It's called a Healthcare team for a reason!
My apologies, for this may turn into a bit of a rant at times, but I'll do my best to not make it one for the entire length of this post. As a nurse in my workplace, one thing I have learned is to be flexible. Last night I was on a different unit apart from my own that I've been assigned to. I wasn't in charge, rather the med nurse, for 22 patients and by the end of the shift there were 23. Now normally it takes me about an hour to pull meds for the patients. I'm not rushing by any means, but I do what I need to do in a timely fashion so I can get back out there and help pitch in. Now I am a big fan of being thorough. However, I feel there has to be some wiggle room for improvement. I've had a few instances in which I've worked with other nurses who just really seem to take their time doing their assigned tasks. Again, a big fan of being thorough and not wanting to mess up. But I'm also a fan of not only pulling your own weight but pulling a little bit of everyone else's too; trying to split the workload as much as you can. Now sometimes that's not always easy, I understand.
Last night when I worked, it took me over 2 hours to get meds pulled. Hey, there were 22 patients, plus with the occasional interruption that also pushed me back. I was a little bit flustered when I left the med room and apologized that I took so long. The charge nurse who I was working with was just happy I finished in a reasonable amount of time. :) I don't know why it takes so long for some people to finish what they're supposed to do as opposed to me. Maybe it's poor time management. Sometimes it's just short-staffing issues, which unfortunately there's not really a whole lot you can do but just the best you can. I mean for me, it's just common courtesy. Do the work you're supposed to do, get it done, don't dilly dally then go out there and help your team out. It's a team for a reason! I remember when I was in clinicals there were a few times when I met healthcare staff (unfortunately, it was mostly nurses) who rarely asked for help in anything. At the end of the day, I'm pretty sure they were the ones staying long past their shift was over to finish up work. I remember one time there was a nurse that was still on the floor until 10:30 in the morning (us students arrived at 7:30ish for the start of shift) finishing up work from her night shift. Many MANY people asked if there was something they could do to help, but she kept refusing help.
I suppose we're still in that day-old era of being afraid to ask for help, for fear one may be labeled as "weak" or unable to do our jobs "properly." In my work world, when one staff member is behind for whatever reason in what they're supposed to do, it puts everybody else behind because they're trying to make up the deficits. I myself do this quite often, and that often means putting more work on myself. And it's not that I'm masochistic, it's just if I can do the work, which I can, then I try to help out in any way that I can. Some people are ok with going home and leaving things undone. I am not one of those people. I have had one night where I left my shift trying to get work done (it was a really crazy day) and at midnight I finally punched out for the night. I was so angry and frustrated because there was still so much to do and I felt like nothing got accomplished. Before I left work last night, all the staff (a nurse and two techs) were so appreciative of all that I did. I shrugged and said I was just doing my job. The staff wanted me to stay on their unit, but I happily declined because I just love the unit I work on. And God really gets all the glory, because He gave me this job in the first place! Plus, free opportunity to get my feet wet somewhere else in the facility, so more experience for me. Especially where I work, it's really easy to get overwhelmed and buried in the work. But the way I see it is, you can stay in the med room until 9:00 at night pulling meds, sit in the back the whole shift and assume the rest of the work will get done, or you just have to take it upon yourself to go a little bit above what is required and be a fair worker and team player. That's what I try to do.
Last night when I worked, it took me over 2 hours to get meds pulled. Hey, there were 22 patients, plus with the occasional interruption that also pushed me back. I was a little bit flustered when I left the med room and apologized that I took so long. The charge nurse who I was working with was just happy I finished in a reasonable amount of time. :) I don't know why it takes so long for some people to finish what they're supposed to do as opposed to me. Maybe it's poor time management. Sometimes it's just short-staffing issues, which unfortunately there's not really a whole lot you can do but just the best you can. I mean for me, it's just common courtesy. Do the work you're supposed to do, get it done, don't dilly dally then go out there and help your team out. It's a team for a reason! I remember when I was in clinicals there were a few times when I met healthcare staff (unfortunately, it was mostly nurses) who rarely asked for help in anything. At the end of the day, I'm pretty sure they were the ones staying long past their shift was over to finish up work. I remember one time there was a nurse that was still on the floor until 10:30 in the morning (us students arrived at 7:30ish for the start of shift) finishing up work from her night shift. Many MANY people asked if there was something they could do to help, but she kept refusing help.
I suppose we're still in that day-old era of being afraid to ask for help, for fear one may be labeled as "weak" or unable to do our jobs "properly." In my work world, when one staff member is behind for whatever reason in what they're supposed to do, it puts everybody else behind because they're trying to make up the deficits. I myself do this quite often, and that often means putting more work on myself. And it's not that I'm masochistic, it's just if I can do the work, which I can, then I try to help out in any way that I can. Some people are ok with going home and leaving things undone. I am not one of those people. I have had one night where I left my shift trying to get work done (it was a really crazy day) and at midnight I finally punched out for the night. I was so angry and frustrated because there was still so much to do and I felt like nothing got accomplished. Before I left work last night, all the staff (a nurse and two techs) were so appreciative of all that I did. I shrugged and said I was just doing my job. The staff wanted me to stay on their unit, but I happily declined because I just love the unit I work on. And God really gets all the glory, because He gave me this job in the first place! Plus, free opportunity to get my feet wet somewhere else in the facility, so more experience for me. Especially where I work, it's really easy to get overwhelmed and buried in the work. But the way I see it is, you can stay in the med room until 9:00 at night pulling meds, sit in the back the whole shift and assume the rest of the work will get done, or you just have to take it upon yourself to go a little bit above what is required and be a fair worker and team player. That's what I try to do.
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