Most shocking thing you've seen another nurse do?

Nurses Relations

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SNF. RN supervisor summoned (overhead, at about 0300) me to one of her rooms. She was attempting to insert an NG tube in an alert man, about 40, alcoholic, with varices. Told me she felt a 'blockage'. She was holding the tube as though it were a fork, and she was 'stabbing' something. She rammed the tube down, pulled back, then rammed it again- until blood exloded out the tube. I suctioned him really quick and the suction tubing, canister and filters became packed with blood. I ran out and called 911, came back told her "Get the **** away from him! What are you DOING"?. I was suspended, for allowing her, an RN, my supervisor, to be so incompetent. Was told I should have known she was incompetent, and should have 'taken the NG from her and inserted it yourself'. Oh, really. Yes, he died. She was 'asked to resign', because her son was the medical director of the place. The panic on that man's face is clear today, and that was 25 years ago. BTW- I don't think an LVN should insert NG tubes, it's as crazy as giving TPN. Out of bounds, my opinion.

I once helped a nurse giving an enema... into lady parts. I was holding the patient on the other side, so I did not see where the tube was going. Only later when I leaned over to see what was going on, I was like, 'oh **** did she just put that in the wrong hole?'

Confusing urethra and lady parts is understandable, but orifice and lady parts??

I was the LVN that the RN called for help- she's the one who killed the patient. I'm the one that was suspended, because they knew she was an incompetent mess from day one, and I as the polar opposite was thrown under the bus. I can run circles around lots of nurses- fact. But, NG tubes and TPN, are meant for 'professional nurses', as some like to be called- and their background in science, theory, A&P, etc. It can't be both ways- either the scope of LVNs is limited by their education, or it isn't. And if not, explain the constant pressure for RNs for 'more school', constantly? I'm relating what I have seen in 30 years, and why I make such comments. Hardly, am I denigrating anybody- much less myself. Not only that? In PN school I never even 'heard' of an NG tube, that was 'on the spot' training in a SNF. Uncool. Dangerous. Out of my scope, anyway- even by now I've inserted 1000 of them, maybe- but they are becoming as rare as the dinosaurs, fortunately. I hail from the Dark Ages- what, he won't eat? Shove an NG tube down his throat! We all have opinions, fine by me. Obviously the controversial ideas I create in here are being enjoyed by the audience. It's an educational process, called 'reality check'.

Thirty years ago the education of the LPN was far different than it is now. I put down NG tubes, did it in clinicals over and over. LPN's are more technically based than they were back in the day. However, the point is regardless of initials, putting an NG tube down any patient with varicies is a really, really poor idea. That would be an MD call, and an MD procedure.

On an alternate note, I wouldn't think you, OP, regardless of the initials after your name would have made a hoot of a difference if you begged and pleaded with your CHARGE NURSE to stop what she was doing. Only then you would be fired for insubordination.

On our paper MAR the insulin orders read:

Novolog 100 units/ML vial. Give XX units SC with meals provided BS is 150 or greater.

One morning our RN supervisor had to pass meds due to the LPN calling sick. (RNs almost never pass meds at our facility). A resident had an order for 8 units of Novolog with breakfast. This RN read the MAR, saw the part that said the vials were "100 units/ML" and thought the order said to give 100 units of Novolog. She drew up 100 units of Novolog and administered it...

Specializes in Med-Surg.

Oh wow...Brandon, please say the patient was ok? How quick was the mistake caught?

I wasn't there, I believe it was caught right away.

The resident was okay. He got IM glucagon and lots of food and they checked his BS with great frequency for 24 hrs.

I actually felt really sorry for the supervisor. To not work the floor for years, and then be thrust one morning into a forty-plus resident med pass.... a recipe for disaster.

When I was in nursing school I had a clinical rotation at an acute care facility. One of the CNAs inserted a Foley into a pt's rectum (because the pt hadn't passed gas) and tied a plastic grocery bag around the other end to catch the gas and any solids that may escape. My fellow student asked why it wasn't done as a sterile procedure, and the CNA said it didn't need to be sterile because it was going in the butt. I shook my head and walked out of the room.

Specializes in Psychiatric/ Mental Health.

I've seen nurses try to give tube feedings through a pts trach. If someone asks you "Ummm, what are you about to do with that?"...take it as a prompt to re-evaluate the situation. After much teaching, the nurse realized that she was about to pretty much drown the poor baby with formula.

I've seen nurses put foleys where foleys dont go, then state they saw urine, no sweety, thats the wrong hole, you didnt see urine, you must be having AH.

I was a new hire on a psych unit with RN's who had been there for yrs. Had a pt with psychosis. He wasn't harming anyone or himself, he was just standing in the hallway mumbling to himself, had been doing this for 30-45 minutes. One nurse was tired of looking at him stand around I guess....he instructes me to call and get an order for a sedative, I asked what the rational for ordering a sedative for the pt was, he states "He needs to sit down. Im tired of seeing him stand there." As a very cautious nurse, I tell him the pt doesnt appear to be a danger to himself or anyone else, so no, I dont feel comfortable with getting that order, ane he would have to get it himself. He calls the doc and gives him som lie about the pt being HI towards peers. He gave this man and IM. He was so out of it, that he fell asleep, face in his dinner tray. It just seemed unethical to me.

Specializes in Psychiatric/ Mental Health.

Nooooooooooooooooooo! Oh my gosh. What is it with people and insulin? Read the order, check the blood sugar, read the order again. If it seems like too much insulin, it just might be. Check check and triple check. Scarey.

Specializes in Psychiatric/ Mental Health.
When I was in nursing school I had a clinical rotation at an acute care facility. One of the CNAs inserted a Foley into a pt's rectum (because the pt hadn't passed gas) and tied a plastic grocery bag around the other end to catch the gas and any solids that may escape. My fellow student asked why it wasn't done as a sterile procedure, and the CNA said it didn't need to be sterile because it was going in the butt. I shook my head and walked out of the room.

This is wrong on so many levels. CNA's don't insert rectal tubes for one. Two, even if CNA's were allowed to peform this procedure, why would she think its okay to tie a plastic wlamart bag at the end to catch gas and fecal matter? Imagine what the family of that pt would be thinking when they walked in and saw a walmart bag and a tube hanging from their loved ones butt.....this is so wrong.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

CNA's can insert rectal tubes...although check your state Nurse practice act...for example....North Carolina

I am more appalled at the grocery bag for collection!!!
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
When I was in nursing school I had a clinical rotation at an acute care facility. One of the CNAs inserted a Foley into a pt's rectum (because the pt hadn't passed gas) and tied a plastic grocery bag around the other end to catch the gas and any solids that may escape. My fellow student asked why it wasn't done as a sterile procedure, and the CNA said it didn't need to be sterile because it was going in the butt. I shook my head and walked out of the room.

There is nothing sterile about the GI tract- it is open to the environment on both ends and the living environment of countless bacteria. There is no need for sterile technique for insertion of a rectal foley/tube. Heck, even colonoscopies are done using clean rather than sterile technique!

The only issue I can see with this is the use of the plastic bag. Our rectal tubes are connected to foley bags without a urimeter. A possible second issue is a CNA doing the insertion if state practice rules and institution policy don't allow them to do this.

The charge nurse with 20 plus years experience in ER gave the fake epipen injection to a resident having severe allergic reaction.

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