What have other nurses done that have freaked you out?

[texas_lvn]

What have other peers done intentional/unintentional to freak you out? Good or bad. Happy or sad.

On my FIRST day as an LVN, (LTC) a res was screaming in her room as I was walking out to leave. I went in to see what was going on. She was having an anxiety attack and severe pain (post stroke). I pulled the call light, and no one came. Uggg.

So I peeked out the door and saw my CNA walking down the hall, and told him to come sit with res. I went down to get her a Xanax and a pain pill, well relief nurse was in the restroom, and relief CNA (with call light still going off) was sitting behind nurses station reading a newspaper. I told CNA to tell the nurse to get a Xanax and pain pill for res. She said OK. I go to relieve my CNA. Said goodbye to him, and stayed with res. after 10 minutes, CNA COMES INTO ROOM WITH XANAX AND MORPHINE PILL. She is soooooo shocked to see me still there, she hands me the pills and RUNS to the relief nurse. I could NOT BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!!!!

(I did immediately call DON and tell what happened. Luckily, my CNA was still checking on another res, and saw the whole thing.--------they got a slap on the wrist! that was it!!!) :madface: :madface:

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

One time I was in helping an older male nurse with his patient. The patient was fighting us a little and the nurse,( in what I can only describe as a father disciplining a baby) spanked the patient lightly on the naked butt and told him "STOP THAT!"...

:trout:

I was like.. "UMM, why are you slapping his butt?" lmao.. it was nothing that would hurt the patient at all, more like an attention getter.. but what the heck??

[hpygrl01]

Using Wikipedia as a valid source for drug information. Why be lazy? Just walk to the pixis machine!!!

[lamazeteacher]

One time I was in helping an older male nurse with his patient. The patient was fighting us a little and the nurse,( in what I can only describe as a father disciplining a baby) spanked the patient lightly on the naked butt and told him "STOP THAT!"...

:trout:

I was like.. "UMM, why are you slapping his butt?" lmao.. it was nothing that would hurt the patient at all, more like an attention getter.. but what the heck??

And then, to whom did you report that abusive act? That was totally inappropriate!

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

And then, to whom did you report that abusive act? That was totally inappropriate!

At time time I was working at a place that I could not report this to anyone where they would believe me. I got out of that situation and into a different one, still bad, but different. The nurse was one of the managers best friends and this manager had tendency to retaliate and I wasn't ready to lose my job. While I wanted to report this, I thought about it for quite a while, I realized that I wouldn't be believed, and it would just make me lose my job eventually. He didn't hurt the patient, not even a red mark. It was wrong for him to do that, however I do have children to support. The situation I was in did not allow me to report the nurse without repercussions. This and many other things led me to change jobs.

[Atheos]

At time time I was working at a place that I could not report this to anyone where they would believe me. I got out of that situation and into a different one, still bad, but different. The nurse was one of the managers best friends and this manager had tendency to retaliate and I wasn't ready to lose my job. While I wanted to report this, I thought about it for quite a while, I realized that I wouldn't be believed, and it would just make me lose my job eventually. He didn't hurt the patient, not even a red mark. It was wrong for him to do that, however I do have children to support. The situation I was in did not allow me to report the nurse without repercussions. This and many other things led me to change jobs.

Should have reported it to state in any case.

Worst thing I ever saw was a patient was choking. Literally choking and not breathing and the RN was trying to force the patient to drink water while the patient was trying to away. I couldn't get her out of the way so I pushed her to the ground pretty hard and did the Heimlich. The food came out and the patient started breathing and talking.

The nurse then proceeded to call the police and report me for battery. ROFL.

Thankfully there were 2 other CNAs in there. The nurse ended up with a broken wrist. Serves her right IMHO.

[Aneroo, LPN]

At "flu" shot clinics, other LVN/RNs filled syringes with vaccine and piled them up. I was told to use them.

I explained that nurses can only give medications that they themselves prepare - oral, parenteral, IV, whatever. The other nurses there became very hostile, but I stuck to my "guns".

I told a nurse that my first day on orientation. I got a quick come to Jesus meeting. She said to never try and say that in a code situation.

Yes, slipping medications into a nurse's food is low down. I have seen that done before as well where I worked as a psych tech about 15 years ago. At that facility, we were certified to give medications, and there was another tech that used to sneak into the employee's lunchroom and eat our food (even if it was labeled with your name). Anyway, someone got sick of her stealing their food, and someone slipped some sort of liquid psychtropic medication in a soda bottle. The woman had a great deal of nerve stealing food, so, she sort of got what she got, but I would have NEVER done that.

OMG. Beats laxative brownies I guess.

[enoRN]

A lot of times we see things that we can barely report to another nurse not to talk of manager or county or whatever, the real world of nursing is nothing close to true documentation especially in nursing homes, i wouldnt want to loose my job too, and if you change jobs every now and then it looks as if you are not a good nurse.

At time time I was working at a place that I could not report this to anyone where they would believe me. I got out of that situation and into a different one, still bad, but different. The nurse was one of the managers best friends and this manager had tendency to retaliate and I wasn't ready to lose my job. While I wanted to report this, I thought about it for quite a while, I realized that I wouldn't be believed, and it would just make me lose my job eventually. He didn't hurt the patient, not even a red mark. It was wrong for him to do that, however I do have children to support. The situation I was in did not allow me to report the nurse without repercussions. This and many other things led me to change jobs.

[Bella RN, BSN, MSN]

I remember one night nurse in the unit said she carries CARDIZEM IV in her bag at all times and she gives the patients Cardizem when SHE feels they need it!!! :down:I was like ***!!!!! I said have you done that before she was like sure!!!!

I didn't report because I didn't have proof of this...I never saw the bottle nor did I witness her doing this....But that is scary to know that some nurses think that they can play doctor just because "they feel like it" or because of the department and all the experience they may or may not have..

Nurses never do that!!! I don't care how comfortable or well liked or respected you are at a facility. Some nurses get too complacent and feel that they can but shouldn't!!!

[Racey328]

That is SICK! What would make a person think to do something like that? Gross seriously my stomach just turned.

[ayla2004, ASN, RN]

I had a new intern order IV Tylenol once. :trout:

thats a valid prescription we have 1g paracetamol iv (tylenol to the north americans.

[diane227, LPN, RN]

I worked in this HUGE ED in Houston and we had this small observation unit across the hall from the ED. One day they called a code in that area so I and the other charge nurse went running over there. When we arrived, the patient was just lying there and no one was doing CPR. Reggie, the nurse with me asked the tech who was standing there to start CPR and he said "I can't. My card expired".

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

I worked in this HUGE ED in Houston and we had this small observation unit across the hall from the ED. One day they called a code in that area so I and the other charge nurse went running over there. When we arrived, the patient was just lying there and no one was doing CPR. Reggie, the nurse with me asked the tech who was standing there to start CPR and he said "I can't. My card expired".

Holy cow!!!!