We have a few nurses on our unit who seem to put in a LOT of their own orders, just to either lighten the load on the secretary, or coddle her, one of the two. I know the secretaries work hard, but we have one who hassles ME because I don't put in a lot of my own orders.
I'm sorry, but I feel this is ludicrous on the part of the secretary AND these nurses who are just inviting adminstrative staff to push back work onto the nurse. We nurses are chained to our charts and computers ENOUGH, without now having the expectation of putting in our own orders. I can see if the secretary gets sick, or pulled to another floor or whatever, but if he/she is THERE -- I feel I have every right to expect that they DO put in my orders!
I got a really nasty poke from one of our secretaries the other day to "take a hint" and put in my orders myself like the "like nurse so-and-so does." This while I'm getting a new admit who had just received meds in the ER and was on the BSC every five minutes as soon as she arrived to the floor. What am I supposed to do? Leave the patient in need and sit at a desk putting in orders so this secretary can reduce her stress level?? We have another secretary who has NEVER expected this of me and puts in every order that's put in front of her, and quickly.
I do put in labs here in there, or the simple routine orders if I get a second -- but I'm NOT going to get roped into putting in 3 pages of new admit orders while I'm busy helping a patient, admitting them, assessing them, and helping a patient in need who is new onto the floor!
Are they units nuts or what?? Should I mention this to my manager or just let it go? I was SO mad at being digged for this, I almost wanted to cry.
Specializes in acute rehab, med surg, LTC, peds, home c.
I agree with Zofran....just tell them flat out that you cannot do it. I would scan the order to see if there is anything STAT and then give the orders to her....sometimes being a RN means delegating and ******* people off...we are not there to make friends...we are there for patient care...and advocating for them. If it means the secretary is going to get in digs at you....oh well. YOU will always be needed....the US job is going to be outdated in the future....just double check and scan when they come up for the STATS.....that is all you can do. At my last job I had to put in a lot of orders and I know it is frustrating and makes the job a million times harder....hang in there girl :)
I agree. Sometimes the unit secretaries get too cocky. Most of ours are nice but there is one that bullies some of the more timid nurses. I don't see any other college educated professionals being treated like this and it just boggles my mind that we get so little respect from someone whose job it is to help us. Not the other way around. As long as we suck it up and take it, it will continue.
The only time I put my own orders is is when the secretary has a pile of charts with new orders and the orders I have I want done NOW to benefit either my patient or myself. If it's just for a new med order that's not important to start right this second such as *metoprolol 50mg bid* or for labs for tomorrow morning it goes into the rack and the secretary can do it. If I've got orders for a gas, lactate, and coags for a septic shock patient....I can draw, label the specimens, and put the orders in quicker than the secretary putting them in.
meluhn
661 Posts
I agree. Sometimes the unit secretaries get too cocky. Most of ours are nice but there is one that bullies some of the more timid nurses. I don't see any other college educated professionals being treated like this and it just boggles my mind that we get so little respect from someone whose job it is to help us. Not the other way around. As long as we suck it up and take it, it will continue.