RNintheBay

As a nurse, we represent the hospital/organization we work for. I believe it's important to be sensitive to our work environment by dressing/styling appropriately for the job. I like to look my best, because it makes me feel good and reflects in my attitude towards patients. However, dressing the part must also accompany a good work ethic and moral judgement. I'm training in a new job right now and learn so much about my different trainers' work ethics. Some tell me its okay to not do this or that, however I don't want to short change the next shift or the patient. It's important to remember we are autonomous and that we are responsble for our choices/actions.

@Neats, BSN thanks for your feedback. I currently work as an Inpatient &ED case manager - each dept diff rules, guides. We also deal with lots of public insurance such as Partnership, Medi-Cal, and no insurance which gets tricky sometimes since the resources get more difficult.

@kooky korky & @Neats, BSN i'm either a threat or she's venting her home life/personal life at work (I hear her degrade her fam members over the phone lol). Thing is, there's no one else to train me for PM shift since its a shift for one person with two nurses that alternate days(the other person I prefer works PT). Right now, I'm just acting like her negative attitude/feedback doesnt phase me - can tell shes the type that feeds on putting others down. I will comtinue to ask for her help while I learn/train. No one probably taught her how to be kind growing up and thats okay because that ruins her life with that mindset, not mine lol. I do try to create goals for myself to complete and inquire about things I dont understand with certain work procedures/services. @broughden Workplace bullying in healthcare is definitely too common. It's difficult to handle priorities and maintain a work environment focused on patient care, bullying policies need to be better reinforced for zero tolerance. What makes it difficult is that sometimes the managers are bullies or bullies are senior employees and the new nurse is still on probation.

@potatoRN I'm currently training with an "experienced" nurse who doesn't like to train, criticize/rude/impatient to everyone, etc. Sometimes I feed her ego and ask her how she deals with (random things lol). She's full of herself and since shes been working for the hospital for 15years, everyone is inferior to her. She likes to make jabs on my experience and her expertise, I listen and pretend to not take it personally so it doesnt feed her ego lol. Now, my plan is to learn on my own and ask her only when necessary - I would prefer her to call-in sick and I figure out all on my own than listen to her try to degrade me lol. Now, if it escalates to true bullying personally - I will document and report it. Some nurses can feel inferior when a new nurse has a higher degree or "different" experience than their own; I have noticed some acute nurses w/superiority complexes that feel their experience is the only important type of experience or hospital. Not every nurse gets into the best hospitals or job settings. I think it's important to understand that, but people tend to understand only what they know. Feel free to ask me questions/message me if need be.

@PotatoRN you'll have good and bad nurses training you throughout your career. Just truly try your best; I would even go to work early to review my patients while I was getting use to their workflow and also review/update your personal notes daily. The mean spirited behaviour is not a healthy learning experience, if she's too much let her know. A few times I told mine, "please do not yell" or "I'm trying my best, im still learning and new here" in front of staff since she was belittling me in fromt of them anyway lol; when other staff hear/see it her poor behaviour, she comes into a bit of realization of her actions. A few times, one of the other nurses told her, "she can hear you calling her, she is on the phone doing your work" etc. lol. Sadly, people are right about not reporting bad behaviours - departments are closey knit, dont act frazzled by her, stay positive (I smile despite wanting to cry inside! Lol because I try not to let her energy affect my psych) and keep doing your best. *However, if you feel that she is escalating and it is something you can no longer tolerate speak to your manager about requesting to train with another or even another shift. If you need advice feel free to message me.

Good post

I would leave the experience off from resume if you can. When I was a new grad, I had my first horrible orientation experience with a nurse who did not want to train me. I tried my best, asked questions, tried my best to work effient and effectively but she was just bad (gossiped, explosive temper, didnt want to help at all, ridiculed, etc). It was not a healthy experience for me as a newbie. As an experienced nurse starting a new position, I am better equiped to handle poor behaviour with the mindset of not reflecting another person's bad energy onto myself that can affect others; we cant control others, we can only control our actions towards it. You learned plenty in orientation, get extra certs and try not just apply for hospitals and try clinics or public health programs (adult day centers are a nice choice since you do basic medical care, assessment, and even admin/leadership skills). Just remember, what happened to you is not always under your control. Yes, it may have been traumatizing and you have all the guilt "what ifs" instead -but remember whats important is how you react/respond to it and how you can move forward staying positive. My bad experiences have taught me to always be kind and always "pay it forward." Also, we can be nice; however, we must have boundaries since being a nurse involves also respecting ourselves. I wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors.

@Davey Do & @Crush, BSN - it's definitely not a healthy learning environment; I'm not sure how a newer grad would handle such bad behaviour. From orienting with her I have noticed she critiques the staff since she claims to be a "perfectionist" and who knows, she might have wanted a fam or friend for the position I got (it happened at my old job lol). I already have ideas to work more efficient and effective than her. Some trainers in the past I respect later on; however, this one most def. is not one of them.

I just started working for an MCO type hospital , my previous experience was following pts admitted to other hosp/facilities and back to home. I'm new to dealing with insurance or lack thereof (i.e. HMO, HMO senior, Medicare, Medicare & MEdi-Cal, Medi-cal only, noninsuranced, etc etc : need for ambulance bls, gurney van, wc van, reg. cab or uber. It gets a bit confusing on what to utilize, some case managers freely use ambulance depending on coverage for pts who seem able to take a cab lol.

I've been a nurse for the past 5-6 years; back ground PH, Ambulatory care, and case manager for patients that are transferred to acute care inpatient/obs, snf, and back etc. My new job is hospital inpatient cm. This hospital is very new to me; services, protocols, programs - I have 6 wks of training. I've been a nurse for a while so I've learned not to take bad comments to heart. However, my trainer has been horrible. After my 3rd or 4th day she ridicules me, gets irrate, irritable, lacks any kind of patience. Right now I'm on my 8th day - she continues to refuse to teach me, expects me to know(despite not showing me), and has tried to blame me for things as a trainer shouldn't have been missed (she says, "I guess I'll take the blame"- referring as if its my fault when she forgets something. I'm just happy to be done with her as I train in another shift. She even makes snide remarks on my background as a nurse; of course I don't have 30 yr experience as her. As someone who has trained staff in my prior position, you just don't conduct yourself in such a unprofessional manner. I'm thinking she stresses her whole family out daily. Anyway, please remember not to eat the young new nurses or ones you are training. Your energy projects onto them and its not a healthy learning experience.

Exactly. Years ago, as a new grad I would never think of being a RN case manager. Nowadays, it's all I know. Despite restrictions due to the need for tightened resource management, it's a different type of nursing that some may learn to enjoy. I have worked from more satelite/liaison type cm to acute inpatient - both are very different and cannot say the work is boring. It can be very challenging, but healthcare and our patients are the same.

You are in the middle, no RN experience and no past experience for jobs that need MSN. I pursued my masters a few years after working as an RN since I didn't know that specialty to focus on as a new grad. You may have to apply for RN jobs at this time, it does not have to be floor -just work on gaining more knowledge and skills in the nursing field. I have worked as a state nurse interviewer in the past. Usually, when we hire a MSN the experience is already there. Knowledge gained from working is different in its application, versus the textbook and precepting in school. I am not trying to discourage you, however gaining more experience will prepare you for your MSN role. I honestly do not have an extensive nursing background, but I have worked in different clinical settings that prepared me to apply for positions requiring masters.

It's very important to get a BSN. It opens up more opportunities and makes you more employable. Some nurse jobs require a Masters nowadays! I have been a nurse interviewer for state hospitals in the past, although its not required certain managers honestly prefer to hire the BSN. Some hospitals pay a little more for the higher degree too. Some people may not agree, but I feel those who graduate from a good BSN program have more effective leadership skills.

I had to comment on this despite being an old thread. There is a difference between instructors that are difficult (want you to succeed) vs. bullying (abuse in power). During my last rotation with a clinical preceptor (who was the manager in the hospiral dept) 6+years ago in nursing school, I encountered such a bully. She was degrading, rude, humiliated me in front of staff and at the end told me she felt I should not succeed in nursing but will let me pass because my future was not bright! (I graduated cum laude btw lol and made it to grad school!). She passed me along to every nurse on the floor, and did not want to help me at all lol. She was horrid to most clinical staff. I did not report her in the end, she was friend's with my clinical instructor and they would of ruined my future. I remember every time I had clinical, I was anxiety ridden and crying afterward...she damaged my self confidence and it was hard to focus on my final exit exams. My advice is pray, try your best, and please surround yourself with uplifting people. I honestly wished these people didnt exist in nursing...but they do. Their behaviour is not about you, its about how they feel about themselves. My sister is going through the same right now with her CI. I hope for the best in you all and for us nurses, this is a reminder to be kind and helpful than eating our young.

Hello everyone, I have a dilemma and just want your feedback. I have an interview for a RN position at Kaiser and also one for a county hospital (santa clara). Pay is somewhat equal, both have health coverage, unionized. My background: RN with BSN 4-5yrs experience (i.e. Amb care, Phn, CM inpatient), currently finishing up masters degree. Both positions seem like great choices, however I would love to hear feedback from nurses that are more senior or equal in experience.