I'm done. Like, I just honestly don't care anymore about my job. It's really sad because I've only been working as a nurse for 8 months and at this point I'm so burnt out on my job it's scary.
Last night I received a critical lab value on a pt. in the waiting room--HgB of 5. Pt. is dizzy, tachy, very symptomatic. I tell charge RN who says to bring back a stable pt. instead of her. I advocate for pt. It's my job. I reassess pt. Talk to MD, see if other beds are open. Charge finds out that I am doing this and yells at me in lobby in front of pts and staff.
I state I wouldn't change what I'm doing because I'm advocating for pt. And that's my job, period.
He comes back 10 minutes later to yell more and change assignments because he finds me annoying in this one, always advocating for pts to be moved to main ER (pts. who need chest tubes, have airways swelling shut, etc).
Is this normal? I stood up for myself both times, wrote up incident report, talked to manager of department, but I have no desire to go back to this place and be demeaned again for doing what I feel is my job. If I was wrong about pt. to bring back--fine--but tell me in private, don't yell in public. I'm new, I'm learning. I get that.
When I tell my charge that we have a symptomatic bleed she has to clear an acute bed for them. While that is happening, she can also move other puts to beds, such as a nonacute pt on the fast track side.
i don't know if that's what was happening or if she was being a jerk to you, but either way I hope you didn't send the ot back out to the waiting room!
Patients really need nurses who step up to advocate for them. Some nurses don't seem to understand they are supposed to be doing this, or are unwilling to do this, to the patients' detriment.
I agree with your assessment, and with your advocating for the patient as you did.
Patients really need nurses who step up to advocate for them. Some nurses don't seem to understand they are supposed to be doing this, or are unwilling to do this, to the patients' detriment.
I agree with your assessment, and with your advocating for the patient as you did.
I totally agree with the advocating piece.
Unfortunately, a new graduate has to be careful about how and when they advocate in a "strong" way because that can be interpreted in a negative way. Potentially setting one up as a target for write ups and easy termination.
So while advocating is an absolute must it is important to do it in a way that does not compromise the job especially as a new graduate. Getting a job in the area after a reputation of "being difficult" or such can be very difficult and if you face loan payments or other responsibilities it will be less of a solace to know that you advocated beautifully.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
There is a right way and wrong way to approach people.
Both of you were wrong. You have to tread carefully as a new nurse. You were right in your assessment, wrong in the approach. He was ABSOLUTELY WRONG to yell at you in public.
I applaud you in your efforts on behalf of your patient. You were a great advocate.
Specializes in Oncology, Rehab, Public Health, Med Surg.
What a sticky situation.
I can see deferring to charge. But if that pt went bad, you would be held resp for not getting them elsewhere " reasonable prudent" and all of that.
I can understand your frustration.
However, it is really poor form to write up your charge and bound to escalate tension. I hope you are able to work thru this without too much more frustration
Nursing is full of no win situations. If the OPS patient has a bad outcome, because of not being seen in a timely manner, it's not just the charge nurse whose judgement is called into question. Somebody's going to ask why somebody didn't advocate for the patient.
The OP is at the bottom of the food chain, and we all know what happens to those at the bottom.
I wish I could "like" this 1000 times. It's so true. We're doomed if we do. Doomed if we don't. That's what's so burnt me out with nursing. Well WELL said.
Did you present the rest of the lab results, vital signs , LOC, O2 . The charge nurse has a greater scope and maybe another patient was more critical at that time. a M.I. , gunshot , . There is total picture that the charge nurse has to make choices with the information.
Here is my nickel. I'm very sorry you feel burnt out. It is a sad fact that nurses destroy each other all too often.
Before you pack it in, hang in there for a year, learn what you can, get some good references, and then leave. I am on my 4th hospital and love where I work now. I work both ER and ICU. I would also look into moving to a Union state. You are less likely to get abused because your union would be there to advocate for you. Nothing is ever perfect but having support helps.
A HCT of 5 is immediately life threatening. If that was me, I would do the following. I would document the HCT and that I reported it to both Charge and the ER Attending for that Zone. Protect your license. If that failed, I would call the House Sup. Never fear losing your job for doing what you feel is right. Imagine that moment when you lose a patient because nobody else cared.
In my ER, I can implement orders such as Type and Screen, IV, fluids, etc..
If people here disagree with my position, please don't flame me. Opinions will vary. This is mine.
This is a great profession that is needed and has value.
Yep...some charge nurses and supervisors are annoyed as hell when dealing with a subordinate who continually refuses to defer to the charge nurse's expertise and, instead, skips the chain of command.
Nonetheless, there's a pertinent saying that applies to the OP: "Praise in public and criticize in private." The charge nurse was flagrantly unprofessional for hollering at someone publicly, IMHO.
There's always 2 sides to the story. I'm wondering how OP addressed the charge nurse? Most (sane) people don't just holler back at a little ole suggestion here or there. There's another pertinent saying: treat others how you want to be treated. I probably wouldn't yell back at an insubordinate who's mouthing off at me, but I'd be pretty tempted...
NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN
1,066 Posts
When I tell my charge that we have a symptomatic bleed she has to clear an acute bed for them. While that is happening, she can also move other puts to beds, such as a nonacute pt on the fast track side.
i don't know if that's what was happening or if she was being a jerk to you, but either way I hope you didn't send the ot back out to the waiting room!