Why do some nurse's act like they have just ate some sour grapes?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a nursing student and have noticed that some of the nurses look like they just ate sour grapes. Do they really hate their jobs to the point they look sour or are they just that stressed out? :confused:

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

Nurses have many things to worry about all at once. They don't have time always to be thinking of the social needs of nursing students. They are thinking of lab values, code status, family dynamics, vital signs, heart rhythms, and pts circling the drain, all at once.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, ER.
Hmmm... maybe that nurse just had the chart she was looking at go missing for the fourth or fifth time that hour, not to be replaced in the proper spot, or there are no available chairs or computers at the nurse's station, and she just got report on her seventh patient - a fresh post-op that probably should have gone to the unit, and oh yes, the 1:1 for the patient who tried to commit suicide needs to use the bathroom and there is no one available to cover the break, none of the students on the floor are available to help out because their instructor told them to "be the nurse" and "delegate"... management is bringing the linen representative to the floor to inservice the nurses about how they should only be using one pad under the patient at a time AND no incontinence briefs, rectal bags or tubes, JCAHO is coming through so she can't get to your water bottle without going through two locked doors...

So I guess I mean to say is that there is a lot that goes on that undermines even the cheeriest of people, and while I enjoy having students when I get pulled to the floor (I usually work ICU, but I'm pool, so I float where ever I'm needed that day), some days just stink and I've snarled a few times when I couldn't find a chart to get an order because it was being used for research. I gave up my chair and chart quickly and willingly for the sweaty, harassed looking nurse who came looking - and I expect the same in return without judgement.

I've been feeling burned from all ends these days, and it seems like no matter what we nurses do, we can't please everyone. Either our "attitude" isn't cheery enough, or our patients are laying on too many pads, or whatever.

So I guess my mouth can now resume the pucker from that bunch of sour grapes I just ate...:lol2:

Blee

And, too, there ARE nurses here and there who really are just miserable people with personal baggage they drag to work with the every day. I have one of those at my place and I swear, if I have to work with her in charge just one more night, I may just give up nursing and go into computer programming. Some people (not just nurses) are simply miserable and bring everyone around them down into their swirling hades. Misery loves company.

Try to ignore the ones who are like that - as a student, there's a light at the end of your tunnel- then end of clinical!

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Specializes in Trauma acute surgery, surgical ICU, PACU.

The thing is, the OP wasn't complaining about nurses being RUDE to her or any of the other things that are being added on in this discussion. She was saying they LOOK a certain way.

Maybe the OP needs to come back in and clarify what exactly is wrong with the nurses where she is doing her student experiences.

I do agree that we should be rude or nasty, etc. But I've often had my facial expression misjudged. I've also been misjudged because I'm not a morning person, and I'm perkier in the afternoon. Maybe someone seeing me at 8am WOULD think I had "just eaten sour grapes".

If this whole "nurses eat their young" thing is going to extend to how I look, I think that's ridiculous.

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

I look like that sometimes because...well...I'm not the brightest crayon in the box, and doggone it, thinking hurts!

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Specializes in Acute rehab/geriatrics/cardiac rehab.
Hmmm... maybe that nurse just had the chart she was looking at go missing for the fourth or fifth time that hour, not to be replaced in the proper spot, or there are no available chairs or computers at the nurse's station, and she just got report on her seventh patient - a fresh post-op that probably should have gone to the unit, and oh yes, the 1:1 for the patient who tried to commit suicide needs to use the bathroom and there is no one available to cover the break, none of the students on the floor are available to help out because their instructor told them to "be the nurse" and "delegate"... management is bringing the linen representative to the floor to inservice the nurses about how they should only be using one pad under the patient at a time AND no incontinence briefs, rectal bags or tubes, JCAHO is coming through so she can't get to your water bottle without going through two locked doors...

So I guess I mean to say is that there is a lot that goes on that undermines even the cheeriest of people, and while I enjoy having students when I get pulled to the floor (I usually work ICU, but I'm pool, so I float where ever I'm needed that day), some days just stink and I've snarled a few times when I couldn't find a chart to get an order because it was being used for research. I gave up my chair and chart quickly and willingly for the sweaty, harassed looking nurse who came looking - and I expect the same in return without judgement.

I've been feeling burned from all ends these days, and it seems like no matter what we nurses do, we can't please everyone. Either our "attitude" isn't cheery enough, or our patients are laying on too many pads, or whatever.

So I guess my mouth can now resume the pucker from that bunch of sour grapes I just ate...:lol2:

Blee

Wasn't so long ago I was a nursing student myself. Now after having been a nurse for 3 years I can honestly say that what Blee is saying is true.... It can get stressful some days as a nurse.....:smiley_ab

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I don't think nurses have the lock on being sourpusses. Seriously, are you telling me that you have never encountered disgruntled workers at the post office, court house, customer service reps....retail workers etc?

Maybe you were just expecting nurses to be different because of all of that Flo stuff they pound into us at school.

So far my clinical experiences have been positive even though I have ran into my share of crusty crabby nurses. I am a nervous student just like you and it's hard for me to continue to make an effort to get a nurse to teach me something when that nurse is being open about how unhappy she is to be stuck with a student..but you know what?

I force myself to keep approaching the mean ones no matter what.

I don't care I go to clinicals to get as much as I can out of the those precious few hours. I know that by this time next year I am going to be on my own so I gotta milk this for all its worth.

When a nurse tries to put me off or acts like she would rather eat dirt then deal with me I don't let it get under my skin. I try to do my best to help the nurse out with minor tasks that will free her/him up so that they will have a minute to spare to show me stuff. When I ask a question and they act like they don't want to answer it I don't care...I will ask another question if I have to.

However, I have to say that I am always polite and respectful. I thank the nurse I work with for their time and tell them how much I appreciate them. I make sure that I know the things that I should know (the basics) and I am not too good to do the "little things"

Trust me it always works....usually by day 2 the crabbiest nurses are pretty happy to see me.

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Now, after being into my preceptorship, I know why. I went from making eye contact w/ everyone and smiling to just looking past people now and not smiling because, well, I'm busy! Nurses have at least 10 things -- No, make that at least 20 things on their minds at once, are having to critically think, are having to satisfy patient demands, get the paperwork done on time, the charting, the meds, etc. They are truly just doing a good job when they're acting that way, because they're really concentrating. They might be saving the smiles for their patients ... ;)

Most times now I'm just bent over my papers, head down, or rushing off to someone's room, not even noticing other people as I walk past. I try to connect with them later when I get a moment.

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It is funny how people who are not in the medical field can watch "One Flew Over the Cu-Cu's Nest" (not sure I spelled that right) and think Nurse Rachaud is evil, but seasoned nurses watch and they understand.

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Interesting. Now not only are we chastised for "eating our young," we are now also being rebuked for what we might look like to some random student we have never met.

I give up. This is why I no longer take on students.

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Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

Why?

Because nursing is a suckers job. But, you dont really realize that until you are out of school and doing it.By then, its too late, and you have bills to pay, and cant afford to take time off to go back to school for something else, and when you can make 30 bucks an hour, its almost impossible to go and get a job for, like 12 bucks an hour, because you know how much you can make being a nurse. And so it goes......

Can you tell I am a regular Flo Nightengale, herself?

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Specializes in High Risk In Patient OB/GYN.

OP-if you're concerned as to why someone has a bug up their butt, ASK THEM.

How can we tell you why someone acts pissy?

I encounter sour people in all walks of life-the cashier at stop and shop, some parents in the PTA, a certain librarian, one of the housekeepers where I work, etc etc etc....

Same with nice people.

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Kell, as a student she can't exactly ask them. She would be seen as an impertinent student.

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