This is something that is so dumb and so stupid, but I must confess this because it is eating me up inside.
The other night at work (1800-0700), I was so massively busy I didnt have time to get my dinner from the cafeteria. I am a big boy, and I must eat something or I will feel light headed and dizzy. I went into a patients orders, made a food request, and then picked up the food from the tray line, and chowed down in the break room.
Yes, I know it was dumb and wrong. I was very very hungry and I needed to eat.
I worked in ALF and we often took grabs at some of the untouched left overs that never left the kitchen. I just hope that patient wasn't charged.
I have a confession too: I have a vaccine and threw away the vial before getting the lot # and exp. date to document. I had to charge the patient another vaccine just to document. I feel terrible about this.
Graham crackers are my Achilles' heel. They do a wonderful job making the tummy grumbles go away until I can carve 30 minutes out of my day to eat a proper meal.
I have a confession too: I have a vaccine and threw away the vial before getting the lot # and exp. date to document. I had to charge the patient another vaccine just to document. I feel terrible about this.
Those unit dose packages with foil on the back? I've felt bad to have to charge a patient for another pill when the first pill went flying across the room. Sometimes, it will roll across the bedside table, and I will chase after it before it falls on the floor. Makes for quite the spectacle and patients have laughed at my antics.
Specializes in Clinical Documentation Specialist, LTC.
I am Hypoglycemic so I've been known to toss back an Ensure or eat an unopened sandwich when I was too busy to eat a "normal" meal lol! Glad I'm not alone
I worked in ALF and we often took grabs at some of the untouched left overs that never left the kitchen. I just hope that patient wasn't charged.
I have a confession too: I have a vaccine and threw away the vial before getting the lot # and exp. date to document. I had to charge the patient another vaccine just to document. I feel terrible about this.
I've done that before but I just called the pharmacy to get that info. Most of the time, these vials come from a big batch of vaccines that all have the same lot number and expiration date.
View it this way: If you didn't eat, your ability to competently care for your patients would decrease. So basically, you were being a more effective nurse. And doing the hospital a favour. Low blood sugar = muddy minds = mistakes!
Look at it this way: at least you weren't helping yourself to the patient's medications.
It happens: I'm sure more of us have done that (the scavenging of food, not the meds) than will care to admit. I try not to, but I've been known to go after Saltine packets that are left unguarded. Though I hunt from the pantry area, not from patient trays.
No lecture here other than plan for the next case of the munchies a bit better...because writing or tampering with orders--even for food--is likely out of the scope of nursing practice.
Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.
Do you feel better now? I have been a nurse for a long long time and you would not believe all the stuff we used to do that would be frowned upon on nowadays. As far as food goes we always got extra trays and we ate them for dinner all the time. I tried to stay away from the patient's drinks and snacks but my rule was all bets are off if I do not get a break and it is the hospital's fault. Just do not make a habit of it and be discreet.
Please stash some protein shakes,protein bars,and some emergency meals in your locker. That is what I do now in case I am too lazy to get something from the machines after the cafe closes.
hahaha..at least you've been honest!to us here in AN!I'm sure you will be forgiven for that, we're not perfect, everyone of us commits mistakes every now and then
Gotta wonder what was so wrong with staffing that you couldn't get away. Yes what you did was dishonest, but is it justified because the facility overloaded your assignment?
Gotta wonder what was so wrong with staffing that you couldn't get away. Yes what you did was dishonest, but is it justified because the facility overloaded your assignment?
If you work in a non-union hospital, this is a way of life.
BSNbeauty, BSN, RN
1,939 Posts
I worked in ALF and we often took grabs at some of the untouched left overs that never left the kitchen. I just hope that patient wasn't charged.
I have a confession too: I have a vaccine and threw away the vial before getting the lot # and exp. date to document. I had to charge the patient another vaccine just to document. I feel terrible about this.