MiniRNC

LOL...Thanks PhantomRN. I'd love to be able to end this project he so nicely chose me for with that advice. Especially since I just heard at work that the DON is getting on our fairly new NM about the budget (of course due to staffing). I kind of thought that was coming. Now I'm waiting for it to come to me & the other 2 charge nurses . Guess I'll save that comment for another project. :)

Both 3-11:30 & 11-7:30 get $1.00. Can't say we like it though. Some choose nights over 3-11 due to having kids in school. Some prefer the pace over the other shifts. Others take it because they need a job. BTW your body doesn't really get used to night shift....unless you stay on night shift hours on your days off. One problem we have is that to get both Fri. & Sat. off together you have to work 7 nights in a row! Fri/sat are considered our weekend off. Our charge nurses do the schedules. If requested, I do try to give sat/sun weekends to avoid the stretches. We do try to pull to the shift the nurse prefers when possible. (some would rather nights then 3-11).

Hi all. I'm in the process of developing a "Patient Fall Prevention Plan" for our Med-Surg Telemetry Unit. I was wondering if anyone has any specific interventions or policies that have been successful in reducing falls. Thanks.

It's unfortunate that this happens in our profession, but it does and no it's not fair. It has been my experience as a charge nurse and a staff nurse that often people don't realize they come across to others the way they do. We often don't dirrectly confront people about thier behavior. I had to learn to do this and still find it hard at times. As adults we need to do this and not just find other ways to cope. I believe your manager should have encouraged you to approach the nurse to discuss the problem, given you tips on communicating with people like that, and instructed you to let her/him know how it went. I usually encourage staff to attempt to discuss the problem with the person first. If no success, talk to the nurse's charge nurse. Still no help, come back to me and then I get more involved. If needed we involve the nurse manager. Unfortunately most people tend to just put up with it. (we have a charge nurse on each shift) I'd keep a diary of these reports, let her know how you feel and that you aren't going to allow her to continue treating you this way. Ask her why she treats you like she does. Some people when "put on the spot", back down! If this doesn't help, you have the right to submit a written complaint to the nurse manager and I would think they would be obligated to get involved or you could request a meeting with the nurse & your manager to discuss the problem. Hope this helps some...Good Luck!:) If you leave the unit you may find another bigger problem. We use tape report and most nurses like it better!:)