VENT... beware- not a happy post

Nurses General Nursing

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:cry: I feel like I've had enough. I'm done trying to pretend that I "don't mind" the unbelievable stress I feel every day from being an RN. I work in ICU and although I can truly say I am interested and challenged at work daily, I can't handle the level of stress I'm going through.

First of all, IT'S TOO MUCH. Period. It is unbelievable to me how people can last 20+ years in this profession. At any given moment, there are tons of things you either need to do now, soon, or you're already behind on. Honestly, if I ever lose my 'cheat sheet' at work, I would be lost...

I can't take the demanding families. I can't take how they plop down on the recliner chair (some of them RECLINED) in the way of your pump that you're titrating pressors for their family member and act ANNOYED when you ask them to move... nicely.. for the 10th time. We are supposed to be promoting family interaction but yet we have to work AROUND them??? It seems the more you give, the more they TAKE!

And what the hell is with some of these doctors? They walk in and stand there, in the middle of the unit, and say, "I'm looking for bed 5's chart." With this empty stare on their face. And my stomach turns when other 'older' nurses JUMP UP and go searching for that chart like they're in some treasure hunt with a $1,000 prize! This sickens me!

How about when I'm using a computer, trying to get my 0700 assessment in (at 1400) ... there are 2 other computers AVAILABLE right next to the one I'm using----- I look up to see my pt with her feet over the siderails ... for the 100th time... I get up to make sure she doesn't kill herself and PLOP.... there goes that darn doctor, and there he goes CLOSING out my unsaved assessment like he is teaching me a lesson. Makes me want to either scream or go cry my eyes out.

And what happened to the word PLEASE? Like the intensivist who all day walks over to you and says "YOU NEED to do x, y, z..." It starts to get old.

I was transferring my 400 lb pt for the SECOND time into a bariatric bed (the first one was the wrong one I guess... thats my luck).... and we were trying to pull him over and the intensivist walks in. I go "Oh Dr. So and So, good you're just in time to help us pull" and she looks at me and LAUGHS in my face and proceeds to stand there and WATCH us all break our backs. Starts to get to you.

I honestly can't take the whole "shift change attack" or guilt trip, or judgment time or whatever you want to call it. I try MY HARDEST at work and may I say, I am pretty darn good at my job. I consistenly get more work done than other people would with my same assignments because I truly feel I am very efficient. That is why when people come in and NITPICK about stupid S**T I didn't do... or things I didn't do to their 'standards,' It GETS OLD and I'm starting to not be able to handle it anymore. These RNs just dont care. They want patients handed to them on a silver platter, I guess. The whole "nursing is a 24 hour job" is nice to talk about on allnurses.com and in conversation, but when it comes down to it, there are some nurses who act like, "HOW DARE YOU" if you didn't get something done, REGARDLESS of how combative your pt was in their horrible DTs and how you were chasing their blood pressure ALL DAY LONG without food or water for yourself. I TRY to 'not let it bother me' but I CANT! IT HURTS MY FEELINGS. I dont know what to do anymore. I'm sick of feeling like crying when I give report to some people because they feel they can do that to me. I have tried to tell them to stop, I've tried redirecting it but it doesn't work.

On top of this, I'm overwhelmed with the constant phone calls, the constant NOISE, the constant need to urinate, eat or drink and being unable to...

People coughing in my face... pts who suddenly think we should do everything for them just because they're in the hospital (the ones who really CAN do things for themself),

Not having enough PCTs even though the hospital can give out stupid gifts that no one can even use.... PUT SOME OF THAT MONEY TO A COUPLE EXTRA PCTs for gosh sakes! UGH!

Oh!! And I'm starting to freak out that I'm throwing PVCs all day long! Anxiety anyone?!?!!?

**SIGH**

Ok... honestly in a wierd way, I feel better. I know that my post is all over the place. It simply reflects my state of mind right now. I hope someone can understand. :bluecry1:

Specializes in ICU.
I honestly can't take the whole "shift change attack" or guilt trip, or judgment time or whatever you want to call it. I try MY HARDEST at work and may I say, I am pretty darn good at my job. I consistenly get more work done than other people would with my same assignments because I truly feel I am very efficient. That is why when people come in and NITPICK about stupid S**T I didn't do... or things I didn't do to their 'standards,' It GETS OLD and I'm starting to not be able to handle it anymore. These RNs just dont care. They want patients handed to them on a silver platter, I guess. The whole "nursing is a 24 hour job" is nice to talk about on allnurses.com and in conversation, but when it comes down to it, there are some nurses who act like, "HOW DARE YOU" if you didn't get something done, REGARDLESS of how combative your pt was in their horrible DTs and how you were chasing their blood pressure ALL DAY LONG without food or water for yourself. I TRY to 'not let it bother me' but I CANT! IT HURTS MY FEELINGS. I dont know what to do anymore. I'm sick of feeling like crying when I give report to some people because they feel they can do that to me. I have tried to tell them to stop, I've tried redirecting it but it doesn't work.

This really gets to me too. And the infuriating thing is that it is usually those who see themselves as educators and volunteer to be preceptors that are nastiest. The sentence that gets to me the most is "get in here and look at this," after I've given report and am just about to walk out the door. Okay, look oh wise one, A) I told you about that in report and the Dr. is aware; B) I don't do things exactly like you and honestly, I think my way is much better; C) Things do happen between 7:00 and 7:30 and I'm not lying that when I did my last check on the patient at 6:45, the patient was sleeping and the NGT was still up her nose. I hate it when they imply that I have been neglecting my patient all night when I've cleaned up stool and changed linens five times, changed dressings multiple times, and restocked the room with all the supplies they will need that day. And seriously, we are very forgiving of day shift when they have an insane day. Why do they not extend us newbies on night shift the same courtesy? When we have 2 codes and 4 admissions in one night, where two or three of us end up tripled, some things just don't get done. I take darn good care of my patients and to try to make me feel like I failed them is just dastardly.

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Ugh, the work of a nurse has got to be the MOST stressful and physical job on this planet. I mean -- just LOOK at the day of this nurse, and all others. I'm only 7-8 months into nursing and I can totally relate to all of it, only we're on a med surg floor so we have the family crap x 4-6.

And "recliners" in the ICU? I can't even believe that. I'd speak up to a manger about it -- it's just not the place for it. I can't believe they're even allowed in the rooms. I hate them in our rooms, also -- we have actually had family members giving parties for the sick member in their rooms -- yet the pt's BP is in the toilet and we've got to step over 10 of them to re-asses. We actually threw the party members all out of the room at that point.

The thing that gets me most of all is the doc laughing about having to chip in and move the 400 lb patient. I think I would have given the most MAJOR eye roll to him he's ever seen.

I think what every nurse could do is start by assuming that the nurse that's handing off the patient to us has worked her butt off. No, she may not have gotten to everything, but it's for a reason. If we could all start by making this one change - life could be one inch better for all of us. I always try to take handoff with a forgiving attitude myself, unless it appears like it's total neglect.

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Specializes in NICU, Peds, Med-Surg.

((((Hugs))))). I totally empathize with your entire post----I CRIED the other day at work when a doctor tattled on me----I could NOT believe she went to my charge nurse to tell her I might have a "time management problem":angryfire

Anyhoo, although I totally related to everything you said, the one thing I HAVE to comment on was how the fam acts annoyed when you need to get to the IV and/or other equipment...OMG!!! I also had a fam member accuse basically say it was OUR fault their Mom needed 2 units of blood...........riiiiiiight----WE caused her low h and h! :banghead:

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Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

Hiya Sue...I feel for you because I know exactly what you're talking about. everything you have typed in I experience too and it's just so frustrating.

Hugs to you.

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You need to do things like this: Don't tell the doctor she's just in time to help. Tell her, "Sue, grab his leg." Order her to do it and she just might. Tell the doctor - "Use that computer over there. I am working on this one." If necessary, tell him you are charting for the first time all day and that he will destroy your time-consuming work if he touches/closes that computer. And always save your stuff as you go, anyway.

Take the recliner out of the room if need be. Try talking from the heart to the family member who acts put out by you needing to care for her loved one. Frankly and honestly say that you need free access to the patient if you are going to keep him alive. Let them know that you don't have the time or the desire to climb over them or to keep asking them to move and say, honestly, that you don't understand why they seem upset that you need to get to the patient.

Speak up nicely and honestly and from the heart.

Learn not to care about nurses who are critical of you, as long as you have done your best.

Demand your breaks and do take time, make yourself take time, for water, toilet, and food. You are your own worst enemy if you don't take care of yourself. I know it's hard but you are not required to sacrifice your health or sanity for your patients.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

you sound pretty crispy. studies done years ago showed that new rns who went immediately into the icu tended to burn out far faster than new rns who started on the floors. but it's too late for that; you're burned out. take some time off, switch shifts, change jobs or something before you get so burned out you can't care for yourself. and in the future, take better care of yourself.

if you need the intensivist to help move a patient, direct them. "sue, please grab is leg and watch out for the foley" usually gets good results. as does "i know this isn't in your job description, but we really need your help." only once have i ever had a physician say no, and another physician immediately straightened him out.

if the family is in your way, ask them to move. if they don't move fast enough, explain the situation. if they still don't move when you need to get to the patient, ask them to leave. allow them back in later and try again. there will still be some families who won't let you get to the patient -- but security is usually happy to escort them out until a more appropriate time for their visit.

are your co-workers bugging you at shift change because you have a habit of leaving stuff for them that you could have done yourself? if so, make a habit of not leaving stuff for them. if not, then ask them politely to lay off.

i hope things get better for you.

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Specializes in ICU, CCU, Trauma, neuro, Geriatrics.

Sue,

I know exactly what you are talking about. Some units are just dysfunctional. Finding solutions to the problems is tough. One ICU I worked in had 2 light duty RNs who were 'liasons' for families. They went to doctors morning sign-out so they knew the patients and what the docs were intending to do with them. They got a quick report from each nurse sometime during our am assessments and then they did all the talking to the families, hooking them up with the docs for meetings, finding the social worker, showing them where the radiology waiting room was etc. Boy did that make things run smooth.

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Specializes in orthopaedics.

yeah nursing can suck. once in a great while we are reminded why we chose the profession.

hugs to you!

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Sue, LOVED your vent!! Thanks--you said so much that i feel.:up:

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Specializes in ICU.
Sue,

I know exactly what you are talking about. Some units are just dysfunctional. Finding solutions to the problems is tough. One ICU I worked in had 2 light duty RNs who were 'liasons' for families. They went to doctors morning sign-out so they knew the patients and what the docs were intending to do with them. They got a quick report from each nurse sometime during our am assessments and then they did all the talking to the families, hooking them up with the docs for meetings, finding the social worker, showing them where the radiology waiting room was etc. Boy did that make things run smooth.

Wow! That is the unit of my dreams. I need to find a new hospital. :)

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Specializes in Med Surg, Endo, Nuc Med, Home Health.

I have two words for you,,,,,Home Health:igtsyt:

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Specializes in ICU of all kinds, CVICU, Cath Lab, ER..

You must have been my twin last night. I had the same thing happen; and in all my career, I have never had both patients go downhill at the same time and I hate to say this, but some of my co-workers were great (pitched in and saved my bacon) while others played their damn music and ignored call lights, tele alarms and several shouts for HELP!

I would like to state for the record that my charge helped with all the paperwork and it's a good thing she did!

For the first time ever, both families were helpful (oh boy I will be paying karma for that!).

I read a lot of the replies and decided NOt to say anything like having an additional degree will make things easier (hmmmmm, bedside nursing is either something you want to do or something you don't want to do and I am unsure of the degree of help another degree in nursing will ease that burden). No disrespect meant.

I try to keep a sense of humor (ha ha the patient just tried to pull out the NG tube that it took 2 calls to California to the patient's mom to convince him to allow me to place for contrast, meds, etc.).....I delayed telling his mom that I literally threw myself across the bed to keep him from pulling it and I am afraid I had to use all my wrestling skills to convince him that he needed it just a little bit LONGER!! Got it in on the first shot with the most minimal discomfort (proud of that!!)... got him CT'd and consulted for his GI bleed that took him to a hemoglobin of 3 !!!! Those RBC's flapped in the wind on the way to CT! Bag after bag!!

Tubed the other patient immediately after patient one finally settled down.

Still feel terrible about the ethics of tubing a patient who continually said NO VENTILATOR but whose family members selfishly overrode every one of his death with dignity desires.

This website is great for venting - feel free to vent - I know you will find what you really need to do - God bless !

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