I recently triaged a patient with 10% burns to her face and neck, mostly 1st degree with a couple spots of 2nd degree. The areas were bathed with cold water in triage and then she went to registration. I met her at the registration desk and brought her into a room, bypassing a waiting room full of people.
As I walked with her to the room I could hear exclamations of horror from one of the nusres behind the desk saying "OMG she's burned bad, she needs ice and cold compresses, she should have been brought right back." That nurse came in the door of the room as I was coming out and said "she needs ice!" I stopped her saying " I've been told not to put ice on burns." So she turned around and started crabbing to the 2 nurses, secretaries and EMTs at the desk about how the patient needed ice and didn't have it, and "I can't believe she waited, she should have been brought right back" All audible to everyone at the desk and the patient who had landed in a room next to the desk.
I said "she didn't wait" and got the reply "yes she did, I'm putting ice on her," as the nurse got up again and went to the door. I stopped her and said "what are you doing?" and she explained again about how the pt should have come straight back from triage, gotten ice on her burns, and started to go in the door again. I said "would you let me do it please?" so she walked away and I went in. (with about 8 people watching the whole show, and thanks guys, for helping me out on this one... )
Once I got in there I realized that I knew ice was not called for and could actually do damage, and that I was going to do this because I wanted to avoid the pressure and embarrassment. So I took a breath and walked back out. She was STILL out there going on about how the poor patient had been neglected. I walked over to the desk and said in a low slow voice "_____Shut up."
She started to yell, don't tell me to shut up! I've been a nurse for ___ years and I know what needs to be done!" Again, I repeated myself looking her straight in the eye, and she started to yell back. Thankfully one of the EMT's shouted over her, for us to cut it out, go elsewhere, etc. She left the unit, and I stayed.
When the doc came out I confirmed with her that she didn't want ice on the area and made sure my pt was the next to be seen. The crowd dispersed, and actually the two pts I had were especially nice to me (bless them) and life goes on.
Except 20 min later and administrator came in and asked me to come with him, not to complete giving pain meds to my burn pt, just come to the office. They took my keys and my badge, escorted me to the timeclock, got my coat and purse for me and escorted me to the door. The head of security was outside the office as we left. I was suspended with pay, pending my manager returning on Monday. I had spent a total of about 45min inside the hospital that shift.
Of course I was upset and went home and looked up the standard of care from the ENA, and apparently what I did was EXACTLY what they recommend. But no one in the crowd watching backed me up, and in fact one of the M/S nurses got on the phone during this party and asked for STAT unbleached linen for this pt. When I explained the burn was on the pt's face and she wouldn't be needing the linen she rolled her eyes - but why was she getting involved in the first place???
I am so angry at how I was treated, my job is in jeopardy, and NOONE helped me, I can't believe it. I loved where I worked until this incident, what now???
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