[luvmy2angels]

Originally Posted by Blee O'Myacin

Don't get me wrong, any of these things are a no-no in my book too. But I also wouldn't report a nurse without the facts. You spoke up, which in my opinion, was a good move. The nurse said that it was 'nothing to worry about'. Perhaps she was correct and it was indeed, nothing to worry about.

I Must agree with this post. If it WAS indeed nothing to be worried about and she got reported with incorrect facts she could get in a lot of trouble. Not something I would want to be responsible for if I wasn't EXACTLEY positive of ALL the details.

[Marie_LPN]

I'd rather report a patch and find out it was for an EKG than to just assume that it was and leave it at that.

[mercyteapot]

Originally Posted by QuilterLPN

Could it have been the type of patch that you clip leads on? You said the label was down, from the underside they look alot alike....

Even if so, I don't see the wisdom in leaving any supplies on a cart in the hallway. It looks sloppy, it encourages theft, it just shouldn't be done, IMHO.

[canoehead]

A similar misunderstanding took place when I was the nurse. I woman called my attention to a drop of dried blood on the floor. I was in the middle of a new onset chest pain (her Dad) and wasn't about to pull out my housekeeping hat right then. I said "OK thanks" and continued to work. She said rather indignantly, "What if I got AIDS from that?" So I stopped what I was doing and looked at her and replied, "well, you'd have to touch it first" then went over and actually looked. It was a drop of Betadine dried to the floor! I told her what it was and so help me, I think she was disappointed.

[beautifulb]

What you did was the right thing. I am sure that the nurse who you told was appreciative but what kind of a response were you hoping to recieve?

[meownsmile]

Actually i probly would have picked up the patch to see what it was. Duragesic has to be signed off as a wasted narc in my facility when you take the old patch off. And if it was a nitro patch it could cause some real problems in a little one regardless of how long it had been there.
I probly would have picked it off after the nurse didnt seem concerned and pitched it in the trash for her.

[CrunchRN]

Do NOT beat me up, but I totally disagree (and expect to catch a lot of flack for it). You are not an employee of this facility so even though it may be a stupid and dangerous practice I feel it really is not your business.

I totally understand the desire to protect patients, but you are off duty at a place that isn't your employer and i think it is a good idea to take a break from having to be the vigilant nurse 24/7.

This is just my opinion - I am ducking so you will need to swing that baseball bat low if you really want to connect with my noggin!

[amgo24]

to crunchRN:
haha...dont worry...im not throwing punches. it is always important to me to hear the feedbacks of others. thanks for the honesty!!!!

[grannynurse FNP student]

Originally Posted by CrunchRN

Do NOT beat me up, but I totally disagree (and expect to catch a lot of flack for it). You are not an employee of this facility so even though it may be a stupid and dangerous practice I feel it really is not your business.

I totally understand the desire to protect patients, but you are off duty at a place that isn't your employer and i think it is a good idea to take a break from having to be the vigilant nurse 24/7.

This is just my opinion - I am ducking so you will need to swing that baseball bat low if you really want to connect with my noggin!

Whatever or not she is an employee, she is a responsible adult. And as such, she does have a responsibility to ensure that this patch is not harmful. The nurse should have removed it from a common area, as a responsible health care provider.

Grannynurse

[CrunchRN]

You know what? There is no way I would touch a medication (if it was) that did not belong to me in a hospital where I do not work. That could be really misinterpreted. I have to stick by what I said. I don't think we all have to be nurses 24/7, and I think sometimes you need to just stay out of it.

Just my opinion though!