blamejoe

Thanks for all the judgmental replies. And an honest thanks to the few who actually tried to help, you are a welcome minority. I've decided that the majority of people who replied thinking that this is my fault might actually represent the majority of people on this forum, to my dismay. No need to continue with the tirade of disparaging remarks in reply to my original post. The "need to vent" disclaimer clearly was missed by the majority of you, and that's probably why I decided to find more valuable outlets to ask honest questions. To those who think it's a problem that I recognize that I am good at my job, I feel sad for you, because it seems like you find it shameful or "gloating" to recognize the strengths a nurse might bring. It is truly a downfall of nursing when our peers encourage us to admit to our faults, but then chastise us for acknowledging our greatness. Those in particular can go to hades. Screw it, i'm done with the judgments.

Where I work, we started bedside shift report about 2 years ago. At first I had some of your same concerns ( and some the you don't mention, like getting out on time). Some of your concerns I don't share at all. In either event, bedside shift report turned out to be a great thing, for all of us. The nurses who don't embrace it are having trouble being successful at our network. Of course, they blame their lack of success on anything other than their failure to embrace policy, but I advise you to give it a real honest chance. There is no reason a patient ( who is the consumer, the focus of your work, and your reason for having the policy in the first place) should not be able to participate in report. The second, third, or fourth time I got wrong info ( like allergies, history, or procedures) from the off going nurse proved that this change to process was beneficial - especially when the patient "reported" that they were prescribed meds that they were allergic to, because the records weren't as accurate as we wanted to believe.

It's like Pavlov's dogs these days. That bell goes off and I feel drawn to check. You're right, of course, but I feel compelled to check if my staff are the ones calling or texting (it happens often, and I can't leave my team hanging.) Then once I see what the problem is, or who it is from, the guilt sets in. I wish the "community" could show more respect, rather than me having to change who I am.

I have to vent. I can't stand that I never seem to have time off. When I'm not at work, I still get the calls about, " my kid swallowed...", " my mom is ..." etc. family, friends, fbook persons, etc. it's as if people can't respect the fact that this is my work, I do it because 1) I am really good at it, and 2) I know I make a big difference in the lives of countless people. The ones who make it the worst are the ones who complain incessantly about how much healthcare costs, how bad their experiences with healthcare are, or how they don't really need health treatment because "hospitals just want your money...". Aren't we ever entitled to time off? I am a great nurse, a wonderful boss, and an award-winning clinician. I feel I was meant to be a caregiver, that my contribution to this world is the improved health of my community, and that my Lord will honor me because I choose (and succeed) in doing His bidding for His children. However, I feel guilty for trying to get more than 5 hours of sleep before work, because the phone/email/texts/fbook never stops. Why do people demand that we serve their needs whenever they see fit, yet complain about our profession at every opportunity? This is my job, and I rely on it to pay my bills, feed my family, contribute to my life with my fiancé, and fulfill my niche in this life. So why do I feel that everyone who asks for my help when I am off duty are merely looking for a handout? Why does it seem that the same people who complain about the ACA, and preach the agenda of capitalism, think I ought to take care of them for free at all hours of the night? Is it just that I'm sensitive to our political time of year and the fact that I've seen the RNC in every patient room all week? I'm supposed to be at work in. 7hours and instead I am awake upset at the world for not letting me sleep. Advice would help, please.

Only thing I would add to all the responders comments, which I wholeheartedly agree with, is this - when someone is only speaking about the things you do wrong, calmly say, "I appreciate your input, but please understand that for me, this is easier to take if you can at least point out some of the good things I am doing also." I have said this to bosses, co-workers, peers outside of work, friends, partners, etc. It is a good rule of thumb to keep in mind for everyone, and when the time comes for you to be offering feedback to anyone else, also make sure you include the good with the not-so-good. Best wishes.

agree with MN-nurse. I didn't like it too much when I was an aid, but the fact remains that one of the duties of an aid is to follow instructions as given by the primary nurse. It was the job I agreed to take at the time, and I remedied it only by becoming an RN. Had I stayed an aid, I would still be expected to follow directions regarding basic patient care and safety. These aids are testing limits with you because they are not familiar with you. If they were smart they would ask the aids who you have worked with what your expectations are, and would not be challenging you. P.S. Even if the alarm is going off due to a wiring problem, it still needs to be turned off, and it's pretty upsetting that they care so little about the patient's comfort that they would have him lie in a bed listening to that incessant beeping. Someone needs to check, every time, no matter what.

I will clarify also. I have been assaulted several times at work and have never once pressed charges of my own, despite having been seriously injured (with scars) more than once. But not everyone thinks like me, and keep in mind many of my peers are women who work in a building with unlocked doors where strangers are expected to roam 24/7. That is why there is the option to press charges. I support that option, though I might never take it. However, there have been "normal" patients who have raised the fist to me who thought they could "act out" and only changed their mind when I informed them that they were in fact threatening to commit a felony against me. There is also the fact that one study found that 9% of violent acts reported to EMS/EDs were the result of hypoglycemia. And I would challenge that an alcoholic withdrawing and seizing who becomes aggressive is, at that time, just as unable to control their behaviors as an epileptic going through the same type of seizures. (Negligence aside, if the alcoholic were permitted to drink, s/he'd probably avoid that seizure and the resultant assaultive behavior). The issue about healthcare workers getting assaulted is quite complex, and there is usually a psychiatric or physiological component every time. On the other hand, there are programs like CCM, which is our training program for my health network. The majority of our program is about assessing the situation and determining the reason for the behavior, and when it comes to it Safe physical interventions, instead of immediately jumping to conclusions and acting in a way which will likely lead to more injury or combativeness. Neuro staff are very familiar with violence associated with seizures. VA hospital staff are aware that sounds from equiment like MRIs can trigger flashbacks. Psych staff are aware that proximity and powerlessness can trigger outbursts. Geriatric units occassionally encounter aggressiveness during "shower time" from people who survived the Holocaust so they stay cognizant of these triggers. So I guess one solution is for your friend, and those like her, and those who love her, and people like me who teach programs like this, is to advocate awareness. It will take time, and I wish everyone the best of luck should they choose to advocate along with me. But there are many facets of society who need to be informed, and I think the only way to make sure only "criminals" get charged, and not people suffering from illness, is if we permeate our entire society with Awareness. Quite the task!

I believe LVH might be hiring for external candidates now. I don't access the external jobs but on the internal webpage there are many RN positions. They recently approved to add an additional RN to every med/surg unit so keep looking. It would be hard for them to make these new positions internal postings only because the point is to increase staff, not merely reassign people. Good luck.

I always wonder about this, because I believe it is a common misconception and I do not know of a single instance where a person caught heat for this. Wherever I have been a supervisor, I was never directed by policy or practice to reprimand or terminate someone for these types of omissions either. Please correct me if I am wrong. I do not know of any legal, moral, or ethical requirement that states a resume must include every single detail about work employment. You only list the details relevant to the application. For instance, while in nursing school and working as a tech at the hospital I work for still, I also delivered pizzas. I do not list the pizza place anywhere on my resume, I do not use them as a reference, although sometimes I still stop in there for a tasty slice. Exactly what can an employer do if they find out that your paper route job, or a tweener you held for less than 3 months, wasn't listed on your resume, after you already got hired. She's not lying, and she's not hiding disciplinary measures, she's simply listing relevant work experience only.

not to be a complete @$$ about it (because I do sympathize with your friend's condition. I know of situations where people with seizure disorders have been arrested, tasered, etc, because there were these kind of behaviors during or immediately after the seizure), but I have to ask... ... fair to who? Is it fair to the EMT who wanted to go home unharmed that day but wasn't able to? Is it fair to the person who might be frightened to return to their employment because now they realize sometimes it's ok for "sick people" to attack them? Fair to people who did not know that this stranger they were trying to help could become violent, while that stranger DID know the symptoms of their seizure disorder? (What if the reason wasn't a seizure disorder, but a personality disorder? What if the attack was from fear and misunderstanding, like the situation it sounds as though you are describing? I could list a multitude of "justifications" here; the truth is all outburst have a reason behind them. Discretion is to be had, but my point to the OP is that if you feel you are the victim of a crime, there are laws that protect you EVEN if that crime happened in a healthcare setting. District Attorneys, Judges, and Juries get to decide, along with victims and patient-perpetrators of crime, how far it goes from there. **No one should be a victim because we choose to help others in need**

I'm glad others commented about the looks thing first. If your looks were never a problem in the past, you're probably in good shape. On my unit of the hospital, many of the female nurses are young and attractive. Too many times I have watched some of them come out of the room and break down because of the constant harassment "normal" patients were giving them. One time my boss went into a room and told a very "touchy" patient that if he tried to be inappropriate with one of these nurses again, he might not leave the hospital with both hands still attached. I am willing to believe that prisoners have far more respect for female nurses than the general population, though I have never worked in a prison. Just my thoughts.

I teach our behavioral dyscontrol safety class for the hospital I work for, and part of that class covers exactly this topic. It is a felony offense to assault any healthcare worker on-the-job. I do not know if this is a state law or federal, but I imagine numerous states besides PA also have this protection. Starting the paper trail begins at work, by calling security, filing incident reports, and discussion with your director and legal team. My hospital supports the pressing of charges against anyone who assaults anyone on our property. The risk managers will even help when someone speaks with police. Consider the reputation your employer would receive if they were unable to hire staff due to not putting basic civil rights protections in place. What would the "customers" think if they knew that you had to work in a place that condones violence. If your job would cover up a crime, they need to be reported to OSHA, JCAHO, and the BBB. They are also likely to be found responsible if any civil lawsuits would be brought. It's a risk most places can't afford to take, though some may just need a friendly reminder to help them make the right decision. No hospital wants to advertise "Come to Our ED/Unit/Clinic/etc., where you can beat up the staff!!!" Filing a report with the police is appropriate. When I worked in psychiatry with patients who were involuntarily committed for being a danger to themselves or others, charges were successfully filed when the patient had assaulted staff. Even though they were deemed "incompetent" for the time being by the medico-legal process, they were still accountable for their actions. My biggest advice is this, though - don't hit back, and go to the ED and get checked out. It is very difficult to support a claim that you were attacked if you continue to work like nothing ever happened. Even if they clear you to resume work, you have another document stating that you had sustained or suspected bodily harm.

so how did it go?

haha, tag! :)

I agree with nursie_pants. More and more over the past decade+ I've been in healthcare, it seems that nurses stop taking care of themselves and learning assertiveness, and then break down when issues arise that completely require self-care and assertiveness. You're not expected to just bear the abuse, but you have to know it might come out. We see people at their worst. Nurses do a terrible job preparing ourselves IN ADVANCE on how to cope with this area of work. We all owe it to ourselves to practice before we break down. Respectfully remind the patient that they're being completely inappropriate, give them time to cool off, and when you return, if they don't apologize on their own, remind them that they owe you one. And keep in mind, document in the chart the patient's explosive behavior; it is necessary, identifies a possible mental health need, and is absolutely appropriate. It alerts others to the possibility of aggression as well. Do not threaten the patient that you're going to "write them up in the chart", but WHEN EVERYTHING IS CALM it is appropriate to inform them that you had to make a note to the doctor about their stress level and possible coping needs, and hopefully you'll be able to help them find the means to prevent feeling overwhelmed in the future.