I just want to vent!

[Ross J]

Hey sorry guys but I'm about to burst and just want to have a wee rave for a minute.<br />Last night I arrived at work to hear the alarms going off. We had a patient in the ICU with no pulse. <br />OK in itself thats no biggie, he was resusicated, given O2 and went on to ask for a cigarette within 20 minutes.<br />That over we started to get a succession of difficulties with following all the procedures they (management) put in place to ensure their butt is covered in all instances of emergencies. Well I couldn't contact anybody except the Dr on call. Management had all their phones on answerphone, senior management likewise.<br />I left a briefing with the day shift to pass all this on and buggar me if I don't get a phone call this afternoon as soon as I wake up asking why they didn't do so and so!<br />I work my butt of being a shift co-ordinator for my employer and I have a damn good reputation of 20+ years experience as a registered nurse and still get treated like a child the moment mangement wants to blame somebody.<br />In the past I've offered to walk but they've demanded I stay!<br />I asked around this morning before I left and asked all my fellow staff if they could think of anything elsre there was to do and no one thought of anything.<br />Sometimes I would like to stack shelves in the local supermarket and have no more responsibility than that. I'd earn less but there would be no stress.<br />Sorry guys but that feels much better. I know that I do is important and love the job.<br />Ross

 

[62_Kiwi]

Re: I just want to vent!

Hi Ross<br /><br />Workplace politics and butt covering has always seemed to me to be the down side of working in large organisations...<br /><br />I'd bet my last dollar that you're very good at your job and deserve a lot more respect than what you got this time. Sounds like you were in a no-win situation for sure.<br /><br />I hope things go better for you tonight (and that the weather improves for fishing ).

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: I just want to vent!

Ross J>>>>In the year or so since I joined this site I have found you to be an intelligent,caring and pleasant person. Just being a health care person seems to be stressful enough without the added stress of being in charge.Not to mention dealing with what life hands us in our personal time.Perhaps you or management(or both together) could put together checklists for reporting what was done after the fact.Another form? This would/could(theoretically) cover your butt and theirs.<br />Anyway,vent away and chalk it up to being one of THOSE days.We certainly get our share of them.

 

[JB]

Re: I just want to vent!

G'Day, Ross.<br /><br />As you know, I have 4 RNs in the family.<br /><br />I greatly appreciated your counsel when we had troubles.<br /><br />Thank God for Nurses!

 

[plywoody]

Re: I just want to vent!

For what its worth, this is pretty standard behavior in the work a day world. "Stuff" as they say, flows downhill.<br />When I was doing quality control on the Alaska Pipeline, and faced similar problems (although not life threatening of course) I developed what I called my "Pearl Harbor" file. I would always put my communications with the brass in writing (even after the fact of verbal) and put a little "cc" at the bottom that said "file"<br /><br />Once people realize there is a written record of communication, and if something goes wrong it will not just be a "His word, my word" thing, it is amazing how much more attention is paid to what they are told.<br /><br />Keeping a journal can work as well. I have all my foremen keep journals where they record all verbal warnings to employees and anything else of note that happens from time to time. It is amazing how much weight this can carry if it looks like its legitimate, and we won many an arbitration case with unions with this tactic.

 

[DJ]

Re: I just want to vent!

Ross,<br /><br />There are leaders and there are followers. Thank goodness you are a leader.<br /><br />The one standing on top of the hill always gets shot at. You are doing very noble work. You have plenty of supporters here.

 

[Ross J]

Re: I just want to vent!

Thanks guys, it's really touched a nerve here today. I have appreciated each and every comment.<br />It's great to be amongst such a realistic group of friends. <br />Thanks for the feedback.<br /><br />Ross<br /><br />PS My wife and I have boked a holiday in Rarotonga and are really looking forward to the break......

 

[BassMan283]

Re: I just want to vent!

I guess hospital life never changes. I was a pharmacy tech in a ~1200 bed university hospital for about 5 years back in the seventies. The RN's survived purely on dedication. <br /><br />One of my sisters has been an RN for over 30 years. A couple of years ago, she got fed up and went to work for a landscaper laying sod. Said it was the best job she ever had. She's back to nursing now, though.

 

[RICKRICK1]

Re: I just want to vent!

Ross J you just go ahead and vent all you want. A lot of us do it and it just helps. Ain't it great. Some times we all need that some one just to tell or say something to that will not take it personal. Thats what we are here for. So just Vent.

 

[peterbo3]

Re: I just want to vent!

Evening Ross J,<br />Big shortage of RN's in Australia. You might as well join the 25% of Kiwis here already.<br />Regards,<br />Peter.

 

[Carphunter]

Re: I just want to vent!

I feel for ya Ross,<br />I work in a small company, and the office politics around here are ridiculous. There are many times that I would have loved to ditch this job for something with less responsibility.........but when I look at my family, then I realize why I do what I do.<br />Hang in there, and as a wise man once told me, "The grass is brown on both sides of the fence".

 

[12Footer]

Re: I just want to vent!

It's apparent to me, Ross. no matter where we go, what career we chose in life, where we werk, or how dedicated we are, there is gonna be at least one person who's position it seems, is to make everyone else as misserable as possable. Being a long-term employee myself, I know one thing about you of 20years service... You have seen a handfull (at minimum) of these little hitlers come and go like the tides....But laugh behind thier backs, because you are still there!!<br /><br />We had a particularily deranged superintendant here,and after being called into his pristine, opulant office to get drug-accross the carpet over some silliness not worthy of company time, he asked if I had anything to add. And I told him that "I had seen many of people like him come in and go out, but I'm still here", and that "as God is my whitness, I would be here long after he was gone". I was right, Ross.<br />Hang tough, and don't let the bass trds win!

 

[Navigator]

Re: I just want to vent!

Ross J.<br />I know your situation...Best thing is to not take it personally. I do a lot of consulting type work with Hospital executives and I know exactly why those rediculous procedures are put into place. With the law suit happy society we have, hospitals have to be prepared, sometimes at the sake of its loyal employees.<br /><br /> You cant really change that day, but you can possibly stop it from happening again. Speaking from the executive side of the Hospital, why dont you draft a letter to the president of the hospital, and CC everyone in the reporting chain of command. Briefly outline the situation that occured, and the problems that occured due to hospital policies. Be concise, tell what was done, then what problems arose because of it. Next suggest a way to solve the problem if you have any ideas. For example, all the phones are on auto-answer, then maybe, policy should be changed so that one executive be notified at home. If no one is available, then who is authorized to make/interpret hospital policy during the off hours?<br /><br />Bottom line, if the case is serious enough to require special policies, then someone in administration need to be made aware of it ASAP. <br /><br />In your letter, dont gripe, simply state facts and offer suggestions. This way your letter will be taken seriously. Unfortunately in a lot of hospital settings, reporting something to your supervisor is like talking to a brick wall. It will get lost in the mix. But when an issue related to patient care, you can honestly address it to the president without the fear of stepping on toes. Also CC the Director of Medical Records, the Director of Utilization Review/Quality Assurance, the On Call Physician and the Physician Chief of Staff. With all these people in the loop, the issue will heve to be addressed formally.<br /><br />All it takes is someone to get the ball rolling.<br /><br />Good Luck, and hang in there. Without you and your co-workers, hospitals cannot operate!<br /><br />Nav

 

[Ross J]

Re: I just want to vent!

Got to work tonight to discover there have been 9 resignations since yesterday. I asked around and they can expect another 4 to go within the week.<br />I have to say these people have all found jobs with one phone call, they're all excellent at their jobs and I'll miss them very much!<br />Last time there was an upset by management they lost 18 staff before they did anything about it. We've never recovered fromthat one!<br />When they walked last time management started a huge "staff retention program" and never once listened to us!!........<br />Enough for now.....sorry to bore you, I'll keep it more positive next time.<br />Ross

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: I just want to vent!

i hope the best for you RJ. maybe the changeover will add new good friends to those you already have

 

[aspeck]

Re: I just want to vent!

Speared Boss <br /><br />Ross, saw this story this morning and remembered your thread from a few days ago. Thought this might give you some fresh ideas!

 

[Ross J]

Re: I just want to vent!

Strewth mate!<br />Perish the thought. I've seen some bloody things in my life but the thought of spears.......no I don't even want to go there.<br />I feel no ill harm towards my managers, rather I feel sorry for them. They too have targets to meet and loss of conditions if they don't.<br />It's all sorted anyhow. The whole crew voted to withdraw labour unless certain safety conditions aren't met. It's still legal to strike in NZ for safety or contract conditions.<br />We'll see.............<br />Ross