Disappointed with my nurse last night

Nurses Relations

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Long story short: I was having terrible side effects from a prescribed diet pill. My husband finally convinced me to go to the ER after having s/s for the past 2 weeks that has gotten progressively worse. So the nurse asks me why I'm here and I tell her my story.Then my husband interjects and says " She knows better than to take this stuff, she is a nurse". After he said that, the nurse began berating me to doing such harmful things to my body and stated my husband is right and that " You should know better". She went on and on about it and even stated " If I was your friend, I would have kicked your ***". She said I get no sympathy because I'm a nurse. She said it in a joking way but I still didn't appreciate it. Not only was I in pain but I also felt stupid for taking something that I knew had possible harmful and undesired S/E. As soon as I muster up enough energy I plan to report her. I just don't think nurses should be judged for why they are in the hospital whether it is their fault or not. The point is I was her patient, not a nurse and I all I needed was quality care and not her two cents. Speaking of quality care, she never scrubbed my hub when given meds and just kinda all over the place. I've worked in the ED for a short time so I know it can get pretty crazy. I just think she should have least did the basic things to try to prevent infection. Anyway, I just needed to get that out.

Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I agree, I don't understand why other posters are in favor of your nurse...I personally think her behavior was highly unprofessional. Especially that comment, "if I were your friend, I would kick your ***." Even if she was supposedly "joking," that would not have gone well with me if I were in your situation.

But I also want to know why you didn't speak up when she didn't scrub your hub. I definitely would have said something, right then and there.

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I always try to be professional to pts some whine that I don't laugh or joke enough. I dont like to play the buddy buddy with the pt card or have it used on me.

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The diet pill was prescribed, not like the OP went out and OD'ed on caffiene pills....(and even if she did, not for us to judge). Sometimes family blurts out stuff that is mind boggling. The ER nurse needs to practice mindfully. The PCP prescribed something that they thought may help. Unfortunetely, it has side effects. Like a number of medications.

Hope you are feeling better OP, and I would at least mention that your care was less than compassionate, and quite frankly, a little obnoxious. Not what one goes to the Er for.....

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Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.
I agree, I don't understand why other posters are in favor of your nurse...I personally think her behavior was highly unprofessional. Especially that comment, "if I were your friend, I would kick your ***." Even if she was supposedly "joking," that would not have gone well with me if I were in your situation.

But I also want to know why you didn't speak up when she didn't scrub your hub. I definitely would have said something, right then and there.

That comment would have rubbed me too. Joking maybe, but not in the best of taste. Like another poster said, it was something precribed, not something bought from an alt pharmacy, ect. The nurse didnt need to be a smart ***.

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Specializes in Peds ED, Peds Stem Cell Transplant, Peds.

i am confused if the diet pills were prescribed didn't you have to see your pmd to get it? I thought you had no insurance thus had to go to the ER.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

That confused me too.

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i am confused if the diet pills were prescribed didn't you have to see your pmd to get it? I thought you had no insurance thus had to go to the ER.

She started a new job, lapse in insurance. Those diet pills can make your heart race. Probably better to go to ER than wait for an appointment with PCP anyways.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Hmm - just can't believe you let that nurse violate basic sterility techniques. Whenever I am in a "patient" role, I stay very vigilant... and have instructed my family to do so also. I am 'that' one that says "I didn't see you wash your hands, would you mind doing it before you touch me?" "Put your gloves on before touching my dressing" "Don't touch my IV port without swabbing it first" ... yeah, I'm that one. But I only have to do it a couple of times before word gets around.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

I cant write a response without knowing it will cause a storm. So i'll just pass on through.

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That's annoying... Especially when she probably doesn't say anything to the 500lb patients who are in pain from their choices...

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Specializes in NICU.

The nurse was out of line. Just because we are nurses doesn't mean that we deserve to be berated, to use your term, OP. Of course, she can educate you and tell you if you shouldn't be taking the meds if they had such serious side effects but to "berate" you for doing so is wrong.

The husband was stupid too, but it's not his job to be respectful like it is for a nurse, although one wonders how long the marriage would last, lol.

And ewwwww not scrubbing the hubs of IV ports? Infection risk much?? I would definitely take that up--there is absolutely NO excuse unless it's an emergency. I haven't been hospitalized (thankfully), but if you're too busy to scrub my hub, I'm more than happy to scrub it myself and hook up the medication.

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I think I'd be more perturbed about her not scrubbing my hub (that sounds kinda dirty)

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