Cant believe the nurse did.....

Nurses General Nursing

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A few threads latley have had tittles that got me all excited to read the juicy "gossip", only to be very disappointed or think the OP was a little on the the nutty side. So I thought we could share our juicy "I can't believe the nurse did...."? I can think of one time responding to a code white in mental health, where the pts nurse was egging him on "oh, your going to kill me, well I'd like you to try. Come on, let's have it. You wanted a problem, well now you have one" and other very unhelpful things. I can see why the pt got so angry. Someone had to make leave. Can't believe she works in mental health.

Hmm,I have worked in Ltc before,and I have to agree with BrandonLpn.Its tough,yes it is. Someone mentioned if you are already behind 30 minutes on med pass,what difference would taking 30 minutes to help a pt to the toilet make?It would make a world of difference,actually. I have had residents on Pancrease who needed it right before meals. Also accuchecks,which I do first. If I am already late with accuchecks,how is it possible to spend 10 to 30 minutes helping someone to the bathroom? What makes it even more annoying,if I miss the resident who needs the accucheck while they are in their room,they are usually in the dining hall,and you can't give meds or do accuchecks in the dining hall, so now what? I'm not sure toileting takes priority over meds.(someone wrote that toileting takes priority over meds)I loved Ltc too.

When I was a cna,a nurse poured mouthwash over a resident's lady parts because she said it smelled. I asked her why and she said"its known as the other mouth."I know it had to burn. I'm not one to report other nurses or aides.

Specializes in LTC and School Health.
When I was a cna,a nurse poured mouthwash over a resident's lady parts because she said it smelled. I asked her why and she said"its known as the other mouth."I know it had to burn. I'm not one to report other nurses or aides.

Wow. Just wow. Youshould have reported this. Perhaps that CNA needed more education about what mouth wash and where to put it.

In response to smartnurse1982- you are ASSUMING, that I was referring to accuchecks and meds that need to be given

Michele RN

Specializes in ICU.

I have never seen mouthwash in a hospital or LTC setting that contained alcohol, so it probably didn't burn.

Specializes in ICU.

We used to make our own magic mouthwash, too. All it contained was benadryl, viscous lidocaine, and maalox. (We used to use maalox on decubitus ulcers, etc., too.) Some of us older nurses had to mix our own IV fluids, with potassium chloride, etc., and didn't have pharmacy there to mix stuff for us. There was no such thing as "waiting for pharmacy" or simply going to the pyxis for what we needed. Also, many nurses add some alcohol-free mouthwash to the bath water to help deodorize stinky patients.

Wow. Just wow. Youshould have reported this. Perhaps that CNA needed more education about what mouth wash and where to put it.

It was a nurse that did it, not a CNA.

And to to BrandonLPN and others that agree with him; my Mom is in a NH and if that ever happened to my Mom I would be reporting said nurse to the DON of the NH. Our loved ones are there through no fault of their own. In my Mom's case she has Alzheimers and after taking care of her for 7 years by myself I no longer could handle it and had to put her in the NH. It's bad enough they have to be there but just because they are doesn't mean they don't deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

I've already reported one snotty nurse for bossing my Mom around and treating her like a child. I have no problem doing it when needed.

Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

@Jean Marie, I just wanted you to know I read your link story aloud to my unit, and now I am stuffy headed from laughing until I cried- and I think one peed herself. We all suffer from being human- and your writing command is awesome- thanks for that memory: every time I get a visual, I still can't maintain a straight face!!:)

I got one of the worst whoopings of my life onetime following a Christmas Eve Holy Communion(a quiet somber event,...usually) when my cousin leaned over and whispered, "You should ask for seconds after this week!" (We had found a treasured girly magazine like Cosmo we read cover to cover multiple times). I got so tickled at first I just giggled silently until every funny bone in my body was convulsing, tears running down my face my grandmother thought I was crying (emotionally moved:)) trying to hug me tight tickling me further,..

... and then I dropped the lizard I had been holding that I caught outside, which you know would run straight up the lady holding the grape juice cup's plate- which led to a grape juice shower and ungodly shrieking screams from the lady. My cousin then commented on the strong movement of the Holy Spirit tonight, which cost me all lack of laughing control left!

Even the preacher lost it- and giggled. That didn't save my butt that night. I wore those switch marks for a few days. When I think back, I still bust out laughing as my legs sting!!!

Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

Lastly, on my fear of one day entering long term care: this is the exact reason I don't worry about my cholesterol or heart health, Lol. I would much rather go in the night warm in my bed, or "like Elvis." It seems science has extended life, while "quality of life" has lagged way behind.

I'm pretty persevering, but I have a little "quit" left in me:)

A new nurse when I worked in LTC was being stalked by this sweet ( all be it slightly annoying) demented lady. She would follow in her wheel chair saying " miiissss... Ohhhh miiiissss" so this nurse turns around and says " please get this troll away from me". I was horrified. Last I checked she was working at the mall somewhere."No day but today"
First: that's horrible!!!Second: I love your screen name.
Had a VERY needy family. They came looking for me every five minutes to ask "Is that IV pump running?" (yes.) "Is it normal to have pink in the heplock?" (yes.) "Can you just come look at this freckle? Is that normal?" (it's fine.) I ended up screening the calls to the MD on the unit, bringing him 10% of what they were asking for. For example "Can you ask the doctor to come in? I want to ask about this freckle." Finally, the pt had an actual reaction to a med he'd never had before and I went to ask the MD for a benadryl order. The MD got in my face and told me to stop bugging him for that patient and do whatever the hell I want for them. So I got the order for benadryl, stopped being nice, and pointed out the MD for each and every request they had so they could ask him directly themselves. 100% of the time.I got an apology later that night.
AWESOME. Go you!
The residents in question refused a bed pan, it's always offered. I'm guessing you don't work in LTC. There's just no time for 2 staff to get a total care Hoyer lift up on the toilet every time. I have 49 residents with 3 CNAs. Should we neglect the rest of the floor to spend 20 minutes getting someone lifted onto the toilet? You do the best you can with what you have, that's a reality of long term care nursing.
I agree completely. The phrasing and obvious lack of empathy were inexcusable, but absolutely I would prioritize, explain to the patient, and offer a bed pan. If the bed pan were refused, then the urge to "go" can't be that bad. A nurse or CNA can't be in 2 places at once. Therefore, SOMEBODY has to wait. Its all in HOW you communicate. Show respect to the person and their need, use a therapeutic voice and offer a darn bed pan. That's all we can do.
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