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!

I'm 55, and had an LAVH & BSO in May-was told I could go back to work in two weeks-uh, no thanks. Had six weeks off-I work in PACU, it can be unpredictable there and I didn't need to try & stop someone climbing out of bed! One of the best things I've done-Hb January to April-98 to 110 (on iron pills), Hb last week-135. No wonder I never felt like doing housework then, wonder what my excuse is now. Worst moment-trip home, husband forgot to drive gently over speed humps! I was kind to myself the first week or so, and increased activities as boredom set in, remaining aware of limitations. Emotionally/mentally I feel no different than before.... I'm still a snarly b#$ch!

I know this firm is in Australia, but how about something similar http://www.jaemond.com/product.htm (NAYY) the nursing home my son works in has a room for the Sundowners and they find Baroque music and hand massages, amongst other things, to be effective, and the facility my cousin worked in found the music and videos of Daniel O'Donnell to be very popular with the residents.

Rarely sick-colds once or twice a year, flu x 2 in my whole life (touch wood) 20 years ago., don't get flu injections. I am overweight, have hypertension, eat a mixed diet (ie a bit/lots of everything) water (but not excessively, ditto alcohol and chocolate), rarely eat junk food or pre-packaged meals, no vitamins/no supplements, no regular exercise programme-though I do dance vigorously at least once a week. I have embraced the concept of germs and dirt, tho am a mad hand-washer at work. 150 years ago most of my ancestors lived in houses with poor sanitation etc etc and they survived! Up until 2 moths ago I had accrued over 450 hours sick leave (and I only work 40 hours/fortnight), but have used 120 hours following LAVH, and I don't regard that as having being 'sick' in the catching something unpleasant sense of the word. (We get 2 weeks pro rata sick leave per year, thus I get 40 hours/year). I do take the odd mental health day! I hope I haven't jinxed myself!

I don't mind teaching, occasionally, but when we get a new lot of students through every week I get a little bit over it. And sick of the sound of my own voice. Also I am a "head down, bum up" kind of worker so sometimes I'm so involved in what I'm doing that I forget to explain to the student as I'm going along, esp when it gets busy. But I think I've figured out how to deal with that-when showing them around the unit & explaining how things work I warn them that if it get's desperately busy or I am involved with a critical patient, I will forget about the student, but feel free to watch from no closer than the foot of the bed-not the head of the bed, and I will answer questions later. Seeing as I work in PACU I'm afraid the students needs are not always my top priority. Most are interested, some just sit at the desk, most are intimidated by the unit, one was so over confident there was no way to pull him back, and even when trying to explain to him he just never listened because he already knew. We all try to be kind to the students and help them along, but sometimes you just want to get on with your work. If I wanted to teach I would have become a teacher! These may not be the things you want to hear, but just trying to put the other point of view. And remember as you go through life 25% of the people you meet will love you, 25% will dislike you and the remaining 50% will be neutral.

Don't suppose any management types are reading this and getting some insight? NO, of course not-the bad ones know they're great managers and don't need any help!!!:icon_roll Funny how it doesn't matter what country we're in we all have the same issues, and most of them boil down to respect. The good managers are out there, and we love 'em-the DON who answered call bells-tottering down the hall in her stilettos, urinal in hand. She knew your name the day after you started working there, she knew the patients by name, and they loved her for it, she ate her lunch in the staff dining room, at the same table as everyone else, and thus was approachable even to the shyest. I know there's more to management than just that, but she certainly made it easy to work there, and she got more from her staff as a result.

cos they really get me going! Why is it that when the nursing staff ask for new equipment it is refused, but if we get the doctors to ask for it we get it. I HATE having to play that game, it's so unprofessional. If we need it, we need it, regardless of who asks for it. Why do you cave in to the doctors, why not back up your unit managers some times when they tell the doc 'no, you can't do that' (not necessarily so bluntly). You're just rewarding bad behaviour, and it'll just get worse. Don't think I can be bought off with a burnt sausage at a staff BBQ after I've been racing round like a mad thing because you think we're overstaffed. (see below) Do not walk through PACU in our quiet time, please come through half an hour later -and help- when we are packed and most of the pts need one on one care, and we've had to stop theatres bringing out pts for the third or fourth time that day And, no, I will not have any respect for you when you've been here for 4 years and you still don't know who I am as you present me with a long service award-it's not that big a hospital, make an effort!

What I would REALLY like to say when the doc has a major tantrum about not getting what they want-equipment that someone else is using, specific OT room, bed for pt when the hospital is full- "Just because you're having a tanty does not mean that I can pull the solution out of my a**e and make the problem go away. I do not keep a secret supply of stores there for just such an occasion as this" and also "If you want to be friendly that's great, if you want to be professional and distant, that's great, but do not change from one to the other. Be consistent" With reference to respect etc etc. I'm sure we all treat the docs with respect and professionalism, but if that isn't reciprocated it's a very difficult thing to keep going. And have you noticed that the nice doc's have less problems with their patients than the snarly ones? I loved the plastic surgeon who always ended his phone calls with-'thankyou for letting me know' after I called re the pt's temp of 37.5, (cos that was part of his protocol-contact if temp 37.5 or more!) He was such a control freak that he was easy to work with, everyone knew exactly what was expected, and he was always a gentleman, and did beautiful work-just a shame he retired as we all got old enough to need his services!

OK, but I was a female patient and the younger female nursing student was noticeably uncomfortable performing a procedure on me, and that was before she knew I was a nurse. The poor things are petrified of everybody, and until they get the experience, both nursing and life, they will always be uncomfortable. It doesn't help them gain confidence if they are not treated as the competent professional that we want them to become in their futures.

Yes, and have. I know and trust those looking after me, I know who to talk to if it's not right, and that I would be listened to (that hasn't happened, tho'). I know that tho' they shouldn't, they would make sure I'm looked after extra well. Added to that, my friend is the external infection control consultant who HAD to give the endoscopy unit 100% in an assessment 'cos no matter how hard she looked she could not fault them in their practice. That is the inside knowledge you really need! They can see my bum anytime!

I work in a private surgical hospital where pt's usually come in, have the their surgery, get better, go home (and preferably leave chocolates as they go out the door;)). In the pre-op setting it's not a problem as they are only Nil By Mouth from the night/morning prior to surgery, and any alcohol problems don't usually show for a couple of days. But if we know that old Mrs Soandso usually has a couple of sherries every evening we will get an order for a glass of sherry every evening she is with us written in her medication chart so that nobody is unsure of what's happening. I was once phoned up by the NUM and asked to buy a bottle of whisky on my way to work for a certain patient with a problem (re-imbursed of course!) We are there to treat to the admitting diagnosis, not fix their lives if that's not what they want. If they have been admitted for drying out, then that's another matter, but why put us all, including the patient, through the miseries when they're only going to go home and pick up here they left off. They are grown ups after all, and we are not their mothers.