Nurse embarrasses me in front of patient, patient's family, and unit

Nurses Relations

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I'm a nursing assistant from the float department. I get floated to different units each day I work. At times, we are asked to sit with patients who are confused or suicidal. My assignment today was to sit. However, an hour later after I was sitting, I was asked by one of the supervisors to go work on the orthopedic floor because there was only 1 nursing assistant on that floor right now and she really needed help.

I went on the floor, went to one side since the other nursing assistant was on the other side, introduced myself, got a brief report from the nurses. Vitals needed to be done at 7am but since I went onto the floor at 8:10, I quickly got my report from the nurses and proceeded with the vitals. I had 12 patients on my side. Of course, it's the morning time and the orthopedic floor, everyone needs something either the bedpan, urinal, or help to the bathroom. My vitals were done at 9 and I put them into the computer. Then I went to each patient to help them get washed up. Not the entire body, but at least the face and help them brush their teeth and comb their hair. Some needed less help than others. Breakfast trays were coming in and after they were finished, I took the trays out so that I can document how much they ate. Call bells are going off to assist with walking to the bathroom or back into their beds if they were sitting on the chair. Some patients took longer in the bathroom or I had to wait with them because they were dizzy. I emptied 2 foleys. I went back into the computer, trying to putting in all their breakfast inputs, how much they voided if they had foleys, how many times they went to the bathroom. Then I did 3 sugars which was not bad at all. Then record the lunch intakes and voids again.

However, one patient who was in isolation had a knee surgery. I helped her to the bathroom and back into bed. The patient knew how to maneuver and what needed to be put back on once she got into bed. I helped her settle back into bed, put a pillow under her leg where she had the surgery done. I put the lamb cushion under her legs, then I put the ted stockings back on, then the abductor pillow between her legs. Then, about 40 minutes later, the nurse for that patient gives me an attitude saying how come I didn't tell her the wound vac came off. My mind went blank. I didn't know what she was talking about. The patient had family in her room, nurses nearby, and visitors nearby as well. I told her I didn't know what she was talking about. She then gives me another attitude saying her wound vac came off and how I didn't tell her. I told her I didn't know and I apologized. I felt my face getting flushed. I walked away to finish my job for other patients, but it bothered me. She never mentioned to me about the wound vacs in the morning when she gave me report. Was I suppose to know this?? Was I at fault??

I'm sorry that nurse had an attitude. Seems like you did the absolute best you could, circumstances being what they were. Shrug that off!

He or she had eyes too right? Should never criticize in front of patients, makes everyone including the one who is critiquing, look incompetent.

KelRN215, BSN, RN

1 Article; 7,349 Posts

Specializes in Pedi.

If this patient was alert and oriented, presumably she knew that she was supposed to have a wound vac and would know if it somehow came off. Did she not have her call bell? I've never worked somewhere that allowed CNAs to touch vac dressings and if you didn't know it had come off, how would you have reported it?

sunnybabe

57 Posts

I'm a nurse aide too and sometimes I just don't know and I will admit that. If you don't get it in report, then say so. You will have to learn to let things roll off your back with experience. The nurse seemed to have a nasty attitude if she brought it up in front of the patient.

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