Write ups and feeling bulling by staff

[Elan84]

Hello Nurses, I need some words of hope and some inputs from some good experience Nurses now that at work I really can't trust anyone.

I have been having a really tough time at work, I work at night and I am in total control of this charge Nurses that don't do nothing but report everything you do to make you drawn. I recently receive my first write up on December 30th blaming me that I discharge a patient and in the papers given there were other peoples papers in it, I work in the ED.

In the ED sometimes the charge Nurses discharge the patients and then ask you to chart the discharge for them, well as a rookie first lesson learn I won't never do it again. As an addendum the write up included that lab wrote me up for sending the Urine and vial of blood together in the same bag, blame I took with pride I won't never do it again. The lack of techs and the help provided because I am a new nurse is minimal and I screw up. This is my first write up and I took it as a learning experience, after all I hope it would be the worst of my mistakes and I did not kill anyone.

Then February 2nd another phone call from management, I am always so afraid, because really not having a good time and I don't feel comfortable with the staff any question I ask or movement I do gets reported by charge nurse and is very very intimidating. Well this second write up is what I want guidance from you experience nurses. I really feel they are picking on me to get me fire just because I don't know why they just don't like me.

The situations presented to me are the following:

- On January 29th, 2015 at 0645 (6:45am) I received a patient complaining of chest pain and complications.

- At 6:45am I received the patient and placed her in a room, initiated triage and placed her in a gown.

- Although my shift ended at 0700(7:00am), I finalized caring for the patient by ensuring protocol was met and placing the patient on a cardiac monitor at 0704 (7:04am) as documented in the chart.

- After placing her on the monitor and based on her condition, she was complaining about chest pain and palpitations, for that reason I delegated the ED technician to perform an Electrocardiogram on the patient and followed up with him to make sure it was done.

- At 0715 (7:15am) I handed off Report at bedside to the day Nurse on duty. At this point my duty ended and the respective patient was in a stable condition. There was no complaint presented to me at this time.

Based on the given facts above, I believe that I have completed my duties as an RN in full and with a professional and timely manner towards the respective patient.

Then on February 2nd, I received a phone call from my Manager, asking me to come to her office to discuss the presented scenario with me. Manager and (Chief Director of the ER) said the patient in question presented to the ER on January 29th at 0645 is a RN and is claiming that I did not place her on a monitor in timely manner. I explained with facts, based on my chart that I performed all my duties on timely manner, even though my shift already ended. I also explained that I handed off the report at bedside. If the monitor wasn't placed in a timely manner, then it would have been corrected at this time.

I still were forced to sign this write up that in top of that had the issue with the urine and the blood one more time and as explained by the manager was because at the time of the first write up the ESRM report was not ready and because now is it needed to be address again and really makes it sound like I did it twice when I just did it once.

Now I texted my manager this morning telling her I want the copy of this disciplinary actions I sign and she very mean reply check with HR you can have those copies but you are not allowed to take any patient information outside the hospital big big accusation ;-/ very very scared I have been crying and feeling very sad thinking I chose the wrong profession after working so hard to get here... any thought experience nurses ???

[Elan84]

I wrote this blog really quick thinking it would be easier to understand, but I guess is not clear and it won't be clear because people read and understands what ever they want to judge, nurses and their egos again. but again I thank you all for your post. I guess out of all I get it, I should go to text and grammar school and forget about the Cardiac monitor. I just really hope people understand me now lol.

[ebrooks1013]

This was rather rude don't you think? It has nothing to do with egos ma'am you are hard to follow. Learning how to chart properly is just as important as the monitor because it covers us and could prevent misunderstandings. Some posters even tried to conclude that you did do your job but you weren't able to communicate what you did properly. I think that was the point. As new grads, we have to try to learn as we go.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Yes, OP - I'm going to say this as gently as possible, because I'm really not trying to be rude or snarky. Your posts here are difficult to read and understand due to all the spelling and grammatical errors, as well as odd phrasing and syntax. If how you write here is indicative of your charting, then I can see how there could be a lot of misunderstandings.

I truly thought that English was not your first language when I read your first few posts.

Also, I don't work in the ED, but I had the good fortune (TIC) of taking my husband to the ED a year ago with crushing epigastric pain that I thought was an MI. When I told the clerk he was having chest pain, they rushed him back so fast, got him on the EKG within two minutes, had a line in him, and was drawing labs. All within 15 minutes. Based on what you wrote, it sounds like it took 15-20 minutes to even get the woman on the monitor/EKG (sorry, don't know the vernacular). Based on my experience as a family member, I agree that how that woman's case was handled was not exactly timely.

[Overland1, RN]

I have noticed lately that cliches such as "bullying", "unfair", etc. seem to be used a great deal by those who feel they are being mistreated. the problem with this is that such terms have become much like crying "wolf!"... in many cases, others already see it as less of a problem that it may really be. This diminishes the legitimacy of real problems in the long run and helps nobody.

What I am seeing after reading the OP's comments is that what we used to refer to as the "ten minute rule" was broken. While I have not worked ER's as a steady job for a number of years, we had a rule that if a C/P patient comes in, that patient will have Oxygen, IV & labs, and monitor immediately. The "MONA" acronym came along a bit later and fit right into this. Within the first ten minutes, we would also order a chest film (portable or "downtown") and have the initial assessment done. The case was then presented to the doctor within ten minutes. I realize that certain things (i.e., CXR) now need a doc's order before being done, but that is not a real hindrance, but rather a minute change in how things are done. The aide/tech role in all of this is important, but the responsibility lies more with the licensed persons involved in the case.

As posted previously, it is hoped that the OP's documentation is composed and spelled better than what we see here. "Internet spelling" and otherwise poorly written/typed notes do not play well in a court of law, except maybe for the plaintiff.

Learn from constructive criticism and be the better nurse.

[imenid37]

How new are you? Should you be on your own? Does this place lack adequate supervision? What was your orientation like and when? What feedback did you get from preceptors? I know others do not agree, but the ED is not a good fit (IMHO) for most new grads. I know people do not like to hear it, but that is my honest opinion. Many times, folks don't yet know what they do not know. It sounds like this place is not very supportive. When you take a new grad, you have to realize they do not function like an experienced RN for many months. They need to be able to check back in with someone. They can complete all training, but cannot manufacture experience they do not have. Please consider getting a position in another type of patient care area.

[OCNRN63, RN]

I am a new nurse and I have two and only two chage nurses for night and both are lazy and unfair, lately I get all patient while all other nurses aren't busy... and that morning I had to do all for the patient, I gave handoff report at0715 at bedside and acording to my charting patient was on the monitor, the complaint came after i left that patient was never in the heart monitor, in that case Day nurse should of addressed at bedside at time of report right?. In my hospital pTients have to take monitors completely when they go to tge bathroom or testing, many thing could happened After i left my shift, I wasn't there to see who was right, but day nurse washed her hands with my name :-(.

Instead of pointing fingers and blaming others, try to read and take in what others are saying to you. When I see people, "Yeah, but..." in situations like this, I always get the impression that the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is not being told.

FWIW, I worked in a small ED with no designated triage nurse and one tech. It would have been expected for the pt to have had labs, EKG, a line, and on the monitor in 15 minutes. Heck, we used to have to get the ABG, too, until RT took that over.

[Bellabijou1]

I have been in the nursing business for over 35 years. I, too, understand and have experienced what you are going through. I am so sorry you are feeling attacked by your career.

First of all.....look for another job. Period. Nothing you do will change the present situation. Nothing. You have been targeted in a very toxic environment. I know you desire for things to change and to try and correct the problems....but you cannot. Stop subjecting yourself to this situation and this hospital. It's ok to leave and find a place for yourself that will support you and advance your nursing career.

Second, find some help in possessing within yourself the understanding that you DO NOT HAVE TO BE TREATED LIKE A DOORMAT. This includes going into your next job with boundaries but in a peaceful and purposeful way. Just the way you carry yourself and how you talk can be a sign to others that you expect to treated with respect. This doesn't have to be an "in your face you better not mess with me" position. In fact it is exactly the opposite. It is an inner knowing that you are worthy of respect. This is not easy to do if you don't have it within yourself. But seek help with someone you trust to learn and integrate within yourself this knowing.

Watch what other nurses who you respect and are not pushed around....watch what they do and how they carry themselves and speak. You will see a calm and purposeful manner about them. And these are the nurses that don't lose sleep over being treated badly....if they can't change the situation, they find another job. They do not waste their time in jobs that attempt to undermine them.

By the way......nurses change jobs and it's ok to go when you cannot change an intolerable position. In fact, when you find a place that values you, you will wonder why the heck you stayed so long in a toxic job.

[Elan84]

Thank you for your wise advise, yesterday I was written up one more time , I have decided to just resign and apply for other jobs. I am a good person and capable of doing my job. but my disappointment and anxiety of being of being written for any movement I make is making me perform poorly and ending in careless mistakes.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Thank you for your wise advise, yesterday I was written up one more time , I have decided to just resign and apply for other jobs. I am a good person and capable of doing my job. but my disappointment and anxiety of being of being written for any movement I make is making me perform poorly and ending in careless mistakes.

I would advise you to think long and hard about what you bring to the table in these interactions because it's rare that someone who considers themselves to be a constant "victim" is totally blameless in the situation. Disappointment and anxiety don't make you perform poorly -- at least, they shouldn't cause careless mistakes. Nursing is a tough job and it's not a bed of roses. There are going to be days when you're angry, stressed, disappointed, anxious, sad, in physical pain -- all sorts of negative feelings -- and you don't dare make careless mistakes. Before you start interviewing for another job, you should have worked out a plan for how you can avoid careless mistakes and poor performance in the future, and have figured out a way to present that to future employers. Good luck.

[Elan84]

yes, is also a good advise I have to tough up too, though my mistakes have not been threatening to the patients, when I get stress, depress and metally bullied by coworkers it make me performe bad, I'm not motivated and happy to go tonwork and is hard to focuse