I love my charge nurses!

[PeachPie]

I love my charge nurses, as they make sure that we work as a team and stick by us!

Situation 1: A very difficult patient was throwing a fit because her blood sugar was taken at 0730 reading 220s. I was occupied with a much more acute patient and did not get to her for 40 minutes. She was screaming and throwing a fit, claiming that she was going into respiratory distress (yes, while screaming at me!) and diabetic coma and that it would be ALL MY FAULT. She called the charge nurse, demanding that I get fired. The charge nurse got the glucometer and showed her own reading in the 300s and said, "My blood sugar's higher than yours because I'm still getting used to my insulin pump, and I'm on my feet all day." That shut the lady up for a bit. Keep in mind that her kindeys blew out becuase she refused blood draws while receiving gentamycin and vancomycin, she refused PICC flushes because she didn't want fluid overload even though she drank sodas like no tomorrow, didn't follow her ADA diet, once demanded a white urologist (yes, racial preference there) to insert a Foley catheter because she didn't want "just a nurse" doing it, and once told us to delay her meds (insulin included with an even higher blood sugar) because she was busy getting Disney on Ice tickets for her grandchildren. Several staff members did little dances upon finding out that she had been discharged.

Situation 2: I had 3 rad techs, a PA (who had tried to contact and missed her 4 times!), and a physician riding my butt because a patient was out enjoying the scenery rather than staying in her room under leukopenic precautions and waiting for consults. When I finally got ahold of her, I asked her to please stay in the vicinity or in her room because of all the people looking for her. She called up the charge nurse in a huff, stating that I was very rude and bossy. The charge nurse told her that I had been worried about her because all these people were calling and I had no idea about her status, that the PA and physician had indeed asked me to ask her to stay in her room, that I was prioritizing her health and treatment above all, and that her delay with the radiology department was throwing others off schedule. The lady was still noncompliant and irked everyone with her scarcity (the physician later sarcastically asked her if she wanted to schedule her consults at midnight if it would mean that she could be reached), but I was so happy that the charge nurse stuck up for me!

[oramar]

:yeah:Big hand is in order for the charge nurse/s.

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

Most of our charge nurses are really good, experienced nurses with a lot to offer but a few of them could use a reality check. One of our newest charge nurses has been a nurse for almost a year and believes that the world encyclopedia of nursing knowledge exists solely within the confines of her head and that any other suggestions or views on nursing are wrong. Working with her is a little stressful to say the least..

!Chris

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

Go charge nurses! Woot woot!

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Having a charge that will back you up when you're right is one of the greatest blessings a staff nurse can have!!!

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

PeachPie - please let your charge nurses know that you appreciate them sticking up for you like that (provide them examples).

Reinforce good behavior - it'll pay future dividends! :)

cheers,

[PeachPie]

PeachPie - please let your charge nurses know that you appreciate them sticking up for you like that (provide them examples).

Reinforce good behavior - it'll pay future dividends! :)

cheers,

You'd better believe that I will! I just bought a bulk package of those clicky pens that write in 4 colors, which, along with home-cooked food, will serve as little thank you tokens!