Disgusting Nurses!! SICK of my status as a CNA

[carlasbizz]

Hello AllNurses Community,

I would have to first say that THIS IS NOT ABOUT EVERY RN (I have come across some really good Nurses in my life). Well, I would have to start out by saying that I need to vent, so I came to allnurses to do just that. I work a 12 hour shift yesterday. I was flowed to another unit, which I did a 1:1, with a patient who was very combative and was also HIV positive. Anyways, there was two patients in the room a male and female. The male patient was the one I was caring for. I sat down at the computer, since the two patients were sleeping, about two hours into my shift the male patient wakes up very angry. The computer was in the corner of the room, because most hospital rooms are fairly small. I turned my back for one minute and the male patient pulls the NG tube out of his nose, so the Nurse Manager comes over to me and says that PCA (Patient Care Assistant) are not allowed to go on the internet, they only can use the computer for vitals. I work in this hospital for a number of years and that was never address to me, but anyways I wasn't on the internet. I use internet access only for my charting information. Anyways, his Nurse had to put another EG-tube in his Nose. I didn't know if this Nurse wanted me to assist her with him, because I got some mean looks coming from the Nurses who were assisting in this procedure. I notice none of the Nurses were properly protecting themselves from this HIVpositive patient. So, as the days goes on I notice that the patient had a BM. I call for some assists from his Nurse to help me with this patient to get him clean up, because I was not going to clean him alone. This patient was about 6ft 2in tall almost 220 and he was in 3 point restraints, so there would be no way I could handle him myself. It took the Nurse almost 30min to come into the room. I was also having issues with his BP being so high 179/120. The Nurse finally came with another PCA, the other PCA got the linen and she asked my if I had the basin. I told her I had keep it in the restroom. I was in the restroom getting the soapy water and thinking that this PCA or the Nurse was watching him, he pulled out his NG tube again. The PCA walked towards me coming out with the basin in my hand fulled with water of the restroom and saids, "DID YOU SEE HIM" I had to her what, She said, he pulled out the NG tube again. The Nurse and the other PCA were standing right there when I left to go get the water in the basin and they must of turned their back on the patient, thinking that was the only one totally responisble for the patient at that moment. I was mad at this point and tolded the PCA, that there is no way that I will get blamed for this one, she just batted her eyes and walked away. I had to wait another 20min. for the RN to come in to put the second NG tube down his nose, last time his blood coming out of his nose, so the Nurse brought in protective gear. Also, she brought in 3 other RN to assist. All of them were so annoying, joking, taking pictures of there self with their protective gear on, while the patient was angryly waiting to get the NG tube in his nose. I just couldn't believe my eyes. One of the Nurses went to the bathroom in the patients room to see how she looked in the mirror with her protective mask on and said "Don't take a picture of me, I don't look good right now", this was all happening before we tried to put this NG tube down this patients nose. By Now I am really upset, but this upset me even more when one of the Nurses said,"Since you let him pull his NG tube out again, we will put an NG tube in you next time"!! I didn't say anything I just held my breath. I was so concern with this patient I let it go, but now I am so angry that I can scream, how can I let these people make me feel like this. I JUST WANT TO LET ALL OF YOU RN OUT THERE KNOW THAT CNA ARE PEOPLE TOO AND JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A DEGREE DON'T THROW YOUR WEIGHT AROUND. ALL OF THESE NURSES HAD NO RESPECT FOR THAT POOR PATIENT. I BEGINNING TO HATE NURSING AND i WILL BE DONE VERY SOON BEFORE MY PROGRAM. I AM HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS. I AM TO OLD FOR THIS BS.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

If RNs were genuinely laughing and taking photos of a restrained patient, you should fill out and incident report and let somebody know. It is abuse of a vulnerable patient.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

What a horrible experience!

Even a patient in restraints can pull out an NGT or an IV in a flash, all it takes is just a few seconds, and while having a PCA present should decrease the likelihood of the patient pulling out a tube or a line, it doesn't eliminate it completely.

What stands out to me as the most inappropriate thing in your post is the picture taking. That is completely and totally inappropriate. Someone should have spoken up on the patient's behalf and told those nurses to stop it.

[RR910]

you need to report this ASAP

[Circejane]

Report the picture-taking IMMEDIATELY. Even if they were not taking pictures OF the patient, this is completely improper. It needs to be reported, IN WRITING, to the nursing supervisor ASAP. Any other issues that you have, I would address them separately. What stands out to me most is the picture-taking, this is wrong on many levels.

As for the first NG tube pull, that one is on you. You're assigned 1:1 with the patient, you watch them even if they are asleep. You don't get on the computer for anything, not even charting, unless you can look at both the computer and patient simultaneously. The second time, I would have made sure that the PCA was watching the patient before I went into the bathroom, stressing that he needed to be watched every second or he would pull his tube. I agree, though, that she should have been more on the ball.

I would document all of this in writing. Do it calmly, and don't talk about how upset you are, or what you think or feel, just write the facts of what happened as you see it. Then go to the nursing supervisor or DON, whichever is appropriate, and talk to her about it, giving her a copy of your documentation. You have to come across as calm and professional, not emotional and bitter, for your complaints to be given attention.

As for the 30 minutes for a nurse to arrive, I can see that happening. I'm sure there's a lot more going on than just your patient's issues, and the nurse may not have been able to get there pronto. Another tech or aide should have come more quickly to help you, though--no one should lay in their own waste for half an hour. If he would cooperate, I would have at least had him lift up and get the soiled chuck/linen out from underneath him, or at minimum get a clean chuck under him. That you might have been able to do on your own. If he was restrained, you could also probably have used wipes (if you had them on hand) and done peri care on the front of him. Not having been there, it's hard to say, and every patient is different.

It sounds as if the nurses were VERY inappropriate, and that should be brought up to the nursing manager. However, (and I say this as a CNA, now an LPN, and working on my RN) if I had a patient who had an aide with him 1:1 and I had to put an NG tube in him twice in one shift because he'd pulled it when no one was watching, I would be pretty unhappy with his aide.

I mostly just feel for that patient. Hopefully by reporting some of this, some issues within your facility and staff will be addressed, and he and others will get better care. Rereading your post, I honestly don't see this as being about you being discriminated against as a CNA by RNs, I see it as patient abuse. Although both were wrong, what they said to you was nothing compared ot what they did to the patient. Good luck to you.

[carlasbizz]

Thank you for all your replys. I reported this incident this morning. Please, for all of you RN's out there, I just want you to know that there are really good Nurses out there. I feel bad that I didn't say something sooner. It happen yesterday and I reported this morning. I am happy that I reported!!!

[Mulan]

I had a little old lady in bilateral wrist restraints pull out an NG tube 3 times once. I couldn't figure out how she did it till I caught her at it. She would throw her head and upper body forward until the tube reached her hands and out it came. I also got some dirty looks from the other nurse I was working with that had to assist with reinsertion.

I guess it was her head that should have been restrained, just joking!!

The point is, she could have pulled it out with me standing right there, things are that quick sometimes.

[Eiano]

Hello,

I understand how you feel, but a person is made a 1:1 for a reason and your eyes should never be off of them. You shouldn't be on the computer at all. In fact, when I worked as a PCT, the tech working the floor did all of the charting (Is&Os, BPs, BMs, voidings) and would stay in the room while you went to the bathroom or to get cleaning supplies and linen.... I don't know why that tech didn't, they may have been trying to set you up somehow. In any event, if you are not from that floor and aren't familiar with how things are run, it'd be a good idea to ask next time, "Can you watch the patient while I go get linen/set up the bath?" Most of the time they said "Oh, I'll go get it." ...this way you know for sure, and he/she would be less likely to walk out on your patient.

Anyway, I'm just telling you this because you have to protect your patient AND your job. You could have easily been in serious jeopardy of losing your job because his NG tube was pulled out not once but twice, and what happened if he were to get out of his restraints somehow (some do!!) while you were on the PC? God forbid something happen to you or the patient or the roommate. Be careful.... you are very easily replacable. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.

[Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN]

First of all, I will start out by saying that theses nurses are far from the norm, as you pointed out in your post. I would suggest transfering out of that unit and then reporting the incident of picture taking. also, saying that they are going to put an NG tube in you because the other one was pulled out is considered assault. enlisting the proper authorities would be a great idea, as is getting out of that unit as it is a hostile working environment. make sure you keep written records of all incidents, as you won't be able to recall if under pressure or called upon to testify in court or in another capacity. CYA CYA CYA!!!!!

[Blackheartednurse]

This sounds crazy seriously..I dont understand what is so exciting and funny about wearing the PPE:confused: Looks like those RN have mental issues or something???????

[Sparrowhawk]

This sounds crazy seriously..I dont understand what is so exciting and funny about wearing the PPE:confused: Looks like those RN have mental issues or something???????

Or extremely immature.

[carlasbizz]

Eiano,

I would like to address your reply. I wasn't on the computer playing around on the internet. I was merely looking to see if I could get on to chart. Last Sunday i didn't have access to the charting program because I couldn't long on, so since I knew this I had the other tech chart vitals for me. I did call the help desk for computer help with my computer. I will never work on this floor again, also the comment you made about my job, well its on the line already. After this whole incident one of the other tech on that floor who was a regular tech for that floor came to me and told me that the Nurse manger had mentioned something about a tech on the floor allowing a patient to pull an NG tube out of the nose of the patient because she was on the internet. No, I have been working to long as a CNA to have anything happen to me. I can't do anything else, but to report this situation. I did report this to my Unit before I left from the hospital last night and again with employee compliance. I am a 44 year old women I do make mistakes but I wasn't playing around with the computer it was only used for work purposes. I have been a CNA for a longtime, this has never happen to me EVER.