Another vent.

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in CICU.

I just need to vent, but I feel silly for even being p!$$ed about the actual situation. Because I know me, and I know my worth.

So I will just say this:

I am a hard-worker, I like to be busy because I am not someone that can sit still for very long. I am usually still in my rooms at 0700. DO NOT act like I am delegating toileting because I don't feel like doing it myself. I DO NOT sit around all night. I have worked as a nurse aide, I regularly toilet and bathe, and usually ask the aides to get me when THEY bathe patients so I can look at them and assist.

whew, I do feel a little better. Thanks.

At least I feel like the folks I regularly work with (including the aides) know this about me. The rest can just shove-off.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

hmmm....what triggered this vent?

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Specializes in CICU.

Well, the alternative was choking the life out of someone, and giving them a good shake while I was at it.

I thought that might negatively impact my career.

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Specializes in ICU.

As for toileting and bathing patients, my thoughts are "If I am doing your job, who is doing mine?" As the nurse, I delegate whatever I want to, because unless you are a nurse, you cannot do all the things that I have to do. I get to work early and leave last, and notice the ones who leave work first are the ones that complain about having to do anything.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

I can so relate... :hug:

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Well, the alternative was choking the life out of someone, and giving them a good shake while I was at it.

I thought that might negatively impact my career.

I can loan you my big stick.

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Not sure what quite triggered this vent but I can kind of relate. Meds are due at 9 so I will attempt to start at 8:45, but after bathing, taking people to and from the restroom,on and off the bedpans, linen changes, turning patients every 2 hours...it's now 10:30 pm and I have yet to start passing meds or done any dressing changes on any of my 9 pt's and now the CNA is tired and sitting at the desk relaxing. I do NOT mind helping but sometimes all you have to do is ask another CNA for assistance. It's not like we're short of CNA's. I had to stop that quick!

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Neuro/Oncology floor nursing..

While were on the subject of venting I have a good one!

I paid BIG time for doing a patient care associates work. This poor woman needed assistance going to the bathroom. She was on the large side and that morning had just had permission to use the bathroom(she had neurosurgery but it wasn't a crani they went through her groin to take care of an aneurism). She was to be she was to be staying in the hospital for about two nights. First day she had a Foley so bathroom issues didn't come up. Morning of her 2nd day they removed her Foley and gave her bathroom privileges and walking privileges as long as someone helped her. The patient care associates were taking here to the bathroom all day long.

I was working the overnight shift that week(covering for someone who took a vacation). About 9pm she rang the call bell and one of the patient care associates was going to go see what she needed in a minute. Well I guess the patient care associate forgot about her because she rang the call bell about five more times. I was getting ready for night time meds(which usually start around 9:30-10). But I was thinking I could have taken care of this problem already in the amount of times this patient pushed the call bell.

So I went to see what she needed and she needed help going to the bathroom. I read in her chart she was going to the bathroom with the help of a patient care associate and walking around as well. Okay..no problem. I'll escort this patient to the bathroom then get to work on medication rounds...BIG MISTAKE!!

I asked her how she had been doing being able to walk...she assured me she was fine and didn't need help. Specific orders were she were to walk ONLY with someone helping her...so I helped to to the bathroom(she was the window bed and the bathroom was near the door bed). So everything was fine..I walked her slowly to the bathroom and just when we get to the bathroom this woman(who is not so tiny) falls on me.

SO I was on my back and this larger woman was face down on top of me and she couldn't even roll off of me. So I am in exceptional pain yelling for help(the patient had no roommate to push the call button) and no one was walking by the door. For TEN minutes we were in that position...me on my back and this patient on top of me and and could feel my bones and muscles being torn apart. Finally someone found us..by this point I was crying and the patient just kept apologizing to me. They had to get four nurses and three doctors to get this woman on a stretcher to get a CT scan and me on another stretcher down to the ER.

Long story short...I would up in the ER for a while because I needed a head CT and CT scan was backed up and because they couldn't control my pain(This was not long after my brain surgery, plus being a chronic pain patient this just caused a flair up). So I was taking IV dilaudid, and ativan like it was champagne on new years eve plus toradol and some other stuff. They finally increased the pain medication and ativan(to relax my muscles). So I decided I would be ready for them to cut me loose until my CT scan results came back...showed a tiny amount of bleeding at the bottom of my brain(close to my surgery site) and apparently I wasn't going home..only this time I wasn't going home was BECAUSE I WAS THE PATIENT...and I was actually admitted to the unit that I WORK ON!!!! they hooked me up to a PCA(pain in my head, neck and back were exceptionally bad if I didn't get around the clock pain relief I would jump out the window. SO I had to stay int the hospital for 5 days JUST FOR HELPING A PATENT GO TO THE BATHROOM!!! I WAS HELPING OUT A PATIENT CARE ASSOCIATE(who said she would take care of it). I know it's busy and know you are one of the best patient care associates we have, but if you are too busy to help then say it right from the start so I can find someone else to do it or just ask me if I could help...I am more than willing to...just ask! I just can't help the irony of it all..I never help patients to that bathroom and the one time I did I get admitted to the hospital for 5 DAYS!!!!! ON MY OWN UNIT BY THE WAY!!(The blood spot was pretty small and ended up going away on it's own thankfully).

SO there is my vent...don't do someones job for them...you can get laid up like I did!!

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Specializes in LTC, Pediatrics, Renal Med/Surg.

Munch, I am so so sorry this happened to you. I really am. I just have to wonder/ask what happened that caused the patient to fall? If she fell that easily with you, what makes you think she wouldn't have fell on the PCT as well? Do you feel you don't have the knowledge, training, or body mechanics to assist someone post op to the restroom?

I'm sorry if I sound insensitive, I'm just trying to gain a better understanding. You say you never assist patients to the restroom? I just don't understand being a nurse that you never assist patients to restroom. :confused: Is it that you don't want to, don't have time, or don't feel you have the skillset to do it?

Once again sorry this happened to you.

ETA: I reread your post and now I see that you don't help pts to "that" bathroom. Sorry disregard that part of my post.

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While were on the subject of venting I have a good one!

I paid BIG time for doing a patient care associates work. This poor woman needed assistance going to the bathroom. She was on the large side and that morning had just had permission to use the bathroom(she had neurosurgery but it wasn't a crani they went through her groin to take care of an aneurism). She was to be she was to be staying in the hospital for about two nights. First day she had a Foley so bathroom issues didn't come up. Morning of her 2nd day they removed her Foley and gave her bathroom privileges and walking privileges as long as someone helped her. The patient care associates were taking here to the bathroom all day long.

I was working the overnight shift that week(covering for someone who took a vacation). About 9pm she rang the call bell and one of the patient care associates was going to go see what she needed in a minute. Well I guess the patient care associate forgot about her because she rang the call bell about five more times. I was getting ready for night time meds(which usually start around 9:30-10). But I was thinking I could have taken care of this problem already in the amount of times this patient pushed the call bell.

So I went to see what she needed and she needed help going to the bathroom. I read in her chart she was going to the bathroom with the help of a patient care associate and walking around as well. Okay..no problem. I'll escort this patient to the bathroom then get to work on medication rounds...BIG MISTAKE!!

I asked her how she had been doing being able to walk...she assured me she was fine and didn't need help. Specific orders were she were to walk ONLY with someone helping her...so I helped to to the bathroom(she was the window bed and the bathroom was near the door bed). So everything was fine..I walked her slowly to the bathroom and just when we get to the bathroom this woman(who is not so tiny) falls on me.

SO I was on my back and this larger woman was face down on top of me and she couldn't even roll off of me. So I am in exceptional pain yelling for help(the patient had no roommate to push the call button) and no one was walking by the door. For TEN minutes we were in that position...me on my back and this patient on top of me and and could feel my bones and muscles being torn apart. Finally someone found us..by this point I was crying and the patient just kept apologizing to me. They had to get four nurses and three doctors to get this woman on a stretcher to get a CT scan and me on another stretcher down to the ER.

Long story short...I would up in the ER for a while because I needed a head CT and CT scan was backed up and because they couldn't control my pain(This was not long after my brain surgery, plus being a chronic pain patient this just caused a flair up). So I was taking IV dilaudid, and ativan like it was champagne on new years eve plus toradol and some other stuff. They finally increased the pain medication and ativan(to relax my muscles). So I decided I would be ready for them to cut me loose until my CT scan results came back...showed a tiny amount of bleeding at the bottom of my brain(close to my surgery site) and apparently I wasn't going home..only this time I wasn't going home was BECAUSE I WAS THE PATIENT...and I was actually admitted to the unit that I WORK ON!!!! they hooked me up to a PCA(pain in my head, neck and back were exceptionally bad if I didn't get around the clock pain relief I would jump out the window. SO I had to stay int the hospital for 5 days JUST FOR HELPING A PATENT GO TO THE BATHROOM!!! I WAS HELPING OUT A PATIENT CARE ASSOCIATE(who said she would take care of it). I know it's busy and know you are one of the best patient care associates we have, but if you are too busy to help then say it right from the start so I can find someone else to do it or just ask me if I could help...I am more than willing to...just ask! I just can't help the irony of it all..I never help patients to that bathroom and the one time I did I get admitted to the hospital for 5 DAYS!!!!! ON MY OWN UNIT BY THE WAY!!(The blood spot was pretty small and ended up going away on it's own thankfully).

SO there is my vent...don't do someones job for them...you can get laid up like I did!!

:eek:

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
Well, the alternative was choking the life out of someone, and giving them a good shake while I was at it.

I thought that might negatively impact my career.

We are nurses......we know how to hide bodies.

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Specializes in ICU.

There is nothing wrong with delegation. As long as you are not sitting on your butt doing nothing and watching a PCA running around.

Delegation is a good thing. There are tasks you and the aide are capable of. Free yourself for the tasks only you are capable of handling.

We complain and complain about being overworked and patient load, and too many tasks. When there is a position to ease up on our burn-out, utilize it.

I always helped the Nursing Assistants (notice their title). Being in the ICU, I wanted to be there to clean in order to assess my patient.

However when I am busy with crashing patients, or patients getting ready for procedures or OR, or for transfer, heck yeah, I will delegate some tasks that the NA can handle.

It;s not all a bad thing. And I was fortunate enough to work with the best NA's ever who I never even had ot ask to things. They did it themselves, and always offered me help. so the street went 2 ways, and we always enjoyed working together.

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