Vent about coworker

[NightNurseRN13]

I have this patient who has two nurses (myself and one other). Everything was fine and working out really well, but now I'm hearing things from the patient about the other nurse and I've noticed things myself.

I've noticed that the nurse documents a near perfect blood pressure every shift with a small deviation so it's not the exact same thing every time where as I get blood pressures that are sometimes low and sometimes elevated. There was one night were the patient said "oh, the other nurse forgot to take my blood pressure yesterday", but when I look in their notes there is a blood pressure documented and of course it's what they usually document. My patient also told me that this nurse has told them that they think I don't know how to take a blood pressure. Why would they say that about me?

Tonight I was told that the other nurse didn't take o2 sats at all the previous night, so I look and there is a pulse ox documented as well as one documented every 2 hours.

I was also told that the other nurse is always late. Thursday night they were 3 1/2 hours late and Friday they were 1 hour 15 minutes late, but they documented that they were here the entire time.

And while all that is bad, I was informed that the nurse put the patient on the vent, turned off the light, covered up with a blanket and went to sleep. The patient woke up in the middle of the night and clapped their hands to get the nurses attention and wasn't able to wake them up for a good 10 minutes.

I told my patient they have three options... talk to the nurse about it, talk to our boss about it or ask me to talk to our boss about it. I really don't want to be the one to bring it up so I really hope they call and talk to our boss about all of this, but I know it has to be reported so I'll do it if I have to.

[2ndcareerchange]

Like I said, you did not see this nurse sleeping, as for the documentation, talk to her about it. if she is new like you, she might have been taught some bad habits by the previous nurse. I always give nurses the benefit of the doubt, education and a learning curve, if after that they are hard headed enough not to see when someone is giving them a lifeline, then hey let the chips fall where they may. Be careful with this one, as if this is an adult, he can easily talk to the agency just like he can talk to you. Remember your psych, people like this like to create their own tv drama with live people. You come into their homes and all the whole world is a stage, do not be anyone elses entertainment.

This is me jumping off the soap box.....

[caliotter3]

My supervisor understood what I meant when I said I had never met the nurse who was 'relieving' me, after over a period of time, her departure time inched forward until it matched the time I reported for duty.

[amygarside]

That was actually good advice you did there.

[systoly]

I'd call my supervisor and say something like

"the family has voiced some concerns to me,

however i feel uncomfortable giving you a second hand

report, can you please call them and ask them about any

concerns they might have"

[systoly]

about the B/P

who cares what another nurse may have said about your skills

that doesn't determine your competency, however, do

ask your pt./family if they feel comfortable with your technique

[Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN]

I'd call my supervisor and say something like

"the family has voiced some concerns to me,

however i feel uncomfortable giving you a second hand

report, can you please call them and ask them about any

concerns they might have"

Good advice.

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