The Nerve!!!

lisadavis · Mar 20, 2002

way too much time spent on something stupid. how do we all get bogged down this way? why do we let ourselves?

eldernurse · Mar 20, 2002

Seems to me JMP really likes Mario but is going about the wrong way of showing it. Mario, I appreciate your attempt to lighten up the conversation, however, this is a serious problem in nursing. I am an old, tender-hearted nurse who has been bruised many times by my fellow nurses.

When will nurses realize that we are all in this together? Night shift, day shift. Who cares? We all have a job to do and not many of us slack off. We get frustrated with the nasty comments that more could have been done. Unless you worked that shift today, shut up, start from here and carry on.

I am fortunate enough to work in a big city ER now where teamwork is essential. Biting each other is out. Our manager will not permit it. I am happy as a BSN clam and I will give 110% every time I go to work. It is hard to find a place with no bitter nurses. We have our share, but they realize that getting rid of the new people just makes it harder on them.

And I wouldn't EVER touch that damn linen cart. How dare that nurse leave a trap for the other shift. That should be a write-up offense.

micro, RN · Mar 20, 2002

hey elder nurse,

boy do i hear you?????????

you are right, managers shouldn't even allow it on the floor.........

but as a nurse and in reality.......sometimes you just have to choose your battlefield................

i just jumped ships recently(after months of searching and thinking it over) and changed units within same org.........

cause on previous unit...........the overall morale was so poor and it took way too much out of me to fight it everyday.........

new unit.........teamwork, positive nurses and people..........yes, there is a little of this and that......but that is everywhere and not just in nursing.............but 99.9%nurses, unit sec's, aides, housekeepers, managers, educators, everyone is on the same page and the same team.........................

makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE

YES, 24/7...............you are so right.......just continue from where the last shift finished.........we are open 24/7........let them finish so you are not on shift 24/7

just micro microin in

eltrip · Mar 20, 2002

Eldernurse, you are SO right about all of us being in this together! Tearing into one another is one of the largest problems I've seen in my years as an RN. Bottom line, we're all people, & it's vital that we treat one another with the respect that we would want to receive, whether it's on this board, on the job, or at the grocery store.

IMHO, the negativity I've witnessed as a nurse is no different from what I witnessed/endured in any of my pre-nursing jobs. If someone thinks that he/she can get away with harassing a new employee, grad, fellow student, etc., that person will do it. It's a power thing, pure & simple.

I don't have many opportunities to log in & contribute to the message board as I'm working full time, a mom, involved in the community, etc., but this topic and the ensuing discussion (including the diatribes by & about JMP & Mario) have stuck a chord with me...felt the need to speak my piece.

Joy

eldernurse · Mar 20, 2002

to Eltrip,

I hope you get more time to contribute. I am a full timer but my youngest is now 27 (Hurrah). I should be cleaning my house. (understanding husband). I have worked in many situations and I have found that nursing tolerates bad behaviour more than any other job I have encountered. (The JMP and Mario thing have me hooked, too).

Micro,

I, too, have recently jumped ship from one unit to another. I worked on a VERY busy telemetry unit. The manager never held anyone accountable for their work. She held the nurses responsible for everything. If you had a problem with a co-worker, she wanted no parts of it. Everyone began jumpin ship about 4 years ago. I stayed, hoping to make it a better place to work. (fat chance with no manager support). Then, when she resigned, I knew it was time.

I had been hearing good rumors about our ED. It is a frontier I had been interested in for a while. The manager was a human being, not an administrative hatchet man clone. One of my old co-workers from Med Surg days was down there and confirmed it for me. I went down to shadow one day and knew I could kick -$$ down there with my varied background. 6 weeks ago I made the switch. NO REGRETS HERE. It may be the really first time in nursing that the docs work with you instead of against you. I am lovin' the ER.

JMP · Mar 20, 2002

You have to see so much of this to believe it.

Setting the Record Straight:

1. Yes, I graduated in 2001, but I am over 40 and many years in health care before I became a RN.

2. Mario, well, is Mario. I agree with Susy's interpetration of events. I am pointing out to him, perhaps in too harsh of a way, that many things you need experience in. Even nursing school itself does not prepare you for the wonderful, strange world of nursing. I notice Mario, that despite it all, you are still here, stating your views, and well, that goes in your favor. As for everyone else's ranting about it, I think both Mario and MYSELF can stand up for ourselves........right MARIO???

3. The flash point of the whole thing was the deal with the cart, which, appears to be a lightening rod some many of us can relate to. In this discussion it is the cart- but it could be so many things, right????? It is the power struggle that exsists in the health care world. I think EVERYONE who has worked in health care has experienced some experience like this one.

ratchit · Mar 20, 2002

I, too hate the shift wars that happen everywhere. Days thinks nights does nothing, nights thinks days treats them as babysitters, not "REAL" nurses.... Argh.

I agree that the cart stunt was childish. But I disagree with putting a note on it or ignoring it. To me, it sounds like there is a much bigger problem in this unit. Ignoring the cart issue will ignore his childish "I caught you!" behavior, but it won't fix the bigger problem.

I would talk to the night nurse directly- I bet you hear about lots of perceived slights that have been going on for months. To that night nurse, this linen cart might have been the proverbial last straw.

Jay Levan · Mar 20, 2002

Of course, we have all been confrontational with one another, at some point(s) in our careers. I was trying to convey two points, one was that the original thread, in my opinion, was also related to ego issues, but I also believe that this particular Poster was attempting to vent their anger, and seeking support for her view of this obvious issue. Point two was related to how (in my opinion) Mario let his replies deteriorate to his own egocentric area(This picture of me vs. that picture of me etc.) In my opinion only, I feel he strayed from the original thread. I do not mean to criticise, only making an observation as to how I read his responses. I have a deep respect for all my brethren and I applaud our efforts to help one another here. After 28 yrs. in our profession, I have learned to be much more tolerant of others views, even if they are diametrically opposed to mine. I also wait to respond to any thread until I have thought out my opinion on a particular subject. I would say that this choice, for me, works well. I am able to express my views without attacking anothers opinion. I also know that I am far from perfect, and make mistakes as well. I only hope that I am treated with the same respect I seek from others. If you read my post Mario, please be assured that my previous reply, was not an effort to disrespect you in any way. To JMP, one can never be sure what another is thinking, when they respond, but we all can usually see anger when it is expressed. Again this is my opinion only, not to be construed as criticism. I appologise if my post offended you in any way. By the way, I really like your "quote" and live by it daily, even though I know I have failed at times.