is this abuse

I would have done vitals on the patient, including her sats...tried to calm her by reassuring her that you will be there for her...and with your assessment....go over the charge nurses head. Abuse should always be reported. And quite possible she was s.o.b. and talking fast. I had a lady talking fast and her peak flow was 25.

motorcycle mama,

I think you are the one being defensive, not me. There are plenty of times that I wanted to tell someone to stop flapping their gums. Nursing isn't the only profession where you get screamed at, cussed at, belittled and generally treated like crap. I will NEVER understand what you go through until I do it, thats so true. But I was professional enough not to take it to another level.

Whether we like it or not, we have to accept we are human, not robots, and there will be times we may stomp our feet, get frustrated and jump around like Rumplestiltskin and yes, get defensive and low and behold, behave in an unprofessional manner. It's funny to see someone who swears they will never lose their cool get frustrated!

You may feel like you can handle anything as a nurse, but wait until you have been stretched thin and worn out awhile.

The less a person knows about something the stronger their opinions tend to be. I've been guilty of this, too.

But here everyone is speculating about something we really know nothing about. Under what circumstances was this said. No, technically, it is unprofessional and should never be said. But what was the real story? There can be nurses who are jerks by nature, but I promise, no matter how patient and understanding a nurse is (or how patient they think they are) there is always that one "special" patient who will make you want to pull your hair out. And the nurse who said that may have really been using restraint compared to what she (or he) really wanted to say.

Ok listen, I never presumed that I knew everything about nursing and I know I wont understand how hard it is until I'm doing it.Now, I am getting defensive.I know that everyone gets frustrated but for some reason you have singled out everything that I have to say, and thats fine. We all get frustrated, I know that. I knew that when I was at work and would have some stupidly rich lady screaming in my face about a 500 advance I wasn't able to give her. I knew what my job entailed and even though yes, I wanted to tell her to shove it I didn't. If someone cant do what the job asks for without being rude to customers or patients then that is their problem. I see that you are very frustrated, and Im sorry but if you have a hard time coping with your career of choice without belittling others than that is on you. If I find that I am to the point where I cant handle being kind to my patients then maybe it is time for me to get out.

Man, you guys are harsh! The more of this type of post I read, the more nervous I am about working as a nurse in US facilities. As someone who 's frequently accused of being less than diplomatic, I must have said a version of this comment a hundred times while working in a nursing home.

In that type of facility, you KNOW your patients. If you're an RN, you know how to assess respiratory impairment. Who knows what tone of voice was used? Who knows if she was kidding around with someone she knows?

I can't even believe on that little information, people are prepared to call "abuse" or "neglect" and run to the Board to report this woman!

Sheesh.

--Not all of us--I agree with you!!! Remarks like this are very relationship dependent, and without the context, we are missing much of the story. And there wass no comment about the patients general behavior, or status--or if the nurse did indeed assess the patient--- These people who want to crucify each other with judgement need to get a grip. We all live in glass houses, and the listener does not always know the whole story. Please--we are not all like that in the USA!!!!

--Not all of us--I agree with you!!! Remarks like this are very relationship dependent, and without the context, we are missing much of the story. And there wass no comment about the patients general behavior, or status--or if the nurse did indeed assess the patient--- These people who want to crucify each other with judgement need to get a grip. We all live in glass houses, and the listener does not always know the whole story. Please--we are not all like that in the USA!!!!

And I think the perfect thread to merge with this one is "Why are Nurses Such Backstabbers?" (see under General Nursing Discussion.)

Ummm.... yeah:trout:! Even if you know your patient and know she is not serious, you chart her c/o sob, chart her o2 sat, and chart what you did for her, even if it's only a little bit of reassurance.