This just ticks me off.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

Recently, we had several new policy changes at my current full-time job, which I am leaving in a few weeks. These policy changes were phoned in, ie: no discussion, no meeting, not even a face-to-face convo, just a phone call and a 'this is how it is, starting now'. One of those changes involved closing time. When I hired in, I was told that , even though closing is at a certain hour, we stop allowing patients to sign in a half hour befire, so that we get out at a decent time. Well, that went out the window. Now we have to stay and see people even if they sign in at one minute to closing. This puts the entire staff having to stay late, and then the owners want to garp about overtime.

Another change, due to the now-astronomical overtime costs, was the cutting of hours. We were told in a memo that we should 'just relax and enjoty our time off". Hah. So now, instead of two providers being here at all times, there may be only one for several hours. And then the phone calls come wanting to know what's taking so long.

So, a few days back, after the other provider had come in late and left early, we start getting calls from this woman whose son had managed to get a piece of tackle hung in his leg. Wanted to know if she got there right at closing, would he still be seen. Secretary told her that we would lock the doors at closing, and he would be seen if he was there by then. A few minutes later, OM calls. Seems this woman was a friend of hers and had called HER. OM made the statement to the secretary "Well, Angelfire needs to stay and see them, they're on the way." OM better be glad she didn't say that directly to me.

So, this yahoo shows up at one minute till, and explains that the tackle had been in place for several hours, but they 'tried to get it out at home'. Now I'm really mad. I'm having to stay late, after I'm the only one to work a complete shift that day, all because she couldn't get her rear end in gear. 20 minutes later, we're no further than when they arrived. The tin snips we have won't cut the hook, and the kid won't be still for me to even touch. I offered to numb his leg, but Mom was having none of sticking needles into her precious baby. As we didn't have any EMLA, and as we were having no luck, we called the local ER. They had EMLA, they had cutters. Off went Mama and Junior. I refunded her money, since we couldn't do anything.

Secretary informs me when I walk in that OM has already called and said that Mommie Dearest had called her to say how disappointed and upset she was at the way the visit went. Said that they gave him shots at the hospital and hurt him. OM is not happy and wants us to know.

OM's got about one word to say to me about it and she's going to have more than just an upset friend to worry with, like who's going to cover my days that I have left. I'll leave. I will clock out and my happy little hiney will be out the door before they know what happened. I'll make her think demand that we stay late and then have the gall to snip about something that we did not have the tools to remedy, as well as an unreasonable parent.

I could understand if I had just taken one look and refused to try anything, but I was in the floor of that room for a WHILE. I even (with Mom's permission) sent a pic to my DH, who fishes professionally and has had many a hook in himself, to see if he had any suggestions. I wasn't rude, I wasn't mean, and I did not try to hurt the child.

I'm just so mad I can't see straight and I hate being like that. Would y'all be ill as well, or am I just burnt-out and need a vacation? Thanks in advance for reading my dissertation.

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Unless you are mad enough to leave now, best to just bite your tongue, lips, and left pinkie until your time is up. Certainly feel sorry for you. I would feel the same way.

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

Thanks, cali. Oh, no worries, I'm not going to say anything unless it's brought up. It would never occur to me to call and ask that a clinic stay late for an hours-old injury, and then complain when the staff had not been supplied the proper tools to adequately treat my child. I'd WANT them to tell me the best place to go. Ish. And we refunded her money. I thinkthat gets me worse than anything. Mean old biddy.

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Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, Ophthalmology, Tele.

Hugs to you Angelfire. :hug: I hope it helped a bit to vent here on AN. I know it always helps me keep my sanity. :bugeyes: Hope your last few weeks are smoother and not like this crazy day you had. Cheers to better days ahead. :cheers:

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Specializes in LTC.

when I first read werephoned I said "What's a werephone?" Sorry it sucks *hugs*

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.

Yeah, it helped. Grrrrr!

And I fixed the typo, too, lol.. As fast as I was typing, I'm amazed that I didn't do worse than that!

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It sounds to me like he should have been taken to the ER in the first place.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Some days.......:banghead:.....:madface:.

:hug:

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

i'm truly sorry that you're having to go through this, at times i ponder myself where does my colleagues at administration come up with certain rules. however, it is what it is, don't dwell on it too much it will drive you crazy, learn from the events and move on, your experience and dedication will be appreciated elsewhere. wishing you the very best in all of your future endeavors as i send you a hug :hug: from across the miles....aloha~

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Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.
It sounds to me like he should have been taken to the ER in the first place.

He should have been. That's the issue that we struggle with daily, WE ARE NOT AN ER! But without strident education about what is and is not appropriate to be treated at an urgent care, it'll never get any better.

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Specializes in LTC.

I just have been waching to much True blood I guess :p I thought Phones were sprouting hair and howling at the moon :p haha.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
He should have been. That's the issue that we struggle with daily, WE ARE NOT AN ER! But without strident education about what is and is not appropriate to be treated at an urgent care, it'll never get any better.[/quote

I recently had a conversation about this with one of our ER-happy HH patients. She was talking about having "the bronchitis" and how she might return to the ER the next day. Why? Oh, well just because she wasnt feeling good. (This isnt even talking about how her LAST ER DC summary said nothing at all about bronchitis. Diagnosis, dyspnea. No ABX)

Explained that ER was for emergencies, ie, cant breathe, chest pain, actively heavily bleeding, danger of death. If you can wait til tomorrow, see your doctor. If its not an emergency but not something you can wait for, then go to urgent care.

Or at least, that was how I explain it to people who abuse the ER. I suppose from the urgent care clinic perspective, my explanation would probably send people to you who shouldnt be there, huh? I apologize if I messed up :unsure:

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