Very Unprofessional....

Nurses Relations

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So, last night I get report from a patient in the Unit who was in ETOH protocol. This was the patient's 3rd day withdrawing!!! When I got report from this XY Nurse, she told me that the patient was scoring pretty high. I was surprised because we usually send them to the unit when they score over 12. Anyhow, she tells me a little bit about the patient and says to me "ugh he fell at home due to a seizure and that's why you will see all that nasty stuff on his face". I was like, excuse me? and she was like " well yeah, all that dried blood on his face." I just stayed quiet and continue on with report. When I received the patient, he looked like a total hot mess. Yes, I know he is an alcoholic, but we are not here to judge. I offered a bedbath , ( since he was on seizures precautions/ and on bedrest). We cleaned all the blood off his face. Patients need to have dignity, like every human deserves to have! I do not mean to be so sensitive, BUT WE NURSES , came into the profession to help and be compassionate, or at least be professional in the way we communicate about our patients with other colleagues. Anyways, It felt good, I just love being a Nurse!

liberated847

Maybe here but not where I am from originally yes it was done right. We did team nursing and we had 2 RN's, 2 LPn's and 2-3 CNA's for 19 patients! And all the patients were all ambulant. Each one knew exactly what their role was and it was fantastic. Also we DID NOT give up our seats for Dr's or be a hand maiden to Dr's. We were respected and Dr's used every moment as a teachable moment.

And not everyone thought wearing a nursing cap was ridiculous!

And yes nurisngg in teh 80"s WAS bvetter nurisng - nwoadays it is alla bout teh papereworka nd corporate it ahs truined aken actual nursing and focuys on teh patient. Nowadays nurses are so stressed and run ragged and jsut rusghing through a shift with no quaklity time for the patrient!

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I need to correct teh typos in the second half of my post

And yes nursing in the 80's WAS better nursing - nowadays it is all about the paperwork and corporate and it has ruined actual nursing and focus on the patient. Nowadays nurses are so stressed and run ragged and just rushing through a shift with no quality time for the patient. Really sad state of affairs if you ask me.

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Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.
I need to correct teh typos in the second half of my post And yes nursing in the 80's WAS better nursing - nowadays it is all about the paperwork and corporate and it has ruined actual nursing and focus on the patient. Nowadays nurses are so stressed and run ragged and just rushing through a shift with no quality time for the patient. Really sad state of affairs if you ask me.

Your statement that nursing in the 80's was better is just an opinion which I respectfully disagree with..... And nursing caps were, are and will always be demeaning and ridiculous...in my opinion.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Nursing in the 80's wearing a ridiculous cap and being little more than a Doctor's gofer ? No thanks lol

That isn't true. At least not in my experience. Maybe you think caps are ridiculous, and I think scripting and forcing nurses to wear a button that says "ask me if I washed my hands" is ridiculous.

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nurse156

THANK YOU!!! I do not understand why some feel it is demeaning and ridiculous to wear nursing caps especially decades ago!!! I agree with you, I did NOT have ANY negative experience with this! And yes wearing a button asking if you washed your hands today is ridiculous! NO nurse has any business being a nurse if they do not practice frequent hand washing!! And I will be seriously insulted if ANYONE asked me that while working my shift!

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nurse156

THANK YOU!!! I do not understand why some feel it is demeaning and ridiculous to wear nursing caps especially decades ago!!! I agree with you, I did NOT have ANY negative experience with this! And yes wearing a button asking if you washed your hands today is ridiculous! NO nurse has any business being a nurse if they do not practice frequent hand washing!! And I will be seriously insulted if ANYONE asked me that while working my shift!

I love the nursing dresses from back in the days !

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Mental Health.

When I was a student nurse in the seventies in Los Angeles, I was working on a post-open heart surgery unit, when open heart surgery was still new and not done everywhere. The unit was not busy and sometimes we got med-surg overflow patients.

One day we got an admission from the ER - a lol who was the dirtiest I had ever seen a human being get. She was what we used to call a "bag lady", a homeless elderly woman who lugged all her worldly possessions around with her in shopping bags and a cart. I had never seen anyone with so much dirt on them, such crusty clothes, such severe scabies, and I don't know what-all else. I was just aghast.

Then I saw our team leader (we used a team nursing model in that time and place) go into the room with supplies for a bed bath. My instructor sent me in to help a few minutes later, and I'll never forget what I saw. The team leader, a very experienced and technically skilled RN in her 50s, gently removing the patient's garments, always being careful to maintain her dignity and keep her covered, and carefully bathing her while speaking softly and calmly. (The patient was very anxious and upset.)

That image of the hot-shot nurse giving basic bedside care to a street dwelling old woman and comforting her has stayed with me. To me, that is what "old-time nursing" is about, and that is the model I tried to live up to ever since, as a floor nurse and an NP.

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When I was a student nurse in the seventies in Los Angeles, I was working on a post-open heart surgery unit, when open heart surgery was still new and not done everywhere. The unit was not busy and sometimes we got med-surg overflow patients.

One day we got an admission from the ER - a lol who was the dirtiest I had ever seen a human being get. She was what we used to call a "bag lady", a homeless elderly woman who lugged all her worldly possessions around with her in shopping bags and a cart. I had never seen anyone with so much dirt on them, such crusty clothes, such severe scabies, and I don't know what-all else. I was just aghast.

Then I saw our team leader (we used a team nursing model in that time and place) go into the room with supplies for a bed bath. My instructor sent me in to help a few minutes later, and I'll never forget what I saw. The team leader, a very experienced and technically skilled RN in her 50s, gently removing the patient's garments, always being careful to maintain her dignity and keep her covered, and carefully bathing her while speaking softly and calmly. (The patient was very anxious and upset.)

That image of the hot-shot nurse giving basic bedside care to a street dwelling old woman and comforting her has stayed with me. To me, that is what "old-time nursing" is about, and that is the model I tried to live up to ever since, as a floor nurse and an NP.

That's why I say that we must see the whole picture . But even in the world of nursing things change as the years go on . It is very interesting to see how different older nurses think vs newer nurses of today's era . We are more technology based. I really admire those nurses who genuinely care, and patients can tell too !!!! Unfortunately , some people go to nursing for other reasons, but it is what it is . I guess that's how it is in every profession.

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As an EMT I am ashamed by some of the comments I've heard, its no wonder patients don't trust us. Ask yourself, "Would I want to be a patient in my hospital?" I've only met one hospital staff that exemplified "caring for the whole patient." Unfortunately, its not where I work. Sometimes we get into such a routine that we start looking at patients as a list of signs and symptoms. But even though we may have seen their condition 10,000 times, for them this is the FIRST time! :-) REMEMBER YOUR FIRST TIME??!! (-: Thank you to all those nurses who still care that patients are also people.

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Nurse156, Be Prepared!!! In 1998 I was in a T/C on my motorcycle and the handlebar went Thru-and-Thru my left knee (In at the lateral aspect of L-knee, Out at the medial aspect approx. 15cm distal to medial condyle). During the 10 operations to rebuild my knee, a "nurse" came to change my dressing wearing still wearing the yellow gown from the isolation room. The MRSA from her hands entered by blood and almost cost my life. Unless I observed proper technique, I ALWAYS ask them to wash BEFORE handling gloves!! They can be offended, its MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!

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Nurse156, Be Prepared!!! In 1998 I was in a T/C on my motorcycle and the handlebar went Thru-and-Thru my left knee (In at the lateral aspect of L-knee, Out at the medial aspect approx. 15cm distal to medial condyle). During the 10 operations to rebuild my knee, a "nurse" came to change my dressing wearing still wearing the yellow gown from the isolation room. The MRSA from her hands entered by blood and almost cost my life. Unless I observed proper technique, I ALWAYS ask them to wash BEFORE handling gloves!! They can be offended, its MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!

OMG of course !!!!

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Mental Health.
That's why I say that we must see the whole picture . But even in the world of nursing things change as the years go on . It is very interesting to see how different older nurses think vs newer nurses of today's era . We are more technology based. I really admire those nurses who genuinely care, and patients can tell too !!!! Unfortunately , some people go to nursing for other reasons, but it is what it is . I guess that's how it is in every profession.

But surely, even with all the technology, student nurses today are taught and mentored to be caring as well as to provide care?

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