Recently at work, I had a really tough pt that needed a foley. Myself and a very seasoned PCT (they are allowed to place them where I work, and do so very frequently) tried to get it in MANY times and the doc was unwilling to try themselves.... (pt had a hx of urinary procedures, etc)..
The doc looked at the placement of the caths I tried to get in and said they looked correct and the pt was prob. "spasming"..
Long story short, they were in the wrong spot, and another nurse got it in for me.
My shift ended with the doc saying in front of all of the staff (who were standing around the desk) "Wow, I guess you really need an anatomy lesson down there, huh?!"
:imbar
Sooo... am I being overly sensitive (usually true) or was that kind of mean?
My confidence is really shot and it sort of tainted the way I feel toward this doc. They are great at their job, one of my favorites to work with, and now I feel almost .... degraded?
Specializes in Cardiac, stroke, telemetry,Med-surgical.
Let me tell you about the first catheter I ever put in. I was green, green, 18 years old, fresh out of high school, first semester nursing school and let's say "sexually nieve". I don't think we had even covered cath insersion or female anatomy in school yet, but I was working as an "aide" (before certifications for CNAs), on a med surg floor, and the RN was eager to let me try new things.
Well, the patient was a 40 something female, I explained what I was going to do, got everything ready, and much to my surprise, there were more openings than I expected. So I just headed for the one most visible, up high. The patient jumped every time I touched her, said a little "oh, oh", squirmed and giggled. I just couldn't get that catheter to enter, but I was persistant! Once the RN could control her giggling, she suggested I try a little lower. Well, what do you know, it went right in. Only after the fact, did I find out what I was actually trying to "catheterize!
I wonder if that incident was as memorable to the patient as it was for me!:chuckle
Dixielee, it's a Great story! So funny! Thank you. You definitely have a gift of telling your stories.
With these stories you can raise the spirit of any miserable new grad/student.
I had a coworker once go to put a catheter in a patient one night when we were working and she got everything set up and went to advance the catheter. The patient sighed and said "it"s been awhile since anyone's been down there and I'm not gonna lie, it feels pretty good." My coworker just about lost it and had to bite her tongue to keep herself from laughing. I mean, what do you say? "Gee mam, I'm glad you recieved such pleasure from my catheter technique." I think I would of peed myself.:p
What was the tone of the doc's voice. Was it a mean spirited tone or light-hearted. If it was mean-spirited, stand up for yourself next time you see him and very nicely but assertively ask him if he meant to come off across the way he did and that you'd appreciate that he not do that again and would like an apology.
Also, everyone is not laughing out you. For most of them it's yesterday's news and they aren't thinking of you at all never mind laughing at you so don't blow that out of proportion.
Every nurse has had their confidence shot at one time or another. Heck I've been a nurse for 17 years now and still fubb up every now and then and embarrass myself. Hang in there. You're a great nurse!
I don't think the doctor's tone of voice has ANYTHING to do with it. It was a rude comment, period. Not ok, joking or serious.
My coworker just about lost it and had to bite her tongue to keep herself from laughing. I mean, what do you say? "Gee mam, I'm glad you recieved such pleasure from my catheter technique." I think I would of peed myself.
:p
RNcDreams
202 Posts
Just to clarify.... the doctor was female...
:)
Thank you for the support, it has really helped me just get over it.