What Baffles You?

Nurses General Nursing

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So I have come across this a few times. I am holding a straw to a persons lips and they drink and drink and drink and pretty soon they are waving their hands for me to stop. Stop what?! You don't have to keep sucking on the straw just because it is in your mouth. I think the universal sign of I'm done please remove the straw should be to stop sucking on it and open your mouth! I have had a few people have to catch their breath and make comments about me giving them too much! What? I don't get it.

Some patients just baffle me altogether. Recently, I had a patient, 22 year old male, fully A&O. I was told in report that he had spent the day making demands and ordering people around. When patients behave that way with me, I tend to ignore the behavior and that often kills it. I didn't have that problem with this guy but he was obviously an attention seeker. The entire shift went okay with him until right at the end. He asked for IV pain medication, I went to get it and upon walking into the room, he has blood all over his hands. When I inquired as to the source of his blood, he said "I pulled this bandage off my neck and now it's bleeding". In fact, he had pulled his jugular line out. He claimed he didn't realize it but I call BS. The line was about 8 inches long. He knew what he was doing.

I got his neck bandaged (which he didn't want me to do) then we got him cleaned up and he immediately asked again for IV pain meds. Guess what buddy? You precluded that for now!

This is a great thread. I'm so glad I'm not the only one suffering these patients. The patients who are totally capable that needs butt wiping all of the sudden really baffles me. Patients who asks for massage surprises me and I still don't know how to graciously refuse that task. I oblique sometimes to those with legitimate pain and no family but others I feel are just abusing me.

I just say, "Sorry, that isn't something we do." And then change the subject.

Patients who claim they want to go home but refuse to be independent. patients who complain about their IV site but refuse to a new IV start The patient who is doing well post op. Pain controlled with oral meds doing their IS etc. Visitors arrive and suddenly they need IV pain meds, they can't pick up their own cup, nausea sets in and they just put on a big show.[/quote']

THIS.

Specializes in Psych.

Coworkers who complain that there is never enough help, yet won't pick up a shift every now and then so others don't work short. Our unit is typically staffed very well but having two nurses out for medical reasons and no one was willing to

cover the shift.

Coworkers who complain that there is never enough help yet won't pick up a shift every now and then so others don't work short. Our unit is typically staffed very well but having two nurses out for medical reasons and no one was willing to cover the shift.[/quote']

Do you know whether your coworkers can pick up another shift? We seem to be always short too and I am unable to pick up overtime because of kids.

A patient asked me to wash their hair and I ask her if her arms are broke and she proceeded to wash them herself. I'm learning from this website how to stop patient from being too codependent.

Specializes in Psych.
Do you know whether your coworkers can pick up another shift? We seem to be always short too and I am unable to pick up overtime because of kids.

Apparently they cant, seeing no one picked up their phone when I was calling the entire unit to try to cover a call off.

Its almost like they want everyone to help them out, but they dont want to help anyone else out.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Honestly? I am baffled that a nurse would blame another nurse for not wanting to work overtime at an exhausting, understaffed job. I am baffled that employers keep such a skeleton crew that one or two people being unable to come in means the difference between a safe and an unsafe work environment. Don't blame the nurses. Blame the management. I was hired for 36 hours per week. What I do with the rest of them are nobody else's business. I am baffled that anyone would have the nerve to imply I am somehow obligated to spend my time off at work.

Honestly? I am baffled that a nurse would blame another nurse for not wanting to work overtime at an exhausting understaffed job. I am baffled that employers keep such a skeleton crew that one or two people being unable to come in means the difference between a safe and an unsafe work environment. Don't blame the nurses. Blame the management. I was hired for 36 hours per week. What I do with the rest of them are nobody else's business. I am baffled that anyone would have the nerve to imply I am somehow obligated to spend my time off at work.[/quote']

Agree

Apparently they cant, seeing no one picked up their phone when I was calling the entire unit to try to cover a call off.

Its almost like they want everyone to help them out, but they dont want to help anyone else out.

We saw this recently. I refused to come in because I was exhausted. Under staffed due to Christmas and unscheduled surgeries. Add in three heavy patients who were inappropriate for the unit and the abuse from their families, no way was I going in, even for overtime (which would have been around $70/hr). That's what casual staff are for, pick up the shifts that permanent staff don't want. But our Manager had prebooked all the casuals for January, so they know they have enough hours coming without dealing with the crappy shifts.

Specializes in Psych.
Honestly? I am baffled that a nurse would blame another nurse for not wanting to work overtime at an exhausting, understaffed job. I am baffled that employers keep such a skeleton crew that one or two people being unable to come in means the difference between a safe and an unsafe work environment. Don't blame the nurses. Blame the management. I was hired for 36 hours per week. What I do with the rest of them are nobody else's business. I am baffled that anyone would have the nerve to imply I am somehow obligated to spend my time off at work.

Except we aren't understaffed. If anything we are typically over staffed to the point that it is common that someone gets called off. And I really don't care if someone can't come in to work extra, just if they can't, they need to not complain when no one will cover a call off when they are working. I work extra when I can, say no if I can't. Over the weekend I had picked up an extra shift to cover for a sick coworker and then ended up staying another half to cover a call off to make sure the patients got the care they deserved.

Honestly? I am baffled that a nurse would blame another nurse for not wanting to work overtime at an exhausting, understaffed job. I am baffled that employers keep such a skeleton crew that one or two people being unable to come in means the difference between a safe and an unsafe work environment. Don't blame the nurses. Blame the management. I was hired for 36 hours per week. What I do with the rest of them are nobody else's business. I am baffled that anyone would have the nerve to imply I am somehow obligated to spend my time off at work.

This.

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