hello all, i am in need of encouragement, as i get none from work. i was a float nurse at a small local hospital for a year. i learned a lot while i was there, but there was only so much to learn because it wasn't a trauma center and a majority of the pts were in the geriatric population and i basically saw the same things over and over again. i decided to branch out and get a job in the emergency department at a level one trauma center.
i feel as though a made the biggest mistake of my life and wanna quit nursing all together. my orientation was three months. the way this ed is broken up is that there is a main ed, non crit pts, a peds ed, an urgent care ed similar to a walk in clinic and the trauma/crit ed. i have been on my own about 3 wks right now and it has been nothing short of a disaster. there is no team work. a lot of laziness. tons of favoritism. i have been relugated mainly to the main ed which is fine, but i always seem to get pts that don't belong in that area. i thought i was doing a good job. my pts like me, i am pretty good at anticipating what the pts dx is gonna be. so i set up accordingly for the docs. the last three shifts have really had me not wanting to go back. infact i have been trying to get a job at my old hospital.
i know the day shift is busy and we just converted to a computerized system, but the things that i have been walking into. have totally left me disgusted. i take report on 5 pts. the previous rn has left me everything to do on these pts. out of the five, four had to be lined and labbed. some weren't even assessed and they had been there atleast four hours. no excuse. i let it go, did what needed to be done and that was that. the next night, i walked in and started off fresh. yet again i pick up 5 ppl immediately and have to totally work them up. as i am still pretty new to all this it took me a little time, but i knew who needed to be treated first etc.
about an hour into my shift the night manager tells me that i need to pick up my pace bc i'm to slow. too slow? the four other nurses on my side had 3 pts each and they were all admitted already. i was so upset, i took a minute to gather myself and tried to explain the situation and he didn't care. so i then pick up 5 more pts to get him off my back. still i was the only one running around like a chicken without a head.
noone communicates. i get a call from the or asking for report on my pt who was going for emergency sx. ummmmmm what?????? the er attending never even told me. he gave me the impression she was going home. so now i look like a jerk to the or. great!!!!! i rush to draw the type and screen, do the pre op check list and send her off.
at 630am some ppl feel as tho they don't need to pick up pts anymore. so yes i pick up the last two. i assess them, line/lab them and make sure that my relief has little to do bc i am giving off 8 pts to start their day. even if i was giving off just one i would make sure everything was done. i hate leaving things unfinished. it is not right and just plain lazy. i am in noway saying i am a super nurse, bc quite frankly i think i am a terrible nurse. the only thing i know i rock at is my relationship with my pts. they all seem to like me.
idk what to do? i am going to leave this job as soon as humanly possible. i go to work to work, not to socialize with my co-workers. i am there for my pts and their families bottom line. i try to make friends with the ppl i work with and they are so cliquey i feel like i am in hs. i cry everyday when i have to go in. sometimes i am made to feel like i am useless there. i hear people talk about me. i am usually a hot head, but i choose to ignore them bc again my pts matter, not these ppl who just wanna bash every new person who starts there. bottom line, one of the floors i used to float to at my old job wants me to work there.
problem is, as much as i loved the team work, my co-workers etc, i won't learn much, and will lose a lot of my rn skills bc it is a behavioral science floor. i am so torn. i love the work and learning in the er, just not the ppl i work with. i never realized that that is what can make or break you. it has broken me to the point that i want to give up nursing all together.
sorry for the extra long post, just needed to vent. thanks to all in advance!!!!! ; )
staff note: paragraphs have been added for easier reading.
I don't believe anyone is arguing that grammar, spelling etc.. are not important, but the comments on it are at an inappropriate time. The example you gave is a perfect time to discuss flaws in communication skills. The person in your example is calm and receptive to criticism. The OP is distraught and needs support before being open to criticism.
If a child comes to you with an essay and asks for help you would correct the grammar and give constructive criticism. If the same child came to you crying with the essay, you would give him a hug, calm him down, build up his confidence, and then give the same constructive criticism when he was more receptive.
Thanks for the thoughtful reply.
I actually don't think grammar and spelling ARE that important (on a discussion forum, I mean; on an essay or job application they become very important) because they are rarely an impediment to communication. I used a grammatical colloquialism and an acronym, and you made a punctuation error, but none of these things will make people give up on reading our posts, and I very much doubt anybody will feel moved to correct us.
Paragraphing is different, because the lack of paragraphing does interfere with communication. I did read this post, because the number of comments made convinced me that it was worth it. But there have been many, many times that I've seen a block of text like that and hit the back button, and I know I'm not alone in this. Writing in small fonts, textspeak, or light colours are other habits that actually interfere with communication and make a post less likely to be "heard".
As for my example of someone making a speech with the mike turned off: I added the "emotionally laden" bit to suggest that the speaker could be emotional and the listeners might feel it insensitive to interrupt. Sorry if that was ambiguous.
As you say, I would comfort a crying child before I edited his essay. But the mistakes in his essay aren't impeding my communication with him. As a contrast, I have a young nephew who is bilingual but tends to forget which of his relatives speak which language. If he came crying to me in German, I would remind him to use English with me, because if I didn't, I wouldn't know what he was trying to tell me.
To me, saying "use paragraphs so people will read your post" is more like saying "I don't understand German" or "your mike's not on" than it's like pointing out that an apostrophe is used incorrectly.
Why do all the angry and sad people find writing in paragraphs so hard?
Someone said it was a well orchestrated plan to bleed Americans efficiency by reading minutia and wasting their lives away from searching for line beginnings and ends.
I find it insulting that someone expects you to waste a couple of hours trying to piece together a message with little if any thought or consideration for the reader. I have NEVER attempted to do so.
As you say, I would comfort a crying child before I edited his essay. But the mistakes in his essay aren't impeding my communication with him. As a contrast, I have a young nephew who is bilingual but tends to forget which of his relatives speak which language. If he came crying to me in German, I would remind him to use English with me, because if I didn't, I wouldn't know what he was trying to tell me.
To me, saying "use paragraphs so people will read your post" is more like saying "I don't understand German" or "your mike's not on" than it's like pointing out that than an apostrophe is used incorrectly.
Likewise, thank you for the thoughtful reply. Your post makes and excellent point (as well as your analogy). Yes, I have certainly skipped many a post for the large block text. I think I was just offended at the first few posts which I took as heart-less and condescending for they made no attempt to sympathize with the OP. I did not take them as you suggested ("I'm sorry, I couldn't understand your post very well"), so perhaps I misjudged the intent of the posters.
my dear there are alot of nurses out there like the ones you got to know in the ER... but.. there are many good caring nurses ,, to be honest i don't care about how your post was written.. paragraphs or not .. dosen't matter .... i am worried about you.. please go find another job where you can be happy .. work is hard enough but to feel as if you are alone on the job with no help or support .. you are new to this job ,, please know you have a friend in me.. and i hope you get out of that job and find your niche.. you are a pt advocate and we need more nurses like you.. give yourself a hug for me and never mind what others say about writing your post... you need to be able to vent ...
you should not have to go to work and cry before you enter the building.. if you my daughter ( i have 4 ) i would give you a big hug and tell you take your talents elsewhere... hugs to you...
Why do all the angry and sad people find writing in paragraphs so hard?
Why would you say something like that ( and all the people who gave kudos)? She allready feels inadequate,so yeah go ahed and make her feel worse.I hate to say that, but you will have one of "those" too, and may turn for support and just to vent on here - and you will not like to see comments like yours under your post.
I really do feel though that you are going to run into similar problems in most places if you do not learn how to stand up for yourself. How are you going to be able to stand up to a doctor on behalf of your patient if you can't even stand up for yourself? You can do it!!!!!
When I started in the ED 6 years ago I was treated the same way. Of course there were also wonderful/supportive people that worked there too. I focused on them and my patients.
You have recieved a lot of great advise from the above posters. You can either look for a different job, or hold on to this one with the intention of learning everything you can.
The turnover in an ER like you mention is frequent. As new staff comes in be the first one to welcome them and help them. Before you know it most of the beotches will have moved on and you will be working in a much better environment. I know because this is what I did.
Stop trying to over prove yourself. That is a losing battle esp in your first year. I don't know how many patients you are expected to have at one time. But don't sign up for even 1 more than you have to. Focus on learning all you can and don't overextend yourself.
My first 2 years in the ER were really bad, but now I have seen it turn around completely and love my job.
I hope you will too soon.
By the way there is a great book by Pat Benner called "Novice to Expert" You should check it out. It takes 5 years to become an expert in a specialy and as a first year nurse you are a novice/rookie. I am still learning every day after 6 years. But I am pretty comfy now for the most part.
staff note: paragraph spacing has been added to the original post. now, can we please get away from that topic (and any other tangents having to do with grammar and usage) and return to giving the op a bit of encouragement?
comments not related to the topic of the original post will be deleted.
I feel your pain. I worked in the ER for 3 1/2 years and experienced the same treatment as you. I would go home crying or be in a bad mood everyday (my poor family). I finally left the ER and went to work as a charge nurse for a large ambulatory clinic and it was the best move I ever made. I do miss the ER environment that is where I always wanted to work, but my sanity and family were more important. Hang in there, maybe it will get better for you. If it doesn't then just move on.I am sure you are a GREAT nurse and you will eventually find a place where you will be happy.
Its really sad how some individuals like to "ride" new employees. What kind of examples are they really trying to set? You are to be commended for keeping your poise in the work environment and focusing on the optimal care of your patients. There is only so much one can take in any situation. If you are able to move on, do it.
Specializes in pre-nursing student now (long ago CNA).
I've worked over 20 years in health care (not as a nurse, yet-going to school this fall) and I read your post and experienced your frustration!
Believe me, I've worked in a few hellish situations like this in health care and lost my own physical and emotional health over it. It is NOT worth it when you have so many other options open to you. Get out now.
This place is so layered with dysfunction that you will never be able to surmount it all. There is no shame in walking away from a horrible workplace. Grace of God you have a place that wants you to come back right now. Go.
If you still desire to do ER work then scope out something maybe prn at another facility. Maybe part-time at your old place eventually and part-time in another ER setting. Think outside the box and the process will unfold.
Meanwhile, leave that horrible place. I've worked enough to know that no matter how great a job you do or how wonderful an influence you might be on your patients/clients it is NOT worth your personal happiness to remain in an unhappy work situation. It will be hard, but you are choosing for something better, something you deserve! Good luck and God bless....
Oh, yeah, gotta add: the hateful, petty "beeches" that you have encountered are so much like the ones (nurses and other professions) that I encountered in health care: they are control freaks, hyper-critical, mean, and petty. Ooops! Did I just refer to some of the posters on this thread? Well, land's sakes! As a new member of this forum I am disappointed by the posts regarding the OPs paragraphing. I hate to have you caring for me in the hospital. If you are this hateful on a forum you must be a terror at work.
:twocents:!
HealthShepherd
183 Posts
Thanks for the thoughtful reply.
I actually don't think grammar and spelling ARE that important (on a discussion forum, I mean; on an essay or job application they become very important) because they are rarely an impediment to communication. I used a grammatical colloquialism and an acronym, and you made a punctuation error, but none of these things will make people give up on reading our posts, and I very much doubt anybody will feel moved to correct us.
Paragraphing is different, because the lack of paragraphing does interfere with communication. I did read this post, because the number of comments made convinced me that it was worth it. But there have been many, many times that I've seen a block of text like that and hit the back button, and I know I'm not alone in this. Writing in small fonts, textspeak, or light colours are other habits that actually interfere with communication and make a post less likely to be "heard".
As for my example of someone making a speech with the mike turned off: I added the "emotionally laden" bit to suggest that the speaker could be emotional and the listeners might feel it insensitive to interrupt. Sorry if that was ambiguous.
As you say, I would comfort a crying child before I edited his essay. But the mistakes in his essay aren't impeding my communication with him. As a contrast, I have a young nephew who is bilingual but tends to forget which of his relatives speak which language. If he came crying to me in German, I would remind him to use English with me, because if I didn't, I wouldn't know what he was trying to tell me.
To me, saying "use paragraphs so people will read your post" is more like saying "I don't understand German" or "your mike's not on" than it's like pointing out that an apostrophe is used incorrectly.