[yogastudentRN]

This reminds me.....when I went in for my surgery a while back the nurse anest. was starting my IV.....I did not have glasses on and could not see very well. I commented that I hardly felt it, saw some orange, and told him he must be using an insulin needle. He asked if I was a nurse, I said yes but in peds not adults. There was a big pause, then I said he should probably give me a whopper dose of Versed to start off with.......since I didn't have ANY toys or stuffed animals We had a nice chucke, and I don't remember a darn thing until I woke up in recovery.

[TennNurse]

Originally Posted by Happy-ER-RN

I completely agree. I can not stand it when people think they know better than our doctors because they are a nurse, or they make some comment just to make sure I know they are in the medical field--

Oh, God, do I hear you!!! I know that I am not the only nurse in the world, that there are also MDs and NPs and CNMs that occasionally need medical help, and if you are one of these, just say so politely during initial how-do-you-do/what-brings-you-here conversation. But these people who say nothing, observe with their sharp, critical eyes, then just as I am about to stick, startle me by blurting out, "What gauge is that IV?" or "Did he tell you he has rebound tenderness?" or "Her last urine output was at 0600 today", they just irritate the living h*ll out of me.

Why do so many medical professionals choose this passive-aggressive line of attack? Why is it assumed that they must attack at all? I tell you now, that if I had a pt come in and say to me, "I have gained 6 pounds since yesterday and noticed pitting edema this morning and would like to have my BNP checked" I would appreciate that person's forthrightness. Not that I need them to tell me how to do my job, or point out things that I will assess for myself, but when I take care of another medical professional whose attitude is "We are in the same line of work but different specialties, which is why I have come here for your help", I enjoy the nurse-pt rapport all the more.

Can we maybe put signs on buses or something? I think I can safely say that this irriates all nurses everywhere.

[TennNurse]

[quote=neneRN]Agree completely with Zachary2011!

My guard instantly goes up when I have a nurse as a pt in the ER, especially when the first words out of their mouth are "I'm a nurse" or they have their badge practically pinned to their pt gown.
Please trust that I know my job and I really do know what I'm doing; that said, I have no problem whatsoever, and would encourage pts to tell me, "this happened to me before, and this is what helped.." But do not demand only certain meds/treatments, refuse others, etc., because you're a nurse. Each nurse/doctor does things differently, and as we all know, there is more than one way to solve a problem!

and

[prmenrs]

When I went to ER w/?appy (it was), all the nurses knew me, so I didn't have to tell them anything. But the 3rd resident to come and examine me started to do the rebound thing, I put my hand on his and told him I had rebound tenderness, he didn't have to check it! Twice was enough for me. OUCH!

And when the RN started my IV (she didn't know me), she mentioned how she didn't see how I started IVs on babies, I told her I couldn't do her job, either. When you're really sick, it's behooves you to be nice to the people taking care of you.

[EDValerieRN]

One of my patients tonight was staff from radiology, day shift. She came in her pajamas, with her badge pinned to the front. Because telling us she was staff wouldn't suffice I guess.

[damare]

As a phone triage nurse with an ER background, not only do I do this for myself, I coach my callers that I send to the ER as to what they might expect or how to present their symptoms to the ER staff. I don't show up telling everyone that I'm a nurse, but I know that accurately describing the situatation and the home interventions that I've done will usually result in the expected treatment. If not, I engage in (hopefully) constructive dialog.
Damare

[Kidrn911]

As a phone triage nurse with an ER background, not only do I do this for myself, I coach my callers that I send to the ER as to what they might expect or how to present their symptoms to the ER staff. I don't show up telling everyone that I'm a nurse, but I know that accurately describing the situatation and the home interventions that I've done will usually result in the expected treatment. If not, I engage in (hopefully) constructive dialog

Are you the one that sends parents with their babies in that has copious amounts of tears and drool and demand an IV because their baby vomited all day long, and hasn't ate, but you see cheeto stains on their chin and fingers?

[Kidrn911]

Last summer my ten year old was smashed in the head with a flying baseball bat. The doctor said ok let's suture her up, no CTscan no nothing.

I demanded first a CTScan, then a plastic surgery to repair the damage, it was a 7 cm lac on her forehead, she is a girl, plastic needed to fix her up, then I requested she either get LAT, LET or sedated because there is no way on this side of heaven my daughter could tolerate being sutured without it. there wouldn't be enough staff to hold her down.

The Doc grumbled about how she really didn't need the scan and we were radiating our kids way too much, but did, after no fracture or bleed, but the radiologist was highly impressed by the LAC. The Doc grouched about finding a plastic surgeon, I refused to let him fix her. He was like there may not be one around then I said send me to Chicago, about 15 minutes away, Then a plastic surgeon appeared . Plastics came up asked me how I wanted it fixed, I said I don't care but she needs sedation (they had no LAT, or LET). He got the ball rolling and in 20 minutes she was in the or getting it fixed.

Yes, I am pushy, but for the sake of my childs wellbeing and I make no apology for it

[clee1]

Originally Posted by Kidrn911

Yes, I am pushy, but for the sake of my childs wellbeing and I make no apology for it

Exactly right. You are your own (or your child's) BEST advocate. I'd make no apology about it either.

[ntshftrn]

I have only been "pushy" once, and that was when my throat started bleeding on post op day 10 following tonsil removal. I was working ER at the time, so I used my code and came through the back door at the ER (my doc who did the surgery was located about an hour away). The ER doc looked at me and yelled "get in a room now!"-I guess it was all the blood coming out of my mouth-who knows? He tried to ice it down (which I had already done at home, but hey, I would have done anything to get it to stop), holding epi soaked gauze on it, nothing would stop it. Finally they ended up sending me to the hospital where the surgery was done to have it fixed-the funny part was right before surgery, the nurse told me not to worry everything would be ok-you know the bit. None of them at this facility knew me, and at that point-I really was not caring that I was a nurse-I just wanted the bleeding to stop. I looked at the nurse and said "I'm not worried, all bleeding eventually stops". She busted out laughing and asked where I worked, I told here, and we all had a good laugh, despite what was going on.