another nurse hurt a patient in labor

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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Intentionally and several times. I just can't believe that a nurse would do this! There was a woman in labor and her nurse would not stop grabbing her arm on top of the IV causing her pain. I know that IV's are sometimes put in the top of the hand, but the nurse was asked over and over to stop by both the patient and her husband and wouldn't. She would snap "no I didn't" when asked to stop. I don't know how she couldn't feel the tube, tape, etc under her hand. She had to of plus all of the requests that she stop and being told she is really hurting the patient. The patient also began to shake after given an epidural. Both her and husband thought she was having an allergic reaction and obviously were very scared for both mom and baby to be. The nurse only rolled her eyes and would not answer their questions about what was wrong. She barely spoke to them at all and didn't even introduce herself. She should be really ashamed of herself, especially hurting a laboring patient. The new mom was just terrified and inconsolable. I'd never heard of a nurse behaving like that, we're supposed to be caring, it's half the job at least in my opinion.

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Specializes in ER.

I don't think it's appropriate to comment on a potential legal issue. But if you were a student you can go to your instructor for feedback.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I am curious about the title of this thread, "another nurse hurt a patient in labor". Have you witnessed a rash of nurses deliberately harming patients? If so, please report them to their supervisors.

I am truly sorry for this patient's experience, but don't believe that we have the whole story. Most hospitals are so sensitive to patient satisfaction issues that they go overboard to address complaints. I can't imagine a nurse deliberately grabbing a patient's IV, let alone a hospital blowing off a serious complaint.

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I am curious about the title of this thread, "another nurse hurt a patient in labor". Have you witnessed a rash of nurses deliberately harming patients? If so, please report them to their supervisors.

I am truly sorry for this patient's experience, but don't believe that we have the whole story. Most hospitals are so sensitive to patient satisfaction issues that they go overboard to address complaints. I can't imagine a nurse deliberately grabbing a patient's IV, let alone a hospital blowing off a serious complaint.

maybe she meant another nurse other than herself hurt a patient in labor? Anyways, this should be reported especially if you was around so that you won't be in the middle of a nasty situation. If I was the patient or the husband, I would have hit the roof if I thought it was intentional. I would have pressed the call button or something to get another nurse in the room. I feel so sorry for the patient and for you if you witnessed it. I'm not a nurse yet but when I got my epidural, I started to shake too. I don't think that it is an allergic reaction but the nurse should have address their concerns.

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I think one problem is many patients don't know they can refuse any caregiver. They could have asked for her to be replaced, but I'm sure they did not know that was an option.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
Intentionally and several times. I just can't believe that a nurse would do this! There was a woman in labor and her nurse would not stop grabbing her arm on top of the IV causing her pain. I know that IV's are sometimes put in the top of the hand, but the nurse was asked over and over to stop by both the patient and her husband and wouldn't. She would snap "no I didn't" when asked to stop. I don't know how she couldn't feel the tube, tape, etc under her hand. She had to of plus all of the requests that she stop and being told she is really hurting the patient. The patient also began to shake after given an epidural. Both her and husband thought she was having an allergic reaction and obviously were very scared for both mom and baby to be. The nurse only rolled her eyes and would not answer their questions about what was wrong. She barely spoke to them at all and didn't even introduce herself. She should be really ashamed of herself, especially hurting a laboring patient. The new mom was just terrified and inconsolable. I'd never heard of a nurse behaving like that, we're supposed to be caring, it's half the job at least in my opinion. I'm not sure if the patient can sue or not but the hospital doesn't seem to take what happened very seriously unfortunatly.

:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

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Keith, you hit the nail on the head.

I'm positive that IF that patient knew that she could have had a different nurse she WOULD have!

I'd guess that 99% of the hospital patients have no idea that they can refuse care from a particular nurse. It's really too bad, too.

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Specializes in Nurse Manager, Labor and Delivery.

The nurse was INTENTIONALLY grabbing the IV to cause the patient pain? I know that it happens, especially with a hand IV, to accidentally touch the area. IV's are "sore" spots with patients in general and it isn't hard to cause discomfort to the patient even in the most innocent of touches. It is a shame the nurse wasn't more sympathetic to the patient's state of mind at the time and used reassurance to calm both the hubby and the patient. Shaking/shivering after an epidural is quite common, and perhaps a quick statement to that fact could have been all that was needed to calm some fears. Laboring patients and their significant others are scared and nervous, and part of being the labor nurse is to recognize this and work with it...not against it.

I am curious, were you present for all of this??? And what became of their complaints????

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Good questions posed here-----any insight?

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Firstly, I really am sorry if people are angry that I posted this. I obviously cannot talk to anyone I know about this, I just wanted an outlet to vent anonymously. Someone asked how I know this happened, my mother was the replacement nurse.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I don't see anger toward YOU but the situation! We are incensed a "professional" would besmirch nursing by behaving this way.

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Firstly, I really am sorry if people are angry that I posted this. I obviously cannot talk to anyone I know about this, I just wanted an outlet to vent anonymously. Someone asked how I know this happened, my mother was the replacement nurse.

I don't think anyone is mad at you for posting this. These are the kinds of things we need to look at. This is a good place to throw up these senerios. We can talk about them and no matter what might have happened at the time, if it happens in the future we will ALL have a better idea of how to do it if something similar happens to us.

Please don't stop posting these kinds of questions, and comments.

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