Was I Being Lazy?

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

For quick background: I was not a new nurse, but new to an LTAC and still on orientation.

I had just given a medication to one patient and was coming out of their room when I heard a respiratory alarm go off on my other patient next door. I went to check on them since they were trach to vent and to my relief, they were not in distress. My preceptor and an aide were cleaning them up and had accidentally pulled off the patient's pulse ox. This happened pretty much all day every day on the unit since we had so many patients trached and total care, but everyone took it in turns to make sure it wasn't a true decannulation/low sat/vent disconnection and so on. I usually jumped in if people were cleaning someone on their own, but this time I figured I would be more hindrance than help with a third person in the mix and went to continue passing medications.

Later on my preceptor was very serious and said we need to talk. She dressed me down and said that it was not just the aide's job to clean a patient, but mine as well. I did not think I had any trouble taking the time for that and felt very confused and lazy. I left that job very discouraged and I still go over that incident in my head, wondering if I just didn't do enough. I would welcome feedback from others to see if I need to improve somewhere.

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I wasn’t there, but it sounds like you did just fine. The only thing I’d suggest to avoid the appearance of not being a “team player” is to ask them if they need any help, supplies, etc. Don’t sweat it. Sounds like a simple misunderstanding. Your preceptor may just want to make sure you aren’t one of those nurses who don’t help.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
11 minutes ago, beekee said:

I wasn’t there, but it sounds like you did just fine. The only thing I’d suggest to avoid the appearance of not being a “team player” is to ask them if they need any help, supplies, etc. Don’t sweat it. Sounds like a simple misunderstanding. Your preceptor may just want to make sure you aren’t one of those nurses who don’t help.

^ Beautiful^

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46 minutes ago, ShadowNurse said:

Later on my preceptor was very serious and said we need to talk. She dressed me down and said that it was not just the aide's job to clean a patient, but mine as well.

What a "mean person." Clearly the aide went and informed her, not you, of the need - or else the preceptor happened upon the aide working alone after not asking either one of you for help. Too bad your preceptor didn't commend you for taking an active role in investigating all alarms ASAP.

Forget it. Some people never feel good about themselves unless they create little fake scenarios in which they attempt to make others feel lesser and make themselves feel better.

PS - There is a little bit of a problem though: Your self-esteem/confidence. You quit a job because of a minor incident created by a [....]. And now you are still perseverating on it.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Sounds completely unjustified, but when you are new to a workplace, make every effort to be seen as a team player.

Others are evaluating you and some look for fault.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
4 hours ago, JKL33 said:

What a "mean person." Clearly the aide went and informed her, not you, of the need - or else the preceptor happened upon the aide working alone after not asking either one of you for help. Too bad your preceptor didn't commend you for taking an active role in investigating all alarms ASAP.

Forget it. Some people never feel good about themselves unless they create little fake scenarios in which they attempt to make others feel lesser and make themselves feel better.

PS - There is a little bit of a problem though: Your self-esteem/confidence. You quit a job because of a minor incident created by a [....]. And now you are still perseverating on it.

Oh, just to clarify: I did not leave due to this incident. But you're right, my confidence could definitely use some work. That has been some consistent feedback in my nursing jobs. My work is good, but I am easily discouraged by others.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

None of us were working with you to know if you are lazy or not. You don't say why you left that job. Was there other such incidents? If it was just this one incident I would not consider you to be lazy. This happens all the time when nurses are forced to make patients wait, or not assist the CNA, because of other more pressing nursing duties. Either way I agree with others that you need to be a team player, or at least perceived as one. It is a balancing act between performing nursing duties as needed and also helping your coworkers.

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14 hours ago, ShadowNurse said:

For quick background: I was not a new nurse, but new to an LTAC and still on orientation.

I had just given a medication to one patient and was coming out of their room when I heard a respiratory alarm go off on my other patient next door. I went to check on them since they were trach to vent and to my relief, they were not in distress. My preceptor and an aide were cleaning them up and had accidentally pulled off the patient's pulse ox. This happened pretty much all day every day on the unit since we had so many patients trached and total care, but everyone took it in turns to make sure it wasn't a true decannulation/low sat/vent disconnection and so on. I usually jumped in if people were cleaning someone on their own, but this time I figured I would be more hindrance than help with a third person in the mix and went to continue passing medications.

Later on my preceptor was very serious and said we need to talk. She dressed me down and said that it was not just the aide's job to clean a patient, but mine as well. I did not think I had any trouble taking the time for that and felt very confused and lazy. I left that job very discouraged and I still go over that incident in my head, wondering if I just didn't do enough. I would welcome feedback from others to see if I need to improve somewhere.

Did you explain what actually happened to your preceptor the way you explained to us?

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
On 2/27/2019 at 8:17 PM, Kooky Korky said:

Did you explain what actually happened to your preceptor the way you explained to us?

I was so caught off-guard in the moment that I didn't say anything except that I would do better.

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