I'm new to the ER. I've had experience in other specialties.. but have been on a slightly prolonged orientation since my transition to the ER has taken longer than I anticipated (as the manager put it, "I"m greener than we thought.. but that's ok!). I have this co-worker that keeps getting on my case.. asking me how much longer I'll be on orientation.. why I'm not off yet, etc. It seems so trivial, but it's bothersome to meet somebody negative when you just start your job.
Anyway, this particular co-worker was charge one day. I was one of the floats and had a serious patient that I was trying to send off to the unit (the nurses on the other side were pushing off taking report for this patient for as long as possible). I guess my charge nurse thought he wasn't as serious and expected me to help other patients.. and went off on me for staying with that patient for too long. So, in the end.. she pulled me from the float position and put me with another nurse for the rest of the day. To boot, the floor nurses are annoyed because I'm persisting about giving report... my charge is annoyed because I'm not helping other patients... it's like a lose-lose.
I don't know if she's going to go to the manager about all this... it doesn't seem serious.. but she seems like the kind of person that's never going to get off my case, period. She's also very clique-y. I hate to admit this, but it bothers me that she could turn the other nurses against me. I don't know if she's like this with all the new people. Has anybody had similar experiences? If so, what are some good ways to handle people behaving like this? She's making an otherwise incredible job seem burdening.
Even if there are two sides to a story, this story is the OP's to tell and she has a right to vent. There are numerous threads about inexperienced nurses that have a negative tone just as there are threads about experienced nurses.
Specializes in Emergency Room, Cardiology, Medicine.
I leave the post for a couple days and it goes.. a little haywire.
I don't wish to bring down management or complain about older nurses.. so nobody needs to get upset or feel like they need to defend one group or another. But I also can't control how my posts make others feel. I ask questions to learn from the experiences of others (right? that's why the board is here?).. not to rally troops against experienced nurses who teach through negativity and fear. Although, in a perfect world, maybe somebody should.
Thank you for those offering your support. I'll take what you said with me when I have to confront this (or any other) unpleasant co-worker in the future.
Specializes in Emergency Room, Cardiology, Medicine.
And oh lordy. I got a week longer than anticipated. A prolonged orientation sounds more like a crime on this post than what it actually is... the identification that one needs more help and actually comes forward and SAYS it without shame.
How sad. I didn't think I really needed to drive that point home.
And oh lordy. I got a week longer than anticipated. A prolonged orientation sounds more like a crime on this post than what it actually is... the identification that one needs more help and actually comes forward and SAYS it without shame.
How sad. I didn't think I really needed to drive that point home.
a week isn't that much, that's only 3 extra 12 hour shifts of trying to absorb some information and learn before you're out there (hopefully not totally) alone. I think when you feel comfortable that is up to you - and you should have support at work for that (and here!)
It's a scary place and once you're off of orientation, that's when the learning truly begins. Then you'll have your own style and take what you learned and incorporate that into your own practice.
Those who want you to move faster or get off of orienation faster are just looking for help (and maybe coverage for a break, or worse yet, to go out to smoke when you don't get a chance to eat or pee!) - try to ignore their nastiness and be proud you stood up for getting a little more time on orientation.
My first day off of orientation and I was "given" 5 chest pains in a ROW (I had 5 beds in my assigned track) despite other beds being opened in other nurses' tracks... ... very odd how other nurses like to test the new one.... hang in there!!!!!!!
I fully support new grads, or anyone new to a specialty area, for that matter. I do think new grads need extra TLC. I have 15 yrs of ER experience, and am still asked to float there- which I am happy to do. The first year is the hardest- for any new grad. Certain areas- like OR & ER- attract stronger personalities and that can be difficult for the newbie. I found the cliques to be worse in the small hospital I started at, whereas the large metropolitan Level I Trauma Center I'm at now is like a big family- w/ample opportunities for learning & preceptors w/the TIME & desire to teach- my first year in a small rural hospital I was assigned to a harried nurse w/only 3 yrs of experience herself- hard to teach a new grad when you have to take your own full assignment! I say hang in there, give it at least a year. (However, calling someone names such as 'petrified old cow', etc.) sounds hostile and your original point is lost). I have found most nurses are willing to share knowledge. Good Luck!
When we get someone new in, I feel like it's our job to help train the person. Even if you had years of floor experience, it's not the ER, we do most everything differently than anywhere else in the hospital. I can't imagine the terrible nurse I would be if taken out of the ER and put elsewhere cause I don't know anything about that kind of nursing. Find someone you like, ask them to help you and they probably will. As others have said, the nurse who is making you nuts has her own issues and they are not yours. Try not to take what she says personally, try as hard as you can, that's all anyone can ask of you.
smk1, LPN
2,195 Posts
Even if there are two sides to a story, this story is the OP's to tell and she has a right to vent. There are numerous threads about inexperienced nurses that have a negative tone just as there are threads about experienced nurses.