first name last name issue and drama

[The Bell Jar]

Ok, I had an instance happen where me and another nurse were in a patients room,and during transfer he got into a precarious position and was about to fall.

So we needed a third person to help lift while she stayed there supporting him. I ran to get another nurse. I found another one sitting at the nurses station,charting.

I said "Simon is going to fall.We need some help in here-she said "Who?" I said "Simon,he is about to fall." Then she said "Who?" again.This went back and forth because I though she couldnt hear me.Then I said,"Simon Green...He is about to fall." (I've used an alias)

She said,"Thats better.We use last names here,not first names its MR.GREEN."

I was just so shocked that this would be the importance over someone potentially falling. And I think 98% of the other staff call him Simon,because he SAID it was ok. He lives at my facility. In nursing school,they said it was ok to call someone by their first name if they said it was ok. Jeez. I am really mad that I got schooled in politeness when I am one of the most polite people I know and I was trying to HELP someone. :angryfire:angryfire:angryfire

[Roseyposey]

you can bet your sweet a$$, i'd be writing her up in a heartbeat.

can anyone say, "delay of timely care".

leslie

I agree 100%, I'd be writing her high-and-might-last-name rear end up!

[SarasotaRN2b]

that really upsets me. in a situation like this, what difference does it make what the patients name is! the nurse should have just came to help immediately. not continue to ask the patients name! :angryfire

my thoughts exactly!

[megananne7]

Sounds like an incident report to me. Her delay may have caused the patient to fall, and possibly the other nurse left holding him to do his/her back in. Why not just get up and follow you to where the patient is? Absolute idiot! Doesn't matter what their name is! She needs to be reported!

Wouldn't you write up an incident report anyway, since he almost fell? I dunno, but where I work they make us write un incident reports for nosebleeds cause by the patient picking their nose to UACS results coming back with a UTI...

[jmgrn65, RN]

ok I agree with OP that said she needs a brain transplant, when the situation is urgent that is not the time to argue about what to call a pt. Besides if the guy says call him simon than it is disrespectfull to keep calling him mr. I know I don't want to be called Mrs.

[Diary/Dairy, RN]

What was the nurse's issue? Deal with the safety issue first, then quibble about other things!

[jackson145]

It sounds like she's using that excuse to get out of work. I know many people who will cling to some ridiculous "principal" just to avoid getting involved. It doesn't matter to them at all if they are causing other workers problems or even jeopardizing someone's safety.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Wow. Some people!! I would mention it to someone in charge since she did lead to a potential problem.

On the name issue. You can call the pt/ resident/ client what ever they want you to call them. If their name is Bob and they want tobe called Sally...then Sally it it. Now, In LTC, some people may have different nicknames and might prefer or respond to some less formal names, all we have to do is careplan it. We have one lady who likes "Momma B" and an other man who likes "Pops" .

Everyone is Mr. Mrs or Miss until they tell me differently. Sounds like you knew this person well enough though.

[nyapa, RN]

I'm bad with names, I use room numbers, otherwise if I remember the name I use the last name. I always address patients by their last names and titles, I'm old fashioned.

I cannot believe someone would consider someones name more important than their physical condition. In the time she made that point, precious moments were ticking away

JlsRN, I am like you in that I use room numbers. Most of the staff don't like me doing it, but to me it maintains confidentiality, and in fact I was taught originally to do so. As for names, our patients would probably be offended if we used their last names. Nobody uses last names, but that is just our culture I guess.

I know many of our indigenous ppl would see no purpose in it. They have last names because our culture demands a first and last name. Often their last names are 'skin names', which indicate their relationship to other ppl, plus their relationship to the land. And I often wonder if we are using the right ones?

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Interesting Dar, I never thought of that.

[santhony44, MSN, RN, NP]

That was just stupid. Yes, the patient's safety was more important at the moment!

Besides, I'm a "Mrs. Doe" person myself, but if he asked you to call him by his first name, then you were quite correct.

I've also encountered a case or two in which the person had dementia and, in their mind, they were 12 years old again. They wouldn't really respond to Mr. or Mrs. but would respond to their first name. It's not disrespectful to call Mrs. Redd "Rose" when all she'll respond to is "Rose." She has no clue she's been Mrs. Redd for the last 60 years.

[Ms Kylee]

I guess I am weird... I use room numbers. When I'm in the room I address them as Mr. Smith, Mrs. Jones, etc. (whatever their last name is). In addition, I call them Sir and Ma'am. The older patients love it.

As for the nurse... *Whap* When someone asks for help, you drop everything and go and don't ask stupid questions.

[SICU Queen]

It doesn't matter who thinks what about what the patient should be called - what was most important is that Miss Uptight should've dropped everything and rushed to help... and then AFTER the patient was safe, made her OPINION known.

Patients first, above all.