Most shocking thing you've seen another nurse do?

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Ruby Vee, BSN

17 Articles; 14,030 Posts

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

Once had a charge nurse who could be observed running AWAY every time a code was called on our unit. That problem was solved when they promoted him to manager.

There was the nurse who gave a patient's family her hospital ID so "they could have free parking when they visit." It obviously never occurred to her that they'd also have easy access to the parts of the hospital that are normally closed to family members. Then security questioned her about why she had been trying over and over to badge into pharmacy after it was closed for the night . . . .

The nursing student who was very concerned about giving the MOM as the patient was NPO. Another student told her to give it "in the butt." So she did. IM.

Then there was the brand new medical resident who had never defibrillated anyone before. The patient was in SVT, dropping blood pressures, but he defibrillated the nurse who was unfortunate enough to have her hands on the patient when he hauled off and zapped her. The nurse went to ER. The patient remained in SVT and the respiratory therapist (brave man that he was) wrestled the intern to the ground to get the paddles away from him.

Which reminds me of the pulmonolgist who had an ongoing hate affair with the cardiac surgeon who boinked his wife during the Christmas party. He hauled off to whack the cardiac surgeon in the face with a metal chart, and as his arm swung back, he clocked the NP who was coming up behind him. She needed stitches. Pulmonologist kept saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I was trying to hit HIM."

prunejuice&BPs

11 Posts

Wow! this sounds like a script out of a bad movie are you kidding??? :no:

KCMnurse, BSN, MSN, RN

1 Article; 283 Posts

Specializes in Educator.
Once had a charge nurse who could be observed running AWAY every time a code was called on our unit. That problem was solved when they promoted him to manager.

There was the nurse who gave a patient's family her hospital ID so "they could have free parking when they visit." It obviously never occurred to her that they'd also have easy access to the parts of the hospital that are normally closed to family members. Then security questioned her about why she had been trying over and over to badge into pharmacy after it was closed for the night . . . .

The nursing student who was very concerned about giving the MOM as the patient was NPO. Another student told her to give it "in the butt." So she did. IM.

Then there was the brand new medical resident who had never defibrillated anyone before. The patient was in SVT, dropping blood pressures, but he defibrillated the nurse who was unfortunate enough to have her hands on the patient when he hauled off and zapped her. The nurse went to ER. The patient remained in SVT and the respiratory therapist (brave man that he was) wrestled the intern to the ground to get the paddles away from him.

Which reminds me of the pulmonolgist who had an ongoing hate affair with the cardiac surgeon who boinked his wife during the Christmas party. He hauled off to whack the cardiac surgeon in the face with a metal chart, and as his arm swung back, he clocked the NP who was coming up behind him. She needed stitches. Pulmonologist kept saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I was trying to hit HIM."

I'm speechless! I am hoping these did not all occur in the same facility??!!

monkeybug

716 Posts

Specializes in Public Health, L&D, NICU.
I have never heard that term before. When I worked L&D my first precip delivery was "under the veil" as they called it. Took me a few seconds to figure out why the bulb syringe couldn't enter the nose or mouth. The membranes were transparent. I was told it was supposed to be good luck. Different strokes for different folks I guess!

I've heard many times that being born with a caul will give the baby psychic abilities. Dont' know about that, but I find most superstitions interesting.

VictoriaGayle

139 Posts

I've heard many times that being born with a caul will give the baby psychic abilities. Dont' know about that, but I find most superstitions interesting.

There are lots of superstitions regarding cauls. Sometimes they are red which supposedly means the baby is going to be a vampire.

Specializes in Cardiac step-down, PICC/Midline insertion.

Don't usually hate on other fellow nurses cause we all make mistakes....but...the other morning as I was waiting to give report to the day shift, I overheard one of the other night nurses giving report. She told the oncoming nurse that the pt had a NGT to suction in the LUNG and it was draining green sputum. (obviously it was in the stomach draining bile...not in the lung draining "sputum") And she was dead serious. She literally thought that's what the tube was for. The nurse rec'ing report immediately freaked out asking her why it would be in the lung because it doesn't belong there and when the nurse seemed dumbfounded and couldn't tell her where the tube actually was, she finally just shook her head and went on with the report. How the heck do you graduate nursing school thinking that having an NGT in the lung to drain sputum is OK? I couldn't believe what I just heard.

GundeRN

99 Posts

Found this thread interesting. Bumping it up in case you guys have more.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

When I was in school, during my second med-surg rotation, my nurse literally screamed at my patient. I was pretty shocked.

Get out her cell and text in the middle of a code. Yes, she still kept her job..didn't even get a write up. That's what happens when you are connected with the write people.

DoeRN

941 Posts

We had to use peri pads on an abdominal tumor. It was the only thing that would absorb the secretions.

I've experience many issues with NGT's. Followed one nurse who inserted one, didn't check for placement hooked up suction and it was coiled in the patients mouth. Yeah the patient wasn't too happy about that. So I placed another one and had the doctor order an xray for placement. And apparently that wasn't standard practice at this hospital for placement. Also had another nurse running fluids into a stop cock on a g-tube (I'm an advocate for bedside report and checking your lines) and the crazy thing is she taped the connector to stopcock because she said the doctor put the wrong type of connector on it for IV fluids.

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nursefrances, BSN, RN

1 Article; 601 Posts

Specializes in Ambulatory Surgery, Ophthalmology, Tele.
Saw a nurse who went against protocol and pulled 'Tylenol' for a patient and gave it without using our electronic MAR (scan pt, scan med) and gave the pills... she went back an hour later to scan it, she gave 2 lopressor pills instead of 2 Tylenol..

When I worked in the hospital I was happy we had an electronic MAR and had to scan patients wrist band and the med, so much safer. I have seen wrong meds placed in the pixus in the wrong drawers, etc.

Once as a student, a patient told me that while she was sleeping a nurse woke her and said something like "Ok hon, here is your insulin." Fortunately the patient stopped her and said I do not take insulin, I am not diabetic. Imagine if she was not able to speak/aphasic/confused and received the dose of insulin. Med errors are scary.:no:

Specializes in Cardiac step-down, PICC/Midline insertion.

Omg....errors like that leave me scratching my head. Why would hooking up IV fluids to a G-tube even cross your mind as an option? Or placing an NGT and not checking placement. Scary...

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