HelenofOz

Why does management ever think that these surveys are a good idea, apart from giving them the opportunity to think they are doing something. We have been given the second survey in about 3 months, presumably because everyone was too disgruntled to fill in the first one, or because it was filled in & then, oops, lost. I find that the questions are all skewed in such a way that they get the answers they want, and the space for extra comments is always tiny. The people who become managers are supposed to be smart so how come they can't figure out that most of the time the responsibility for low staff morale rests with them-a work force is a reflection of the managers' attitudes & ethics, whether it's in nursing, newspapers or any other environment

My Mum is neither a SO or a non-nurse, but rather a 79yr old ex RN and was telling me about my 4yr old nephew's hospitalisation for ebola virus. Seeing as she's been a bit emotionally fragile lately I let it go. Turns out it was adenovirus Just as well, I'd be less than impressed if there was ebola in Australia & the government chose not to tell us

SeeTheMoon beat me to it! I was going to suggest you tell them that it can be easier to establish yourself in a new role in a new area, or even that you wanted to experience a different style of nursing to the area you've been working in for so long, not get into a rut blah blah blah. Make it look as if it's all yor decision to work in a different setting, and not you responding to external events. Look like a 'go-getter' etc etc, put a positive spin on it, then ask them to let it go as you're busy studying for the NCLEX and need a calm environment to enable you to do your best. (It is probably difficult for your Mum too, who only wants the best for you, and would love to be able to fix the problem with one of her suggestions-it's a Mum thing) Good luck for the exam.

blood transfusions involve more than just 'spiking the bag & getting it going'. who is going to monitor your patient for the next 4 hours-do obs etc, while the transfusion is running, contact the doctor if there is a reaction, attend to any other care the patient requires during that time? as with alot of things in nursing, it's not always as simple as you'd think.

I work in the recovery ward (PACU) and over the years have been a patient of two of our surgeons. At all times there has been a professional relationship in both arenas-at work I am an RN, as a patient I am a patient, they are two separate worlds. One of these surgeons (a gynaecologist) I had always regarded as being over-friendly with his patients, but as a patient I found that he maintained a definite boundary. (I chose him as he was the only one who performed the procedure I preferred) Many of my co-workers have been patients of our surgeons, and I have not heard a complaint from any of them. Some people prefer not to have their conditions treated at their place of work-I have no problems with it because I know the quality of the staff who are looking after me.

That is a good idea, thogh some may be reluctant to part with too much information about themselves so early in the piece, so how about a photo board. Either baby/childhood photos, or graduation photos, esp of those older nurses who trained in hospitals, and see if people can recognise them. That way they are chatting to each other for ideas, and usually enjoying the conversations & guesswork. We had one for a while and everybody had fun with it, lots staff came from throughout the hospital for a look, and it was an opportunity to share nursing stories between the older & younger staff members (hmm, I may have bored a few people now I think of it:D and how on earth did we manage to work in heavily starched uniforms in 40 degrees C with no air-con?) Another idea is to have everyone bring a plate to share on your 2nd set up day for lunch, morning tea whatever. I know setups are hard work, but they can be lots of fun too before the patients start arriving!

Could the Glitterbug Gel be an option? Rub gel on, wash hands, put hands under fluro light, areas not properly washed will 'glow'.

As carolmaccas66 said, we now have a national registration board, not just for nurses, but also for doctors, chirpracters, pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, psychologists, dentists, optometrists & osteopaths. All boards are under the auspices of the 'Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency' . This means that we can now work in any state of Australia with just the one registration. It has been a long time coming, but it makes work so much easier especially for folk who want to work their way around the country, ie overseas travellers, and the grey nomads who sometimes pick up a bit of work as they travel as well.

ICU is such an overwhelming place that it can be easier to focus on the little 'everyday' things rather than face the big picture. Many years ago my father had AAA repair, and I swear he thought the list of complications was a menu and he ticked every box! He was looked after by fabulous nurses, and is still alive 16 years later because of the care they & the doctors gave him, but......one day when I visited him he hadn't been shaved and I felt that if the nurse hadn't bothered to shave him then they hadn't bothered to look after him properly in other ways. Realistically I knew that shaving was a long way down the list of essential care to ensure his recovery, and that there was far more important things to be done for him, but it's funny how outward appearances can take on such importance. (I never said anything to the staff, thank goodness, and gave myself a stern talking to about being so silly). It's not just in restaurants where it's all about presentation! To the OP, I hope that things improve for you and your family. And it is always appropriate to thank the nurses, we love that!

Thankyou for your insight into a medic's world, sometimes we are not always aware of what happens elsewhere and need to be reminded of other points of view. But I have a few other points of view to add to the mix-as the RN was a first year she was probably intimidated by your level of knowledge, and especially when young and new, it can be hard to figure out to behave in those situations, and tact does not always come easly to everyone, (me included, and I am neither young nor new) The other is that in your list of duties you included "performing clinical laboratory tests and operating sophisticated laboratory equipment; taking and processing X-rays and operating X-ray equipment; filling prescriptions, maintaining pharmacy stock; " do you then have conflicts with pathologists, radiographers and pharmacists?

Good luck to you in trying to help the newbie learn another facet of nursing, dealing with difficult behaviours. Have you tried using your no nonsense techniques on management, that might help you get a better result from them :D:D

You sound like a fabulous preceptor, and your newbie is very lucky to have you helping her. I am just looking at this from a different angle, why hasn't has your manager/supervisor/higher-up the food chain person dealt with this problem patient. It shouldn't be all your responsiblity to help fix a problem that shouldn't have gone this far. As to coming in on your day off, I assume they are going to pay you for it.

I don't care where the plumbing is either, as long as they are workers and have a good sense of humour. I work with some fabulous men & women, but I must admit we have a couple of men who will always be 'boys'. Never know where anything is kept, always give you that startled 'who me' look if you remind them they haven't done something they are supposed to etc etc. We have women who don't get their act together either!

I am aghast that this patient had a fiance/e and DIDN'T tell them of this huge risk to health. How close to you have to be to a person before you tell them? And the parents have no conscience either. or is that just me being old fashioned?

Not just 'middle aged men' though-breathing slowly & steadily, BP normal, no frown lines between the eyes, lying comfortably & relaxed, pain 11/10, I don't think so, but I'll still give you pain relief. But I've also had a pt on immediate return from OT for open appendicectomy say, "I feel so much better now-pain's gone' and the day 2 hip replacements say 'compared to pre-op pain this is nothing' It's all about perspective, and if they've been lucky in life then this probably is the worst thing that's ever happened to them, I still wouldn't pour the juice though!