Quick vent

[PJMommy]

I'm in ICU clinicals right now. I do head to toe assessments on my patient q 2 hours. I couldn't get a pedal pulse on the guy because he had such massive edema. I asked my nurse (a float) who told me she'd come help me find the pulse at next assessment. She didn't. So I asked where the Doppler was and she told me...get this...just put the pulse down at 1-2+ since the night shift was reporting 2+. I told her I didn't feel right charting something I hadn't felt. So she charts it herself!! She hadn't even been in the patient's room!

To make a long story longer...I went and found my instructor and the Doppler and verified pulses -- but can you believe this?

This is also the same nurse who told me to run two IV meds through the same tubing. I asked if she knew if they were compatible and she says "I'm sure they are". Not comfortable with that, I looked it up (found nothing) and then talked to pharmacy who said I shouldn't run them together. Earlier in the shift, I noticed D5W was the IV fluid running when it should have been normal saline. She says..."oh, well...just let the bag run through and we'll use normal saline next time". (The guys blood sugars were through the roof...duh, I wonder why?!)

Guys, this is in ICU!! Needless to say, the patient was extremely critical. How can a nurse be so NOT detail oriented??

[Lorus]

yeesh... Sounds a bit sketchy. Good that you were on the ball though. Makes you wonder what else that nurse pencil-whips throughout the day...

[Carolanne]

That is scary. Good for you for being so careful and aware. It's an uneasy feeling that a nurse in the ICU would be so nonchalant (sp?) about such important details.

[nurse2be in ny]

I wouldn't want her anywhere near anyone I cared about. Holy cow!

[wv_nurse 2003]

A perfect example of the kind of nurse you will NEVER be!!