The way we worked together today, taking care of our patients and looking out for each other to serve the greater good, was a reminder of the way it could be everyday. A spring snowstorm brought out the best in us. I think I'll work to bring that attitude into the clinic again tomorrow. Even if it only lasts until the snow melts, that's progress!
"Though I play at the edges of knowing, truly I know our part is not knowing, but looking, and touching, and loving..." Mary Oliver
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
RN Shift Report
While my dear, discerning readers know I love my job as a nurse at a cancer center, everyday is not fun. Today was fun. The clinic closed early yesterday for a vicious spring blizzard and stayed closed until noon today. Since cancer patients get quite anxious when they can't get their treatments on time, we knew we'd be bombarded with calls when we opened. So when we arrived at the center at noon today we banded together and worked as a team to make sure everyone got taken care of. Secretaries made dozens of calls, physicians squeezed in extra patients, nurses took on added work loads, pharmacists worked double-time mixing up medications. We were all focused on doing our best in a tough situation. The reason it was fun is because this was in contrast to many work days. There was no whining or complaining. Just, "Can I help you?" and "What do you need me to do now?" Besides the image of nurses as selfless paragons of caring, virtue, and patience; we have a dark side. Since it's not ethical to bare our shadow side to patients, we tend to save it for our co-workes. When we have compassion fatigue or a difficult patient pushes our last button, or we make a mistake, we often take it out on our co-workers. We gossip, we critisize, we act passive-aggressively. Healthcare doesn't look kindly on mistakes, thus leading to blaming and shaming of each other. Of course, this isn't always the case, but it happens often enough to be studied and written about in nurse magazines.
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Oh I love days like that, when everyone is on the same page!
ReplyDeleteWhat a joyful day! And what a joyful attitude!
ReplyDeleteAnd an AMEN!!
ReplyDeleteTeresa L.