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

MedSurgeMess · Mar 25, 2007

AMEN to all of the above!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agnus · Mar 25, 2007

I wish I could tell them that talking about their sex lives and various instruments that they may use in the bedroom is best left in the bedroom.

No only can you tell them you should. Or report this to HR. this comes under the heading of hostile enviorment.

At the very least they are unprofessional. At the most your hospital could face a law suite from a patient visitor or employee.

Agnus · Mar 25, 2007

How about the right pupil equal and reactive..and a 2. the same with the left eye. But hey, since when does an artifical right eye become equal and reactive. This is from nurses charting on a CCU patient. HELP!! No, they did not get their eyes mixed up.

Oh boy! don't they realize equal means the right is equal in size to the left. One eye can not be equal it takes two baby.

kito4149 · Apr 11, 2007

im a new nurse working in the prison system. some of the "golden oldies" got upset w/me b/c i told them i didnt want to be trained the "wrong" way. they asked me what did i mean. i told them that they were set in their lazy ways and they werent gonna train me properly. i think i stepped on a lot of toes, but i dont care b/c i work on my license, not theirs. even though they are inmates, we took an oath to give the best care to everyone, no matter what. having said that, i am learning the old fashioned way, I JUMPED IN HEAD FIRST!!!!!!!!! thank God i can float!!!:monkeydance:

queenjean · Apr 11, 2007

Here's my list:
1. Name, Sex, Age. Admitting date and diagnosis. Procedure date (maybe different from admission date). Attending MDs, Hospitalists, internists, primary MDs. On-call MDs if need be. Code status and anesthesiologist group (if patient has epidural, block etc).
2. Past history. Allergies.
3. IV access/fluids - type, rate, credit.
4. Pain control - PCA/Oral. Time last dose given, strength. If PCA, give credit
5. Output - bedpan, BRP, Foley. Give amounts. Includes Drains, reinfusers, NG tubes etc.
6. Labs done and pertinent/abnormal results. List labs to be drawn and times to be drawn at. Also list Accu-check glucose monitoring status and results [along with amount of insulin given, if any]. Remind at this spot if RN needs to draw labs from central lines if pt. has one (or not to if MD has ordered no line draws).
7. Special meds/treatments - TPN, cardizem drip etc.
8. Other treatments - elevate extremity, I/S, HOB, nebs etc., O2 rate/delivery method
9. General comments - give your impression of the patient, behavior over your shift. Any calls you made. Your concerns etc. Discharge details (if applicable)
*********************
Roy, that's waaaay too much for me. That is what the computer is for on our unit, and we have in fact been instructed that we are not to give all that repetitive info. I know each unit is different, I'm just saying on our unit, report on each patient shouldn't take 15 minutes each!
And that is my gripe. Hello, did you see that I was here for 15 minutes getting info off the computer. My brain is in front of us--do you not see I know that pt's allergies, where the IV is, what fluid is running, etc? I don't need to be re-told these things.
I want to know what has changed, things to look out for, any problems, anything to be alert for, anything I can't get off the computer. Not that his mother came in, and didn't they have a lovely chat, and then she brought him clean socks, but you just sent them back home, because they weren't the no-skid kind, and that was okay with the patient, he didn't really like the socks that his mom brought in anyway.
To M on my shift: I swear to G*d if you huff and sigh one more time I will not be reponsible for my actions. It might get ugly.
To certain day shift nurses: If you don't get to work until 0700, you don't get the luxury of having 15+ minutes to look at the computer. You just need to take report and get it later. Remember that at 0700 and 1900 we give report? Remember that at 1850 yesterday I came looking for you, got report from you, and you got out of here early? Could you at least get report from me ON TIME?
And I swear to G*d, whoever is drinking my soda out of the staff fridge, despite it being clearly marked, if I find out who you are, you might soon be sleeping with the fishes. In any case, I think I am going to get some prank cans of soda, and let you have at it. Enjoy spending the night in the crapper after you drink my castor oil laced soda.
I also want to let you know, when I put up that sign on the fridge that said I spit in all my food before I put it into the fridge, I wasn't kidding. Hope you enjoyed my sputum on that lentil bean and rice casserole.

samaletta · Apr 11, 2007

I would like to say, "Yes, I DO smoke, and I will take 3 ten minute breaks to smoke instead of a 1/2 break for lunch if I want to; and how does sitting at the nurses station on your butt all day eating Cheetoh's fit into YOUR break schedule?":smokin:

I love it!

jill48, ASN, RN · Apr 11, 2007

1. Maybe you shouldn't wear a thong with those pants, I don't care to see your bum.

2. When I ask if you need any help, it is not an invitation for you to give me the dirty jobs that you don't want to do. I have already done them on my own patients, thank you very much.

3. Yes, I did happen to notice that you assigned me 6 chest tubes and yourself 5 alert and oriented people who are only here for bowel prep for colonoscopies because they could not do it at home the way the doctor orded it. Did you think I didn't notice that?

4. Yes, your new hair cut is pretty. No, those pants don't make you look fat (or do they?).

5. Stop standing so close behind me at the Pxyis. You freaking me out and I feel like I'm at the ATM. This is a big room, back the heck up.

6. I understand venting, I even do it myself; but please quiet down in the hallways. My patients and their families don't need to hear your problems, or your cursing.

7. If I ever see you even look at your patient wrong again, not to mention speaking to them in a tone I don't like, I will intervene wether you like it or not.

8. Yes, I am aware of the fact that I am an LPN and you are an RN; but I have 11 years experience and you are a new nurse so shut up and let me train you.

9. If you take the last of anything, feel free to get up of your big butt next time your "bored" and refill it. It's not that hard. It won't hurt you. And it's just good manners.

10. If you want me to respect you, then show me some respect. This is not junior high school. Whispering and giggling is not cute here.

EarthChild1130 · Apr 11, 2007

1. I wish you'd wait until AFTER the med pass to call your boyfriend...talking to him on the phone in the med room while trying to get stuff out of the Pyxis is not only dangerous, it's HOLDING ME UP!!

2. If the IV bag only has about 30cc of fluid in it, CHANGE it! Don't leave it for me to do after report...odds are the bag's empty now, and the IV is occluded because *somebody* kept pushing the 'hold' button to keep the pump from ringing!:trout:

3. This is for your safety AND mine...If that patient was restrained and given a load of Haldol in the ER and is asleep just now, it might be safer to let him sleep than release him AND wake him up...we may want to see how he feels once he wakes up, don't ya think?? He's a LOT bigger than you or me and I don't feel like doing a takedown just now.

4. Okay...I get it...I'm from Alabama, and I live here in Oregon now...I have a funny accent...that's cool...but please don't ask me to quote 'Forrest Gump' any more...it's really not THAT funny.

One thing to add to report: I always like to know the ambulatory status of my patients...just a quirk...like to know how well they move!

mstigerlily · Apr 11, 2007

To the OP:

Our hospital has an excellent new grad program, for 12 weeks we had class once a week from 8-5. We had a different system to study each week and while our quizzes weren't graded, we were expected to pay attention to the films, guest speakers and participate in activities. For this we were paid our regular new grad hourly rate PLUS they fed us a nice catered breakfast and hot lunch for free. So say if new grads are making $30/hr, one 8 hr day once a week for 12 weeks means you earn yourself $2880 before taxes and get 24 free meals. Plus along the way you got to learn things, ask questions and meet the mentors, managers and ancillary staff who work in each department.

I didn't see the behavior you witnessed, all my classmates were very professional and attentive, however I did hear some groans, see the occasional eye rolls and nearly everyone said they were glad those classes were over. However, I was so grateful for this opportunity and "class day" was my favorite day of the week and I was a little sad when it was over. Getting paid to learn things plus free food sounds good to me.

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.

burn out · Apr 12, 2007

Please Take The Job At Walmart, I'll Even Give You A Good Reference Anything To Get You To Shut Up And Quit Complaining.

LeahJet, ASN, RN · Apr 12, 2007

When I am in Triage and taking a patient to one of your rooms.... do not yell across the ER asking me what is wrong with the patient so you can yell back a reason why the patient needs to go to another room. A room that is not yours. It is obvious that you are being lazy and trying to get out of getting a patient. :uhoh3:

Everyone notices when you come up missing about 3 minutes after an ambulance call with a 4 min ETA. (going to your room)

jamminworld · Apr 12, 2007

Ok, this isn't the same, but to answer the question titling this thread....I wish I could say "is this report you're giving me on this patient what I'm really going to find? Or is this the report YOU got and you haven't actually seen this patient in the last five hours?" All too often I'm told a set of facts that aren't anything like what I find in the room ten minutes after report.
I love going into a room expecting to see a R TKR and finding it's the left. And that instead of being elevated, there isn't a pillow to be found for it. How was it elevated all day? That the "keep ice on the wound" order for a fresh post op, emphatically given in report, yields a patient who has an ice bag so old that it's HOT WATER from his body heat. I got a patient at midnight who had very literally a bag of hot water on his abdominal wound; when I asked him about it he said it was the bag he got THAT MORNING in PACU.
I would love to tell my co-workers to stop copying the previous nurse's charting notes on the care plans, and write their own observations. Don't know how many times I've seen a pt noted to have an IV all day, and it was d/c'd the day before. Or noted to have a "clean, dry, intact" dressing and the thing is bloodstained--and has been for a long time. Dear co-worker...did you LOOK?

I have to agree with you 100% I couldnt have said it better myself. Although I am guilty of saying left when I mean right but I am one of those people that are pointing to the exact area so when questioned I can correct myself. :rolleyes:

I also wish I could say to my coworkers that nursing is a 24 hours job not just 12 hours. I do my very best to complete everything but there are times I just cant get to something. I try to change IV's if they will expire the following day, I try to change dsgs even if they are daily to make it easier for day shift, I attempt to fix any problems that I see but give me a break if I cant. I had a nurse yell at me just today because an IV was due to be changed TODAY. I know she was just frustrated because the floor we work on has not been staffing enough nurses and the pt loads are really too heavy but it still bothered me.