Pet Peeves about new hires

TracyRN · Mar 1, 2001

Before I start, I'd just like to say that I hope I don't start any fights. Not that we nurses are argumentative or anything... I'm just trying to write this rather tongue-in-cheek so I'll have to see how it goes over.

I've been reading topics from nurses who are feeling discomfort at their new jobs. I thought maybe we could all get together and tell some of the things that we've noted in new hires that drove us nuts. Since we've all been new hires at least once, we're not slinging mud at anyone in particular and maybe this will help us when we're the newbie.

Here goes. My pet peeve about someone new. I don't care how you did it where you came from!! There's nothing like throwing in my face how inefficient/bumbling/ignorant I am because I/my unit/my facility doesn't do things the way you did them at your last job. I've heard this from one or two orientees in the past and I always want to ask, if things were so perfect where you came from, why, oh why, didn't you stay there?!? I've always managed to restrain myself, though. Except for that one time. Maybe one of the posts about mean preceptors was about me, after all...

So what's your pet peeve?

iamme457 · Mar 1, 2001

I think my biggest pet peeve about new hires....Hummm, I like to orient new people. Only a few things have ever bothered me about any nurse though one is a fear of body fluids. In ICU and really any area of direct care nursing you are going to have to locate where it came from, describe it in detail (odor and texture included)and measure it hourly. Occasionally you need to wash it off the bed, side rails, walls and floor. Another is lack of compassion and the inability to empathize in any way shape or form. And last but probably the most annoying; Not believing a patient that says they are in pain..pain is and always will be a personal perception thing.

iamme457 · Mar 1, 2001

I think my biggest pet peeve about new hires....Hummm, I like to orient new people. Only a few things have ever bothered me about any nurse though one is a fear of body fluids. In ICU and really any area of direct care nursing you are going to have to locate where it came from, describe it in detail (odor and texture included)and measure it hourly. Occasionally you need to wash it off the bed, side rails, walls and floor. Another is lack of compassion and the inability to empathize in any way shape or form. And last but probably the most annoying; Not believing a patient that says they are in pain..pain is and always will be a personal perception thing.

duckie · Mar 2, 2001

I agree with one point already made, if a new hire is constantly talking about "how it was done where they worked before" it makes you wonder why they left. I get a little ticked off when people hire in, then expect you to change your ways to their ways. I always say, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do!" I am always open to a better way of doing things but learn how it is done where you are currently employeed then ask if you can make a suggestion? Don't come in and try to take over. Also, another thing that upsets me is brand new nurses, just out of school, thinking they know it all and taking the attitude, "I am nurse therefore I am to be adored." I don't mean this harshly, but respect has to be earned, you don't get it because of the letters following your name. And most of the time you get respect only if you give it. None of us knew it all when we got out of school and I admit freely, I learn new things all the time. I have been witness to many new nurses, throwing their new license around and making enemies very fast. People respect us for how we treat others and well as for who we are. I try to always give the new nurses the benefit of the doubt and if they have a major attitude I talk to them to try and help them understand that yes, they are now nurses but they cannot do the job alone and having the respect of the staff you lead is very important, so be gentle and don't blow through like a bounding wind but be a soothing gentle breeze. Nursing is always a team effort so we must always make every member of the team feel important and that helps increase the productivity of all staff members. One person cannot change the world but one person with good leadership can motivate and change, however all changes should be made with everyone in mind, not just to please one person. This reminds me of a clipping that one of my residents gave me. It said: I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. (Written by Edward Everett Hale) Everyone doing the best they can is what makes the world a better place.

duckie · Mar 2, 2001

I agree with one point already made, if a new hire is constantly talking about "how it was done where they worked before" it makes you wonder why they left. I get a little ticked off when people hire in, then expect you to change your ways to their ways. I always say, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do!" I am always open to a better way of doing things but learn how it is done where you are currently employeed then ask if you can make a suggestion? Don't come in and try to take over. Also, another thing that upsets me is brand new nurses, just out of school, thinking they know it all and taking the attitude, "I am nurse therefore I am to be adored." I don't mean this harshly, but respect has to be earned, you don't get it because of the letters following your name. And most of the time you get respect only if you give it. None of us knew it all when we got out of school and I admit freely, I learn new things all the time. I have been witness to many new nurses, throwing their new license around and making enemies very fast. People respect us for how we treat others and well as for who we are. I try to always give the new nurses the benefit of the doubt and if they have a major attitude I talk to them to try and help them understand that yes, they are now nurses but they cannot do the job alone and having the respect of the staff you lead is very important, so be gentle and don't blow through like a bounding wind but be a soothing gentle breeze. Nursing is always a team effort so we must always make every member of the team feel important and that helps increase the productivity of all staff members. One person cannot change the world but one person with good leadership can motivate and change, however all changes should be made with everyone in mind, not just to please one person. This reminds me of a clipping that one of my residents gave me. It said: I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. (Written by Edward Everett Hale) Everyone doing the best they can is what makes the world a better place.

fergus51 · Mar 2, 2001

I admit I get short with new nurses who think they know everything, but in all fairness I get short with experienced nurses who think they can't learn anything new from students who have the benefit of the most current education. I remember being a new nurse because it wasn't THAT long ago and yeah, I was completely overwhelmed. School just can't prepare you for the real world.

fergus51 · Mar 2, 2001

I admit I get short with new nurses who think they know everything, but in all fairness I get short with experienced nurses who think they can't learn anything new from students who have the benefit of the most current education. I remember being a new nurse because it wasn't THAT long ago and yeah, I was completely overwhelmed. School just can't prepare you for the real world.

egmillard · Mar 2, 2001

Nursing school does'nt prepare you for the real world, which is a shame, and a failed system, but then on our unit (Telemtry), student leave at 11am, and get to look after one patient. When I trained, we looked after 6 patients, with an RN, and you learnt real quick. We probably should'nt baby nursing students, it does'tn really help.

egmillard · Mar 2, 2001

Nursing school does'nt prepare you for the real world, which is a shame, and a failed system, but then on our unit (Telemtry), student leave at 11am, and get to look after one patient. When I trained, we looked after 6 patients, with an RN, and you learnt real quick. We probably should'nt baby nursing students, it does'tn really help.

sharann, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2001

Well, let's see. I'm both a "recent" grad (6 months ago) and a new hire at a hospital. The 1st place I worked, the preceptors and other staff generally (as a whole) were neurotic and unfriendly. Their policies and charting were computerized but FAR from perfect. I daily tell the nurses who are orienting me in my new position how great things are here and how much better the charting etc..is here now. They don't mind this! It happens to be totally true.Please back off RN students.They need support from us. If we treat them poorly we better STOP BITCHING about the nursing SHORTAGE, right?

I love nursing and thank you all for this bulletin board.I enjoy hearing so many different perspectives!

Shar

sharann, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2001

Well, let's see. I'm both a "recent" grad (6 months ago) and a new hire at a hospital. The 1st place I worked, the preceptors and other staff generally (as a whole) were neurotic and unfriendly. Their policies and charting were computerized but FAR from perfect. I daily tell the nurses who are orienting me in my new position how great things are here and how much better the charting etc..is here now. They don't mind this! It happens to be totally true.Please back off RN students.They need support from us. If we treat them poorly we better STOP BITCHING about the nursing SHORTAGE, right?

I love nursing and thank you all for this bulletin board.I enjoy hearing so many different perspectives!

Shar