"The last place I worked, we did things differently!" (and correctly)

Nurses General Nursing

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What about nurses who come from other facilities, who constantly critisize the way things are done where you work? They are always talking about where they previously worked, as if it were the gold standard.

Introducing new ideas is all well and good, but the wise person uses discretion in the time and manner that she chooses to do so. Walking into a new job and presenting a laundry list of all the things that your new facility is doing wrong just isn't going to endear you to your new co-workers.

Yes, one's approach is crucial and diplomacy is best. Sensitivity on all sides is definately important.

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That is not what I meant. Just the opposite.

It is the people that have worked at the facility since Adam was a pup that are disrespectful, being very condescending to newcomers. Just because you have worked forever at a facility doesn't mean that you know the only or the best way of doing things.

They DO need to get out more.

I know what you mean about that, sometimes established people circle the wagons when a newcomer has a different idea, I've seen that happen where I work. I think cross-pollenization is important in the medical field.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Introducing new ideas is all well and good, but the wise person uses discretion in the time and manner that she chooses to do so. Walking into a new job and presenting a laundry list of all the things that your new facility is doing wrong just isn't going to endear you to your new co-workers.

:yeahthat:

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That behavior is one of my pet peeves.

I think a new employee should be at his/her job a minimum of three months before the suggestions start. Before that I don't feel the person knows the job or the facility well enough to start offering ways to improve.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

I do not see others who come from a different nursing environment/background as mine to be offensive to say that things were superior at the last facility they worked at, occasionally they're right. Someone stated recently that our giving report to the oncoming nurse which drags on and on in the morning did not exist at her prior work, just updating cardex's and leaving at shifts end, sound pretty cool not to be hammered by the incoming staff! Another recently mentioned how the Protonix which we commonly give with 10ml of fluid as a IVP was either hung as an IV piggyback or pushed with a 60ml of fluid.

Now this was news to me and I'd never heard of the drug causing dysrythmias! So it is all good, even if the person comes across superior, I can still learn from what s/he says, just like I can learn from disagreeable pts!

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Specializes in tele, stepdown/PCU, med/surg.

Ok I will admit something here,

I started a new job in a new state two months ago. My preceptor and I didn't hit it off right away. We would "argue" about what to do for patients as far a PRN medication. She would express her opinion and I mine. She thought my expressing my opinion was tantamount to refusing to do right by my patient because I didn't want to go with her opinion. Later, we had a meeting with a manager, and while things were said that weren't appropriate, her and I finished my preceptorship OK.

I am a nurse with three years of experience and when I came to this hospital, I saw many things that were different than what I'm used to. I am biased because I feel I'm from a state-of-the-art nursing area in the US and was quick to notice things that were different. I sometimes expressed these differences as "oh I've not seen it done this way" or something to that effect. A few times I've said "well current research states" which admittedly does sound pompous but I was just trying to let them know that what I thought was not just pulled out of my head randomly, but that I was trying to educated about things.

I love research but was told my manager to not try change everything. That's fine but there are some things that should be changed. There are committees to get involved in which I'm looking into. I was just shocked at adversarialism that was felt when I expressed an opinion about how patient care should be done or my experience. It was like I was not supposed to have previous experience.

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Suggestion Box!!

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Specializes in ICU;CCU;Telemetry;L&D;Hospice;ER/Trauma;.

please....pass the emesis basin....

isn't thinking outsidethebox the same as just thinking???

please...stop....

WE ARE NURSES

No one on this earth does what we do....

no one would do what we do....without a lobotomy and a bigger pay check;

let's cut each other some slack and be happy we have such diversity...and stop making this a pissing contest.

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Specializes in acute medical.

I wonder if I have been a bit guilty of that sometimes. As I have worked in a different role in the same hospital for 17 years, it is hard to remember that different wards have different policies, and that your knowledge can sometimes be a hindrance not a help...

I hope I'm getting more wise...

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Specializes in Family.

We have one of those where I am now. I now mentally replace "Well at XXXX we did this" with "This one time, at band camp..." lol!

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What about nurses who come from other facilities, who constantly critisize the way things are done where you work? They are always talking about where they previously worked, as if it were the gold standard.

1) If it was so wonderful, why did you leave?

2) When in Rome do as the romans do.

3) Does it really matter? (Unless it is an unsafe practice)

4) Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!!:bugeyes:

One time we had a new MD that constantly criticised his patients and made rude comments about appalachian-americans (that's hillbilly to you non PC folks) I had it with the nastiness and asked him one day...

1) Who pays your bills?

2) Who keeps your kids in the private school he was sending them to?

and a few other questions.

When he didn't answer me, I told him. It's those "damn hillbillies" you keep talking about! If you don't like it here, pack your a## up and go back to Boston!! Never heard another word about it. He is still practicing in my home town. LOL

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Specializes in rehab and LTC, some psych.
What about nurses who come from other facilities, who constantly critisize the way things are done where you work? They are always talking about where they previously worked, as if it were the gold standard.

Then why aren't they still there?! I've ran into nurses like this and it boils my blood. If this facility is beneath them, go find one that is up to par according to their standards. People tend to overcompensate their deficiencies by placing their skills way ahead of everyone else's and the classic line is "Well the way we did it at my last job is...." I always ask so why aren't you still there. Then you get a story about how its never their fault, it was the new DON, or the unit supervisor who couldn't appreciate their expert skills, yadda, yadda, yadda. I hate working with whiners. If it's so bad here and you feel your license is being compromised, leave and take your no-fault story with you to the next employer. Maybe they'll schedule time to listen and sulk with you. But for now, we need to do a dressing change. Got tape?

Ashes

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