Purely venting here...

[CABG patch kid, BSN, RN]

I just have to get this off my chest before bed. I got really irritated today after giving report because I was flat out told not to "read between the lines" on the Dr's orders, as they are black and white. I was taken aback, as I've been working night shift for 2 years and part of what we do is read between the lines. Some docs like to be called on certain things while others don't, some let you orders labs while others will get ****** if you do it without a written order, etc. It's part of the game, pleasing the docs. Anyway, it wasn't anything big in my mind; I didn't have the TED hose on a pt after heparin was ordered for DVT prevention, not a biggie, right?

Then I questioned another order and was basically made to feel that my reasons for feeling unsure about something were stupid. Not going into a lot of details here because god forbid my coworker posts here or something, lol. Plus it doesn't really matter does it? At some point, as nurses, I think we're all made to feel a little bit stupid by another nurse, whether on purpose or not, it's still frustrating.

I know the point of what this nurse was telling me was meant to be a learning experience and a kind of "don't make the same mistake twice" thing, but sometimes I have a hard time taking constructive criticism, especially when the person is blunt and abrupt.

Well now it doesn't even seem like a big deal and I can go sleep in peace. Thanks again AllNurses, for being here :)

[highlandlass1592, BSN, RN]

isn't that the great thing about venting? sometimes it helps us put things in perspective so we can go on with our lives! Good for you!

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I used to let the day nurses make me feel small and stupid during report. I imagined they deliberately thought of questions they knew I wouldn't know the answer to, just to watch me squirm, or apologize. Then I stopped being defensive. I started to behave as if we were best friends, with only the best interest of the pt in mind. Even when I KNEW they wanted to squash my ego under their shoe. It really takes the joy out of those who want to feel superior, and it makes the nice ones....nicer. The big problem is day nurses can't possibly imagine what it's like to not have a direct pipeline to an MDs office.

[MissFlashRN]

I used to let the day nurses make me feel small and stupid during report. I imagined they deliberately thought of questions they knew I wouldn't know the answer to, just to watch me squirm, or apologize. Then I stopped being defensive. I started to behave as if we were best friends, with only the best interest of the pt in mind. Even when I KNEW they wanted to squash my ego under their shoe. It really takes the joy out of those who want to feel superior, and it makes the nice ones....nicer. The big problem is day nurses can't possibly imagine what it's like to not have a direct pipeline to an MDs office.

Boy, have I been in that situation as a night shifter! Your attitude is great, and it really is the only one that has ever worked for me....one day nurse in particular used to seem to get a real kick out of grilling me (she'd even go through the med cart to arrange it to her liking BEFORE letting me give her report!). Now, I arrange the cart to my standards before I start my med pass, too, but not before I let the offgoing nurse give report because I don't feel someone else should have to wait until the cart is arranged to my preference before they can get on with report!

Anyhooo, I halted arguing, defending, or giving away any clue that she was p***ing me off and, lo and behold, it all stopped. Last time I had to give report, she started going through the cart again but I acted so perky with report that she stopped her compulsive sorting and took the notes, thus freeing me and allowing my tired self to get out of there.

As far as shifts, heck...I've worked ALL OF THEM. They all have their own unique problems. Nurses fall into the trap of blaming the other shifts and it sucks (not saying anyone has done that in this thread). Just saying as nurses we should be fighting FOR each other, not against (sigh). The truth is, there is always work to do and never enough time to do it all perfectly all of the time on any shift. Unite!