I cannot believe a nurse did this......

[shellybsn]

My grandmother in law is a resident at a local nursing home. My husband took my kids to see her today (I was at home with the baby). The nurse there took the cotton packing out of the top of a bottle of medicine she was opening and tickled my 4 year olds face with it. My husband pulled him away and told me about it when he got home. I'm furious about this. No telling what kind of powder or residue was on the packing..it could have been a chemp drug or who knows what. My husband didn't think to ask, just wanted out of there. Am I crazy for thinking this is absolutely unacceptable? I'm actually thinking of reporting her to the nursing board (she's done a lot of other crazy stuff we've noticed while granny is there). We've talked to admin before about stuff this nurse has said and done, but this is over the top.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

Interesting. I wonder if any LTC around here are accredited by JTC. I only ever hear about state surveys.

I haven't seen it for any LTC in my 30 years.

[Stormyskier]

Sounds like the nurse was just trying to be nice to your kids and this is what happens, you want to report her to the BON?!? I say relax!!!

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

Why is it always nurses that society wants to complain about? If it had been a doctor that tickled the child with the cotton ball, I bet not a darn thing would have been said. If your husband was there, why didn't he simply say, "hey, don't do that!" instead of running home to you to complain? Isn't he an adult who can speak for himself and his child? Why do I get the feeling you have a personal issue with this particular nurse?

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

Obviously I'm not going to rehash the arguments that others have made about how silly it would be to report this to the BON. I do agree this was inappropriate for the nurse to use the cotton to touch the child's cheek. However, at most, report it to the DON...and don't take your child back there again! (And not taking your child back has nothing to do with the cotton ball incident, it has to do with exposing your 4 year old to all the pathogens you find in any HC facility.)

The second part is not directed at the OP. It has to do with society as a whole and society's need to report every little thing to a higher authority (and I don't mean a spiritual one). For instance, a few stories I saw on the local news recently:

1. One channel near me reports on deficiencies at restaurants. Not a bad idea. However, one mom and pop restaurant was investigated because someone reported to the health department that they put down the water and then put down the bread on the table. Bread crumbs fell from the bread dish into the water. Kinda yucky, but definitely not a public health scare. Now the mom and pop restaurant has to defend itself again silly accusations.

2. A small business, family owned store has a wicked pothole in their parking lot. The news had a report that accused the store of not caring about the health of its customers, especially kids and the elderly, since they could twist an ankle in the pothole and/or fall. The story ended with the report gleefully telling us that his station was a great crusader for the public since they reported this to the state department of transportation, to the state police, and to a consumer advocate (who then got a personal injury lawyer involved).

There is a time and place to report to the DOH, BON, etc. However, this is getting abused in America. It is more of a threat to get your way than an actual attempt to improve life. OP, try to think about that before you try to ruin this nurse's career.

[beeker]

This is a HUGE overreaction. You need to educate yourself on what the Board of Nursing does and what would constitute a valid complaint. I believe very strongly in karma. If you report this nurse for something that is a non issue and frivolous , which this obviously is, then I'd be sure to be pretty darn careful at work. My advice, Don't sweat the small stuff. This, in my opinion, does not even warrant a complaint to management. If I were the manager and someone came to me with this complaint, I would probably have a hard time not rolling my eyes. If they then told me they were a nurse, I would be shocked and saddened.

[HM-8404, BSN, RN]

I am sure I'm wrong here but I don't think any narcotics, or oncology drugs are packaged with cotton batting.

I would be more concerned with what your 4 yr old touched in your bathroom or kitchen before putting a finger in their mouth than a piece of cotton that is almost certainly harmless.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I would be more concerned with what your 4 yr old touched in your bathroom or kitchen before putting a finger in their mouth than a piece of cotton that is almost certainly harmless.

Or more concerned with just about anything the child touches in the facility. Or that door handle he touched in the grocery store. Or when he pets a friend's dog, when the dog just licked that part of its body with a tongue that just licked...well, whatever....you get the point.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I think the OP has gotten some sound advice. We do remind everyone to please be polite. If there is something objectionable we ask that you report it, not engage.

Thanks everyone!

[Kidrn911]

This is so retarded, the truth be known the kid was probably acting like an uncontrolled brat that the child was annoying the nurse keeping her from working. It is tiring that everyone thinks their poopsie whoppsie is cute, when really they are a brat

[*LadyJane*]

Well, if tickling with a cotton ball pulled out of a stock bottle of colace makes you furious, then I can only imagine how you'd seethe seeing a CNA take your mother to the bathroom, and then not wash her hands with hot soapy water for as long as it takes to sing "happy birthday to you", and then wheel her down to the dining room. Or for that matter, touch a doorknob or a surface that someone else touched after using the bathroom!

I say for the sake and safety of your grandmother, bring her to your house, and take proper care of her! It's the only safe thing to do!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Despite two staff redirects that if you can't post something constructive please just skip this thread, we now into page 9. Going to close at this time for staff review.