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.
I work on an Oncology unit. I have never seen this either, men with women. I asked one of the Nurses, but never got a response. I am still clueless about this but she seen and heard everything and was scared to death. She even told me that she wanted to move. I told her to let her Nurse know. She told me that she couldn't believe why the Nurse would think I wasn't watching the patient. I also had her to watch to. I had to also take her vital Q2!!! So it could of happen anytime. Thanks for that reply!
HI Blackheartednurse--Are you saying you are an RN working as a transporter? How come? Aren't there any new grad positions for you at your hospital? Where are you working? It's very hard to find a new grad position here (Delaware)--Wonder if I could get a transporter job until I can land a nursing job--Just curious. Kat
I am unclear about the why they coupled these two people together. I never heard of this. I don't know if the unit was full to the max. I know on my unit the census was really low. We only had 10 patients. I don't know why they didn't float this women to another unit. I had to do her vitals two, so it not like the RN's knew that I had a patient that was combative and need to give him my full attention. I have learn from my mistakes. I thank everyone here. I am getting ready to take a final tommorrow.
If these nurses took so long to help you out since they were too busy, then I don't understand how they can have enough time on their hands to pull out a phone and take pictures of themselves. I feel so sorry for you and I hope that you continue with your career and find your dream job in a place that has respectful and competent healthcare staff.
This is exactly what I was thinking. I had to take care of both patients in the room both were Q2 vitals. I will take the blame for the first NGT pull, but the second I don't think so. I do take my job serious, but yesterday i guess I just slipped up and didn't see him pull it out. I love the field of Nursing, but the quality of Nurses out there right now is not too good. I see Nurses on the internet all the time ordering stuff online. I don't go and report them. I see this happen a lot. I just should have not looked at the computer. I know this will not happen again when I am working with any patient 1:1. I really had two patients and the nurse for the other patient had me take all her vitals (Q2). It could have happen also when I was caring for her, but it didn't. Also, yesterday the other patient wanted a bath, but she seen what a diffcult situation I was in. I told her Nurse I couldn't bathe her because i needed to give the Male patient all of my attention, but later on that evening I made sure the other patient was bathe. i had the other PCA come in to watch the male patient. I told the other patient I was sorry that it took so long to get to her. I love Nursing, but I don't want another day like this. i will stand up for myself next time and I will demand respect for the patient. Thank you so much for replying!
Any time I hear a story about things like nurses being on the internet, goofing off with cell phones, whatever, it truly boggles me....I have never seen anything of the sort where I work, no matter what the age of the nurse of of their title. I can't picture a unit where someone would be sitting and doing anything other than work, we don't have time!
I disagree with the earlier statement by someone who mentioned the age of nurses, as in, the younger ones tend to be more immature....I started as an RN at 21 and never have behaved in such a fashion, then or now.
I am sorry that you experienced this, OP, but I am not sure how the "SICK of my status as a CNA" plays in to it....what does that have to do with it?
Sorry, you don't understand the title of this posting. You are a Nurse right? You have been a Nurse since you were 21 right? Well then you wouldn't understand that statement anyways, because you have never been a CNA right? Age does not have anything do with it, but this is our experience with younger Nurses. The poster was just trying to say that she had similar experiences with the younger Nurses. The poster also stated that she is in her twenties. Thats so great you have been a Nurse since being 21 and life as a Nurse has been perfect for you. Congrads
What an awful and frustrating experience! Whether you are a CNA, RN or other care provider, you are always first and foremost an advocate for the patient---no matter how difficult that patient may be. The situation you described should absolutely be reported immediately to your DON. Keep your head cool, and state the facts. Also, please know that there are many more RN's out there made of gold than there are bad apples. Nursing is a work of heart, no matter what your level of education. I have been through the "trenches" myself and paid my dues as a CNA on the road to earning my RN license. It was no cake-walk. Keep the faith and continue to pursue nursing if it is truly what you love .
I will be reporting this to the DON. I know that my job is on the line. I have a family to feed. I am a single mom living on one income. I am so hurt by all of this. I will never turn my back again on a 1:1 patient. I will demand for help. I will keep the faith and continue working toward my goals regardless of what might happen this week. You sound like a great Nurse.
The nurse threatened to put the ng tube in you the next time the patient pulled the tube out? Gives you new empathy for what the poor patient went through when he had the tube reinserted. I hope the patient consented to the procedure, seems like he did not want the tube in. I feel sorry for both you and the patient, you for being threatened with bodily harm and the patient for undergoing it.
HI Blackheartednurse--Are you saying you are an RN working as a transporter? How come? Aren't there any new grad positions for you at your hospital? Where are you working? It's very hard to find a new grad position here (Delaware)--Wonder if I could get a transporter job until I can land a nursing job--Just curious. Kat
I'm from Illinois state and it is extremely hard to find a job,I literally applied to 150 RN positions within 50 mile radius and never landed even one interview.I knew someone at one of the hospitals I did my OB clinicals in.The hospital is beautiful,clean,wonderful pay,magnet status and solid employee team but they only hire the internal applicants so I decided to use my resource person and apply for the job there thinking that maybe I can get into their RN new grad program but to my dissapointment they informed that they can hire me as Nurse next year(what??!!)Well anyway try and apply for the transporte job. My manager asked me how long I was planning to work as a transporter and was hesistant to hire me because he thought once I received my license (I lied saying that I'm preparing for the NCLEX and it will take me couple of months to schedule the date:p) I will quit with the speed of light.I told him I will stay at the job for six months.Actually you dont have to even mention on the application that you are a nurse,just pretend you are regular person looking for job,the hospitals are always short of transporters (my manager told me that they need like few more transporters at the hospital where I work and he gives me tons of hours (over 40 since they always need transportation people) I dont regret taking up this job,it is fun, it teaches you how the hospital operates,you meet tons of new faces,interact/network with other nurses in the field,actually thank to this job I found out about job fair that is coming up soon in the two weeks,and most importantly I'm getting used to interacting with the patients,helping them,getting comfortable around the people and hospital.
Specializes in Mostly LTC, some acute and some ER,.
There is a time to have fun at work. How else could we survive our job, but that time is NOT while taking care of a patient. If the patient was IN the photo's, that could be considered a HIPPA violation.
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carlasbizz
111 Posts
I work on an Oncology unit. I have never seen this either, men with women. I asked one of the Nurses, but never got a response. I am still clueless about this but she seen and heard everything and was scared to death. She even told me that she wanted to move. I told her to let her Nurse know. She told me that she couldn't believe why the Nurse would think I wasn't watching the patient. I also had her to watch to. I had to also take her vital Q2!!! So it could of happen anytime. Thanks for that reply!