Picky, Picky, Picky

Sometimes work just makes me want to scream.  I enjoy my job, really.  Overall, this has been a great experience.  And I truly do like and respect the majority of people I work with.  Even more importantly, I appreciate the hospital’s commitment to nurse education and training.  I often wish this had been my first job out of nursing school.  I would have learned so much.  But, I’m not a new grad and I don’t need the same training or supervision.  I know how to insert an NG tube.  I know how to change a PICC dressing.  I know how to care for a tracheostomy.  I’m experienced and competent.  I understand that, being relatively new to this unit and Aussie nursing, I still need to prove myself and my skill level from time to time.  I understand my superiors must be confidant I am competent to care for my patients.  I even understand that a lot of my hoop jumping is the result of working for a government agency – such organizations breed regulation and conformity.  What drives me insane, though, is certain people’s insistence that their way is the only correct way.  I must twist the gauze just so, otherwise I’m not doing it right.  (What!?!)  Proper education is one thing.  Being obsessively controlling is a completely different story.  Some days, it’s all I can do to refrain from rolling my eyes.  Some days, it’s all I can do to stop myself from making snarky comments.  But, that’s exactly what I do.  I smile and nod, acknowledging my superior’s expertise at said skill and do my best to comply with his/her instructions.  I just have to remind myself that this is all part of my learning experience.