brenzgrove

I'd like some advice from other nurses reading this thread, what types (specific) of nursing positions would be best for someone with a disability like ADD?

Hello everyone, I'm so glad that this thread is out here! I have been nursing for two years now. I've been working since i graduated. Nursing school was not easy for me. I have tonnes of knowledge, but have always had trouble applying my knowledge in a clinical setting. I can relate to the med errors. I have made so many more than what you have revealed, some worse, some i was wholly responsible for, but a lot due to meddling co-workers. Staff nursing has not been easy for me. The first floor i worked on post-grad was a medical/nephrology floor. I was casual but worked more than full-time hours. Everyone loved me because i allowed them to take vacations, days off, etc. All the nurses saw me as a "sweet kid". They knew i was just starting out. It wasn't long before my med rounds were taking me twice as long as everyone else. my 8:00's were taking me till 9:30 or sometimes even 10:00am. I had made a couple of minor errors (and yes i know there is no such thing, but the type of errors most nurses make early in their career where no one gets hurt) I know everyone noticed, but i honestly believe that they were not talking behind my back. I received a couple of truly helpful and concerned comments, and even suggestions to be quicker, which i took no offence to. I struggled a lot to do my own duties, and wasn't able to help much with the RPN's on my team. I know they talked here and there, but it never got back to me. I could tell sometimes, they were less than excited to be working with me, though they never really let it show. I had a real hard time prioritizing my tasks, and organizing my day. The nurses continued to treat me like a good kid and unfortunately, while i continued to work there, these issues improved only slightly. There was one nurse there who really had it out for me. She was constantly watching what i was doing, even when we werent working together. She was a real know it all, and not in the good way (I compliment anyone who has a lot of knowledge, applies it and shares it with co-workers). This nurse just really wanted to be more than a staff nurse i think, and acted like she was in charge. she was always the first to answer a question that was directed at a group of us. I believe she came from Europe and held a slightly higher position or was more specialized there. anyhow, she made complaints about me to the manager, talked down to me like i was a child, pulled me aside to tell me i was endangering my patients and the like, and did it in front of other staff members, who she would bark at to leave us because "we had something we needed to discuss".. I really felt that it was a form of harassment (but i respect her at the same time for voicing concern for any patient). Though i really disliked her, i decided to try flattery, to see whether she would back off. I acknowledged her concerns about my work and told her that i would like to improve myself. She suggested that i take a course she had taken. we never really clashed too badly after that again. I left that job to take on a full time med-surg float position.My only prior experience with surgical nursing was brief in level 1 of my program (when the most we could do was dressings!) The first floor i was oriented to (and ended up there for 4 months consecutively due to understaffing) was a surgical unit. the nurses there had all been working there for 15-20 years, never stepped foot on another floor, never interested. I had it rough from the get go. I was meant to be mentored, but due to self-scheduling on the floor i was paired with a different person every day. these nurses were very good at what they did, and very confident in their abilities. They all had unique ways of doing things, though i don't recall every questioning their methods. The problem began when i would try to apply something i had been taught the previous day with a different nurse. The nurse i was paired with would then say, "we don't do it like that here". I wasn't about to say "so and so told me to do it like this". Also any time i tried to use my judgement based on previous experience, i was told i had no idea what i was talking about and that i'd better ask someone with experience otherwise i might put a patient in danger. i soon began to keep my mouth shut. Well 4 weeks of orientation like this, all the RN's began to talk. There were some seriously hardened, bitter old nurses on that floor. Reports began coming in to my manager from people i hadn't even been paired with or worked the same shift. There were a number who had it out for me. I knew i was being constantly watched, evaluated and judged by these nurse's own personal standards. There was no leniance, understanding or compassion when dealing with me. I began to have severe difficulty getting my tasks done, made med errors and again, wasn't able to help much with my team, and spent hours checking and double checking my work out of fear. its hard not to be paranoid, but i continued to do my best. I learned that i had to start asking for help and admitting when i didn't know the answer to things. Staff were openly annoyed with it, but what the hell, its better than making a fatal error.Doing that didn't help me at all.One of the nurses who didn't particularly like me or think me fit to work along side her (who thought she was charge material) was in charge for one afternoon had advised me on how to proceed with a complex patient situation, watched my performance, saw the job get done, then turned around and wrote a letter to my manager that i had endangered a patient by failing to ask for help. She literally turned the whole story backwards in order to get me in trouble. (BTW i still have her hand written instructions on how to proceed with said patient, because she was too busy to come with me). I insisted my manager get me off that floor immediately. I had been openly harassed (walked in to a group of three nurses openly discussing my performance in front of me, who wouldn't stop talking when i asked them to and another nurse who didn't want to take time to double check a spacing error on the narcotic sheet, when signing off, accuse me twice of "either fudging the number or stealing a pill to make the numbers right" and this last nurse who wrote complete lies...my manager wasn't interested in the evidence i had that the letter contained lies against me) When i told her i was going to start complaining about harassment, she decided enough was enough. I was moved to another hospital with an easier med-surg floor. Everyone there loved me and still loves me. they accept my shortcomings and are very patient and kind with me. They actually teach me things and are always prepared to back me up on those things they know i need help with (all but one who didn't like the way i did things and didn't want to work with me who has since moved to another hospital) That same day i went to insist on being moved the manager asked me to stay just a few more days, and the complaints at that point, just kept coming in, whether they were based in reality, or just the nurses wanting me off of their floor. a few months later, when i had already moved on and was doing very well at the next place, my manager ambushed me with a pile of complaints she had received over months, literally, months, from the previous hospital and said she "didn't know what she was going to do with me". she waited till i was well into my first pregnancy, with husband away for several months, extremely vulnerable. a meeting was called with union reps and HR present. They bombarded me with even more complaints that i knew nothing about and expected me to comment on them. The union reps spoke not one word in my defense, nor even spoke for me, that i needn't respond to any accusations since they were all news to me. Very long story short, my manager tried to humiliate me into quitting, but i wasn't about to being 7 months pregnant and needing paid mat leave. Is that the type of conduct any one would expect from their manager? I know its not me who is un-professional. I'm sure some of you reading will think, how do they get themselves into such a mess? Believe me there are vindictive, petty, nosey, trouble-making co-workers at most nursing jobs. They see those who are lacking in confidence, and pounce on them. They have nothing better to do but make their lives miserable. No nurse, new or old would wish to have such difficult work relationships, There is little acceptance for learning difficulties, or being new period. Those nurses getting ready or past retirement, often expect us new nurses to have the same knowledge they do and can be extremely nasty if you show any sort of weakness or lack of knowledge. (Why do nurses eat their young!?!?!?) My manager knew i had a learning disability and failed me by not giving me a structured learning environment, then allowed all kinds of humilliating harassment to occur uncorrected. In the end they wanted to get rid of me because they felt i was a liability. I was lucky enough not to be fired due to all sorts of reports made on me, some with a bit of basis in reality, many exaggerated and many more completely made up. They couldn't fire me because of our union. I was allowed to view many of the written letters which had very personal comments about my person, not my professional abilities. How were these personal judgements let to stand, i have no idea. There were sentences blanked out which started "i really like this girl but...."(how professional is that?) I've always taken responsibility for my errors or difficulty in getting the job done efficiently. I asked for help many times, it just did me no good. I was discriminated against, harassed and even asked not to return to my current post once my mat leave is over. How about that? Any time i questioned another nurses conduct, witnessed mistakes, dealt with patient complaints about other nurses, I've always taken it directly to the person, allowed them a chance to discuss it with me and give me their point of view (based on severity of situation of course). I expect the same courtesy in kind, but have never ever gotten it. Don't believe that you can't be discriminated against. If they really don't want you, they will find another way around it. I was so worn out by all of this degrading treatment i didn't have the energy to take any kind of legal action, though i would have been more than right to do so. I am only 3 months into my mat leave and i'm terrified to go back and do any type of nursing work. I have been so stripped of any confidence or self-esteem as a nurse, that i actually refuse to do any sort of hospital nursing ever again. and FYI i am being treated for ADD, not only with medication but also behaviour modification therapy. My confidence in my ability to nurse is coming back, but never again will i fully be able to trust and let down my guard with co-workers again. I don't know if the thread starter is doing anything like taking meds or getting therapy, but i would suggest both, as well as considering what your strengths are as a nurse, and finding a more suitable job. ADD sufferers are not stupid people, as nurses should know, we are often highly intelligent, creative and compassionate people. This should be seen as an advantage. We would be great team members if only some of the team would take the time to get to know us, learn about the disorder and try to help rather than criticize and degrade. My strengths as a nurse are in health teaching and dealing with family issues. I have had letters written about my great care and tact when dealing with difficult family situations, and been praised for my ability to health teach effectively. why these compliments are forgotten next to complaints of nurses who just don't like me, i have no idea. I don't think this kind of treatment is going to change any time soon. Sorry for the long rant, but i'm tired of no one trying to understand. I really liked being a nurse, and if my rant helps other staff nurses to be more understanding and open to their co-workers experiencing similar problems or even shed light on the types of harassment and abuse that go on undetected, then i will be glad.

find out whether the lpn is able to perform these tasks...there should be a manual on the floor for these policies, but if not ask charge or another lpn. Definitely report this person. You shouldn't think twice if they are practicing out of their scope.

would any of you feel irritated, burdened or whatever to know of such a secret (if the doc-nurse relationship hadn't been revealed) or to have to witness that type of relationship in your work space?

Is it ever ok for a nurse and a doctor to date if they do so discretely? Is it worse for a nurse to ask a doctor out or if the doctor asks the nurse out does that make it ok? sorry if it has been discussed before. Just wondering what everyone's opinion is on this topic?

Hi everyone. I've been at my job almost 2 months now (medical floor, lots of renal patients). I have a major problem with my 8am meds. It is taking me almost an hour and a half to pass them out. I was told that this is normal on a very busy day i.e. short staffed and so on. But that normally it should only take one hour. I can almost always start by 7:45, sometimes even 7:30. but i am never able to take first break (8:30 ish). I feel like I might soon begin to irritate people due to the shuffling of breaks to accomodate my slowness. Can anyone offer advice or recommend any safe short cuts?

I think we should be given them, at least for graduation photos. But they stopped doing that at my college about 8 years ago. There are only a couple of nurses i've seen do it, one was older and one was only in her 40's. I don't think I would like to wear one on a regular basis, nothing to do with it being cumbersome, but i think it wouldn't be appropriate these days considering the different team players we work with. The cap, though earned, is a bit over the top these days. Perhaps i could see the charge nurse wearing one, so she can stand out as The person running the show, but as a new grad i wouldn't feel right wearing one when there are plenty of RPN's who have much more experience. and even some Unit aides who are extrememly knowledgeable. In my ultimate opinion the cap is outdated, but i wouldn't hold it against anyone who wanted and felt they should wear one.

Agreed!

At McMaster University here in Ontario, You need to have either a biology degree, health studies, or minimum be a Registered Nurse (diploma, AD, or BSN) to be chosen for the 3 year midwifery degree. so i chose the shortest route which was diploma nursing. I personally am considering going to England which has excellent midwifery programs. contact the Nursing & Midwifery Council (UK) they have shortened courses for people with degrees and who are already RN. Midwifery is the mainstream there. I will be looking at 1.5 years full time studies (but paid placements) in the UK after i have done a year or two in med/surg to get my midwifery degree. Good luck!

Hi... R.N. New grad, no experience(except pregraduate) medical/surgical $22.44/hr (CDN) southern Ontario

best part? During my last clinical rotation having the teacher tell me that she was listening at the door of my patient's room while i was health teaching. she said that she has never heard another student, let alone many experienced nurses have such easy, professional interaction with a patient. she also commented that the health teaching was excellent and that this is where i should focus my career. The other best? After having left the program due to various problems, i found my way back into the dreaded cardio module. The instructor was quite beastly, through the grace of God i passed the clinical, and was one of 5 girls in our group of 10 to pass the exam (yay for me). I've had a lot of patients tell me that my SC and IM injections are completely painless. that always makes me feel good. Worst? (theres been sooo many) Well, failing a clinical over a careplan (the teacher really had it out for me... she felt i didn't "have what it takes") my stupidity was in not appealing the grade. I once (very early on) made a careless mistake of accidentally replacing the lipid container and IV solution on the wrong sides of the patient's pump (therefore the wrong speeds of infusion) I realized after a couple minutes and had someone help me straighten it out. At my midterm evaluation my teacher had told me how all the staff nurses were appalled by my mistake and wouldn't stop talking about it. (funny i never heard a peep, but it really made me feel like i was a complete moron)