PACURN27

I have been a nurse for the past six years, currently in ( a small) PACU for a year. The nurses that I work with still pick on me. Granted, it has become better than when I first started there. Here are some examples of what I mean: 1.) Information is withheld from me 2.) When asking questions, I am made to feel like I asked a stupid question 3.) Gossip (i.e. I'm sitting down all the time when I am not, I take too long with patients etc) 4.) Not talking to me. I realize that these are not specific examples but I just wanted to give a general show of "reoccuring" themes. I have done a lot of soul-searching trying to figure out if it is me. Am I difficult to work with? Am I not seeing the bigger picture? etc. All of this to no avail. I truly am trying my hardest and want to be supportive to everyone on the unit. I want to get along with these women. After speaking to a senior nurse on the unit she confided in me that she believes these struggles are unique to this unit. She came from a much busier PACU and said everyone was much too busy to pick on others the way these nurses do. She has told me to hold me head up high and just continue working. I am doing my best with this but I would be lying if I didn't say that these nurses really upset me. They make me question if I am a good nurse or not. I have gotten better at dealing with this (letting it roll off of my shoulder). I can't help but wonder if I should just grow a thicker hide or if I am asking too much by wanting to be treated well. With the economy, being the way it is, nursing jobs where I live are hard to come by. This job is close and the hours work well for my family. I really enjoy the work I am doing, except, of course the way the nurses treat me. My nurse manager (team leader) is part of the problem. I do not know the women above her well enough (nor do I have the guts) to speak about these issues for fear of retaliation. My question (and thank you for so patiently reading this)....Is this something I can fix? How do I better cope with this? Has anyone experienced this and was able to work through the problem? Sincerely, A nurse with a hope for a better future

Thank you Jo...I will look into ASPAN. I will let you know what happens at my next review. I agree...recovering non-vented patients is a whole new ball game. I had never given fentanyl before coming to this unit. Patient's that I had had dexamethasone gtts, morphine IVP, toradol, and marcaine pumps. I didn't have to worry about depressing their respiratory drive. I could let them wake up slowly and then when they were doing well have them extubated. I see quite the variety of patients now in PACU. In CCU, it was all about the heart. Even just learning what to chart per specific patient has taken me some time to learn. Again, I appreciate your help and will keep you posted.

Hi everyone, I appreciate all of your kind words. I found out tonight that the person who had my position previously was not on the unit for very long. I am wondering if this is just how they treat new people and if it is just going to take some time for me to be accepted on the unit. I will keep trying and let you all know how things go.

I have been a nurse for the past five years. I started working in CVICU for 2 years and then took a office nurse position due to moving. I was recently laid off from work and am now back at the hospital doing PACU nursing. I have to say that going back to the hospital (after not being in it for two years) was pretty intimidating for me. I have been giving it my all (bringing home study materials) and working as hard as I can. I got my first review back and it said that I operated like a new graduate. It also said that I tire easily, do not seem happy to be on the unit, and that I stand and watch everyone with my hands behind my back. Needless to say, I was crushed! It did not have one positive piece of information in it and left my confidence feeling rather shattered. I recognize that this is a fast paced environment and wonder if I will ever get the hang of it. I guess perhaps I could use some encouragement and would love to hear anyone who has had a similar experience and how they have dealt with it. I want this job to work and lord knows with this economy and having two kids it would be horrible to have to look again. Please help this very discouraged nurse!!!