Resign now??

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a fresh and shiny new RN and getting slaughtered in the ICU. I worked there as a tech for a year before I finished school and thought it would be an easy transition as an RN. Boy was I wrong!!

Here's the deal....I had a particularly crazy morning; crazy high maintenance family in one room and an admit (at 0745) from the ER (found unresponsive- drug OD) in the other. The admit was nothing like the ER nurse reported to me. Pt was vented, b/p in the 200's, couldn't tell if she was seizing or posturing, etc. While trying to complete the 3 pages of doc orders on the new admit I get a dirty needle stick (as her ex-husband calmly informs me that she has a life long history of IV drug use). Needless to say the morning was so insane that I didn't have a chance to sit down and do ANY charting. Charge calls a RN from home to come in and cover for me while I go get my blood work done. I feel HORRIBLE about the whole situation....I waited until the last minute to take care of myself so as to not leave so much work for the oncoming RN. Well....she comes in ******. I apologize all over the place, trying to explain what the morning was like. During report I had to go look at vent setting as the RT was in there changing them throughout the morning. Fast forward....come back and approach the RN and she basically tells me to do my charting and stay away from HER pts. Fine! Whatever!

Go into work the next day and have been taken off the schedule for the day and then am subjected to a 2.5 hr meeting with the nurse manager. This RN hand wrote 6 pages of notes detailing stuff that she thought I had done wrong, mind you nothing life-threatening....no pillows in admits rm (no need to turn her that morning as she was bucking all over the place), no oral care done (no time as I was trying to control her b/p and figure out her mentation), etc etc etc. She also printed off all of my charting and circled things that she thought I was lying about. I received a hefty write up (level 3...4 is dismissal).

When I was working this week I took my lunch break and came back early....to find her going through all of my charting (she was charging).

To say that I feel threatened is a gross understatement. The nurse manager told me that if I make one more mistake then I will be dismissed. Yicks! I am an absolute nervous wreck. Things get out of control very fast in the ICU. And we are currently so short staffed that most RN's have to take 3 pts each. My nurse manager told me that I was not using my resources appropriately but it is hard when everyone is as busy or busier than you are!

My intentions are to move within the next 4 wks...but I am wondering if I should go ahead and resign now to avoid the chances of getting fired first.

And one additional note....if I were to do it all over again....I would never never never take a position in an ICU right out of nursing school. There is just too much that you DON'T know!!!

Specializes in MDS/ UR.

Get out ASAP.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

and one additional note....if i were to do it all over again....i would never never never take a position in an icu right out of nursing school. there is just too much that you don't know!!!

i've said that over and over again, and people keep telling me that i'm wrong -- that i'm disrespecting new grads, eating my young and don't understand that people need to "follow their dreams." the thing is, there is just so much to learn that you haven't learned in nursing school -- why jump directly into a pressure cooker environment like icu without learning the basics first?

i'm donning my flameproof suit.

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Specializes in ICU, Cardiac.

I agree Ruby. Even the smartest, most capable new grad is a new grad "who doesn't know what they don't know."

Hell after 18 years there are days I have to scratch my head, refocus and then consult my coworkers for opinions.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.

I would just leave now, if you can afford it. Better to have that than being fired. It sounds like a very poor work environment to be in. If that CN has time to pour over all your charting, and turn things in as silly as no pillows, than she has to much time on her hands or is not doing other things that can be done.

I have never understood the rational of just giving someone such a sever right up, especially if they are a new grad. How are they ever supposed to learn? A 12 week orientation is ridiculous for a new grad. I have 5 years experience when I started in ICU, and I got 12 weeks.

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Specializes in M/S, ICU, ICP.

wow, it is for sure that if the other nurse has decided to play "mother" and go over every move you make who is taking care of her patients? she obviously isn't. some people need to get a life and watch their own actions. that nurse has issues and it is not your fault. i wish you the best of luck.

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Ruby,

I have taken your specific advice. But I can tell you it's been hard as in my area the few new grad jobs available are ER and ICU. I have friends who have taken these.

Don't seriously know what these employers are up to. But do know it's gotta be some kind of experiment to see if there is a way to reduce the pay of experienced ICU nurses - I would bet on it. I know these facilities do not offer 9 month or more internships, 12 wks is gonna be all. I think they feel that for every new grad they toss out they can try 10 more and might come up with one that somehow remarkably can muster and still come out ahead when they consider experienced ICU nurses salaries. A new grad salary/benies is no where near that of an experienced ICU nurse. If they can get a few little newbies into the mix, they can really save a buck. Also, I think there is a little going on about knocking down the bravado of experienced ICU and ER nurses in this somewhere. I just have this feeling.

I saw these new grads when I did my preceptorship in ICU in school. They had the look cats get when really frightened... you know, that open-mouthed panting. I thought, holy ****!

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Specializes in PACU, CARDIAC ICU, TRAUMA, SICU, LTC.
i've said that over and over again, and people keep telling me that i'm wrong -- that i'm disrespecting new grads, eating my young and don't understand that people need to "follow their dreams." the thing is, there is just so much to learn that you haven't learned in nursing school -- why jump directly into a pressure cooker environment like icu without learning the basics first?

i'm donning my flameproof suit.

i'll supply the extinguisher..lol!

i worked for 2 years on a med surg floor before transferring to a 12 bed icu, and thank god i did! i could not imagine being a new grad working in an icu. it's hard enough being stressed out in your 1st job, but working in an icu as a new grad?? you need a sound knowledge base before entering into this new, fast-paced intense environment, along with sharp organizational skills.

you would be wise to leave. hold your head high!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

HOLD THE PHONE HERE!!! The most important issue in the situation described by the OP -- she was stuck with a DIRTY NEEDLE! I have been in this situation as an ICU manager, & my priority was to immediately arrange coverage & take care of my nurse -- and I don't think I'm that different from other competent managers.

This description of events indicates to me that this is a snake pit - my advice is to resign NOW. Play hardball. Do not sign any paperwork that releases the organization from liablity... this is common if there has been any type of on the job injury.

I started as a GN in a neuro-trauma ICU and loved it - the manager was a true leader. The department was supportive and nurturing for a new grad. Great managers make all the difference.

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The NM absolutely has his tracks covered. During our original meeting I was assured that although this was a "problem" he knew that this "isn't you". Every single little item that was brought up I defended. I did feel that I was deserving of one write up because it involved the administration of a medication that I knew only the very basics of....although I was literally with the doc through the entire process and he had informed me of what to watch for. The RN that turned me in accused me of not knowing the med because in my anxiety of just having been stuck by a dirty needle I couldn't remember how to pronounce the name....but could write it down. Again....no documentation hung me (although I did my basic charting when I got back I did NOT do detailed nurses notes :mad:) YES.....lesson learned on that point. Even though the constant care of my pt was what hindered me from leaving their room and sitting at a computer to chart.

To make matters worse while in the meeting with the DM he had the audacity to ask me if I was using drugs or alcohol to cope with my stress. *****?? I was so shocked that I literally laughed out loud. To which he asked if I had consumed alcohol before coming to work. Yes....at 4am I downed a six-pack! Whatever!!!

As for the CN...I fear there is no escaping her. She does not think I am ICU material and therefore is going to get rid of me no matter what. I just feels this with everything in me.

I am not sure what the reasoning is behind hiring so many new grads. What I do know is that when your seasoned nurses are only 3 yrs out of school themselves....it doesn't make for a safe environment. I did bring this to my NM attention and he said that it was cyclical and that it would pass. My question is....before or after someone dies?? Before or after I get nailed to a wall and loose my license?? Even our docs think it is insane and are constantly frustrated.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Sheesh Kiddo you must have teeth marks all over you . Talk about eating the young. I'd bid adieu and get to a nice general floor where there is a 3-6 month internship/preceptorship program. The attorney suggestion is a good one. If she's photocopying charting (big no no) and changing your charting or making unfounded accusations then you are within your rights to take the write-up and either not sign, say read disagree-will not sign or just hand it back. But get an attorney's opinion, or a legal nurse consultant's. Oh and LEAVE THERE NOW.

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Resign now. Enjoy your time off til the move. Tell your next employer that the job was not a good fit for you.

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OMG. What a real f'er your NM is. You know what OP, I'm gonna call him and tell him so. :up:

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