[BittyBabyGrower]

I work in a NICU in a large teaching hospital. In our unit, if a resident ever stuck a kid more than 2x for an LP and didn't call the fellow or attending, their ass would be chewed off. And we wouldn't let that happen.

Also, the baby should have been given a local before the start of that LP...sugar water ain't gonna cut it. and, was there informed consent. We have to have informed and written consent before we do LP's in our unit.

You need to take this up with your manager and the head docs.

And as for the troll Silas....boy, I hope you aren't at our hospital, you sound like a really loveable sort.

[earle58]

it's really scary what's out there, isn't it?

leslie

[Jolie]

I was working in NICU one night when a resident was doing an LP on a preemie for r/o sepsis. Another nurse was assisting him, but had her hands full when he asked for a syringe. Before getting it for him, I asked why he needed it. He stated that the CSF was dripping out too slowly, and he needed a syringe to pull it out! Needless to say, I did not get him the syringe, but did get the attending who took over the tap and sent the resident packing.

And there are posters here who think that nurses should not question residents or advocate for patients!

[vamedic4]

Originally Posted by Jolie

I was working in NICU one night when a resident was doing an LP on a preemie for r/o sepsis. Another nurse was assisting him, but had her hands full when he asked for a syringe. Before getting it for him, I asked why he needed it. He stated that the CSF was dripping out too slowly, and he needed a syringe to pull it out! Needless to say, I did not get him the syringe, but did get the attending who took over the tap and sent the resident packing.

And there are posters here who think that nurses should not question residents or advocate for patients!

Exactly.

[nurse-to-be1000]

[quote=Jolie;2256519]I was working in NICU one night when a resident was doing an LP on a preemie for r/o sepsis. Another nurse was assisting him, but had her hands full when he asked for a syringe. Before getting it for him, I asked why he needed it. He stated that the CSF was dripping out too slowly, and he needed a syringe to pull it out! Needless to say, I did not get him the syringe, but did get the attending who took over the tap and sent the resident packing.

Wow that is scary to hear. Peope have terrible side effects often as it is from a properly done LP.

I disagree as many people do with the idea of not being concerned since this wasn't the OPs patient. If you see the wrong med being given to a patient or know the patient is allergic to the medicine they are about to receive would you keep quiet? I would certainly hope not. Also as others have stated, since babies can't advocate for themselves, nurses need to do it for them just like they need to for adults who are incompetent or are afraid of "making waves".

I have grown up receiving my medical care at a local teaching hospital. I know I have the right to refuse to allow a med student/resident etc to take part in my care but I allow them to depending on the procedure and sick I am. I realize everyone needs to learn and you can't learn unless by doing but too many patients either don't know they can refuse treatment by a med student/ resident without jeporadizing the care they will receive from the attending or are bullied into receiving care by a student.

[Medicine Eagle]

This makes steam come out of my ears. I strongly advocate for my patients. I was in a similar situation except the attending was attempting the tap. I made her stop after a couple of tries andI forced her to give the neonate breaks. I just had my son by c-section and the resident spent 15 minutes digging into my spinal CORD before the attending took over and got it. I now have spinal cord nerve root damage, and as a result I am in almost constant pain. The only treatment is narcotics. Try working on tylenol and ibuprofen for 12 hours going home and finally taking your PRESCRIBED pain medication, and still convince your agency that you would not take anything that would affect your ability to do your job at work. This resident left me with permenant damage, and I can't sue. It was a teaching hospital. And although residents have MD after their name does not make them experienced enough for some things. If they were all grown up we would not have to correct orders and hold their little hands. In the ER where I was working it was a regular thing to have to train the residents, we were a Level 1 and they could not find their way out of a paper bag. I don't care what letters you have after your name, either you can do the job or not and know your limitations.

[KellNY]

Originally Posted by TiredBraveHeart

This resident left me with permenant damage, and I can't sue. It was a teaching hospital.

You should speak to a lawyer (and if you already have, speak to another one). I work at a teaching hospital, and we sure can get sued! Our residents, attendings, nurses, etc have been sued in the past.

(Which is not to make our facility look bad, lol. I'm not saying EVERY res, attending or nurse has been sued or that we are disproportionately sued, but we're a very large facility and often take care of the people that the other hospitals can't handle, so...)