Every time I log on here see such a thread. Well let me see. My hospital has recently decided to hire only new grads or people who were new grads and worked in nursing homes etc. I have been amazed at the attitudes. Some signed contracts and got sent to an area that's apparently low rent. Med/Surg is not sexy enough apparently. Just this months some of the fun the "nasty nurses" have to fix. The heparin drip that gets shut off because the patient wanted a shower. The nurse who called the doc several times overnight for a patient with a low bp, bolused fluids and gave 40 mg of lisinopril at 6am "because its was ordered". The patient with an NG tube clamped, who spent 12 hours pucking and it didn't occur to them the hook him up to suction. The trach pt gurgling, in distress, because the nurse didn't know she was supposed to suction him and then criticized the day nurse for her technique in suctioning. Holding IV antibiotics because the pt was NPO, but continuing the PEG tube feed, so surgery was delayed and I had to explain to the surgeon. OK we all had to learn but really? We have the new grads coming up stating they don't have time and you have to start their IV, pass their meds, you have to do it. Meanwhile holding their lunch they had time to go get on the other side of the hospital at 11am and leaving at 7.30pm while your there till 9.30. It's a if they are still students and the other nurses are their assistants. You go to help and never get so much as a thank you. Just complaints if you so much as try and point out what they need to do to take care of the patients. The word Entitled comes to kind. Not all of them we have some new grads that are willing to learn, grateful for the information. And then this this whole new breed. Is it me? I remember my new nurse days, the crusty nurses who were hard on me but to whom I owe so much. I became a much better nurse because of it. Yes it was hard at the time, but I would never have behaved the way I am seeing now. Generational thing no doubt. But as the as one who is cleaning up the mess, enough. This job is hard enough.
I'm sure this will be followed by a rash of "Every nurse younger or less experienced than me is spoiled, incompetent, and entitled."
Why do so many people get so defensive when other people complain about being mistreated at work?
In the case of the NETY threads, it is because experience has showed us that the vast majority of new-ish nurses who cry NETY have skewed perceptions of their situations. They are overwhelmed by the admittedly overwhelming experience of being a new nurse, and use NETY as a defense mechanism.
And these same nurses, with the fullness of time, eventually become the COBs who come to hate NETY as much as anyone. It's like a beautiful circle of life.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
The only behaviour that you have control over is your own. Other people are responsible for their actions, there's really no need for you to feel embarrassed on their behalf.
Actually, the situations described by the OP make us all look like idiots. I've worked in places where I was second-guessed constantly. Those same work places didn't have qualms about hiring substandard nurses, so the second-guessing was logical fallout.
I've mentioned this in a previous post, but I once overheard a nursing instructor tell a student "You set your own learning goals." Seems like the situations mentioned by the OP involved nurses who had to "set their own learning goals" without much help from their schools. Hospitals compound the problem by loading up on the cheap labour. When the lawsuits cost more than experienced nurses, maybe they'll finally get it.
And these same nurses, with the fullness of time, eventually become the COBs who come to hate NETY as much as anyone. It's like a beautiful circle of life.
I'm not young and in a couple of months I've been a nurse for eight years. The "NETY" threads don't bother me now and I very much doubt that they'll start annoying me ten or twenty years from now. SO WHAT if some posters misunderstand the behaviour of nurses they work with? How does that affect/concern me? I'm secure in the knowledge that I treat all my co-workers, new as well as old, in a respectful way.
I think that some of the posts written by those who complain about "NETY" might be overwhelmed by their new profession/responsibilities and might be overreacting and misinterpreting behaviours, while others have legitimate grievances with unsupportive and even hostile co-workers. I see no reason to get all hot and bothered by these posts.
Actually, the situations described by the OP make us all look like idiots. I've worked in places where I was second-guessed constantly.
(quote from TriciaJ)
I respectfully disagree. Other peoples' actions can't and don't make me look like an idiot. I'm the only one who can manage that feat
If someone looks at the behaviour of one or a few nurses, physicians, airline pilots, mechanics, Prime Ministers, teachers or lawyers and decides that these few specific individuals define the quality, skills and intergrity of each and every person belonging to that particular group, then that's on them. Personally, I don't think that's a very informed conclusion to draw.
I am only a lowly pre-nursing student but I've been in the workforce for almost 20 years and I have to say this is something I see more and more of everywhere: young people with little to no experience who are lazy, entitled, and will do ANYTHING to get out of pulling their weight.
This is not all young people, of course. Some are hard workers. But I remember being young and new to the workforce and feeling I had to prove myself, feeling a sense of pride that would not allow me to be lazy or shirk my duties. I see less and less of that in young people. There seems to be no shame about getting out of doing their jobs; they almost take pride in it.
I've been in the same admin position for 6 years in live music so I see a lot of young people trying hard to prove themselves and others who feel like we owe them cookies and hugs just for showing up. I took a second job in retail last year when my husband got laid off and I couldn't believe the lack of work ethic and professionalism. I worked at several stores in the district, too, and it wasn't just mine.
The upside to this is I got offered a FT supervisory position within 3 months. :-)
I fully expect when I start a new job to have to humble myself, work my ass off, keep my mouth shut unless it's to ask questions, do the grunt work, and prove myself. Respect is earned.
I don't expect new hires to know everything, but I do expect them to be respectful, work hard, and prove themselves. I would imagine that goes double for a job like nursing where mistakes can have grave repercussions.
My preceptor who taught me more about critical thinking than any nursing school ever did, said "sit down, shut up, and watch. I'm going to ask you questions, and your not going to know the answers. It's not because your not smart, or your school sucked. It's because you don't even know what you don't know. If you stick with it and think your way through the next few weeks, you might be ok"
NETY! NETY! I'm being bullied! My preceptor told me to just sit down and shut up and doesn't respect all the wonderful knowledge I have. I don't know what I don't know? Excuse me? I have a BSN! Don't confuse me with those ADN grads! I've been taught how to be a leader!
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
Every time I log on here see such a thread. Well let me see. My hospital has recently decided to hire only new grads or people who were new grads and worked in nursing homes etc. I have been amazed at the attitudes. Some signed contracts and got sent to an area that's apparently low rent. Med/Surg is not sexy enough apparently. Just this months some of the fun the "nasty nurses" have to fix. The heparin drip that gets shut off because the patient wanted a shower. The nurse who called the doc several times overnight for a patient with a low bp, bolused fluids and gave 40 mg of lisinopril at 6am "because its was ordered". The patient with an NG tube clamped, who spent 12 hours pucking and it didn't occur to them the hook him up to suction. The trach pt gurgling, in distress, because the nurse didn't know she was supposed to suction him and then criticized the day nurse for her technique in suctioning. Holding IV antibiotics because the pt was NPO, but continuing the PEG tube feed, so surgery was delayed and I had to explain to the surgeon. Ok we all had to learn but really? We have the new grads coming up stating they don't have time and you have to start their IV, pass their meds, you have to do it. Meanwhile holding their lunch they had time to go get on the other side of the hospital at 11am and leaving at 7.30pm while your there till 9.30. It's a if they are still students and the other nurses are their assistants. You go to help and never get so much as a thank you. Just complaints if you so much as try and point out what they need to do to take care of the patients. The word Entitled comes to kind. Not all of them we have some new grads that are willing to learn, grateful for the information. And then this this whole new breed. Is it me? I remember my new nurse days, the crusty nurses who were hard on me but to whom I owe so much. I became a much better nurse because of it. Yes it was hard at the time, but I would never have behaved the way I am seeing now. Generational thing no doubt. But as the as one who is cleaning up the mess, enough. This job is hard enough.
Dealing with the same thing now. The younger nurses who are pg, call in sick all the time for various aches, pains and nausea. They KNOW they are leaving the floor short staffed and with no coverage available. Many say it's not "their problem." When they do show up but have the sniffles, they let everyone know that we should be THANKFUL they have graced us with their presence. They don't realize that other nurses are working with aches, pains or heavy family problems, but never say a word.
The attitude of not wanting to work holidays, weekends or nights is ridiculous. I hear whining all.the.time. I had one millennium call and tell me she was going to be six hours late into her shift due to a conflicting MD appt.
Thankfully our grads are a bit more savvy than yours because they are placed through a pretty rigorous new grad program. I just get really tired of the attitudes.
I am a new nurse (7 months). I do not feel either entitled, over confident, or like I should be spoiled. I get to work early every day, I take care my patients. If I am having some down time and another nurse's patient calls, I am happy to answer the call if that nurse is busy. I don't leave until my charting is done. I work extra shifts if called, and I believe that it is better to ask a dumb question than to make a dumb mistake. I admit to my mistakes if I make them and try to learn from them.
I am grateful for everything that the seasoned nurses have taught me (and that is a lot!) and I don't forget to express my gratitude. As a result, I am treated with respect and can honestly say that I have never experienced NETY.
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
I am a new nurse (7 months). I do not feel either entitled, over confident, or like I should be spoiled. I get to work early every day, I take care my patients. If I am having some down time and another nurse's patient calls, I am happy to answer the call if that nurse is busy. I don't leave until my charting is done. I work extra shifts if called, and I believe that it is better to ask a dumb question than to make a dumb mistake. I admit to my mistakes if I make them and try to learn from them.
I am grateful for everything that the seasoned nurses have taught me (and that is a lot!) and I don't forget to express my gratitude. As a result, I am treated with respect and can honestly say that I have never experienced NETY.
LOL Maybe not. I think that the way to keep from being "eaten" is to make yourself inedible. I figure the more I do to become valuable, the less anyone is going to want me gone. Works so far!!!
I'm not young and in a couple of months I've been a nurse for eight years. The "NETY" threads don't bother me now and I very much doubt that they'll start annoying me ten or twenty years from now. SO WHAT if some posters misunderstand the behaviour of nurses they work with? How does that affect/concern me? I'm secure in the knowledge that I treat all my co-workers, new as well as old, in a respectful way.
I think that some of the posts written by those who complain about "NETY" might be overwhelmed by their new profession/responsibilities and might be overreacting and misinterpreting behaviours, while others have legitimate grievances with unsupportive and even hostile co-workers. I see no reason to get all hot and bothered by these posts.
(quote from TriciaJ)
I respectfully disagree. Other peoples' actions can't and don't make me look like an idiot. I'm the only one who can manage that feat
If someone looks at the behaviour of one or a few nurses, physicians, airline pilots, mechanics, Prime Ministers, teachers or lawyers and decides that these few specific individuals define the quality, skills and intergrity of each and every person belonging to that particular group, then that's on them. Personally, I don't think that's a very informed conclusion to draw.
Tell that to a priest that is always suspected of being a pedophile. Or try being a young middle eastern man and boarding a plane these days. It is not on the person suspicious of them when THEY are the one being discriminated against. It's easy to say that and it sounds great but that simply isn't the truth. An entire group can/will/has been judged by the actions of a few be it a profession, vocation, or even a race. To think bad nurses don't lower the perception of nurses as a whole is naive'
BrandonLPN, LPN
3,358 Posts
In the case of the NETY threads, it is because experience has showed us that the vast majority of new-ish nurses who cry NETY have skewed perceptions of their situations. They are overwhelmed by the admittedly overwhelming experience of being a new nurse, and use NETY as a defense mechanism.
And these same nurses, with the fullness of time, eventually become the COBs who come to hate NETY as much as anyone. It's like a beautiful circle of life.