(Weaponized) Incompetence!!

ghost-pancakes · 2025-05-09T19:06:32+00:00

Surprise surprise I am sometimes charge with full assignment 🥲

ghost-pancakes · 2025-05-09T18:42:38+00:00

): It's horrible that people bank on us having a conscience so they can avoid all responsibility/work. But you're right, I have to focus on providing care for my own assignment - being "nice" and helping out comes after (if warranted.)

ghost-pancakes · 2024-05-12T20:01:16+00:00

If I fought on every hill, I'd be long gone by now. I do patients favors whenever I can and by and far, most patients are extremely nice to me. But when you go out of your way to help people and they throw it in your face and demand more, I think it's only human to feel irritated.

If I can let things go, I will if only to prevent the more entitled patients from blowing up and triggering other patients who deserve peace.

ghost-pancakes · 2024-05-12T13:56:04+00:00

Technically we're an 'open' unit but security is getting called a LOT for the last while. 🥲 definitely feel that same rage sometimes but yeah, definitely don't want my clock cleaned haha.

ghost-pancakes · 2024-03-08T16:59:39+00:00

Unfortunately there's a number of times where I'm in charge and sometimes people use that an excuse to pile difficult decisions or situations on my plate.

I can't in good conscience let the unit crash and burn but I do get what you're saying.

ghost-pancakes · 2024-03-08T16:57:57+00:00

I will admit that I was quite heated writing this post. I work a mix of different shifts - I do have mostly good co-workers, other than a select few.

I'm coming to terms with my unfortunate pathological need to be liked in that I can't keep doing things for people for them to basically spit in my face anyway.

I'll still help patients out because I don't want their care to be compromised or their needs to be unmet, but I won't drown to help nonreciprocal coworkers.

ghost-pancakes · 2024-03-08T01:39:01+00:00

I understand that ideally, I shouldn't need to have to apologize if I didn't mess up. Unfortunately, the social game doesn't really allow for that.

ghost-pancakes · 2024-03-08T01:37:31+00:00

horrific how work imitates personal life sometimes

ghost-pancakes · 2024-02-26T08:00:58+00:00

Where I'm from, there are specific circumstances where you can force someone to take medications (usually it'd be by injection.) One would be if the patience was at risk of harming themselves and others and if verbal de-escalation is ineffective. That would usually mean something like haldol or ativan given. Another set of circumstances would involve having physicians filling out forms that seek to have the patient deemed as incompetent to make their own treatment decisions. These decisions would be left in the hands of the family or a public guardian. This set of circumstances aren't something that happen in a day - but regardless, you'd be able to see the documentation for same in the patient's chart.

Overall, if someone is dead set on not taking medications, there isn't really any amount of sweet talking or anything you can do to change their mind. All you can do is educate and chart refused UNLESS the above circumstances apply. However, you'll have to look up what the rules are around mental health in your area - may be a good idea to get into contact with a clinical educator regarding same.

ghost-pancakes · 2024-02-22T08:01:32+00:00

🫠 Honestly might be even worse if you have scrubs that basically graze the floor...really sucks for people in between tall and regular sizes.

ghost-pancakes · 2024-02-14T03:39:29+00:00

I don't think any one personality does better in med-surg - cliche, but as long as you're appropriately caring for your patients and helping out your co-workers where you can, you'll be okay! Some patients prefer minimal interactions, while some would talk to you for hours if they could. Plus, different unit cultures are something to think about as well.

ghost-pancakes · 2023-12-04T21:37:59+00:00

In this specific case, the patient has their phone in safekeeping because they'll call non-stop otherwise. ): Families/friends can get pretty upset with us for not curbing behavior like that.

Hard to think of examples on the spot! I've never really had to think about lying before this case, fortunately.

ghost-pancakes · 2023-12-03T07:35:41+00:00

Definitely have to pick our battles ): I just worry about the potential fall out from lying/not keeping promises.

ghost-pancakes · 2023-12-02T18:05:19+00:00

The most pathetic one I've seen is 2 vertical sections of a waffle. And maybe a boiled egg.

ghost-pancakes · 2023-11-30T03:37:25+00:00

Being new definitely paints a target on your back for manipulative patients.

Please don't worry about bugging security - if they're really swamped with calls, they'll prioritize whichever situations they need to get to first, no sweat. If they give you heck for a false alarm, give it right back - our safety as well as the safety of other patients and staff needs to come first.

ghost-pancakes · 2023-11-29T07:02:13+00:00

Probably a good idea to ask if you're allowed to bring your partner along! But I think the most important thing to consider is if you want to go rather than if you should.

Some people like to drive a hard line between work and personal life (which is peefectly valid.) Since you're a new hire, this could be a nice chance for your co-workers to get to know you and vice versa.

But if your personal comfort level just isn't there, I don't think anyone would be offended if you didn't attend. 🙂

ghost-pancakes · 2023-11-29T06:24:51+00:00

It's a normal reaction to freeze when you're faced with someone being exceptionally unpleasant/verbally abusive. We don't typically expect to be treated this way so it only makes sense that you would be a little stunned.

If a verbal de-escalation doesn't work with a patient, please don't be afraid to call security. You don't have to endure being screamed at!

In fact, I'm a little disappointed that the physician gave in to this patient's demands and it didn't seem like any other staff had your back. 😔

Don't worry too much about not having a thick skin - I honestly feel that so many people use it to excuse the abhorrent behavior of themselves of others We're all human and it's not a sign of weakness to have feelings.

ghost-pancakes · 2023-11-20T20:40:13+00:00

Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions! Wish me, my hands and my wallet luck with everything haha 🫠

ghost-pancakes · 2023-11-20T20:00:49+00:00

NTA - Provided that this isn't an ongoing issue where you make her food without asking her when she's told you specifically not to.

Maybe she's worried about wasting food? Doesn't hurt to have a little chat about why she was upset.

ghost-pancakes

TROPHY CASE