I have simply had too much to do.
I'm doing more work for the Magnet project at my hospital, and it's taking its toll on my patience. I think much of the problem is that I don't believe in a whole lot of talk. I am a firm believer in Less Talk, More Action. I also believe that Nurse Leaders have the responsibility to deal with problems and issues quickly and confidently, enabling nurses to do their jobs properly. I believe Leadership's main responsibility is to serve floor nurses, giving them whatever tools they need to get a difficult job done.
But what usually happens is an awful lot of bullshit. Not your Mediocre Bullshit. I mean the Bullshit Extraordinaire, requiring lots and lots of committee time, with task forces, meetings, FADE documents, QA studies, yada yada yada.
I am reminded of an interesting commercial playing on CNBC. In this commercial, a group of stock brokers and market makers are having lunch. Suddenly, one of them starts choking on his food. A discussion ensues, while everyone debates what is going on, how exactly IS Heimlich pronounced?, and how it should be properly done, all while this guy is sitting theire choking on his food. Suddenly, someone from another table comes over, performs the Heimlich Maneuver, and saves the guy's life. Less Talk, More Action. That's me all over.
Our leadership vaccum continues. There is an interesting battle brewing on night shift, as our most experienced nurses have been refusing the duty of being "charge." It has caused quite a stir, especially on those nights when I am not there to serve as relief charge nurse (I hate the job but it's an important one and someone that knows how to do it needs to be there to make sure no one dies.) At times, Traveler nurses, or nurses in their first couple of years of practice have been placed in charge. I would chuckle at the disastrous potential of this setup, if it weren't so serious. I sense a real battle brewing between those of us who have been there for a while, and the leadership structure on our unit. It's a state of near- rebellion.
In the midst of this is me and Ginny (the other educational- minded charge nurse), trying to figure out how to make the process better. I'm presently trying to figure out if I have the political genious needed to pull night shift together, so that a more cooperative relationship exists between us and our Clinical Director. But what can one do when the seasoned nurses who oriented you are the ones that need to be coaxed into a mindset more appreciative of change? I feel as though faced with an advancing avalanche, suggesting, whining, pleading that it stop in it's tracks and join our little gang.
I am on for one night, then off until the weekend.