What would you do?

[HappyJaxRN]

I know this depends on who you are, what you want out of nursing....BUT....This has really affected my life.

I'm working as a Transplant RN in a hospital with a big reputation. On a floor that has a reputation....for being BAD to their nurses, especially the new ones. And I'm one of the new ones.

I have never worked in an environment that was so viscious in my entire life. These other nurses with more experience are ruthless. Yet, they will sit there after tearing you apart in front of everyone, 'well, you're new, no one expects you to know everything.'

My own preceptor has gone behind my back and said some mean things about me. The team leaders (2 of them) are horrible. One of them is so bad that she causes many people to leave and what does the upper level of management have to say about this? Their answer "oh, we know about her. She's been like this for years. No one wants to do anything. After you leave, others will come and say the same thing and again, no one will do anything."

And I'm working where?

The work is so hard. The patients are so sick. 98% of the transplant (liver/kidney/pancreas) patients come back to our floor directly from the OR, so we have to play the part of the unit nurse as well. Our nurse to pt ratio is low, which makes it nice, but we are just as busy. Liver patients are BUSY! Usually in their room every 30 minutes!

Last bit: The team leaders and more experienced nurses will pick fights, back stab, ridicule, and reprimand you in front of *G* and everyone.

I simply walk away from everyone and I keep to myself. Tragic. BUt if I get involved, it effects my patient care. I've forgotten an important med before when I got involved in the politics because I was so flustered. I said, 'no more,' but now I hate going into work.

I have a job offer at another hospital doing something I think I would enjoy but I'll be making less money....and may not have to deal with as much politics (from what I hear, but who knows)....would you do it? What would you do in this situation? Is ALL of nursing like this? My skin is getting thicker...

[loveyourbody]

Are you kidding me? Unless they're paying you 2 million dollars a year--why even consider putting up with this? So not worth it!!!

[kadokin, ASN, RN]

No, all of nursing is not like this. I work on a unit with a bunch of absolutely terrific women. We watch each others' backs, we jump in to help, we support each other. Don't stay a minute longer where the work environment is hostile, and be sure to write a professional letter to your DON and/or Human Resources explaining why. It costs $50,000 to replace a nurse (not including salary); it is going to hurt them. Management is responsible for making the work environment a decent place.

Altalorraine

AMEN to that! I really wanted to say something about the supposedly "catty" nature of women in general, but I have seen male nursing staff act the same way. Could it be the stress level that makes some of us act so ugly? HMMM?? OP-don't forget the lessons you have learned on this dysfunctional unit and do what you can as an individual to make things more positive in the place where you live.

Never forget:

-Nursing is a privilege

-No matter how bad it gets, your pt's probably have it a lot worse...Concentrate on them instead of the ugly staff politics

-Bloom where you are planted. The almighty put you there for a reason. So saying, get out if your sanity/professionalism is compromised

-Best of luck to you and yours!

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Big sigh! It is so depressing to hear some of the situations you first years are having. I have been in nursing for 30 years now. My start was as bad if not worse than what you are experiencing. I had to leave my first job out of nursing school because I was lied to by the Director of Nursing about the salary. It was a substantial amount and I felt she had deliberately mislead me and another one of my fellow students just to get us to move to her town and work for the hospital (this was not a nursing home, it was an acute hospital). My next job was in a nursing home where I was subjected to very similar behavior you are experiencing now. I stuck it out for about 7 months until I could take no more of the constant hounding. I went off and did some nursing in a much nicer and less stressful environment for the next 3 years, but I wasn't learning as much as I could have as a hospital nurse. So, in my first year out of nursing school I had 3 different jobs. I was so very worried about how that was going to look on my next resume. Now, I've been at it so long I don't have to report those work experiences on applications anymore.

I always try to treat new grads with respect and give them a lot of emotional support. Like one of the other posters, I am and have been in a supervisory position for some years now and I can take to task anyone I see or hear abusing a new grad. I don't know why this treatment of rookies is so prevalent.

I understand your frustration with your job. When I saw you were working on a transplant unit I'm thinking Wow! what a great place to be working. Bet you see a lot! I can't tell you if things will be any better if you go to a new place. You just never know. When I moved on to my second job I did have to take a lower pay than the first hospital was "going" to give me (remember they lied about it). If the people are treating you that horrid then I suppose it would be smart for anyone's sanity to move on. The comment from the team leaders that "she's been like this for years. . .no one wants to do anything. . .after you leave, others will come and say the same thing and again, no one will do anything", is pretty sad. Obviously, no one wants to step up and do anything about it. Does the manager of your unit know this is going on? Does the nurse recruiter know this? If they let something like this slide, shame on them. Have you thought about talking to the nurse recruiter about transferring to another unit? If it just seems too unbearable, then leave.

[onconurseRT]

Thank you for your remarks. I know that I put in sooo much at my work because I love being a nurse, but everyday I am there.... everything I have to give just is not good enough and that makes me really angry. There is no appreciation for the good us "new people or new grads" bring to nursing and I do not understand why that is happening? I have watched myself as well as my friends enthusiasm for nursing dwindle to nothing because of the constant reminders that we are "no bodies!". I don't think that many managers realize the extent of the emotional toll that some people take home with them because it is many times kept a secret.

I want to send out a message to that one nurse, the experienced nurse, the manager that said something nice to a new person, student or a new grad today, Thank-you so much. We know that we are not "all knowing" but we are people with feelings, we know that we are trying soooo hard. The occasional nice words or thoughts mean so much.

[loveyourbody]

dear onconurseRT, what is it like to work on your floor? why are you so unhappy? please keep in mind that there are many other options and even home health nursing--hint,hint.

[HappyJaxRN]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the replies. I gathered up the courage from the support here and applied myself to getting what I want from nursing. I applied at another hospital and applied to transfer off my unit to where I want to be, Oncology. I'm still waiting to hear from the other hospital. I had an interview for a position on the Oncology Unit at the hospital I'm already working at. The nurse manager from Oncology said I could transfer to their unit as soon as my current nurse manager approves the transfer. I can't believe it. I'm finally going to do what I want to do. I'm so excited. I get to stay at the hospital that I love, make the same pay, know the people and know where most everything is. Now, if I can just get the transfer approved. I'm so happy. I literally refer to my current unit as a heck (better name) hole. The abuse is horrible. I'm almost free.

Thank you for all your replies! You guys are awesome!

[HappyJaxRN]

Thank you for your remarks. I know that I put in sooo much at my work because I love being a nurse, but everyday I am there.... everything I have to give just is not good enough and that makes me really angry. There is no appreciation for the good us "new people or new grads" bring to nursing and I do not understand why that is happening? I have watched myself as well as my friends enthusiasm for nursing dwindle to nothing because of the constant reminders that we are "no bodies!". I don't think that many managers realize the extent of the emotional toll that some people take home with them because it is many times kept a secret.

I want to send out a message to that one nurse, the experienced nurse, the manager that said something nice to a new person, student or a new grad today, Thank-you so much. We know that we are not "all knowing" but we are people with feelings, we know that we are trying soooo hard. The occasional nice words or thoughts mean so much.

Hi. I agree with you. I feel like some of the more experienced nurses (I speak only for the ones on my unit that have been very nasty), don't realize or forget that the new grads/nurses don't have the same knowledge base or experience...and we do have feelings. My friends too have changed and I think part of it is a good thing, but when the change negatively effects your personality and how you feel about yourself, then the situation needs to be addressed.

[HappyJaxRN]

dear onconurseRT, what is it like to work on your floor? why are you so unhappy? please keep in mind that there are many other options and even home health nursing--hint,hint.

I totally agree. I took a bold step and went to my agency, re-listed with them and applied to transfer out of the unhappy situation I was in. It may not solve all my problems, but I think it will help a lot. Don't stay in a place that makes you unhappy. It's not fair to you. There are so many other things that we can do in nursing. Yeah, like home health nursing...hint, hint...

[oldiebutgoodie, RN]

Well, I'm certainly sorry for your experiences, but I'm glad that I'm not the only one who has had trouble with their first position. I just gave notice to the ICU I started at as a new grad, and I am going to another hospital. During my time at hospital #1, I had at least 10 preceptors, and every time I figured out what a preceptor wanted, I would get changed, and the new preceptor would pick at everything I did. My confidence has also been whittled down to nothing. The straw that broke the camel's back was the preceptor who told me I wasn't fast enough, didn't multitask, my status note "said nothing about what you did today", despite the fact that the preceptor the day before looked at a similar note and thought it was fine, etc etc. I am just worn out. I received an offer from hospital #2 last week, so I accepted it, and I sure hope it works out.

I have dropped 10 pounds, suffer from chronic heartburn, and can't sleep at night. It's not worth it. Hopefully, the new place is more receptive to new grads. The down side is going through orientation again, but maybe I will just have 2 or 3 preceptors, and not a cast of thousands.

I hope you and all other 1st year nurses well, and good luck!

Oldiebutgoodie

[onconurseRT]

I don't want to make the response long, but someone had asked what it is that is making things bad on my current unit.

I have been a nurse for 1 year, 8 months on a unit that I loved and now 4 months in hell in another hospital. My personality is that I have always been a giving type person with a large amount of Type A in the mix!.

I am energetic, smiling and I never take life for granted. I have wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl. I volunteer in the community and support national efforts like the Tour of Hope, Ride for the Roses, etc. I am not affraid to jump in and get my hands dirty and I LOVE TO LEARN STUFF.

NOW, the unit that I was hired for was a "medical oncology" unit however, it is actually a medical unit. I have had nurses say that I am "too energetic" and that my enthusiasm is "annoying". I am confident in what I do know and smart in that I know that I have a lot to learn and I am willing to learn.

There is no consistency AT ALL on the unit. Everyone does everything different which is a total nightmare when preceptors are involved. There are phrases used like "you're just a new person.... or you're just PRN... or you care too much...you're just a young thang' (I'm 30yo)". It feels as though I am "just trash."

I have never been affraid to ask questions, until now! NOW, I have been told to "ask a question, shut up and take the information that you are given." NOW, to take a break/lunch is out of the question. Everyday that I am there I do not get a chance to eat/drink or use the restroom. (BAD thing for me-- I am an athlete and I require many calories a day, I lose 2-3lbs per day at work and I am thin to begin with.) I am lucky in that my case load starts on day shift of 5 patients and then goes up from there, however, 99% of the care is RN primary care. I leave there feeling useless, fearfull for my license, with no confidence and just plain sad. I can barely drive my car home on the highway sometimes because of the tears and the emotional "release" that occurs when I get in the car. I feel as though I am holding my breath all day and when I get in the car after 10-16 hours it all comes out at once. This "picture" of tearful, fearful, not confident, feeling sad is just not the REAL ME. I never get this way at any other time, in any other aspect of my life.

So, what makes the unit bad?? I honestly do not know because I am literally blown away by the attitudes, lack of caring, lack of eveything!

I am open to all solutions....

Thanks

[HappyJaxRN]

I have never been affraid to ask questions, until now! NOW, I have been told to "ask a question, shut up and take the information that you are given." NOW, to take a break/lunch is out of the question. Everyday that I am there I do not get a chance to eat/drink or use the restroom. (BAD thing for me-- I am an athlete and I require many calories a day, I lose 2-3lbs per day at work and I am thin to begin with.) I am lucky in that my case load starts on day shift of 5 patients and then goes up from there, however, 99% of the care is RN primary care. I leave there feeling useless, fearfull for my license, with no confidence and just plain sad. I can barely drive my car home on the highway sometimes because of the tears and the emotional "release" that occurs when I get in the car. I feel as though I am holding my breath all day and when I get in the car after 10-16 hours it all comes out at once. This "picture" of tearful, fearful, not confident, feeling sad is just not the REAL ME. I never get this way at any other time, in any other aspect of my life.

So, what makes the unit bad?? I honestly do not know because I am literally blown away by the attitudes, lack of caring, lack of eveything!

I am open to all solutions....

Thanks

Wow....sounds like the unit I'm leaving. Why does it have to be this way? Have you talked to anyone on your unit? Like the nurse manager? Do you want to stay there? I finally had to leave. I feel so happy that I'm going to leave the people behind who have been tormenting me for the past year. It's not worth it. Think of the medical problems you are leading yourself to by trying to put up with this horrible stress (GI problems, hypertension...). Personally, I would get out. But I don't know what you want to do. Are there any people there that you can call your friend at work? I have 2 friends out of the bunch and one has already left and the other one is leaving. What does that tell you? Lol...now we're all leaving...me and my friends....ahhhh...breathing a sigh of relief. I don't think the grass is always greener on the other side. I know I'm going to come across the same kind of people no matter where I go, but it's gotta be just a little better somewhere else.

Sssssssssoooooo....If you want to stay, then talk to your nurse manager and see what you can do to work this out. If not, leave. Go where you're happy. Where you're happy, as you know, you'll thrive. Good luck.

[SaderNurse05, BSN, RN]

Definately check out your options and find something else. It sounds like you have learned a valuable lesson- namely, how miserable your life can be from other people's poor behaviour- not to mention the distraction from caring for your patients. I graduated in May, took a job on a tele floor where we have 6-7 pts on a 12 hour day shift. Since I started almost 20% of the nurses have left. I have accepted a position in public health. The kicker is NO ONE had exit interviews. It is ridiculous. I am suprised the bean counters do not want details about why they can't keep nurses at this hospital even though it pays more and offers bonuses. Bottom line is if you want to make lots of money be a pimp or sell drugs. Otherwise, if money is not your sole objective, find something that nourishes you instead of consumes you. Good luck!