ALL Nurses should have to be a REAL patient

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a nursing student. I was also unfortunately a patient a few weeks ago. My appendix decided, while I was in class, that it didn't want to be near my intestines anymore (I know this because I fell over in my chair and passed out, in class, during a "Pay attention" speech).

ALL of my nurses were FANTASTIC with the one exception. Isn't there always the one?

I went in on a Monday, had surgery late Wednesday evening, and I had obvious nausea issues. My doctor ordered IV Phenergan (I won't get into that). As some may or may not know this SHOULD be diluted and pushed slowly. (Insert Sigh because you all know what the next statement is going to be).

My friendly little nurse comes in with a syringe (mind you I came out of surgery less than 1 hour prior and still fairly loopy). I was in and out of sleep until THE BURN. I jumped and yelled "ITS INFILTRATING" she snapped back "NO IT"S NOT" I told her to remove her needle and herself from the room... One of the nurses from the IV team comes in and takes one look at my hand and says "YEP, infiltrated" (INSERT pain, agony, and hand that was swollen for 5 days).

Through the IV nurse filing some paperwork I later found out the nurse not only did this but also did not dilute the Phenergan. The risk manager called my home and let me know the nurse was being made to retake her IV class. I injected they may want to consider a patient relationship class.

Anyways, my point is I think nurses who have been patients, in my opinion and experience, have a different way of addressing patient issues. If I offended anyone with that comment it was not meant to it is just my experience.

Specializes in being a Credible Source.
...so should...administrators and insurers... Things would change a lot if they all felt the pain the average patient undergoes.

Sadly, I think not. I think the motive to maximize profits will always trump other concerns.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Sadly I think not. I think the motive to maximize profits will always trump other concerns.[/quote']I agree. For the love of money, administrators and insurance companies will rob their fellow humans.

The bottom line is the root of all evil. . .

Oh, no! Absolutely not! I just mean that you see things differently. It is kind of like trying to explain to someone what an apple tastes like if they never personally experienced one. I would NEVER say just because someone hasn't been a patient they don't know how to give exceptional care. I just think it gives them a different set of eyes to look through.

As far as the nurse in question, I feel, again My opinion, had she experienced someone not listening to her when she was in pain and telling someone she was in pain, I think she wouldn't have barked quite so loudly and tried to keep pushing in the Phenergan

(Placing on battle helmet and armor)

Specializes in ICU.
You should both have sued.

As to the statement that all nurses should experience being patients - so should all doctors and aides and therapists, social workers, and anyone else who cares for patients. And, most of all, administrators and insurers should have to be patients. And should need some very painful and embarrassing procedures. Things would change a lot if they all felt the pain the average patient undergoes.

You really think they both should have sued? I dont think I would have sued for something petty like that. If there was permanent damage, then yes, but it sounds like there wasnt and not a justification for suing. I agree that what happened in each case was not right, the iv's should have been check first, but to go to the lengths of suing is unreasonable. The nurse did get reprimanded and had to take another IV admin. course so its not like nothing was done about it.

Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.

You were not offensive at all. Your case is the exact reason why phenergan is no longer on formulary at my hospital.

In fact, I know a nurse who brags that he never dilutes anything (you see he's a much better nurse than us mere mortals) including PHENERGAN!

You were not offensive at all. Your case is the exact reason why phenergan is no longer on formulary at my hospital.

In fact, I know a nurse who brags that he never dilutes anything (you see he's a much better nurse than us mere mortals) including PHENERGAN!

In a perfect world, he'd be held down and have undiluted phenergan injected directly into his vein.

But absent that, I just pray he doesn't harm anyone. I wouldn't bet on that, however.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Oh, no! Absolutely not! I just mean that you see things differently. It is kind of like trying to explain to someone what an apple tastes like if they never personally experienced one. I would NEVER say just because someone hasn't been a patient they don't know how to give exceptional care. I just think it gives them a different set of eyes to look through.

As far as the nurse in question, I feel, again My opinion, had she experienced someone not listening to her when she was in pain and telling someone she was in pain, I think she wouldn't have barked quite so loudly and tried to keep pushing in the Phenergan

(Placing on battle helmet and armor)

I see. I definately think if this nurse had experienced an IV infiltration involving Phenergan she would have a healthier respect for the drug. I imagine you too are going to be very careful with phenergan because you know how it feels.

I can imagine that being on the other side gives you the perspective of the patient and this will be helpful. I'll stop short of agreeing with you 100% because one can have empathy and compassion, especially with experience, without having been a patient. No offense taken however.

Tweety,

It will DEFINITELY make me more sensitive to the Phenergan push. That is some NASTY stuff.

I appreciate your comments and the almost 100% agreement 36_1_12.gif

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

This is one of the reasons our hospitals in the loocal area have gone to Zofran.

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Well, actually I have 3 instructors, who are RN's with 20 years plus experience, who have never been in a hospital except for working. I wasn't meaning like the going to a doctor kind of patient. I meant in hospital patient.

I suspect that the vast majority of us HAVE been patients.

In my case, I had chemotherapy, 25 years ago, in the days before 5HT3 drugs (zofran, kytril, anzemet, etc.). I had surgery. I had colonscopies before they were using ANY painkillers/sedatives with the procedure. I got so many transfusions in the days prior to standard leukoreduction, that I have become "sensitized" and cannot be easily transfused safely. Not to mention, had to be regularly tested for HIV/HepB after tests became available, because a donor dies of bloodbourne disease.

I don't broadcast this to coworkers. I also tend to cut HCWers some slack. I am anaphylactically allergic to acetaminophen. You really do not want to know the number of nurses and other HCWers have written "standing" orders for meds containing tylenol, hand me scripts for the same, brought the pills to me whereupon I refuse and return them to them. I had one place that did it twice, and the "wasted" meds showed up on my bill.

As far as phenergan, I have diluted in 50mL and infused it over 30 minutes, and had some people still complain about it and had others get it diluted, slow push and not even notice it. It tends to be like IV Potassium....some people and some veins are more sensitive than others.

Thus suing the nurse over it...overkill. But my issue is why in this day and age are we giving phenergan IV through a peripheral, knowing what we do about the drug? There are many better drugs that are not serious irritants, not to mention meds available for buccal or sublingual use. I would have an issue with the MD that ordered it and the facility that permits this use via a peripheral, knowing the risks it presents. Much like using dilantin peripharal IV, when cerebyx is available, and so much safer.

Well, you know, my main issue besides her lack of knowledge was the fact that she didn't listen. Had she looked at my chart she would have noticed that I came in on Monday and had 6 IV's placed due to infiltrations. My chart clearly states, because I looked, I have very VERY weak, horribly atrocious veins.

I mean even had she diluted....pushed slowly....when I said "It infiltrated" in a very loud painful voice, she should have stopped, instead of yelling that it wasn't and then she went from using her thumb to using the heal of her hand to FORCE the rest in. That is when I told her to remove herself and her needle from my room and to not come back.

I am sorry to hear this happened to you.That hurts way over here.

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