Discouraged

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 11, 2007

What's up with the nurses week? I got written up for very twisted and ridiculous story that pt's wife made up (and management believed her, not me). It is so ridiculous, I even cried, because it's ok to get in trouble for something you did, but I did not do what she said I did.
I am getting so discouraged, I think about totally quitting and going to school for something more meaningful. For the last two weeks, I was yelled at by the moody doctor; yelled at by fussing wife of the patient; this morning doctor basically grabbed my left breast during rounds, showing that I put lidoderm patch in the wrong spot on my patient (even I put it exactly where pt pointed me at). I don't know how long I will last. I feel like not coming back to work on Monday.

Good grief. I'm sorry about that. Sounds like you've been assaulted. Hang in there.

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 11, 2007

p.s. I moved this post out of someone elses thread in the breakroom and moved it here, so perhaps you can get some courangement and support and be able to respond. :)

Soup Turtle · May 11, 2007

Yikes! It doesn't sound like you're having a good week, at all. I hope things get better for you soon!

jmgrn65, RN · May 11, 2007

((((HUGS)))) I would certainly hope that the nurse manager would not take the word of a patient over yours. Our nurse manager always defends us, but apoligizing and trying to appease the patient.

GingerSue · May 12, 2007

doctor should not be grabbing at you.

pt's wife should not be making up stories - maybe others who hear

will realize how ridiculous the story is - a person who does this

will sometimes become known for their style - then the person

maybe will put her foot in her own mouth.

chuck1234 · May 12, 2007

Was that a female doctor? Or a male doctor?

....the one that grabbed your breast...

llg, PhD, RN · May 12, 2007

Was that a female doctor? Or a male doctor?
....the one that grabbed your breast...

Y'know ... when you think about it ... the gender shouldn't really matter. It's wrong to grad someone unnecessarily, period.

chuck1234 · May 12, 2007

Well, if it were a male doctor...then it sound like a lawsuit

If it is a female doctor, she can get a verbal warning for that one...

It is wrong...I agree!

SmilingBluEyes · May 12, 2007

I am so sorry. You have already received good advice. NO ONE has the right to grab you in any way.

CRNI-ICU20 · May 12, 2007

unwanted touch is unwanted touch...ie sexual assault...duh.

as for the crazy pants family member....

I do not know why families are so intent on attacking the VERY person who is caring for their loved one...it completely eclipses logic! However, it further baffles me why anyone in management cannot step back and rEALLY look at the picture....but are soooo quick to blame, castigate, and reprimand the bedside nurse....

One of the things I did when I would get negative feedback from the family, is that I started charting the incidents of disagreement, or family behaviours etc. in the nursing notes....as part of the medical record. It saved me many times from being falsely accused by a family member. One time I had a family member go to my boss and accuse me of coercing her mother to be taken off of life support. The truth was, the patient grabbed my arm every time I approached the bedside, and despite ventilatory support, the patient was wide awake and mentally decisional, ie no drugs on board, and she would request in writing to me that she wanted to be taken off the vent and just be made comfortable. My idiot boss at the time decided I was nurse Kevorkian or something, and called me on the carpet for it....so I said, "hang on a minute..let me get the chart".....I showed her entry after entry where the patient was mouthing words of "let me die" and "writing notes to RN 'let me off the machine'. "......once the boss got the picture of the other side of this controversy, she was better able to see the truth....

I don't know if you can chart this way....but it might be assistive should a family member question your care, or interaction with them or the patient.

I have often charted, "Son of patient angry, saying "I am going to sue you all"...etc....or daughter of patient upset re: lack of linen changes per day, states" your hospital is a pig sty" .....then if they complain about me personally, I can show that many times the family members are just upset people looking for a scapegoat....

It is a shame when people do this...

My suggestion is to try to thicken your skin a little....and realize that idiot bosses and ignorant family members do not define who you are as a nurse....

You are defined as a nurse by your heart, soul, training, and dedication to your patients. They cannot touch that, unless you let them....

be better, do better, and rise above this....you are stronger than you think you are.

lovingly, crni

ZootRN · May 12, 2007

Was that a female doctor? Or a male doctor?
....the one that grabbed your breast...

It was a male doctor. I was totally shocked, and just moved further away from him. I cannot complained, because my manager so mad at me for the story that pt's wife made up. I am totally devastated, cried for the last three days.