Confront a fellow nurse or not?

I think that the day shift nurse of whom you speak needs to reassess her priorities, or yours as the case may be. The first priority is always patient care. You should never put spiking her IV bags above taking care of your patients. I would let her know that you will help her when you can, but your patients come first! And I agree with what someone else mentioned, she shouldn't be starting pit on a patient unless she was the one that mixed it-what if you marked the wrong bag and she gave the pt a pit bolus thinking it was the mainline???? (not that you would do that of course, but you get my drift I hope.)
Hope this helps.

I have run into this type of lazy whining nurse before I usually just reply that I am a very helpful person and that she can most likely get me to help her more by being thankful for what Ido otherwise I am generally not inclined to do anything at all. Usually works pretty good doesnt take them long to figure out I really do jump through hoops for those who show appreciation but not for the whiners. And always always remember your patients are your priority and that is as it should be.

Many wonderful posts to this thread!!!

One tidbit... I know of a nurse who was fired for filling out a patient assessment before the patient arrived on the floor. Fired period with no chance of keeping her job. She also was labeled as a "No Re-Hire" person for anyone calling the hospital Human Resources department for a reference on her. This occurred in Georgia.

Good luck dealing with this workplace bully. I agree your manager should be aware of this horrible woman's tactics. Unfortunately, the manager sounds desperate for employees and may not have the backbone necessary to correct the situation. If you can stand your ground with her, you could mention this all when your contract ends. Your agency needs to be aware of this too before they send other nurses to work there.

Big Sigh

AmberL&D/RN

Sounds like some very good and sound advice on line. By all means "call her bluff" nurses like this we can all do without. Let her know that while you do what you can to ease the shift transition you are not there to do her job and yours too, since you only get paid for the one. She may be a major reason this facility is having to utilize so many travelers (not that travelers aren't a valuable asset). When a unit has a bully that person is usually the major complainer, whinner, and traditionally least motivated staffer. You know the type who works harder at trying to get out of work than doing the work. If noone ever says anything to her nothing will change and she will continue to bully and get the glory of being miss efficient - never giving credit to those who deserve it. And most importantly make an appointment with the nurse manager and assistant nurse manager to voice your "concerns" for their unit and facility in view of the questionable nursing practices you have observed. Trust me as the assistant nurse manager of an OB/GYN unit they will be most appreciative for the "heads-up." GOOD LUCK!!!!

You are both agency nurses, form the same agency by chance? A chat with the unit manager might be in order, ask her to define the job requirements for each person who arrives are each given time, or call an assassin, your choice. (sorry has been a bad few days)

Falsifying documentation ie filling out assessments before a patient arrives is a great way to lose your nursing license. I am pretty sure it is somewhere in the guidelines of your board of nursing that falsifying records is grounds to revoke.

This is indeed a difficult situation to be in. Ask the nurse manager to set up a meeting to include you, the offending nurse and any other nurses that are familiar with her behaviour. That way you have someone to back you up. This person is obviously a bully and will continue to run over you and anyone else who gets in her way unless something is done.

AmberL&D/RN

Just want to add that I would love to be the nurse following you on the next shift! What you are doing is a great courtesy and plenty! She can mix and hang her own meds. That is her job and would be a fool to not insist on mixing her own meds. I dispise nurse bullies! Stand up to her or she'll just keep on adding to her demands, assuming you aren't confident enough to say anything to her.

She needs a confrontation with a trustworthy witness. No harsh words, just professionally said and to the point (even if boiling inside). If she would like to take further, be ready. It needs to come to an end...

Yeah right!!
Her dream world must be nice to live in...

Here's a heads up, folks. This thread is nearly four years old. The OP hasn't posted on the board in 3 1/2 years. Comment on the topic if you want. Just know that any kind of follow-up is unlikely.