"Eat their young"

[rolvue]

I am a new graduate nurse and on my own for 3 months now and still learning. A week or 2 weeks ago, I had been assigned to a small bowel obstruction patient. At bedside report from PM shift the RN told me that the patient had some emesis and was given zofran which helped him. I didn't question the nurse about how much the patient's emesis was and if the doctor was notified. Since he was given zofran, he was fine after that. So, I monitor the patient and he did not have any symptoms of nausea/vomiting overnight. The next morning I did a bedside report with one of the nurse, thinking everything was okay. Well, I got spoken to by the educator about the importance of asking all these important questions while getting report. It didn't occur to me at the time when getting the report to ask these questions (how much and if md was notified and if any new orders were given). This nurse likes to bully new graduate nurse. She likes to report us to the educator instead of given us tips and advice. I rather work as a team and help me become better at asking questions rather than getting it from the educator 1-2 weeks later. She's one that likes to complain about everyone at work. It can be stressful and makes me feel like a loser. Now I'm questioning myself if I will ever become good at asking the right questions during bedside report. This is how I am feeling right now. The educator will be talking to the PM nurse about giving good bedside report, too. So, should I let this incident go and learn from it or should I discuss this with the department supervisor about it and see if there's anything that can help me become better at asking the right questions?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

You will never know her real intentions for going to the nurse educator. Is she a chronic complainer or a constant tattle taler? I personally feel what she did was petty. Why couldn't she just tell/educate you during report? Does she know you are new?

When i was new, I once witnessed a coworker tell the manager that the nurse before him didn't give report in a head to toe fashion! I thought he was so pathetic for even complaining about something so silly. But now I expect it because hes a constant complainer that runs to tell the manager everything. Some people are bitter and love to tell other people's mistakes to make them feel better.

Because you are new just be open and accepting to criticism also stay positive. Own up to your mistake and learn from it.

Crusty Old Bats who aren't the newbie's actual preceptor (or former preceptor, if the newbie is off orientation) may go to the nurse educator rather than the newbie herself or himself because we have unfortunately learned that many, many newbies aren't open to criticism. They don't take feedback well unless it is all positive. Sadly, new grads or new employees WILL make mistakes and if they're not open to hearing about it from the employee who discovers it, they will hear about it from the manager or the nurse educator.

Small mistakes that could be easily corrected with no harm done when discovered and addressed immediately will instead go on a list kept by the manager or educator, and addressed all at once with devastating results to the new employee and possibly even their job. If your colleagues find you difficult to deal with, they just won't bother. I have a list of mistakes my most recent orientee has made, brought to me by various colleagues who have discovered the mistakes and found my former orientee unaccepting of feedback. Unfortunately, the manager has already been involved and we're looking at termination rather than a "come to Jesus" meeting. This could have been easily avoided if the newbie hadn't turned off most of his colleagues with his superior attitude and unwarranted overconfidence. He's a smart guy and could easily be a great nurse -- but he's going to have to get over himself first, and be open to criticism. Sadly, that's going to have to happen on his NEXT job.

[Aloe_sky]

Crusty Old Bats who aren't the newbie's actual preceptor (or former preceptor, if the newbie is off orientation) may go to the nurse educator rather than the newbie herself or himself because we have unfortunately learned that many, many newbies aren't open to criticism. They don't take feedback well unless it is all positive. Sadly, new grads or new employees WILL make mistakes and if they're not open to hearing about it from the employee who discovers it, they will hear about it from the manager or the nurse educator.

Small mistakes that could be easily corrected with no harm done when discovered and addressed immediately will instead go on a list kept by the manager or educator, and addressed all at once with devastating results to the new employee and possibly even their job. If your colleagues find you difficult to deal with, they just won't bother. I have a list of mistakes my most recent orientee has made, brought to me by various colleagues who have discovered the mistakes and found my former orientee unaccepting of feedback. Unfortunately, the manager has already been involved and we're looking at termination rather than a "come to Jesus" meeting. This could have been easily avoided if the newbie hadn't turned off most of his colleagues with his superior attitude and unwarranted overconfidence. He's a smart guy and could easily be a great nurse -- but he's going to have to get over himself first, and be open to criticism. Sadly, that's going to have to happen on his NEXT job.

New hires even old hires make mistakes. We are always learning, new nurses or even old nurses to a new unit need extra guidance. I think becoming defensive has to do with the nurses personality, not whether or not they are newbie's. I'm sure we all work with old nurses we can't stand and can't take criticism either. I think it's also important of know how to give feedback. Im sure you've heard the saying," its not what you say, its how you say it", If you are getting complaints from new nurses...what's the common denomination? YOU. maybe you need to reflect on your approach to new staff. We had a nurse that the new hires would complain about and they were right about complaining on this nurse. He was unprofessional, rude and a constant complainer. It took 3 new hires to complain till my manager realized it was the nurse. Now that nurse is no longer allowed to precept.

I have always corrected/taught both new and even old nurses on the units if there's a need. I have NEVER had a problem and I have NEVER so far had to go above my coworkers.

The 1st thing the manager/educator should ask the nurse, did you address it with the nurse 1st? Far too many times do I see nurses smile and say "ok", only to walk away complaining. Why not address the issue directly?!??! Very passive aggressive if you ask me.

Part of a nurses role are leadership and teaching ...not only to patients but your colleagues!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

New hires even old hires make mistakes. We are always learning, new nurses or even old nurses to a new unit need extra guidance. I think becoming defensive has to do with the nurses personality, not whether or not they are newbie's. I'm sure we all work with old nurses we can't stand and can't take criticism either. I think it's also important of know how to give feedback. Im sure you've heard the saying," its not what you say, its how you say it", If you are getting complaints from new nurses...what's the common denomination? YOU. maybe you need to reflect on your approach to new staff. We had a nurse that the new hires would complain about and they were right about complaining on this nurse. He was unprofessional, rude and a constant complainer. It took 3 new hires to complain till my manager realized it was the nurse. Now that nurse is no longer allowed to precept.

I have always corrected/taught both new and even old nurses on the units if there's a need. I have NEVER had a problem and I have NEVER so far had to go above my coworkers.

The 1st thing the manager/educator should ask the nurse, did you address it with the nurse 1st? Far too many times do I see nurses smile and say "ok", only to walk away complaining. Why not address the issue directly?!??! Very passive aggressive if you ask me.

Part of a nurses role are leadership and teaching ...not only to patients but your colleagues!

And I've rarely had a problem with an orientee that wasn't also experienced by the other preceptors working with that person. When ALL of the preceptors are complaining that a new hire doesn't take feedback well, it's probably the new hire and not the individual preceptor.