Why do I have to call lab to remind them of timed blood draws being drawn, well, on time?
Why do I have to call dietary to make sure the ordered supplements are on the tray?
Why do I have to call pharmacy to refill the Pyxis?
Why do I have to call supply to tell them that they smooshed two types of IVF together in the supply Pyxis and they need to sort it out?
A STAT imaging call to radiology is our job, but why do I have to follow up 30 minutes later?
Even if I'm busy, I have to check orders every 30 minutes because STAT orders are put in without a courtesy call to the nurse!
I wish, as an orientation exercise, every department of the healthcare team was required to shadow a nurse for a day. I think many eyes would be opened.
A student xray tech told me the worse job in the hospital must be RN because, he said, "The answer to everything is get the pt's nurse." He even remarked all wide eyed and newbie like, "And everyone says the same thing about the nurses!"
I've read this whole thread and laughed out loud, thinking about the times I've tried to patch together a meal for a patient because dietary couldn't or wouldn't do it, tried to use hemostats as a screwdriver because we couldn't get maintenance, or done a hundred other things that I didn't go to school for because I'm the nurse. The craziest thing I've ever done? One of our docs went on vacation and was to fly home that morning. He didn't trust the hotel to give him a wake up call, so he called me. After all, I'm at work all night, up anyway, it's not like I'm doing anything else and he knew I was reliable. So, on top of everything else I had to do that night, I got to call and wake up Dr. Needy so he'd make his flight on time.
I've read this whole thread and laughed out loud, thinking about the times I've tried to patch together a meal for a patient because dietary couldn't or wouldn't do it, tried to use hemostats as a screwdriver because we couldn't get maintenance, or done a hundred other things that I didn't go to school for because I'm the nurse. The craziest thing I've ever done? One of our docs went on vacation and was to fly home that morning. He didn't trust the hotel to give him a wake up call, so he called me. After all, I'm at work all night, up anyway, it's not like I'm doing anything else and he knew I was reliable. So, on top of everything else I had to do that night, I got to call and wake up Dr. Needy so he'd make his flight on time.
I have only ever used my hemostats for maintenance. LOL!!! Never for their intended use.
Another nurse once pointed out to me that there is such a thing as the difference between a nurse-run hospital and a doctor-run hospital. Nurse-run hospitals do better. The nurses are happier, empowered, and the patients do better. There are fewer errors and fewer problems. The opposite is true where the doctors are allowed to run the hospital as they see fit. The nurses are treated like hand maidens, receive little support, if any, are more stressed, and there are more errors, etc.
I can always tell which kind I'm working in. The clinic where the doctors were spoiled and had to have things a certain way, every time, with zero patience for variation, and the fact that you were new and still learning was inexcusable. I lasted a month.
The ER I'm in now, the doctors call the lab themselves to follow up on a pending test that should be "back by now." The lab comes and draws for us, no complaint, no question, or they'll stand by for pick up while you start the IV and take the specimen to the lab for you. If you're busy, most of the time they remember to find you and ask if they should go ahead and draw or should they wait for the IV start. Housekeeping is usually on it as soon as a patient is discharged. If I have time, I will usually strip the bed for them, throw away any trash and dispose of bio-hazards. I don't mind wiping the bed down if we can keep the wait time down in the waiting room. I thank housekeeping and the CNA whenever I can for whatever I can so they can feel appreciated, lifted.
So it peeves me a little bit when I see signs that other disciplines act like they run the hospital. The pharmacy tech who won't deliver the med and insist you come pick it up, no matter how busy you are. The IV certified contrast CT tech who rolls their eyes when the patient's IV is not in the AC, despite the blatantly white gauze pressure dressing taped to each antecubital vein access point, indicating you already tried there, twice. Or the housekeeper who thinks their job ought to include just mop and trash who complains nursing doesn't clean the room enough before they get there.
Don't you guys know that we are able to do everything and be everywhere at once? I am pretty sure that was in my job description. Which is why I am positive that first year intern called me from the patient bedside the other day to ask me to come in and take this patient's blood pressure. Because obviously placing a cuff on the patient and pushing a button was way beyond his pay grade! I should know better. LOL!
Haha... watch this video, describes our lives perfectly:
I had a pt threaten to sign herself out if I didn't get the cable TV working. I Houston said " go for it!"
Honestly, did she think I had some magic cable TV fixing powers just because I'm an nurse?
I love when people threaten to sign out AMA because they want some big reaction and then recoil when the reaction they typically get is "Ok, sign this form saying that you are signing out AMA and acknowledging that your insurance likely won't pay for your hospitalization now."
I love when people threaten to sign out AMA because they want some big reaction and then recoil when the reaction they typically get is "Ok, sign this form saying that you are signing out AMA and acknowledging that your insurance likely won't pay for your hospitalization now."
I used to be assigned the patients that we wanted to leave AMA. I wasn't mean to them, I just didn't mind signing the AMA forms. Some nurses saw AMA as a failure. I saw it as giving the patient what they wanted, and in most cases, needed.
I was informed that it is a "myth" that insurance will not pay if a patient leaves AMA. Does anyone know the truth about that for real?[/quote']
I was always told if you sign out AMA, insurance won't pay if you are readmitted with the same diagnosis code within a certain time frame. I imagine it could differ from company to company though.
and he knew I was reliable. So, on top of everything else I had to do that night, I got to call and wake up Dr. Needy so he'd make his flight on time.
LOL!
VICEDRN, BSN, RN
1,078 Posts
A student xray tech told me the worse job in the hospital must be RN because, he said, "The answer to everything is get the pt's nurse." He even remarked all wide eyed and newbie like, "And everyone says the same thing about the nurses!"