1. Dumb Residents. Yes... they do exist with their idiotic order sets.
2. Management saying " Staffing will get better- we are working on it"
3.The PCNA who charts nurse notified re: crazy vitals and they never said a word, so when you check vitals half an hour later, you see a BP of 190/110.
- same PCNA who wont do a manual check.
- same who tells the POD #1 pt " 99.1 temp? oh you have an infection.we have to tell the DR"
4. Family members who come running to the front desk screaming "i need my moms nurse...she was supposed to have gingerale. its been 10 minutes. this is unacceptable"
5. HCAPS!
6.Other departments that won't lift a finger, and spend 5 minutes hunting down the nurse for something idiotic like a blanket...
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
While I may not necessarily always agree with the method in which a disagreement is posted, I think there is value in offering perspective. I suspect that the individual in question was offering her version of "perspective" when she posted about the tenure of the OP and the complaints therein. I agree that it came across a bit shrill, harsh and even just fatigued but also have found that individual to be full of wisdom on other occasions. As a new grad myself, it rang with truth in that I need to guard myself against getting too upset about random things at work, mainly due to the fact that I am only getting started, and if I am getting weary already now I am going to be in a world of hurt not far into this journey. The message can get lost in the mechanism of delivery, no doubt about it. Nobody has to accept the method of delivery if it is distasteful to them. Everyone has the right to reject any given advice or viewpoint. But there can be value too in looking past the delivery and seeing just the message.
To be clear I don't know the person who posted second, I can only speak about the post on this thread. I learned nothing from it and think there were some other opinions expressed on that same note...or should I say what was learned was not what was intended.
I am bit long in the tooth myself, and am a nursing student, but with 15+ years in healthcare. There are a lot of assumptions made with very little information in my opinion all over this board. New nurse doesn't mean born yesterday either. Most of what the OP needs to learn is life experience in terms of priortizing and dealing with personalities in my opinion and I agree this usually comes with age. I personally believe that being older with more experience puts the responsiblity on me to reply and behave as to set an example, at work or anywhere else. Being snide doesn't speak of class or education, but then education and experience doesn't lend to class. Just food for thought.
As far as the second posters other posts...again, I don't know anything about those and think they have very little relevance here unless of course the OP's intent was to discuss those and I don't think it was.
I'm almost at the 2yr marker as a RN and I'm still learning every day I walk in. I still wonder why I delegate to staff to do things like vs and weights only to find they are not normal and not passed onto me! It's so frustrating that I finally delegate, then go back and specifically ask what the vs or weights are, then retake if it's off or sounds like it wasn't actually done. 5 months is the mark I recall realizing I had little knowledge of what I was doing, lol.
I went from hey this is easy peasy to Oh sh** I did I do that paper work correctly, to presently being jolted awake at noc remembering I forgot to do such and such and then realizing it's not a biggie and I did manage to do the important stuff.
I also found out that new residents can be a huge pain. Nope, I can't assess a new pt for you because I'm a rn. You actually need to come up, do your own assessment, write at least one order and a note in the chart..... I can tell you what my assessment is, but it won't actually cover policy for new admits. Turn off the football, hockey, baseball game and get your butt up here! I'm still learning the politics. Staffing is always short so that is norm for me. Not falling for the mngmnt line of 'we're working on it'. The only ones I see hired are more mngmnt and that only makes for more paperwork for me. Still, lovin my job for the most part though.
It would appear that you, too, are making judgements about other posters. If this person is so disagreeable to you, perhaps it is time to add them to your ignore list? And now, could we return to the OP's topic?
OP, your complaints are quite valid; however, I believe that "hate" can be too strong of a word. Unfortunately, you will continue to come across disagreeable patients and other situations throughout your career as a nurse. I hope that in addition to coming here to vent, you are also getting involved in ways to improve things where you work, whether it's becoming an active member of your union if you have one, joining committees, etc.
Sorry OP for me and others hijacking the thread. I truly know how you feel and feel it is okay to vent.
OAN: I didn't know AN, has an ignore list, thank you poet for bring this to my attention.
HCAPS=Press Ganey- Basically, if you don't give your patients EXACTLY what they want, they will write negative reviews on their survey and the hospital wont get reimbursed (Medicare/medicaid)
To all the posters who GOT the point, yes, nursing is a rude awakening, and i just needed to let it out. I have good days and bad days just like the rest, its just some repetitive frustrations i've been having!
The other thing about the aides/techs--you will get used to which ones you have to keep and eye on (and immeditely check the VS they just did). Some tech will come up to you with every little VS: "Mrs. Smith has a BP of 102/50!" That can get a bit annoying, but it is way better than the alternative (i.e. not being told of a VS way out "normal."
There's so much I hate about nursing. It's funny because 1 year ago I would have said I love nursing and it's the best career and decision I ever made. Funny how things change.
I have grown tired of management mainly, the degrading aspects of being a nurse, the general doormat feeling I get daily, the no breaks, no time to pee and holding it in for 4 hours, the mean patients, the fellow nurses who don't help you when you're struggling. Sigh. I really need a vacation.
1. Some residents are terrible, others are not. some are REALLY great looking and the best part of my shift is when I see them, seriously, one of the few things I look forward to at work is seeing the few hot residents there are.... vain I know.
2. Sometimes it gets better, mostly it is just a line to shut the staff up
3. I go by the theory that most of the aides are terrible. I know what time vitals are gotten so i constantly ask them as much as I can what they are, if i have time, i get them myself, i do not care if it annoys them. I would go to managment every time you are not appropriately notified of off vitals. This is a big problem on our floor. Some also need to be told they are not the nurse or dr and telling families, " we will tell the dr about your infection due to a 99.2 temp" is only creating potential problems for everyone
4. Very annoying but part of the job. graham crackers are your emergency now act like it! not the one time an aide actually took vitals on time and told you that bp is 80/40, hr 122, temp 103.4 resp 29. 88% on 4L. esp if you have text paging and are at the desk waiting for a phone call from the dr. You should be getting those graham crackers! NOW.not sitting at the desk while grandmother is wating 4 MINUTES FOR CRACKERS AND GINGER ALE!!!!!!
5. press grainey is awesome and reading the nursing comments are very entertaining. scenario 4 will get you a good paragraph or two.
6. another annoying thing you have to learn to completely accept or ignore as it will NEVER change. ugh
The main reason I think it could be relevant is that to have a long laundry list of "hates" about your career so early into it is not a good sign in terms of long term fulfillment.I'm one of those nurses who doesn't have to work, but chooses to. There are good days, bad days, and REALLY bad days, but for the most part, I have very few "hates." Then again, I've never claimed to be a sane human being.
Good point. I've noticed that long- term nurses are less bothered by these things. Perhaps frustration with the the norms of nursing early in one's career is simply a hurdle that we all must get over. At least I hope it is.
HCAPS=Press Ganey- Basically, if you don't give your patients EXACTLY what they want, they will write negative reviews on their survey and the hospital wont get reimbursed (Medicare/medicaid)
To all the posters who GOT the point, yes, nursing is a rude awakening, and i just needed to let it out. I have good days and bad days just like the rest, its just some repetitive frustrations i've been having!
Some important clarification on post-discharge surveys ...
HCAHPS surveys are sent by the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid) division of the federal Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS) to Medicare recipients. Medicare is the federal program which provides health insurance coverage to those aged 65 and over and those with certain chronic disabilities. The actual survey is here: http://www.hcahpsonline.org/Files/Appendix D - CAHPS Hospital Survey (English).pdf
A portion of a hospital's eventual reimbursement for services provided to a Medicare patient is tied to aggregate survey results.
Press Ganey is a private consulting company which has developed various surveys and other managerial tools used by the health care industry. Though there are other companies which are players in this market, Press Ganey is the largest, currently contracted by half of US hospitals to conduct post-discharge surveys/data collection. Each hospital/health care facility individualizes their survey somewhat, though there are some commonalities in questions which attempt to relate the patient's experience to Joint Commission standards. Press Ganey's website: http://www.pressganey.com/aboutUs.aspx
A patient aged 65 or older could very well receive both surveys post-discharge. Response rates to surveys vary tremendously among different patient populations.
When nurses hear positive or negative feedback via surveys, it's important to have an understanding of the source of the feedback.
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Nurse SMS, MSN, RN
6,843 Posts
While I may not necessarily always agree with the method in which a disagreement is posted, I think there is value in offering perspective. I suspect that the individual in question was offering her version of "perspective" when she posted about the tenure of the OP and the complaints therein. I agree that it came across a bit shrill, harsh and even just fatigued but also have found that individual to be full of wisdom on other occasions. As a new grad myself, it rang with truth in that I need to guard myself against getting too upset about random things at work, mainly due to the fact that I am only getting started, and if I am getting weary already now I am going to be in a world of hurt not far into this journey. The message can get lost in the mechanism of delivery, no doubt about it. Nobody has to accept the method of delivery if it is distasteful to them. Everyone has the right to reject any given advice or viewpoint. But there can be value too in looking past the delivery and seeing just the message.
My .02, for all it is worth.