[banditrn]

For this kind of behavior to stop, it takes an institution policy. I KNEW that at the hospital where I worked that it was frowned upon to have that attitude - it was drilled into us from the day that I started. And I carried that attitude to other places where I worked - I have no patience for someone who states that 'they're not my patient'.

[dbsn00]

The policy on my unit is "ALL residents on the unit are YOURS". I have regular staff on my unit & since I became manager I make them switch "sides" (we have a North hall/MAR & South hall/MAR) every other month. Now everyone is familiar with all the residents & their medications. Prior to this we had a nurse on the unit for over 20 years that only did one "side" - after 20 years she had no clue about the other half of the unit.

As a previous poster stated "if there was a code would you seek out the other nurse & tell her to deal with it as it's "not my patient" is a good example of why nurses truly need to embrace the term TEAMWORK & practice it. I also hate it when someone searches for you to tell you a patient needs something when it would have been quicker (& helpful) to just do it themselves.

As for nursing students, haven't had any yet that weren't happy to help in any way... guess I've been lucky!

[CrazyPremed]

As a student and a nurse, I can side with the students saying "not my patient." As a student, you have no idea what is going with these other patients (sometimes not even with your own!).

Assisting a nurse with a patient whose background you don't know can be harmful at times. Bringing an NPO patient water, helping a patient on BR to the bathroom, or proimising pain meds to patients that can't have them are common mistakes made by well meaning students. Sometimes it's better to have them/us stay with the patient that they know about.

The truth is, students are there to learn about becoming a nurse, but can easily be viewed as extra CNA's. I've routinely had CNA's ask me to check vitals on three or four of their patients, clean patients, and help walk people when I am setting up IVPB and charting assessments. When looking through a chart and trying to notate orders or obtain medication allergies, I've had CNA's ask why I am "surfing the internet." In these situations, they don't have a complete understanding why I am not jumping up to help them give a bed bath. I don't blame them, but - at that moment - it is important to stay on track.

Although ALL nursing students at some time or another will "do CNA work" because it all falls under the scope of nursing, students are in a particular place during clinicals. They have paid for the experience while others are being paid to be there. There are certain skills that need to be practiced at certain times. During my last semester in school I would always place starting an IV over bringing someone juice. I try to remember this when I see students and those that interact with them.

CrazyPremed

[ChristineN]

My personal favorite is when your helping someone else's pt and they come it, see that your busy with their pt, and tell you that your pt needs you. Then proceed to ask why you're helping their pt when they were busy....

[WitchyRN]

Originally Posted by CrazyPremed

As a student and a nurse, I can side with the students saying "not my patient." As a student, you have no idea what is going with these other patients (sometimes not even with your own!).

Assisting a nurse with a patient whose background you don't know can be harmful at times. Bringing an NPO patient water, helping a patient on BR to the bathroom, or proimising pain meds to patients that can't have them are common mistakes made by well meaning students. Sometimes it's better to have them/us stay with the patient that they know about.

The truth is, students are there to learn about becoming a nurse, but can easily be viewed as extra CNA's. I've routinely had CNA's ask me to check vitals on three or four of their patients, clean patients, and help walk people when I am setting up IVPB and charting assessments. When looking through a chart and trying to notate orders or obtain medication allergies, I've had CNA's ask why I am "surfing the internet." In these situations, they don't have a complete understanding why I am not jumping up to help them give a bed bath. I don't blame them, but - at that moment - it is important to stay on track.

Although ALL nursing students at some time or another will "do CNA work" because it all falls under the scope of nursing, students are in a particular place during clinicals. They have paid for the experience while others are being paid to be there. There are certain skills that need to be practiced at certain times. During my last semester in school I would always place starting an IV over bringing someone juice. I try to remember this when I see students and those that interact with them.

CrazyPremed

Excellent post. When I was in school, we would look out for each other and you could always grab a classmate if you needed help with your patient, but we were told that our main focus was to be the patient/s we were assigned. I'd answer call bells if I was caught up with my patient, but if I was unfamiliar with the other patient-I'd find whatever nurse or CNA was assigned to them to find out if there were any restrictions or concerns.

[pagandeva2000]

If this is happening too often, you may have to take on the same attitude, unfortunately, or you will burn out. How is it that their bodies are better than yours? If the patient's condition is not emergent, let them do their patients and give yourself a break. Sounds sad, I know, but you will kill yourself slowly and it is not fair to yourself and ANY patient that needs care. Do the same-"Hey, nurse so and so...your patient needs her pillow fluffed..." in fact, do it to Ms. Internet Surfer.