Duct tape anyone?

[tokmom]

Background: We have a pt that chose to go to another hospital in a larger town for a kidney infection. Due to high census she was going to have to spend her recovery time in their ED or go back to her home town where my hospital is. (For the record this larger hospital is a sister hospital of mine). This pt's cousin worked at this larger hospital and said it is the best.

So..this pt is transferred back to us for ABX, hydration etc..

Here is the chance to turn this pt's thought process around about our hospital. Just because it's not a million beds, doesn't make it bad.

Fast forward to the idiot nurses that took care of her. They completely blew it and it makes me so mad. Why can't some nurses or CNA's keep their mouths shut!! Here are snippets of what she told our NM and the head of the hospital.

1) Nurse complains of the incompetent computer system and complains on the fact some of her labs are 'missing'. It's done in front of the pt.

2) Pt states that pain meds make her sick. She requested nausea meds. The attending nurse told the pt she would be 'ok'. You can guess what happened....:barf01:

3) Pt asked what meds she was receiving. The RN said she didn't know what they were for.

4) CNA complained of every little thing that was off that day with care, IN FRONT OF THE PATIENT.

OMG, where is the duct tape??? This will be talked about in a staff meeting, but I'm furious. I have no idea how my manager is going to handle this. It's not the first time patients have complained about the air heads and the CNA's that have a certain know it all tone with people. I'm ready to go ballistic on a few co workers.

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

We had a floater from Pedi tell the mom of one of our NICU babies: "I don't work here, so I don't have any idea how to answer your question. In fact, I don't know anything about caring for babies and probably shouldn't have even accepted this assignment. NO idea why they made me float here!"

[systoly]

Duct tape, three wraps, change QOD, reinforce prn (no stop date)

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Some people just have NO self edit......and have disengaged their mute button.

Omg, I love this, lol. Too funny!

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Duct tape, three wraps, change QOD, reinforce prn (no stop date)

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I thought this was going to be about duct taping pts. I am disappoint.

[belgarion]

I got a nastygram in my mail slot for agreeing with a patient who was complaining the cable sucked. Why not? The system is a bargain basement, watered down basic package with 18 channels of which only Animal Planet, two shopping channels, ESPN, and Encore come in clearly. I was supposed to try and convice the guy what a great cable package we have? My point when I was talking to the guy was that yeah, the cable is lousy but if that was the biggest complaint he had we must be doing pretty good.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

in regards to this trend, do you ever mention that you are short staffed when patients complain about things taking too long? i never did and don't think that would be wise. but have heard some nurses say, "well we don't have an aide today etc" when patients c/o about baths, hair care, not being done when they want them done etc.

[Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN]

It sucks - sometimes more of a day is spent having to explain and apologize for OTHERS "bad behaviors" that anything else I ever did - and the explanation - well, there is no good one.

Other than "I am sorry. That is not accurate/policy/what should have happened" and then its all "service recovery" aka - kissing butt.

Now -

What to do with these problem children???

What to do???

ahh - DUCT TAPE.

Gee, if it was only that EASY.

You can get the really good stuff for $8 roll and that is 200' - enough to enforce (and reinforce) a bit of "operant conditioning".

I think this is really one of those progressive discipline situations and maybe even go as far as an EAP referral to the folks that lack a filter - work on professional communications and expectations of professional behavior. Add that EAP can help them realize the error of "oversharing" and really, now, the problem will likely not continue once in is made CLEAR to everyone that there really is recourse.

I get it - tough one - everything goes to hell/big issue are on the horizon - computer, equipment, day, colleagues, ancillary departments, managers, weather, broken stuff, copier out of toner, stubbed toes, hurt feelings, bad hair, backaches, baby mama/daddy drama, schedules, stock and par levels, internet connections, insomnia, sleepy, constipated, socks don't match, OTR, can't get pregnant, hate being pregnant, debt, gambling, illicit affairs, craigslist stalking, bad traffic, humidity, bad parking spot, bird sH#& on car, administrative policies, snow, auto accident, baby sick, hubby whiney, wife's a compulsive shopper, no sex, why can't I win the lottery, bad neighbors, too much sex, elastic out in undies, new lipstick shade all wrong, PMS, death in family, dog sick, diarrhea, indigestion, headache, no time to wash hair, traffic ticket, lost sunglasses, joint commission, baby teething, daycare dilemmas, outbid on ebay, bad hair cut/color, broke a nail, too many red lights, lost my watch, couldn't find my car keys, cat has hairballs, want new Louboutins, bought new Louboutins, can't afford to pay for my new Louboutins, stubbed my toe, not getting 8 minute miles on my run, my feet hurt, maxed out my credit card, I don't want to be mandated, just went shopping, kid suspended, need a vacation, getting divorced, can I get extra shifts, toothache, flat tire, had to take ACLS, want to go back to school, just got a bikini wax, bought a new house, my mother-in-law is coming to visit, my kids need braces, the doctor is an idiot, I hate my neighbors, should I get my boobs done, got a new iPhone, had much to drink, and .....

I could go on and on and on....

Ready that DUCT TAPE!!!

You see the real reason we go to work, take the classes, learn to do/be better everyday and occasionally make a real difference in the life of one of those we are entrusted to care for - is so we NEVER forget that our "issues" could become meaningless in a heartbeat. We could be that patient and what would we want our nurse to share with us and be focused on?

Good Luck.

:angel:

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

I understand you completely!!! It drives me crazy when nurses talk loudly right next to a patients room about their personal lives. My sedated vented patient isn't too bad, but my ones that are ready to ship out who also work in the medical, it's kinda embarassing when I have to go back in there after two nurses were just gabbing about their boyfriends.

We want to be a profession, we say we are a profession, but I feel as though maybe we should raise the bar with our personal standards if we really expect to be treated as a profession.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I understand you completely!!! It drives me crazy when nurses talk loudly right next to a patients room about their personal lives. My sedated vented patient isn't too bad, but my ones that are ready to ship out who also work in the medical, it's kinda embarassing when I have to go back in there after two nurses were just gabbing about their boyfriends.

We want to be a profession, we say we are a profession, but I feel as though maybe we should raise the bar with our personal standards if we really expect to be treated as a profession.

Absolutely one of my pet peeves.

It's even worse if you have patients who are waiting for something....pain meds, answer to a question, etc., and there are nurses/CNA's, etc., having a gay old time in the nursing station right outside the door. While there may be a perfectly logical explanation for the delay in whatever the patient is waiting for (had to call the doctor, waiting for pharmacy, etc.,) we nurses and support staff can really give the appearance that no one is paying attention to anyone.