BAD NURSING HABBITS

[cincin1222]

Hello,

Today at clinicals I was asked to do a acue check sorry to check patient's b/s for one of the nurses, I got the machine but she did not provide me with any alcohols swipe nor any cotton gauze she told me to just go in and do it, I was shock how she is so careless about this or am I over reacting.

[CBsMommy]

I've never seen a difference. We alcohol swab before a fingerstick, but many times our patients are getting labs Q2 nor Q4 hrs so we take the glucometer sample off the chem tube. When I've done both, I've not seen much of a difference. Of course, it would depend on if you allow the alcohol to dry, then stick, then waste the first drop. That is our policy. I'd bet if things got rushed, and there was some alcohol left on the patients skin it would change the results. What do you prep the skin with when you do a FS if not alcohol?

As I stated, it's a controversial practice to use alcohol wipes. Hence, why I advised the OP to check policies and procedures as to where they are doing clinicals/working at. Everywhere is different.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

Hello,

Today at clinicals I was asked to do a acue check sorry to check patient's b/s for one of the nurses, I got the machine but she did not provide me with any alcohols swipe nor any cotton gauze she told me to just go in and do it, I was shock how she is so careless about this or am I over reacting.

You have to remember that you are training to be a nurse. You control your own practice.

So, no - she isn't responsible for knowing what supplies you need, where to get them, and getting them - YOU are. And if you don't know, ask someone who can help you (like an aide.)

Whether she was careless or not isn't your problem, doing the procedure correctly is your problem.

[cincin1222]

I am not really focusing on who's responsible for one, and secondly it was my first time at clinicals, and finally the main focus here is that why would a nurse tell me to use paper towels to applied pressure and to wipe up the blood after a stick, that was my main concern...

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

I am not really focusing on who's responsible for one, and secondly it was my first time at clinicals, and finally the main focus here is that why would a nurse tell me to use paper towels to applied pressure and to wipe up the blood after a stick, that was my main concern...

You really should be focusing on who's responsible, because if you are doing the procedure, it is you. If anything, that is the lesson you should be taking away from the situation.

Trying to get random yahoos on the internet to wave their fingers at a hypothetical nurse isn't going to do you any good, ever.