nightnurse47

I recently left a hospital where I had put 16 years in, a unit I loved, an education project I really enjoyed as well as signing a contract for the RN to BSN that would have cost me 10,000$. We had a new manager come that was so nasty that even working weekend nights I had too much contact. For the first time in my career, I was written up for inane things, or for untrue things, I was sabatoged by handing in audits to her that she denied getting from me, I was second guessed on everything I did, and got to hear how she badmouthed me to my co-workers. After a year of this, a new onset of "work related" hypertension, 30# weight gain, an antidepressant and a sleep med, I decided that 10,000$ was not worth my sanity, my health or my life. Nothing I tried worked, not going up the chain of command (so many people complained about this manager that the department manager and human resources came and told us we were not allowed to complain anymore!). Half the night shift left within 2 weeks of my resignation. I am now happily employed elsewhere, and I have a 10,000$ debt to repay. It's a bummer, but- no more hypertension, no more antidepressant, no more sleeper the weight is coming off and I can walk down a hall without wondering when the next knife is coming at my back! I have seen some good ones come and go, and some bad ones, but this one really was something else. It amazes me the hospital won't admit they made a mistake in hiring her, but since it took over a year to find someone to take the job in the first place, I guess some face saving has to be done. At least I am out, and putting this one behind me!

Ha! I'm loving this too...sex with a squirrel, what will they think of next? I am changing jobs after 15 years because of a new manager who thinks management by threats is the new way to go....so to express my lack of amusement to be working for the gestapo, I am merrily on my way to manage another unit. It is a good thing I didn't have to take a personality test for that! I'd have to say the customer service in this paradigm is lacking from the habits of effective people who lie on personality tests... (and I'd have to tell them about the squirrels!):wink2: Take heart all, the pendulum will swing again, but the lunatics will most likely always be running the asylum!

I notice that the posts in the specialty forums tend to be from more experienced nurses. I think it helps students and others who are interested in becoming nurses to be able to participate in discussions about nursing. It gives people a chance to see what kinds of issues are involved and how nurses think. :wink2:

I agree! Our medical director just told us that psych nursing is projected to be one of the most needed specialties in the years to come...and as has been mentioned, everyone else is too scared to be locked in...:)

Just thought I would jump in with my 2 cents... I am another one of those long time nurses being weeded out..I have been in this position in a mid size hospital for 13 years, long time manager retired and new manager from out of state came a year ago...we on night shift did our jobs well and were expected to be autonomous. For the life of me, no matter what I have tried I can't seem to escape the hatchet. I have been disciplined for absenteeism, written up for the same incident (4 days in a 2 month period where I was battling pneumonia) 3 times, when I go to human resources I was blasted by them too, defending "whatever the manager did, it is her call". The new manager interprets the policy differently than anyone else in the hospital, but human resources is backing her up...I am a preceptor and team leader and well respected among my peers. My practice is unimpeachable, so this is where they are going for the "paper trail" and all I can think of is its the $$ 'cause now I am maxed out too. I love my job and my co-workers and now I go to work in tears every day, dreading what will happen next. I just completed an education degree program so now I have a 2 year contract to work out or pay 10,000$. I ask myself every day if it is worth the 10,000$ to quit and pay it back, and I finally decided it was. I now have several very nice job offers on the table that give me back some sense of confidence again, but I think it is such a shame that this is allowed to happen anywhere. I am not the only one targeted here, there are 2 more long timers with good records, so good with the patients. Never thought this actually happened.

Our facility went non smoking about 8 years ago for the psych unit and entirely, even on the grounds last year. We had the same concerns that many of you have expressed about the patients, but we were surprised to find that they handled it quite well. We offer a nicotine patch or gum and they all know coming in they can't smoke. Of course not everyone is tickled pink, but we had no increased aggression or any other negative outcomes. SO, those that are anticipating this change, load up on the nicotine replacements and take heart, it will probably not be as difficult as you think!

I am loving these! Never know what day it is, and can't tell what I am supposed to be doing when the alarm goes off...is it 5:30PM or 5:30Am? Am I getting up to get kids to school, or go to work? I actually love summers because I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get my kids to school on my days off! They are all night owls and we all stay up half the night during the summer. I fall asleep at every school function and all the teachers learn quickly that I only do field trips or conferences in the early morning. I used to sleep through my daughter's soccer practice on a blanket at the side of the field, and I know they all thought I was nuts. I have fallen asleep outside a school waiting for the bell to ring. I have wondered many a time how the heck I got home. My kids think it is too funny to poke me on the nose or foot when I doze off watching TV on nights off...once I accidently threw the remote at my son when he startled me doing that! It is a rule in my house that if you ask permission for or tell mom about something while she is asleep, it does not count! I have had so many conversations with people that I have absolutely no memory of. Poeple get annoyed when they leave messages that don't get returned till the next day...I sleep days, even when I am off most of the time. When I was pregnant with my son I would spend half the night on the phone and on hold talking with my night shift friends because I couldn't sleep. I, too have thanked God for "Nick at Night".

Thank you for this post. Even as a 15 year psych veteran, I am increasingly distressed by the "labels" we put on patients. "Addicts" can have pain too, and as you said, each "addict" is someone's family member. I firmly believe that labeling patients, even just to each other, can lead to subtle differences in how we interact with our patients, and can be perceived as judgemental. Sometimes there is little we can do for those patients that are stuck in their addiction except do our best to treat them with dignity. Please don't misunderstand, I am not suggesting anyone is being disrespectful, but that our culture tends to be unforgiving with this population and it tends to come out in the words we use.

Hi Lady BugLass ! I am a 15 year psych RN with a long history of depression that is actually cyclethymia (high functioning bipolar) with meds on and off since adolecsence. Several years ago I was started on a mood stablizer with great results. I do go through some lower functioning cycles and have a lot of sleep disturbance, but I work nights too, so that does not help a lot! I had to be hospitalized once for a few days after a very traumatic event ( different hospital, of course). As far as I am concerned, nurses are people too, and we get HTN or DM just like everyone else. Nurses tend to self medicate (not illegal!) but with getting a script here and there, samples from docs etc, but IMHO, the only difference between staff and patients is that the staff has keys! I don't share my personal stuff with patients, but I think that my experiences give me greater empathy for my patients, and a better understanding of the disease process and meds. I have chronic pain as well, and am able to encourage patients with this problem to be their own advocate in a system that is very difficult to navigate for anyone. I think I have become a better nurse from all of this, but that is not to say that I am any better or worse than anyone else. Mental illness is a fact of life, with increased numbers of diagnosis every day. Without publically "coming out of the closet" so to speak, we as nurses can do a lot to "destigmatize" (that is probably not a word, but you get the drift) mental illness by our own attitudes towards our patients and ourselves. So, find a good MD, take good care of yourself, take your meds, have a few good friends or a therapist you can touch base with when you need to, and find your "warning signals": things that happen when you get destablized, for example high stress situations or other disease diagnosis. I wish you the best!

Hi! As a night shift nurse for 15 plus years I have had my share of insomnia! Plus, I just did a unit teaching project on insomnia, and learned some things that might help. There is so much information out there now, it is becoming a national health "spotlight" and be sure to keep trying till you find some help. Take some of the self assessment tests you can find on the web and then go talk to your MD. Insomnia can be related to cardiac dx, DM, prescription medications, sleep apnea, PTSD, recreational substances (no one here does that) mealtimes, caffeine, too much or not enough exercise, GERD and more. The best way I have found to take the valerian is in the Sleepy-time "extra" tea by Celestial Seasonings. You may need to look in the health food section, but most grocery stores carry it. The "extra" version (or some synonym) has higher doses of valerain and also contains chamomile and I think kava. At any rate it is a little more palatable than straight valerian. Also, Benedryl is pretty effective for a lot of folks, if you don't have a paradoxical response and get more wired. Here is a nice web site: "just close your eyes and forget about it" http://www.well.com/user/mick/insomnia Don't let the name put you off, it does have lots of sleep hygiene hints that actually work! Some antidepressants such as trazadone or pamelor have been effective: if you have racing or intrusive thoughts a small dose of risperdal or even a small dose of mood stablizer such as neurontin can be effective.Some of the newer sleep meds such as lunesta or ambien have helped with less of a "hangover" effect than the longer lasting restoril. Most of this info is evidence based...there was a study or two as well that shows relaxation music with or without a relaxation voice over was moderately effective. If you put together a "menu" or sleep plan with all of these elements including prescription meds if needed, you might find a combination that is effective for you. Good Luck!

Thank you! Years ago, my husband lost his job due to downsizing, we were unable to sell our home because of a severely depressed market ( 10 homes for sale on the same 2 blocks!). We had to foreclose on the house and it went up for auction and sold 3 months later for the original purchase price plus, so no one was cheated. We moved and divorced soon after. Now here's the good part...I have had the same job for over fifteen years and lived in the same rental for the same 15 years. My credit went south because I chose to go to a credit repair and pay off my debts while my ex managed to buy a house and has over 30,000$ in credit cards racked up! Even though my income is higher, I now have "bad credit" for paying off my debts (even though it has been over 5 years). Do I think this is a reflection on my poor character? No. Sometimes things happen even to people with "good character"...life is too full of bureaucratic inconsistentsies to make a judgement of character on credit history alone.

Last Year we got a gold colored key chain with a star on it. Color wore off and chain broke with 2 weeks.

Found it as a link, I think, may have been on MSN or Google search though. I don't post a lot, but this site gets me through a few long nights, keep up the great posts!

Good idea Daytonite, I will have a letter ready, just in case. This just makes me very sad. I really enjoy my job, and it feels awful to think I may need to leave after all these years when this person has only been here for 3 months and most likely will not make it over the long term. I don't want conflict, I just want to do my job. Thanks for the support.

Thanks to both Timothy and Daytonite, What I have done is what both of you suggested, actually! I am proceeding up the chain, but with restraint. I am not filing a grievance, but to ask for help in working this out. I have in fact, gone as low profile as I can, not discussing this with anyone on the unit and just referring my co-workers back to her. The last thing was my getting "spoken to" because I misread her handwriting on a staffing sheet, even though there was no one else who read it correctly either, so yes, I do believe it is personal. Looking back through all of my communications (email) with her, they have all been cooperative, and supportive, I have been very careful. Every thing I report gets checked on with someone else, and when I am correct, she is angry. I just can't bring myself to stop all the education I have been doing just to let her get it snarled up, that feels so passive agressive to me. I am just trying to stay out of the way, do my job and cover my behind as best I can. In the meantime, I am severely stressed out, but I want to try to hang in there!