own CNA and having the charge nurse help her with a lot while I was running my butt off with 6-7 patients at a time (going through 10) with a CNA. Two were new surgicals, two dismissals, and an admission. Then there are the nurses who NEVER do their own dismissals or admissions, who claim they don't know how. I am just curious...do you guys have nurses like this where you work?

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Where I work there are several nurses who act like they can't do anything on their own! They constantly act like they are sooo behind all the time. One nurse, who only works weekends has the charge pass like half of her morning meds everyday. Then there was a nurse yesterday who only had 4 patients the whole shift with her own CNA and having the charge nurse help her with a lot while I was running my butt off with 6-7 patients at a time (going through 10) with a CNA. Two were new surgicals, two dismissals, and an admission. Then there are the nurses who NEVER do their own dismissals or admissions, who claim they don't know how. I am just curious...do you guys have nurses like this where you work?[/quote']

They are everywhere, everywhere

[RN and Mommy]

I say use it as a teachable moment. Like, "you don't know how to do assessments/dismissals? Let me show you. Its really simple, anyone can do it."

But then again, I'm pretty passive-agressive.

I tried that at work with the nurse with 4 patients. She said to the charge nurse "can you show me how to reschedule medications?" The charge nurse replied, "Yes, later...I am swamped right now" I overheard the conversation and told her, "I would be happy to show you" the nurse replied, "Maybe later" and walked away. I am like WHATEVER!

[blueheaven]

i think there are two type of nurses.. one who is inexperienced and they are not as fast as experienced nurses and those who are just plain lazy and they ask other nurses to do their job for them. i've worked with new grads or those who just finished orientation and no they are not as proficient as experienced nurses and i help them as much as i can. do you all remember when you just got out of nursing school and started working? did you all know everything, and were you able to handle 7 patients? i have problem with experienced nurses who think nurses who are inexperienced are plain incompetent.

i don't think the poster was talking about newbies. i think she was talking about people who have been "well seasoned" that have learned behaviors to avoid work. when this happens...the brazen co-dependancy of many nurses kicks in and "if i don't do it-it won't get done" and similar phrases. management and charge nurses allow it to go on. you can set boundaries. if you don't set boundaries, then you get what you settle for.