kelcat

That's the thing - I did talk to both my union and the executive director of HR. It seems my only recourse now is to file a grievance...which is not how I want to get a job. There seems to be a culture of protecting management at all cost...very frustrating. I have gone up against my boss, the Assistant V.P. of Nursing and the V.P. of Nursing. They have all offered me "training for emerging leaders" despite the admission of personal issues on my manager's part. It's insane. I feel like I'm crazy at this point and that maybe I shouldn't have spoken up for myself. On my better days, I know if I had to do it again...I would do the exact same thing. You can't just advocate for your patients - you'd better be prepared to advocate for yourself as well. I think it's time for a transfer....

Hi - here's the problem: I recently posted for a clinical leader position for which I was qualified. I was encouraged by colleagues and supervisors to apply. My floor manager did not agree and after much (painful) discussions it was revealed that she has a "personality clash" with me. The reasons she gave were trivial and not based on my experience or past performance. I am concerned now about repercussions but have worked on this floor in a charge role for 7 years. I have always received excellent performance reviews in the past but am nervous about what is to come. Do I cut my losses and transfer to another unit? Has anyone had a similar issue and how did you address it? Thanks for any help you can provide.

Just take it slow. Concentrate on one patient at a time, stay with the task in front of you - if you try to do more than one thing at a time (like you'll see some veteran nurses do) you will open yourself up for error. Also, speak up if you have too many patients or too heavy an assignment. Silence is the same thing as consent in this case. Each nurse needs to learn at her own pace and if you are overwhelmed you cannot learn. Your charge nurse will not know where you stand unless you tell him/her. We've all been there - I promise you will be okay. Hugs.

I remember feeling like a "fraud" for the first year...like, how can these people actually let me care for them, inject them, etc.? One day it will hit you - you'll realize that you've stopped thinking things through and second guessing yourself. You'll do something on instinct - your new nursing instinct - and then you'll know that you are truly a nurse. Seek help from your peers - that is something that never ends, even for an experienced nurse. We ALL need help sometimes! Finally, be kind to yourself...it's a hard job.