Someone talk me down!!

[petiteflower]

I am the only nurse that staffs our small ER on a regular basis. I act as manager. I work with nurses that work the acute floor and cover ER when I am not there. Most (almost all of them) could care less about ER (I don't get that). I have tried to orientate, educate, assist even beg to get these people to learn the equipment. But what makes me the ANGRIEST is the fact that I have tried to explain to these people that when they take equipment from ER, they have GOT to replace it or leave a note telling the location. I had two potential serious patients today (we have a very small ER) both potentially needing suction---the suction had been taken from one ER and the cardiac monitor from the other. I was FURIOUS!!!!!!!! Unfortunately, my temper is not a quiet one---and I blew up in front of a nursing student. I felt terrible about setting an example like that. I love my little hospital---but I don't know if I can take this (this was just the icing on the cake!!) I called the nursing student at home this evening and apologized for my behavior, but I am still upset at the staff at my hospital for so little regard. They have no regard for ER equipment, they have even taken pulse oximeters off of the monitor in the cardiac room--and not told anyone. Am I just being a bag or do I have a right to be upset??????? And how do I control my temper??? I care about the patients, and about the job I do----but I don't see anything changing no matter how hard I try. It's to the point that I have thought about leaving!!!!!!!!!:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

[Scotty]

If you have time (ha ha) fill out a critical incident report (or whatever your equivalent is) each time you find vital equipment missing. Maybe it will work if you make it your manager's responsibility in writing.

Don't feel too bad about losing your temper in front of the student. S/he will probably have learned a lot from this, i.e. the importance of essential equipment always being available and always being located in the same place. S/he will also have learned that removing essential equipment and not replacing it or communicating it, is unprofessional behaviour. The fact that you apologised is setting an excellent example to him or her.

Good luck

[Scotty]

If you have time (ha ha) fill out a critical incident report (or whatever your equivalent is) each time you find vital equipment missing. Maybe it will work if you make it your manager's responsibility in writing.

Don't feel too bad about losing your temper in front of the student. S/he will probably have learned a lot from this, i.e. the importance of essential equipment always being available and always being located in the same place. S/he will also have learned that removing essential equipment and not replacing it or communicating it, is unprofessional behaviour. The fact that you apologised is setting an excellent example to him or her.

Good luck

[angelbear]

I agree you have good reason to be upset and concerned. I also agree that it sounds like you are mad at the wrong people. The high ups are responsible for making sure that every area has the needed equipment. One thing we do where I work is we have several cabnits in each area with necessary crash equipment in them. Each one is clamped with a white clamp so that each shift can tell at a glance if the clamp is intact. If so nothing has been removed. Works great for us. I hope this helps it can definately save alot of frustration not to mention lives.

[angelbear]

I agree you have good reason to be upset and concerned. I also agree that it sounds like you are mad at the wrong people. The high ups are responsible for making sure that every area has the needed equipment. One thing we do where I work is we have several cabnits in each area with necessary crash equipment in them. Each one is clamped with a white clamp so that each shift can tell at a glance if the clamp is intact. If so nothing has been removed. Works great for us. I hope this helps it can definately save alot of frustration not to mention lives.

[CCL"Babe", BSN, RN]

I agree with most of the above. Nothing could get my BP up more than missing or broken equipment.

The idea of going to administration is a good one especially coupled with an incident report. That could cover your tush in the future.

We used to have an equipment log, not that anyone really kept it up. Daily written room checks for all shifts. Gives staff accounability.

[CCL"Babe", BSN, RN]

I agree with most of the above. Nothing could get my BP up more than missing or broken equipment.

The idea of going to administration is a good one especially coupled with an incident report. That could cover your tush in the future.

We used to have an equipment log, not that anyone really kept it up. Daily written room checks for all shifts. Gives staff accounability.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

At the moment the real problem is the lack of proper equipment causing the staff to borrow form ED. While they can do that lack of equipment is your problem not theirs. No-one else is going to get upset over the missing equipment because it IS your problem.

Make it policy that NO equipment is "borrowed" from the ED. Cite sentinel events such as today to get the policy enacted. Then lack of proper equipment becomes their problem. If in the meantime they scream because they do not have all the equipment they need just say NMP - not my problem.

Now Excuse my ignorance but why take a cardiac monitor? Cardiac monitors are useless unless you have nursing staff who are able to read them correctly. Monitoring a patient on a ward where the nursing staff cannot read the monitor just makes the medical staff feel as if they are doing something without actually achieving anything - it doesn't affect patient outcome.

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

At the moment the real problem is the lack of proper equipment causing the staff to borrow form ED. While they can do that lack of equipment is your problem not theirs. No-one else is going to get upset over the missing equipment because it IS your problem.

Make it policy that NO equipment is "borrowed" from the ED. Cite sentinel events such as today to get the policy enacted. Then lack of proper equipment becomes their problem. If in the meantime they scream because they do not have all the equipment they need just say NMP - not my problem.

Now Excuse my ignorance but why take a cardiac monitor? Cardiac monitors are useless unless you have nursing staff who are able to read them correctly. Monitoring a patient on a ward where the nursing staff cannot read the monitor just makes the medical staff feel as if they are doing something without actually achieving anything - it doesn't affect patient outcome.

[susanmary]

You are getting excellent advice here. Please go up the chain of command, make it a priority to check off emergency equipment at the beginning of your shift (either by you or a nurse's aide) no matter what -- this is a policy that needs to be initiated. I would fill out an incident report every time that equipment is missing ... document. Your facility needs to provide safe care to all patients -- and needs to spend the money to have the equipment to do so. Otherwise, they are guilty of negligence & malpractice. This is serious -- I don't blame you for being upset. But listen to what the posters are telling you and follow through immediately.

Sue

[susanmary]

You are getting excellent advice here. Please go up the chain of command, make it a priority to check off emergency equipment at the beginning of your shift (either by you or a nurse's aide) no matter what -- this is a policy that needs to be initiated. I would fill out an incident report every time that equipment is missing ... document. Your facility needs to provide safe care to all patients -- and needs to spend the money to have the equipment to do so. Otherwise, they are guilty of negligence & malpractice. This is serious -- I don't blame you for being upset. But listen to what the posters are telling you and follow through immediately.

Sue

[MandyInMS]

Geez...do we work in the same hospital ? lol..same problems with equiptment here too...would be nice if management would give us what we need...nothing pisses me off more than to need something NOW and not have it..not only is is a danger to pts but embarrasing as heck...makes you look/feel unorganised....try not taking report from out-going shift until a checklist of mandatory items is available to you..we have had to do this r/t 'missing' equiptment...the outgoing nurse makes sure everything is there cuz she/he wants to go homeeee...lol

[MandyInMS]

Geez...do we work in the same hospital ? lol..same problems with equiptment here too...would be nice if management would give us what we need...nothing pisses me off more than to need something NOW and not have it..not only is is a danger to pts but embarrasing as heck...makes you look/feel unorganised....try not taking report from out-going shift until a checklist of mandatory items is available to you..we have had to do this r/t 'missing' equiptment...the outgoing nurse makes sure everything is there cuz she/he wants to go homeeee...lol