Snowana

It sounds like you are seeing them more than what the minimum $$$$$$ wants you to. Logically, that seems like a great idea...more frequent reassessment! Are you concerned that by having 2 nursing assessments per month instead of 1, you are causing them increased financial hardship without due cause? Because their insurance will not cover a second visit without a proper reason?

Thank you. I know that is something I have needed to do, @Iluvernsg. With our low census and inability to get the patients I really need to get experience with (thanks to profound new hire orientation) it has been difficult to do. With my conversation tomorrow, I will ask if it is possible to "buddy up" with someone that is good with that stuff.

I am so sorry to hear this! You are sooooo close!! I wish I had advice to offer on this exact scenario... While my scenario does not have to do exactly with a tenth of a percentage, it does have to do with a small technicality...and it did come out in my favor. For my ADN-BSN program, for the management clinical, I was assigned to a day shift nurse executive. What she intended to do was have me "stuff envelopes for the nursing awards banquet". I had requested to work with the nursing supervisor on my night shift. My clinical instructor initially told me "no" because the nursing supervisor I wanted to work with...while she had been in this position for 40 years, and the nights I was scheduled to work was during the "Occupy (insert city name)" fiasco...because she had a diploma and not at least a bachelors degree, I could not precept with her. I ended up going to the dean of nursing and asked "how does stuffing envelopes for an awards banquet teach me anything about management??" She agreed it was a waste of time, and found a way around the technicality that I had to precept with at least a bachelors degree prepared nurse. I hope this helps illustrate that small, little things don't necessarily need to be the final word. A tenth of a percent is not a huge deal (unless you're making a critical drug calculation)...and that percentage is really at the discretion of the instructor. I've had instructor grading curves vary greatly. Particularly since you have in writing that she "misspoke"...you might have a case for your dean! I wish you luck, and hope that things turn in your favor!

Again...wow! I am moved by the comments and support from all you wonderful strangers! Thank you so much! I had no idea there was such amazing support available here! I certainly intend to pay it forward when I stumble across the post of another RN experiencing the hell I am going through right now! I am meeting my manager tomorrow morning before my shift to discuss what happened on the adult unit. It is a half hour before I am supposed to work, which I am hoping is a good sign. I easily could be making a mountain out of a mole hill out of all this. I am not on a current write up or improvement plan, but being that I work for a non union company that has a history of firing on the spot, depending on what the heck I did...it could end badly. On a good note, I already have an interview at another hospital system for adults, not pediatrics. I'm in a bit of a pinch...as I stated before, my old unit's ENTIRE leadership has been fired/asked to leave/retired since I left 20 months ago. The issues I had are under the watch of interim manager #2, who does not know me at all. I'm not exactly getting a great reference from them, and I was with them for 10 years! And my current pediatric reference won't be stellar because of my interpersonal issues...oh I hope I just get written up, not fired! Checked e-mail, and there is an internal full time day shift position open (I'm days)...I can't imagine who else is leaving. I hope I can sleep tonight!

@jennylee321: Well, that's sticky. My old unit is a pretty awful place, I'm grateful I survived as long as I did. The three people comprising the management team I had when I left have since been asked to leave or be fired, and the first interim manager lasted a whole 4 months before quitting. They are on interim #2. She does not know me at all. My current manager is willing to share the feedback they have with me. As much as I hate hearing how bad I am, it would be nice to see if their concerns matches my current managers...or if it's contiguous with one of many reasons why I left adults for peds.

@Irish_Mist: Parents have said that I come off as condescending. I particularly struggle with the parents that are barely adults themselves and don't have any coping skills with dealing with a screaming toddler that can't eat until their high-flow NC is low enough. I've never been told that in adults, and I can count on 1 hand how many times I was fired by families in 10 years. In peds...it's far higher than 1 hand I am a very serious and analytical introvert...I know that in terms of my skills and competency, I am a great and safe nurse, but the "social work" part does need improvement. I've trying to figure out what would be good options to fix this...perhaps Toastmasters, reading the right books, asking my manager for a mentor to hear how I interact with these parents and give me pointers on how to fix things...

Wow! I am humbled and appreciative of all the feedback and advice! I'm starting to feel there may be hope! The history with my old unit was that it was a horrifically toxic place, jam packed with favoritism and lateral violence directly from the manager (she has been fired and unit is on interim manager #2 in 8 months). I irked her the wrong way somehow, and I went from being one of the strongest nurses that was entrusted with the sickest patients to a worthless target over BS reasons literally overnight. She never could write me up because I'm a great nurse that pays attention to detail and really cares for my patients. Instead she made up "concerns" and harassed me, as she did several other great nurses that didn't brown nose. I then became a paranoid wreck over the things she nit-picked over. I floated to peds several times to help care for the older patients, and it went well!! ...until I started with the littles. Now I go back and something I did over there irked a new crew, and I haven't the faintest idea why. NurseBeth, I didn't see a link to your advice 😊 Thank yiu again everyone! You are the best!

Thanks, I do appreciate that. I'm not so sure it will be enough...and how to answer questions in future interviews. Most threads here seem to indicate that once you're on a PIP, there's little chance for recovery despite best efforts...

I am sorry if this posts up twice, don't seem to see the reply come up. Thank you KatieMI, I appreciate your feedback so much!! Peds on a parental psych/social level may not be a great fit for me, but the physiology of congenital heart defects is beyond fascinating to me! I went to the PCVICU from the adult SICU because we are starting to see adults survive to their 20s and 30s with some congenital heart problems. Total demolition and reconstruction is by far more challenging and interesting than traditional adult roto-rootering/simple valve replacement!! My current anxiety lies mostly with how to deal with an outside hospital system. I only have 2 references in the last 12 years...my old adult unit that does NOT want me back for reasons I still don't know, and my current peds unit that has concerns with my interpersonal skills. What do I say in my interview, and how do I word things to HR that does not ensure total dismissal during the reference check?

Hey allnurses world...wonder if anyone had sage advice... I'm in a career slump. I have a history of adult critical care for 10 years, and had a chance to switch to peds critical care a couple of years ago. I love the new challenge of working with children, but it seems that for the most part, the parents of the children don't like me. I've been working with my manager to improve this via a performance improvement plan. I have been successful enough to be taken off of it nearly a year ago, and I thought things were ok. Well, I have had 2 double whammies in the past month: First, I have been called in to the office again to discuss my interpersonal skills with the parents. My manager told me that she was not going to put me on a plan or write me up, but rather asked me I felt peds was the right place for me. Second, due to low census, I have floated back to my old adult unit a few times. My manager called me to set up an appointment to discuss floating to my old unit...they apparently don't want me to come back! And I have absolutely no idea what I could have done to warrant that! Critical care...up until these two events...has been my passion! I can't imagine doing anything else...ED, PACU, IV Therapy, teaching, clinic work...none of that interests me. I do feel my manager is one of the few decent ones that does want to see me succeed, however my confidence and self esteem is at an absolute low that I know it will affect my performance. The anxiety of being under the microscope is going to adversely affect me. I know scared parents is a weakness I need to work on, but if another unit is seeing something in me that is a red flag to them as well...it's clear I have some personal growth to contend with. But, can I do that and keep a job that I am afraid I may get fired from? I work in a no-cause state, non-union hospital. How do I attempt to look for another job when my old unit (that I left on good terms with) does not want me to float there, and my current unit may very well put me back on a PIP and start that process of a termination? What do I say to potential new employers? Any advice would be appreciated...I am having trouble sleeping at night and very upset by all of this. I know that a lot of this needs to come through working on myself...but that may not be enough. Any advice with how to deal with the interviews and HR of a different hospital system would appreciated! Thanks!!

Calling all peds nurses! Do you have any special 'ace' up your sleeve for helping toddlers relax just enough to take their meds when they just don't want to talk about pets or play on the iPhone? Help that stressed mother feel comfortable with your care when all the empathyzing in the world just won't work? Tips for not sounding condescending when parents disagree with the plan of care...especially chronic kiddos? Thanks so much!!

Hello all! I wonder if I might ask for some advice on how you help parents to feel more relaxed when things don't go well with their child. I seem to be struggling in this area...particularly with bronchiolitis kiddos that cannot eat and cannot receive sedation. I try very hard to listen and validate the parents feelings of dealing with an upset and hungry child, and provide education and rationales as appropriate. But, my "schmoozing over" doesn't seem to be as effective as others. What sorts of phrases or approaches do you employ that work?? Thank you so much, appreciate any advice!!