Support Stickie for New nurses who are not coping

PeaceonearthRN · Jan 31, 2009

This is great advise as long as the administration and/or staff do not feel you are 'new' and just have to suck it up!:)

sparketteinok · Feb 2, 2009

Thank you so much for this thread!! It is nice to know there are actually supportive nurses out there! I really don't know of any I've worked with that didn't have their own agenda, were rude or hateful, were sucking up or undermining, the list goes on and on. Even the one RN friend I thought I had seems to lately be going through menopause or midlife crisis or something, because she's terrible to me lately. I am going into my 7th month on days on a tele/med surg/step down unit, and every day I want to quit. I am really trying hard to have a good attitude, but there is so much negative there. I know it won't always be roses, but it seems like everyone is out to see someone go down. I'm just trying really hard not to be that someone. Will it ever get better?

guislander · Feb 2, 2009

I too an overwhelmed most of the time. I work a busy telemetry unit, which can't seem to stay fully staffed. We seem to be always short someone, which gives us up to 9 pts at times. Then if they can get another nurse halfway through, they shuffle pts so I give up 3 and get 3 or give up 3 and get 2. So I end up having to chart on 11 or 12 instead of 9. I'd usually just like to keep 9 then shuffle pts halfway through.

I had a strange thing happen last week. It was just doing shift change and the day nurse I was replacing, was an experienced nurse, but floating from another floor. I had a pt suddenly start complaining of chest pain. So I followed protocol (gave nitro, got an EKG and called Dr to get cardiac markers and a cardiac consult). When the pt reported relief after 3 nitros, and the EKG was normal. I went back to the nurse's station and the day nurse said, "I'm glad you were here. I wouldn't have know what to do." Chest pains freak me out, so I was shocked she would say that. I didn't know what to think. I guess it's not just us newbies that are lost when out of our element.

I know I won't stay on this unit, maybe even at this hospital past one year (which is in Aug.) I just hope I can stand to make it that long.

PeaceonearthRN · Feb 2, 2009

Wow, must the the telemetry units all over!

First, I could post horror story after horror story about nurses who LOVE to report people - especially if they are new or better yet on night shift! Although I work another shift, I have worked nights. It seems as if there is this 'wave' of , 'how much can we find wrong, how much can we report, and how can we shine in spite of someone else's misgivings. It discusts the heck out of me! I find mistakes all the time. I do not have time to report people or make them feel crappy because they 'left something unfinished', 'forgot to document something etc. I fix it and move on. The area of telemetry seems to draw very good nurses; many are supportive , helpful and do not operate this way. As the saying goes, it only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch. Tell me to my face once; do not let me catch you blabbing it all over the place or let me find you getting your fingers busy typing up an incident report. If no one died, get over it and fix the problem!

ok, im done!

sparketteinok · Feb 3, 2009

Amen, sister!!! (peaceonearthRN)....I am SOOOOO sick of hearing all the time-"well, that'll be written up", "boy am I gonna report her", "where do I find the incident page"....etc..etc....

HOW on earth do these people find time to write other people up??!! Yes, people should be reprimanded for wrongdoings and such, but there's a BIG difference between not noting an order and failing to notify doc, med error, etc.... And yes, PLEASE just take me aside and tell me hey- you screwed up- THIS is what you should have done....DON"T talk behind my back to the boss or to everyone else....I thought this is a teaching hospital???...speaking of which, I'm sure I've screwed up, but so far no one has told me or written me up...

Geez, I do good just to keep my head above water....I don't have time to write other people up, or spend all my time sucking up to drs and charges, or sticking my nose in everyone's business (btw, HOW does any nurse, knowing what all we do, have time to be so nosy??)....I'm too worried about what I might've forgotten and trying to double check myself....

sorry to have gotten on the soap box....

PeaceonearthRN · Feb 3, 2009

I do think reprimand might be a strong word; however, in the world 'learning' we might say, that is a skill that you need to know about!

Truly, with or without experience in a specific field, ALL NURSES, make mistakes. Increase the acuity and you will find things wrong.. especially if you deem your job to be looking!

Ciale · Feb 3, 2009

This post reaffirms everything I thought about how my first year(s) of nursing will be. This doesn't really relate to the topic, but I didn't want to start a new thread--can anyone tell me what the shifts will be like as a new grad nurse? I heard you guys only work the night shifts, is that so?

Galore · Feb 3, 2009

It is not a rule but in general new grads do tend to mainly get offered night shift positions. Partly because we have no seniority (there's a list of about 30 people waiting to get on days at my unit) and partly because it's thought that night shift is easier for new grads to start out on (less doctors around hence less orders and such). I oriented on days for 2 months then switched to nights and I much prefer nights!

sparketteinok · Feb 9, 2009

caroline: I lucked out and got a day job right out of school. I do think they're out there; it just depends on where you are. I was also told that my high grades were a factor and that I was recommended. However, that dang sure didn't keep me from feeling all these things and more! Days are rough. I'm sure nights are too; I really don't know, I only came in at 0300 twice for overtime, and both those times were really great. Just from what I hear, though, the other new ones I started with that went to nights say they wouldn't work days for anything- too stressful. I can tell you this: on days, it is always YOUR fault. No matter who did or didn't do it, you get the blame and the chewing for it. And they are ALL your patients. Meaning, there are more bosses on days, so that if they find something wrong with a patient, you can't say, "that's not my patient". I have to have days for my kids, though. I'm divorced.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Feb 9, 2009

I too am a new grad, graduated in May, got my license in June, and started work on a cardiac intermediate care unit. I feel so overwhelmed, like I'm always messing something up. It's so hard dealing with the jerk doctors and techs who give you attitude. Giving report is a nightmare to me sometimes, the night shift nurses can make me feel like a complete idiot. I dread going to work, can't sleep the night before my first day back because I dread what kind of patients I will get... and what else I might screw up... I want to just skip this new unexperienced nurse part and fast forward to the experienced nurse part! Don't get me wrong, I love being a nurse, love taking care of patients, but the stress can be so overwhelming! Thank goodness for 4 days off!

BeachyRN,

It's been a while since you posted this and I'm wonderig how you are doing?

Your post reminds me of my first 6 months as a nurse. Clearly the most painful 6 months of my life. Just as I thought I might have survived a shift, the night shift would come by and tear me to shreads during "report". I might as well have been burned at the stake. About 3 pm I would start working on report to minimize the damage!

Lol.

Things get better, they do. Good luck and I hope you're doing well...

well a doc got pretty upset with me because i called him in the middle of the night for an order.

I could care less about waking up a Dr in the middle of the night. He's the Dr, it's his pt and too bad. That's the job he picked.

Don't ever feel bad about advocating for your pts. Oh, and BTW you did do the right thing. Make sure you document the situation well. I am very comfortable with our Dr and I don't write orders in thier name just to save them from waking up!

Mahage, LPN · Feb 9, 2009

I had a really rough night. I have figured out that after a year on the floor I am really good as long as my patients don't become critically ill but when they do, I freak out. I don't always prioritize right and have made some pretty bad mistakes. Some things seem to go wrong when ever possible at the very worst time, Well I know a lot now that I did not know before. I know the guy was very sick and I know the equipment malfunctioned and i know that at least one of my co-workers was an angel and the others sucked!

I just wanted to scream during this whole process but I was too busy assisting and praying. My pt made it so far, but who knows what the outcome will be?

Mahage

sparketteinok · Feb 10, 2009

Thank God this is a support stickie, because, well, some of the other "new grad" postings have NOT been so supportive.....