Frustrated at Lack of Professionalism

[cnolan]

Last night while working in Geri-Psych ward, I was going through nightly chart checks when I came to this filed fax IN A PATIENT'S CHART, that said this:

To: Aunt ________(name of Nurse Manager)/Hospital Name

From: God's Little Angel

Re: I'M INSANE! (insert weird Frankenstein-ish crazy person drawing)

Following that fax cover sheet was a psychiatric patient's psych H&P and PHI. I was dumbfounded. Literally. I sat there with my jaw on the floor, not knowing WHAT to do! This Manager has been reprimanded by admin many times, and now this? Are you KIDDING me?!

I faxed a copy to our Supervisor, Legal Officer, as well as the CEO of the hospital who's been trying to promote a good work enviornment as of late. Maybe he ought to focus on good manners, hm?

I was STEAMED when I saw it - only because, really, how would I feel if it were my grandmother there and this fax was regarding her? Or a friend? I told the CEO that I would, just based on that fax, NEVER recommend this unit to anyone I knew, regardless of the fact that I work there (well, I'm float staff, so I don't work there, really).

I AM OUTRAGED! :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

[Katnip, RN]

I'm confused. Was the fax sent to this nurse manager or did the nurse manager send it elsewhere?

Either way, it's inappropriate. Granted nurses have a strange sense of humor but there's such a thing as taking it too far. And this is way too far.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Lack of professionalism is an understatement.

Helllooooo BON?

[cnolan]

The manager recieved it - but regardless, it was filed in a patient's chart! If the state had seen it, we would've been slapped with so many violations it wouldn't even be funny.

I hate that my hospital is taking this so darn lightly, too! :angryfire

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Hopefully God's Little Angel will get the message it's NOT CUTE nor professional to use coversheet like this at work.

Would have included HR in on the issue too.

[cnolan]

Hopefully God's Little Angel will get the message it's NOT CUTE nor professional to use coversheet like this at work.

Would have included HR in on the issue too.

HR? Even though it was sent TO a NM, rather than from? I understand legal and the CEO, but why HR? (Sorry, I'm a bit non-versed in legal-ese)

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

I wonder if the manager even knew this coversheet existed and it was filed in the chart by unit secretary?

If they did---via notation on form then Human Resources needs to have on file instances of inappropriate behaviour for hiring/firing/promotion decisions. My HR department will give me guidance in counseling employees or even do it themselves if clearly inappropriate workplace behavior that needs to be handeled at corporate level.

Is God's Little Angel (fax sendee) an employee of your facility or from outside. Depending on degree of hair raising when first saw coversheet, might just fire off fax back to sending facility re issue too.

[cnolan]

I wonder if the manager even knew this coversheet existed and it was filed in the chart by unit secretary?

If they did---via notation on form then Human Resources needs to have on file instances of inappropriate behaviour for hiring/firing/promotion decisions. My HR department will give me guidance in counseling employees or even do it themselves if clearly inappropriate workplace behavior that needs to be handeled at corporate level.

Is God's Little Angel (fax sendee) an employee of your facility or from outside. Depending on degree of hair raising when first saw coversheet, might just fire off fax back to sending facility re issue too.

An outside employee. Upon speaking to the Assistant NM this morning, I found SHE had filed it...this unit doesn't have a Unit Secretary d/t it being a 10-bed unit. Thankfully, my application is in in another facility. This is just a small blip on the radar of awful things at my hospital.

[bigwavedave]

I am fed up with the lack of professionalism that I am seeing popping up in my unit. I am tired of seeing staff (nursing and otherwise) wearing earbuds from their Ipod while at work. I did bring it up with one of my nurses one night and he was very kind and put it away and I have not seen it since. But I think last night took the cake. Luckily it was not visiting hours (we have a locked down ICU unit- closed to visitors 2 hrs, open 1...) and I found 4 of my female staff gathered around a computer looking at pictures of body builders from a body building competition last weekend one of them attended with her boyfriend. I could not believe it. I will admit when I am not charge I will sometimes visit with my neighbors but this was way over the line. In the end the internet was turned off quickly and everyone got back to their patients, no patients were in danger, but I just could not believe this went on. I am seriously considering going to my manager and telling her of this and other smaller incidences that all go back to a lack of professionalism. Does this kind of stuff go on other places or is it just our night shifters?