Things you wish you could say to your co-workers...

tattooednursie, LVN · Jun 6, 2007

How about charting the BM on the residents so I don't end up cleaning up a resident who had a gallon of diarrhea on themselves and their bed, after the nurse had to give them a laxative, because no one charted.

That was an issue I got all bent out of shape about. I almost called the aide that had them the previous day (when the pt went) and had her come in and clean the pt up!!!!!! I didn't . . . but the next time I saw her I told her I would!!!!!

mo-mo · Jun 7, 2007

Don't bother copying down and reporting to me the abnormal lab values if you don't know how to interpret them or what to do about them... It just makes you look stupid. (For example the K of 5.4 but you still fed the guy a k-dur instead of calling the doc and verifying whether it should be d/c'd or cont'd!!??!!)

Do bother to notice if that med was ordered IV or IM before you give it!

You admitted the pt at 1740, and now its 1900; Complete the admission paperwork before you leave, please.

Figure out your time mgmt issues; it isn't fair that I consistently get the heavier workload than you b/c Charge Nurse knows that you can't deal...I've been here 5 months and you...?

I NEVER write a variance report out of spite! Don't take it personally! If a doc orders to d/c a med at 0830 and pt rec'd said med (twice!) that day, I am obligated to document the variance. Its not a personal attack and I'm not saying that I dont make mistakes too! I've made med errors before and if it wasn't already reported by someone else, I self-reported. ITS THE HONEST AND PROFESSIONAL THING TO DO.

Thank you for doing my 24hr checks/starting that IV/paging the doc/etc. when I was overwhelmed.

Thank you for backing me up when doc wouldn't believe me that pt was too sick to be on the floor. (Bet he got a clue when the guy coded in step down a couple hrs later!)

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR EXPENSIVE COFFEE (YUMMY!)

Thank you for your patience when orienting me.

Thanks for the positive feedback and constructive criticism and thanks for listening to my constructive criticism. We all improve if we share our knowledge with each other and are humble enough to listen to each other. (OK I do say these things, but sometimes we just brush off the good stuff and get stuck in the ugly stuff!)

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 7, 2007

turn your @&*%$!#*@&*%^+@# cell phone off! i don't wish to listen to you argue with your spouse or other family member while you're supposed to be working!

(i work in a clinic and cell phone restrictions haven't been made policy. yet.)

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jun 7, 2007

Oh buddy.....I'm going to be getting even with you really soon! The reason I can't say this to him is because he is on vacation until the 19th, otherwise I'd gladly say it. I can't wait until the 19th he! he! :lol2: It's gonna be great!

TracyB,RN, RN · Jun 7, 2007

Oh dear Lord... YOUTH DEW????? Eeeewwwww

I really like most of my co-workers. Most of what I would like to say has been covered in these posts, but my favorite..... "Instead of whining about it like a 3 yr old for the past 20 minutes, you could have done ______ 10 times by now."

As far as classes go, I can be a tad overbearing & have been known to kindly ask people to shut up so I can hear what the instructor is trying to explain. I've been called lots of names for that, but who do the rude people come to when they need to know the answer???? ME... I LOL & tell them if they were paying attention in such & such lecture, they would know & then I kindly tell them where to find the info, unless it's really an urgent patient care issue, then I explain as I demonstrate.

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Jun 7, 2007

To some of my OR coworkers....

Please realize that this patient is someone's parent, child, sibling or dear friend. Treat them how you would like to be treated.

Please realize that we were all new at one point and no one (not even you) is perfect.

When I come in to relieve you, don't fly out of there like the devil is chasing you..Give me a proper report so that I can take care of this patient in a safe, efficient manner.

When a patient is going to sleep, or waking up( or when the case is going on, for that matter) pipe down already! Some of you are incapable of using a normal tone of voice.

BE NICE!!!!

This thread is very therapeutic!!! :lol2:

squeakykitty · Jun 7, 2007

That was an issue I got all bent out of shape about. I almost called the aide that had them the previous day (when the pt went) and had her come in and clean the pt up!!!!!! I didn't . . . but the next time I saw her I told her I would!!!!!

The charge nurses at the facility where I worked also got bent out of shape, and threatened to write people up right and left if they didn't start charting them. I don't blame them. The resident who had all that diarrhea got a UTI from it.

Another thing I would like to say to my coworkers is:

I shouldn't have to spend 30-45 minutes going all over the place begging for help with a 2 person transfer. Show some TEAMWORK people! I'm not going to do it by myself and drop the resident and hurt them.:trout: If you have time to gossip with your buddy, you have a minute to help me.

LadyLurker · Jun 8, 2007

To say to a co-worker.... "You are barely 3 months into your pregnancy. The baby is NOT kicking so hard that it makes you vomit. The baby is not yet large enough for that. You, on the other hand, are so large not because you are having twins, but because you eat enough for three grown men. Giving you report as you mow down on a sub is enough to gag me. And if I have to see your thonged backside one more time, I will not be responsible for my actions. Pull your pants up, buy uniforms that fit you and suit your enlarged body, and stop calling in sick because we won't all cater to you and your pregnancy. You are pregnant, not terminally ill, and stop being so lazy. We will not carry your supersized buttocks any longer."

Boy, that was therapeutic. :)

TazziRN, RN · Jun 8, 2007

buy uniforms that fit you and suit your enlarged body

*snort* When we drove my daughter and her friends to the senior prom there was a girl who wore a very pretty dress that was obviously several sizes too small. I didn't say anything but one of the kids commented that the girl looked like "10 pounds of potatoes in a 5-pound sack!"

Back to our regularly scheduled programming..........

grace90, LPN, LVN · Jun 8, 2007

I'm not standing here with the call bell on with a patient about to self-transfer onto the commode for no reason. I didn't appreciate waiting 10 minutes and neither did my patient who REALLY had to pee. Nor did I appreciate it when I called the desk to ask for help cuz I couldn't leave her and it took at least 5 minutes for someone to answer and come help me.

Quit asking me 10,000 questions during report when the answer to most of your questions is in the chart.

Get your sorry buttocks back into the telemetry room and watch those freakin' monitors, you sorry flirt. Now I know why, when I float to another floor and call you to ask how a patient's rhythm is doing, you don't have a flippin' clue. If a patient is that bradycardic, I think I need to know. But you weren't watching, were you? You were probably out at the nurse's desk flirting again. One of these days, someone's gonna code while you're not watching, and it's hopefully gonna be your tush that fries.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Jun 8, 2007

Whose side are you on, anyway?????!!!

blueheaven · Jun 9, 2007

Ugh! Feeling a little frustrated today with some other newbie nurses (I am one myself). As part of orientation, we have several tasks that we have to complete and classes to attend. I find them very beneficial. However, it seems there are one or two immature individuals that insist on complaining, degrading, disregarding, and disrespecting every lecture, inservice and instructor/guest speaker that we have. It was easy to ignore at first, but now it seems it is spreading to other previously satisfied new grads who want to be part of this little group. Sometimes, I wish I could just speak my mind, but it would not be very professional...
- Yes, it is important that I know how to read EKGs forwards, backwards, and sideways in case my pt has a rhythm change and I need to intervene. :trout:
- Yes, I do need to know how to interpret ABGs even though we always have a respiratory therapist, because there are other assessment findings that I must take into consideration when providing treatment.
- Yes, I do want to learn how to read a 12 lead even though the diagnosis is generated at the top of the page...it is not always accurate.
- No, I don't want to have to move closer to hear the instructor/speaker because you want to gossip about how much you drank this weekend, your friend from highschool that got arrested, or which doctor you think is hot. I happen to think hemodynamics is an important aspect of critical care.
- No...I don't chart before I do something, I do follow the 'stupid' protocols, and I do take notes during these classes and read up on the newest recommendations outside of work. That's because I value my license.
- No...I don't know how you made it through nursing school either. :trout:
I guess I am just having a bad day. But being around this group for a few days reminds me of highschool too much. It's like watching an episode of the hills on MTV. :trout: It appalls me that some people lack such maturity and professionalism, yet choose an advanced area of practice. And then claim, they are going to apply for CRNA school after a year. Good luck with that when you don't even know the oral care protocol or why it's done.

I went to nursing school with some of those same type folks....scary thing is...THEY ACTUALLY GOT INTO GAS SCHOOL!!!!!