Goodby5

You are being sarcastic, aren't you? What would please me is to see my current manager and director canned and replaced by intelligent people who have a clear picture of how hospitals have put public image and $$$$$$ above all else, leaving patients at risk and treating nurses as though they are a necessary evil not entitled to support, respect, or acknowledgement of their important role in successful outcomes for patients. There is no place in nursing for Pollyanna with her head stuck in the sand.

Is it like this everywhere? Clock in. Feeling good about meeting the challenges of the day. Smile. Listen to the editorialized, biased reports of the results from hours past. Listen to staff and customer complaints. Troubleshoot. What is that smell? Clean up the clutter. Empty the trash. Wash the waste out of containers. Smile. Deliver water. Snacks. Bag the laundry. Change the linens. Empty the halls. Work with the malfunctioning equipment. Why doesn't maintenance maintain? Toilets won't flush without threatening to overflow. Lights have blown out and never replaced. Food is not delivered. No food delivery after 7pm No food available for anyone after 9pm. So I prepare food that I find. Prepared as I would for my family. I buy it if I can't find it for you. Medications, assessments, treatments, dressing changes, call the doctors, new orders to follow. Crawl out from under the bus and carry on. Make certain you are safe. Every hour. Read the endless paper posts in the work room, in the halls, at my desk, in the bathroom, there is no escape from updates, do this, don't do that, remember to, don't forget, do better, be better, bend over, jump higher, blah, blah, blah. Police the visitors while making them feel at home-even when they yell at you, call you stupid, threaten you, then ask for a different nurse to take care of their family member because your skin is not the right color. Smile. Productivity. Productivity matters. Productivity that matters. Productivity is matter. Productivity is all. Productivity: all that matters. Productivity is all that matters. Would you willingly seek health care at a facility where you are the equivalent of a package at UPS? If there is a complaint, I am at fault. no matter what. If there is a compliment, an undeserved pat on the back for management, no matter what. I work to make your life better. I work to make management look better. I am educated. My IQ is 140. I am a nurse. I feel so stupid. I am retiring soon. But not today. Today I must do what I am told by NA's, Housekeeping services, Dietary services, Equipment services, Linen services. I must not be harsh or complain about any of them because they are a"disadvantaged" work force. "Please be understanding of the hostility they harbor toward you." My company is pro-everyone except for nurses. I should feel rewarded enough that I am in their employ. They have been on the cover of Newsweek, after all. High profile. Hmmmm. Helpless. Hopeless. Powerless. A miserable end to work that I once loved.

I am interviewing for a PACU position. One part is a peer interview by the current staff. Can anyone give me insight as to the questions I may be asked? As a PACU nurse, what are you looking for in a potential new staff member, aside from the obvious-positive attitude, willingness to learn, team player kind of qualities that I posess. Honestly want this to be a good fit, but want to be prepared, as well. Thanks.

Thanks jecado and CharlieRN for your thoughtful and informative response re: psychosis. Everyone still hoping for the best outcome.

A family friend's child has been diagnosed with drug induced psychosis after apparently taking mushrooms while partying during spring break. He is in inpatient treatment setting right now. No other known contributing factors. If anyone can offer info on your patient experience, and/or knowledge of outcomes, I would be interested in hearing about it. What is the treatment in acute phase, can it be self-limiting, or is it more likely to be life-altering event? Also would appreciate any reference material for RN's that you would recommend. Thanks.

Last month I had asked for responses from others in my situation of wanting to leave a job after a few months. Thanks to all of you who shared stories and offered support. I did resign, and cannot wait until my last day. Probably won't. It's beyond my worst nurse nightmare. In hindsight, I had my doubts about this facility throughout orientation, but convinced myself that I was just having a little difficulty adjusting to a new environment. I will never doubt my instincts again. Thank you, everyone.

Go with your gut- it's your sixth sense, meant to protect you. How often have you saved others with that gut feeling? Save yourself! I gave 30 days notice at my current job which, coincidentally, sounds alot like your situation. I am 10 days away from my last day and I don't think I can go back. :angryfire I was warned by a long time insider that once it was known I was leaving, I would be subjected to extraordinary scrutiny, and to watch my back. I thought it was just alot of drama and continued to fulfill what I saw as my "moral obligation". Well, let me tell you- I fear for my license and feel that I am being sabotaged at every turn. I had asked for a letter of recommendation from my manager, but now have to determine it's worth in the larger picture. Tonight I was asked to alter records so that the floor wouldn't get wriitten up ("dinged"). I have to gauge the wrath of my superiors at my leaving earlier than planned :angryfire against the risk of being set into a dangerous (read litigious, harmful) sitiuation. I don't think I will be going back. At this point, giving up nursing would not be a difficult thing to do,if it comes to that. It's hard to know what effect an annoyed manager can have on your next job application. Anyway, pardon my rant, and best of luck, whatever you decide.

Have you considered ICU or PACU in a smaller hospital setting?

I would like to hear from anyone else who has been in this situation. I am on a specialized floor in a teaching hospital. Over 20 plus years I have worked at others, better and larger, so the pace is nothing new to me. The chaos, however, is out of control. I have decided to resign. It is not in my nature to fold when meeting a challenge, but the stress here is overwhelming. I don't want to die wearing scrubs. I expect to be met with the argument from management that I haven't been there long enough, things will get better, etc, etc. Situations occur on a daily basis that put my license at risk. The required education classes that I was told of at interview and again by the nurse educator, essential to competent functioning on the unit, have yet to be scheduledfor me. What did it take for you to say enough? Has anyone left after so short a time? I have never left after so early into a job and wonder if stress is clouding my judgment. If so, I guess I have no choice but to leave. Thanks...

I returned to Med/Surg several years ago ( RN for 24 yrs) and with each new position I take, I add to my list of things to look for if I ever interview for a new position. I have had the good fortune to work at facilities that have 1:5 or 6 ratio, and that sounds great, BUT you have to look beyond the question of the acuity of those patients ( which always high). It is often the support, or lack of it, from various departments within the hospital that can make or break your day. Ask about the pharmacy. How quickly do they respond when new orders are submitted or missing meds are requested. How accessible are they? Consider transport, dietary, housekeeping, social services/discharge planning. Do they function well? They all influence your day. Look at the assessment flow sheets. Are they efficient, concise, visually easy to access info at a glance, or are they 9 pages long requiring your full signature/date/time to be written on each page? Very time consuming. Same with policy/procedure manuals. Accessibility. How many doors do you have to unlock to access supplies, ice, paper for the printer. Are there clerks on every shift? Ask to look at the staffing schedule. Do they put patients in the hall (can't believe hospitals still do this-mine does) Teaching hospitals are more chaotic. Is the hospital working on attaining magnet status? Added to JHACO visits, this combo can challenge your sanity. I could go on, but you get the idea. Anything that can slow you down, or take time away from the patient, your ability to provide the excellent care you intend, should be looked at, then decide what you can live with. No place is perfect. Good luck.