Your nursing practice varies from mine, therefore, you suck!!

Altra, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2011

Your thread title made me smile ... :clown:

CaregiverGrace · Jun 17, 2011

We so regularly get posts, and I see people at work doing this. Judging someone because they do something different from how we do it. Then the self righteous, I'm perfect, other nurses that disagree with me suck diatribe.
We've all got our little pet peeves in nursing. It bothers me when people are stingy with narcotics. It bothers me when people insist on waking someone to take their 8am qd vitamin. It bothers me when people crush a pill, mix it with water, THEN pull it into the syringe, leaving half the pill in the med cup. But people do those things, and their patients survive. I'm sure I do things that bother other nurses.
Can't we just accept that we're different??
Unless your nursing practice varies from mine because you routinely stab your patients in the eye with a 18 gauge needle to make sure they're arousable, I'm thinking that we're both doing ok.

Sure, but there's a difference between unique nursing practice and not following protocol. Having a cynical attitude about PRN pain med administration is questionable, but not delivering the med because of that attitude is unquestionable wrong. Delivering the wrong dose of medication because you're too uncoordinated and/or lazy to get it properly into the syringe is not "unique" or "creative", it is also wrong. There are a lot of common shortcuts that ultimately have no effect on patient care. However, two out of the three you listed have clear consequences on patient care.

Turd Ferguson · Jun 17, 2011

Then the self righteous, I'm perfect, other nurses that disagree with me suck diatribe.

I don't think your definition of "diatribe" is the same as my definition of "diatribe".

You bring up some interesting points, I agree we all need to have our own wiggle room to practice, but there are certain policies and procedures that need to be followed.

tokmom, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2011

Why not just stab the offending nurse in the eye with the 18 gauge needle.

Sorry, just had to say...

I mean really...as as long as the practice is safe, nobody should care, if someone puts tape horizontal or vertical. If practice is in question, then that's a whole 'nother thing.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2011

However, two out of the three you listed have clear consequences on patient care.

I see how leaving crushed pills in the med cup effects pt care. What is the other one? (just curious) :)

AgentBeast, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2011

[sarcasm]I accept that you all suck and I rule.[/sarcasm] :jester:

Nurse Lulu · Jun 17, 2011

Hehe....

Had someone freak cause I didn't give iron as scheduled at 0800 am besides being the only med and the patient being asleep... um it is hard on an empty belly too people! Retimed for breakfast...

I got upset later in the week because the same person didn't give marinol before breakfast because the patient was sleeping, also retimed for with the meal.... so not the same thing. Didn't understand even after I tried to explain.

AgentBeast, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2011

I see how leaving crushed pills in the med cup effects pt care. What is the other one? (just curious) :)

I know you should have used affect where you used effect. My grammar is better than your grammar therefore you suck.

*Again more sarcasm, and gentle chiding of the grammar police.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 17, 2011

i understand the point the op is trying to make and i agree.... everyone else who does not get-it either has never worked with unprofessional nurses by bedside or is blinded to his/her rotten co-workers. well, surprise... there are bedside nurses that bully his/her co-workers.

part of the ease with which backbiting and backstabbing can occur by bedside is directly related to the fact that nursing skills and talents vary, even when ebp protocol is followed. the bully will nit-pick others based upon tasks or skills performed. in addition, the same bully whom thinks that he/she is perfect will follow his/her harassment of a co-worker with gossip that gives the wrong impression that the nurse in question "sucks", as the op pointed out. for those of you that do not understand this scenario please note that this type of behavior is not constructive criticism; rather it creates a hostile work environment for all involved.

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Jun 17, 2011

I think I verbalize an easygoing attitude about the details of nursing practice. I recognize many different styles of attaining the same results.

But in my mind . . .

I reorder all my beds and beside tables my way (the right way!). I work NICU, the patients are not in charge of those areas. I then attack the clipboard we keep at bedside and do them my way (the right way).

Occasionally after the off-going shift leaves people will see me stripping beds and I'll jokingly comment "If people just did things my way. . ." No, seriously, I have never received feedback that those comments are taken poorly. I do receive pretty consistent feedback that I keep a tidy bed & bedside.

I frequently orient new employees and I always make clear what our policy is on any given subject, then show them my way of doing things with my rationale. But I always let them know the variations in practice they may see and which ones bother me and why.

Tait, MSN, RN · Jun 17, 2011

Nursing is stressful. Every day we worry about possibly hurting someone or risking our jobs. I think it is a natural stress reaction to judge others methods in an attempt to validate that our own care is safe and practical.

Or at least that is kind of how it works in my head, though I usually keep my mouth shut about it unless someone is risking patient safety.