Wishing experienced nurses would have mercy on me!!

[new_oldRN]

I work the 7p to 7a shift in an IMCU. Everything seems to go well during my shift, but when the day shift arrives, it all falls apart! The day shift is all experienced nurses while my shift consists of one or two experienced nurses and several newbies. When report starts, the experienced nurses chew us up; in their eyes we have done nothing right. If any IVs are left to be started (even if I've just received the order from the doctor), or if a question they ask is not immediately answered to their satisfaction, I am made to feel totally incompetent by their disapproval. :argue:

I would appreciate some input about surviving daily report and also how much needs to be done by the end of shift so that all involved are happy.

[bluedevils83]

Don't try to make your associates happy, it will never happen. Stay professional, evaluate the job you did and determine (for yourself) if you could do anything different to improve time management or communcation, be open to honest criticism that could improve the flow of the unit and also realize when associates are way off base with their criticisms ("constructive" or otherwise) and stand your ground! You will always have "know it alls" in any profession and most of the time they pat their own backs because of their own insecurities..........remember, they probably get their butts chewed daily by numerous physicians that you don't have to see too often on your shift!

[kiszi, RN]

I only have one comment..

Yes, you should make every effort to tie up things at the end of the shift and manage your time so that there isn't a whole lot being left for the next shift. BUT.. of course there are always going to be occasions where something gets passed to the next shift. WHen that happens, just state it very matter-of-factly in report. "And so-and-so needs an IV put in for fluids. Dr. Brown just wrote the order." Don't be apologetic. I've found that kind of opens the door for people to walk on you. You've heard of being "too nice", right?

And if the next nurse gets an attitude, just let it roll off. You've done all you can. Don't let them get to you.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

After consulting with the original poster of this thread, the moderators and administration of allnurses.com, it has been decided that this thread will remain closed permanently. What started out as a request for insight into dealing with difficult people and hazing behaviour degenerated into an object lesson in behaviour much as the OP described. A discussion that had the potential of being a useful and conciliatory one became nothing more than a schoolyard brawl. We the aforementioned are very disappointed at this turn of events.