nursing cliques

[sway]

Howdy,

I've been out of school for about a year, and worked in a Medical ICU during that time. Recently I relocated, and am now working in a 30 bed ICU in a fairly large city. I've noticed that the interesting and/or challenging assignments in my unit seem to go to people who are in a certain group. It seems that some nurses are excluded, and are given mostly the less desirable patients.

With the goal of goign to CRNA school, I would like to try and gain as much experience as I can, as quickly as possible.

Has anybody else ever noticed this? Any advice on dealing with this, and getting what I want? So far, I figure getting my CCRN will perhaps buy me some clout, and at least I'll learn a bunch.

Cheers...

[TexasCCRN]

I typed my message once and it got deleted so here I go again. What i said was. You have to stick up for yourself. IF you feel that you are being mistreated, handle it with the person making assignments first. Don't want to go running to the director right off. Nurses in ICU can be like this...you have to earn respect. This usually means that you have to be clinically excellent and outspoken. Both of these things will serve you well.

I went through the same thing. I realized that if you don't speak up you will get the crap assignments (OD's, DT's, etc). You don't have to be rude about it but you can definitely bring it to their attention that you are able to handle more critical patients and are sick of the others that you are getting.

Hope this helps..Goodluck!

[UCDSICURN]

Look at it from another point of view. You recently transferred there. They don't know you or what you are capable of and are probably feeling you out, clinically. It may seem unfair because you're motivated and want to learn and get in the "poop", so to speak, but you need to prove yourself first. It sounds like you went from a smaller hospital to a bigger hospital and that probably adds to the situation. Sick at a big hospital with resources is a definite transfer out for the smaller facility. Give it time. Before you know it you'll be knee deep in crisis.

D.C.

[Pete495]

I work in a cardiovascular surgical unit, and when I first came off orientation, I had some of my worst patients. I had probably 3 or 4 patients right after coming off orientation that just did terrible, and needed every drip to keep them alive. As such, I needed a little help from my co-workers. Looking back, I still don't think I've had many bad cases since coming off orientation, but then again, I've been there a little while, and I've gotten used to taking care of the patients. I've sent many patients back to the OR, and helped out with a lot more critical patients when mine aren't very sick. The experienced nurses like to have a challenge, and that is why they get the tough cases, plus they've proven their competent skills.

But even experienced nurses go on dry spells where they feel like they're doing the same thing everyday, so when I feel like I'm bored, I ask for the fresh post op heart, or the most critical patient, just to keep my skills up. There's nothing wrong with taking on a challenge. Just don't bite off more than you can chew so to speak, being new and everything. If I were you, I would offer to help those who do have tougher cases, and just let them know you want to get the experience of taking care of the most critical patients. Show interest basically, help the older nurses, make friends with them, and you will find new and challenging cases at your door. As far as CRNA school goes, it probably won't matter overly much what patients you've had, just that you've had the experience in ICU. That isn't to say you should slack off though. I would try to soak up as much input as I could in your situation, cuz we will need it later.