What would you have done?

banditrn · Feb 1, 2008

So, I went to the Free Clinic in my area this evening to volunteer, as I have been doing the past 3 months. They are always short on Nurses and need them to do Triage and Screening for the patients. Well, I usually don't smoke when I'm there because there are so many patients, but tonight I had had a stressful day and really had the urge to smoke. There were 3 other Nurses there to triage patients, so I left for about 10 minutes to go out to my car and have a quick smoke. I come back in, and the director tells me "Hey, can you do me a favor?" So I replied with
"Sure, what can I do for you?" and she says "Please don't smoke again on my clock". OH MY GOD!!! :angryfire
So I replied back "Oh, I'm sorry... I thought I was volunteering my time here for free, but don't worry about it, I'll never be on your clock again."
And I packed up my stuff and left. I hate this, its rediculous. How can they treat people like this who are there to help for free?? There are no obligations at this place. All anyone needs to do is come in and say "I'll volunteer" I doubt they were even check to see if you were licensed.
What would you have if this were you?

I wasn't there, so I don't know specifically how the director was behaving - but I don't know whether I'd have walked off in a huff.

I would probably have said "Excuse me, but even when I have a paying job, I'm allowed a break." Then left it in her court.

It sounds very mild? compared to the way I've seen some people behave in nursing - sometimes you have to stay and fight it out.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2008

So, I went to the Free Clinic in my area this evening to volunteer, as I have been doing the past 3 months. They are always short on Nurses and need them to do Triage and Screening for the patients. Well, I usually don't smoke when I'm there because there are so many patients, but tonight I had had a stressful day and really had the urge to smoke. There were 3 other Nurses there to triage patients, so I left for about 10 minutes to go out to my car and have a quick smoke. I come back in, and the director tells me "Hey, can you do me a favor?" So I replied with
"Sure, what can I do for you?" and she says "Please don't smoke again on my clock". OH MY GOD!!! :angryfire
So I replied back "Oh, I'm sorry... I thought I was volunteering my time here for free, but don't worry about it, I'll never be on your clock again."
And I packed up my stuff and left. I hate this, its rediculous. How can they treat people like this who are there to help for free?? There are no obligations at this place. All anyone needs to do is come in and say "I'll volunteer" I doubt they were even check to see if you were licensed.
What would you have if this were you?

I think I would have done the same.

Wow! Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth and cutting off her nose to spite her face, (and whatever other metaphors apply).

This woman is an ingrate and she needs to be checking the volunteers' credentials!

Even though I think this director is an idiot for several reasons, you really should not be triaging anyone, as you are not yet a nurse.

BlueRidgeHomeRN · Feb 1, 2008

to give the benefit of the doubt, perhaps he was misusing the word "triage" and was in fact checking patients in and getting v/s?? one can only hope!

pinksugar · Feb 1, 2008

Huh. I am kind of shocked at some of the responses. I am not a smoker and I actually cannot stand smoking, but if I were you I would have walked off as well. I think her comment was really uncalled for. You were volunteering! :bugeyes:

Balder_LPN, LPN · Feb 1, 2008

I'm kind of curious if the OP was really triaging pt's here. He is an LPN student and his first week of clinicals was only In january!

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/different-kind-nursing-injury-272854.html#post2591765

https://allnurses.com/forums/f212/relocating-dc-267573.html#post2566551

Buddy, if they catch you triaging pts or doing other nursing tasks you could be crimanaly charged with Practicing nursing w/o a license. This would likely get you kicked out of school permanently and even if not would prevent you from ever bbeing licensed I believe.

I was working as a homecare aide, in WA certain nursing tasks can be delegated to a NAC by an RN. It must be specifice PT, specific task, specific NAC, and documented by the RN to meet the rules. I had a weekend pt that I straigt cathed 2-3x day. After 3 weeks; no RN to delegate, I told the emplyer on monday that I would not report on Saturday unless the RN delegation had been completed properly d/t the consequences I stated in the above paragraph. It was not done and I have done no further work for this agency (it is still going on, the catheter by unlicences personel w/o proper delegation)

I didnt do all that work just to get the boot for some $10/hr BS! I also volunteered in the ER for a year, and you bet I did not cross that line even for 1 time for 1 second there.

Graduate March 24th, at last at last!

EmmaG, RN · Feb 1, 2008

huh. i am kind of shocked at some of the responses. i am not a smoker and i actually cannot stand smoking, but if i were you i would have walked off as well. i think her comment was really uncalled for. you were volunteering!

i have a problem with this attitude. just because it is a free clinic doesn't mean those patients don't deserve the same respect and consideration as those who pay for their care. furthermore, just because someone is volunteering their time doesn't mean they shouldn't act professional. and that includes being aware of how odors can affect patients and coworkers (as pointed out by anonymurse and tazzi above). the director was not rude (as described by the op), and i commend her for requiring a modicum of professionalism by her employees.

i'm kind of curious if the op was really triaging pt's here.

to give the benefit of the doubt, perhaps he was misusing the word "triage" and was in fact checking patients in and getting v/s?? one can only hope!

yeah. tossing around these terms, as well as implying he is a nurse, intentional or not... he needs to be aware of what he's saying. makes me wonder if he did the same with the patients he encountered (regardless of whether he actually performed nursing tasks).

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2008

I have a problem with this attitude. Just because it is a free clinic doesn't mean those patients don't deserve the same respect and consideration as those who pay for their care. Furthermore, just because someone is volunteering their time doesn't mean they shouldn't act professional. And that includes being aware of how odors can affect patients and coworkers (as pointed out by anonymurse and tazzi above). The director was not rude (as described by the OP), and I commend her for requiring a modicum of professionalism by her employees.

Because this clinic mgr does not even check the credentials of her volunteers, I doubt she is worried about professionalism.

Instead of "Please don't smoke again on my clock" she could have said something like "When staff smell of smoke, it is offensive to some pts and staff. I'd like to request that you please not smoke while on duty here."

The way she phrased it, it sounds like she felt the OP was wasting her time by not working for that ten minutes, it doesn't sound like she was worried about the smell.

Also, I guess the op could say "I'm not a nurse, but I play one at the free clinic."

EmmaG, RN · Feb 1, 2008

Because this clinic mgr does not even check the credentials of her volunteers, I doubt she is worried about professionalism.
Instead of "Please don't smoke again on my clock" she could have said something like "When staff smell of smoke, it is offensive to some pts and staff. I'd like to request that you please not smoke while on duty here."
The way she phrased it, it sounds like she felt the OP was wasting her time by not working for that ten minutes, it doesn't sound like she was worried about the smell.
Also, I guess the op could say "I'm not a nurse, but I play one at the free clinic."

I agree she could have phrased it better. As far as checking 'credentials'... the OP says he is in nursing school. It doesn't appear he has any 'credentials'.

pinksugar · Feb 3, 2008

Personally, I hate the smell of cigarette smoke. I think that smoking is a foul habit. However, I do think that the director should have approached the OP in a different manner. How about pulling the employee/volunteer gently and discreetly to the side and saying something like "I understand that you are on break, but the smell of cigarette smoke can really bother some people. Would you mind not smoking?" I think that is a much more professional (and nice in general) way in which to handle the matter.

I agree that the patients of free clinics deserve good treatment. I never said anything to the contrary. However, if someone is giving their time and effort for free, expecting nothing in return, I believe that that person should be treated kindly by the employees of that establishment.

My problem isn't that the director wanted the OP to refrain from smoking - it is the manner that she used to get her point across. It was snotty and rude - completely uncalled for. I wouldn't let one of my managers talk to me that way either and I am a paid employee. I certainly wouldn't take that abuse for free.

miwachiru123 · Jun 21, 2009

An old thread I hate to revive, but I just am now reading replies and people are very confused. Yes, I misused the word "triage". What I meant is, asking their chief complaint and taking vitals. That is it. No more, no less. And no, I didn't imply I was a nurse to either the staff there, or the patients. I always introduced myself as a nursing student.