Why do I get yelled at for doing the correct thing??

Published

Ok so I'm a new grad two weeks into training. I administer a lot of BP meds so I also do a lot of manual BP checks,every time I'm trying to take a blood pressure the correct way like they taught us in school (feel the radial pulse first then inflate the cuff,wait 30 seconds and then go 30mmHg more of what was the radial pulse cut off number) I get yelled at by my preceptor and then she questioned me if I also listen to the pulse with the stethoscope? Duh,of course I do,you kidding me,just because I want to get the feeling of the radial pulse doesnt mean I dont know the rest of the steps on how to measure blood pressure,then another time she asked my why am asculating the breath sounds in eight places (that the max I should asculate would be 4) Ok but this is what I was taught in nursing school,and I'm sure that a good reason behind this rationale,then she said that it takes me too long to assess the lungs (hello I'm new I'm not an expert in crackles,wheezes,so I want to make sure that what I'm hearing is right,after all I will be charting on this patient)Also my preceptor told me I shouldnt be carrying a drug book with me and took it away from me. I dont know,I'm surprised I'm getting yelled for doing the right assesments!:crying2::crying2: I cant afford to take shortcuts,I dont have experience yet

Specializes in A and E, Medicine, Surgery.

Sounds like your doing just fine to me. Don't be pushed, it's far better to be too thorough than not thorough enough. Pop your drugs book right back in your pocket. I still csrry mine and until I know every dose, every drug and every side effect always will do.

Don't take it to heart, but don't be yelled at. I always say 2i'm really sorry but I can't hear you when you shout" and that seems to stop it.

Good luck and just keep up the good work :)

You shouldn't be asking us- we don't know the answers to that. You should be asking your preceptor- she's the one doing the yelling.( And may see something you don't or may just be her way...countless reasons)

Ask her in a calm, professional and non-heated way of course:)

Specializes in Critical Care, Patient Safety.

Don't take it to heart, but don't be yelled at. I always say "i'm really sorry but I can't hear you when you shout" and that seems to stop it.

I will have to try that!!! Good advice.

You're accountable for the information you chart so despite what she says do what you have to get accurate information. Don't mind her at the end of the day its your license thats on the line.

You're accountable for the information you chart so despite what she says do what you have to get accurate information. Don't mind her at the end of the day its your license thats on the line. You should explain to her what you're telling us too. You have to be assertive. I know easier done then said. But if you don't do it now, it'll be harder when you start. Best of luck to you. You seem like a great nurse.

Was she really yelling at you?

Yes, you should be thorough. Yes, you should look things up when you are uncertain. But the reality is, you also need to get faster. Those two things are not mutually exclusive.

And criticism does not necessarily equal yelling. Maybe your preceptor isn't the best communicator. But she's trying to teach you something....

Hang in there!

Ok so I'm a new grad two weeks into training. I administer a lot of BP meds so I also do a lot of manual BP checks,every time I'm trying to take a blood pressure the correct way like they taught us in school (feel the radial pulse first then inflate the cuff,wait 30 seconds and then go 30mmHg more of what was the radial pulse cut off number) I get yelled at by my preceptor and then she questioned me if I also listen to the pulse with the stethoscope? Duh,of course I do,you kidding me,just because I want to get the feeling of the radial pulse doesnt mean I dont know the rest of the steps on how to measure blood pressure,then another time she asked my why am asculating the breath sounds in eight places (that the max I should asculate would be 4) Ok but this is what I was taught in nursing school,and I'm sure that a good reason behind this rationale,then she said that it takes me too long to assess the lungs (hello I'm new I'm not an expert in crackles,wheezes,so I want to make sure that what I'm hearing is right,after all I will be charting on this patient)Also my preceptor told me I shouldnt be carrying a drug book with me and took it away from me. I dont know,I'm surprised I'm getting yelled for doing the right assesments!:crying2::crying2: I cant afford to take shortcuts,I dont have experience yet

dang, we were taught (in school) to palpate the brachial pulse, place steth over pulse and inflate 20-30mm higher.

they're teaching radial pulse now?

as for your preceptor, i too would have to ask, if she was literally yelling?

if so, yes, tell her you can't hear anything when yelling.

if she wasn't yelling, merely smile and tell her you'll consider her criticisms when you get more comfortable.

and thank her.;)

leslie

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I work OB so whenever I get a strange drug I look it up. (we don't get too many that are not part of our "ordinary meds" which is a short list). I actually got complimented by a nurse for looking up unfamiliar drugs. I use to work in a doctors office and was really into my pharm class so I recognize quite a few drugs, but without working med/surg I can not possibly remember how every drug interacts, and I don't think a good med/surg nurse could remember every drug either. I think it was rude of her to just take your drug book away. You were just being safe.

Specializes in Army Medic.

Sounds like she's testing how much you'll put up with before you crack.

Confront her about it - you and her need to come to a different understanding on corrective behavior or you're going to end up hating each other.

When we learned blood pressure, they showed us the version where you check the radial pulse and then we were checked out doing BP without checking the radial pulse first. My sense was not that the two step method is the "correct" way, but just that it's another way to do it.

+ Add a Comment