Toxic Nurse

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When I was a nursing student my professor told me that 1 out of 10 nurses is a toxic nurse. It's a colloquail term that we used to describe nurses who are always busy in their shifts. 2 months since I started working as LTC nurse I guess I consider myself as a toxic nurse. No matter what shift it is, which unit I'm assigned I'm always busy and few residents get sick. For a week I might have send 2 residents in the emergency department because of various health complaints and in a day I normally call the doctor or on call nurse more than 5 times. The funny thing is when it's my day off the facility is peaceful and calm and nobody get sick. But when I come back to work all their diseases show up. I'm so frustrated I feel like I'm being cursed.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

I used to work with a nurse like that. In LTC and every time she worked it seemed like somebody died. We joked about it, but it really creeped her out after awhile.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I remember the first time I worked at my current LTC, I went through about six weeks where 9 of my residents died on my shift. Several were due to a nasty flu virus, one was a GI bleed, another was CHF, and there were a couple of others who were on hospice. Still, I felt like I'd become Nurse Kevorkian or something, and some of the aides were calling me the Angel of Death.....it was awful. :(

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Well, it could be that you're just more observant to changes in condition than the other nurses.

Or it could just be a coincident. I've noticed a lot of nurses are reluctant to accept the existence of coincidence. Like when you get the same glucoscan reading on five residents in a row. Or when three residents die on the same shift. Or the whole "full moon" thing. Most of the time it's no more than sheer coincidence.

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wow! that is weird. I dont really believe in curses, I think its just a coinsidence

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Specializes in Emergency.

Where I come from we would call you a Black Cloud, and you would be looked on with some pity, but more admiration. Black Clouds always get the best cases, and often know their stuff just a little better due to all the experience they get. Of course, along with that, they are generally very busy, and a little stressed.

Embrace the Black Cloud! Nicer than being called toxic... After all it is not like you are making people sick!

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a total burnout :/

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That IS awful. I wish your co-workers were more supportive.

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Specializes in ER Nursing, ER Psych.

I believe the category my last ER unit jokingly told me I was in, was "Sh*t Magnet." Pardon the implied swear word, but that always cracked me up and let me know they understood.

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That sounds silly to me but you never know. I don't know if you're a religious/spiritual person, but praying before your shift starts and asking for peace of mind might help you :)

Best of wishes and stay positive because the mind is one powerful thing

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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That sounds silly to me but you never know. I don't know if you're a religious/spiritual person, but praying before your shift starts and asking for peace of mind might help you :)

Best of wishes and stay positive because the mind is one powerful thing

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

You have the same thoughts with my husband. Everytime he drops me to work he keeps on saying please pray before you enter that door and it works. I'm less toxic now. hehe..

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Specializes in Home Health (PDN), Camp Nursing.

In ems we called them dark clouds. I worked with a medic named Jane who was one for her entire career. If a bus full of hemophiliacs was going to rollover, it was absolutely going to be on Jane's shift. As a nurse I have those weeks where I just cannot seem to have a good shift.

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