What have other nurses done that have freaked you out?

Nurses General Nursing

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What have other peers done intentional/unintentional to freak you out? Good or bad. Happy or sad.

On my FIRST day as an LVN, (LTC) a res was screaming in her room as I was walking out to leave. I went in to see what was going on. She was having an anxiety attack and severe pain (post stroke). I pulled the call light, and no one came. Uggg.

So I peeked out the door and saw my CNA walking down the hall, and told him to come sit with res. I went down to get her a Xanax and a pain pill, well relief nurse was in the restroom, and relief CNA (with call light still going off) was sitting behind nurses station reading a newspaper. I told CNA to tell the nurse to get a Xanax and pain pill for res. She said OK. I go to relieve my CNA. Said goodbye to him, and stayed with res. after 10 minutes, CNA COMES INTO ROOM WITH XANAX AND MORPHINE PILL. She is soooooo shocked to see me still there, she hands me the pills and RUNS to the relief nurse. I could NOT BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!!!!

(I did immediately call DON and tell what happened. Luckily, my CNA was still checking on another res, and saw the whole thing.--------they got a slap on the wrist! that was it!!!):madface: :madface: :madface: :madface:

While in nursing school I worked as a CNA part time. One night the LPN that was working over me asked if I wanted to watch her put in a foley because we were getting ready to do lab check offs on it in class. I was excited and went to watch her do this. I watched her as she carefully set up her sterile field, when she got to the lube she opened the foil package with her teeth, then squirted it all over the foley tip, which she was holding with her bare hand. After cleaning the lady with betodine she went to insert the foley. Even I could see the urethral opening, this lady had actually had fully inflated foleys pulled out before, so it was almost impossible to miss. She went to insert it, and she missed... went in the wrong hole. I was like well, I'll get you another foley, she was like no, it's ok. She made the same mistake 5 times, each time attempting to insert the dirty foley into the urethra. Finally she's like well I guess I'll get a new foley so she laid the dirty one on the lady's bed. She was almost out the door when she turned back around and is like, maybe i'll try it one more time. And she did, and she got it that time. I told the DON about this but nothing ever got done, and fyi the lady did get a raging uti and died of urosepsis.

While in nursing school I worked as a CNA part time. One night the LPN that was working over me asked if I wanted to watch her put in a foley because we were getting ready to do lab check offs on it in class. I was excited and went to watch her do this. I watched her as she carefully set up her sterile field, when she got to the lube she opened the foil package with her teeth, then squirted it all over the foley tip, which she was holding with her bare hand. After cleaning the lady with betodine she went to insert the foley. Even I could see the urethral opening, this lady had actually had fully inflated foleys pulled out before, so it was almost impossible to miss. She went to insert it, and she missed... went in the wrong hole. I was like well, I'll get you another foley, she was like no, it's ok. She made the same mistake 5 times, each time attempting to insert the dirty foley into the urethra. Finally she's like well I guess I'll get a new foley so she laid the dirty one on the lady's bed. She was almost out the door when she turned back around and is like, maybe i'll try it one more time. And she did, and she got it that time. I told the DON about this but nothing ever got done, and fyi the lady did get a raging uti and died of urosepsis.

Wow scary story.

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

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Sigh....no words to express this...

Specializes in primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, NICU.

I am an experienced nurse but I am orienting to a new unit (OB/PP). Fortunately only had one day with this one nurse. She did a bunch of stuff that just grossed me out - never wore gloves during exposure to blood and body fluids. And I only saw her wash her hands once: She did put on one glove to fish out a patient's pads OUT OF THE TRASH to "check her lochia" - she used the gloved hand to pull them out of the trash and the ungloved hand to open the wrapped and bloody napkins. Eeww! She used her bare hands on the mother's breast to show her how to express colostrum and rub it into her nipple (last I checked breast fluids count for standard precautions too?) Had not washed her own hands before touching the patient. This nurse is older and thought I was strange for putting on gloves to give injections and change pt bedding.

Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.
I am an experienced nurse but I am orienting to a new unit (OB/PP). Fortunately only had one day with this one nurse. She did a bunch of stuff that just grossed me out - never wore gloves during exposure to blood and body fluids. And I only saw her wash her hands once: She did put on one glove to fish out a patient's pads OUT OF THE TRASH to "check her lochia" - she used the gloved hand to pull them out of the trash and the ungloved hand to open the wrapped and bloody napkins. Eeww! She used her bare hands on the mother's breast to show her how to express colostrum and rub it into her nipple (last I checked breast fluids count for standard precautions too?) Had not washed her own hands before touching the patient. This nurse is older and thought I was strange for putting on gloves to give injections and change pt bedding.

Ok I woulda had to write that one up...

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I am an experienced nurse but I am orienting to a new unit (OB/PP). Fortunately only had one day with this one nurse. She did a bunch of stuff that just grossed me out - never wore gloves during exposure to blood and body fluids. And I only saw her wash her hands once: She did put on one glove to fish out a patient's pads OUT OF THE TRASH to "check her lochia" - she used the gloved hand to pull them out of the trash and the ungloved hand to open the wrapped and bloody napkins. Eeww! She used her bare hands on the mother's breast to show her how to express colostrum and rub it into her nipple (last I checked breast fluids count for standard precautions too?) Had not washed her own hands before touching the patient. This nurse is older and thought I was strange for putting on gloves to give injections and change pt bedding.

She's a fine example of what NOT to do. Barf.

Specializes in LTC, rehab, and now office nursing.

Just when I think I have heard it all!! I can't believe some of these stories- How on earth do some of these nurses sleep at night!!!:nono: I always thought nursing was just that "NURSING"- caring and taking care of others- What a sad world it is becoming when a nurse will see things like this and WALK OUT!! God help me when I get old!!:nurse:

Specializes in Hospital, med-surg, hospice.

I think the most frightening are not the mistakes (although they are hair-raising!) its the spitefullness, I can't imagine any one putting drugs in food or drinks of pts. or co-workers!!!

This just happened to me yesterday.... Freaked me out...and then I laughed...

I went to assess my pt who was receiving Packed RBC's....The offgoing nurse told me that she had to put the unit of rbc's in a pressure bag, because he only had a 22g iv access and the previous bag took forever to infuse...he is a bad stick due previous hospitalizations for various gi problems requiring phenergan so his veins suck... she also told me the pt was a&ox3 and she did alot of pt education about the infusion process, why she put it in a pressure bag....etc...

well, apparently the gentleman wanted to go smoke very badly and she told him he could after the last unit infused.... Tells me all of this in report.... Soooo, after report, I go into his room to check the infusion and etc... just as the gentleman is squeezing the bladder on the pressure bag to infuse the blood quicker and....boom!!! the bag explodes and I am drenched in blood, I jump backwards and the meal tray table falls over, making a loud crash noise, my co-workers come running from hearing the commotion and they thought I had been shot in the head and chest....lol...I am grossed out and I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror... I look like I am in a scene from the movie "carrie"... I walk out of the room.... a pt ambulating in the hall swoons at the sight of me, the PT aide catches her, I go to help her and I slip and fall from the urine of the lady who lost her bladder as she swooned....

I then had to go to the staff bathroom and shower and change into scrubs...

Luckily, the nurse Iwas releiving stayed and took care of my patients until i got cleaned up and she kept apologizing....totally not her fault... She is a nonsmoker and had no idea of the lengths a three pack a day smoker will go to when they are jones'ing for a cigerette.

So there you have it.... Just another day in paradise....

Specializes in ED.

Oh lord! I started the day yesterday with a deceased pt but you definatly take the cake my friend. I'm so sorry you had such a bad day lol.

Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

One of our nurses came to work without her makeup on, that not only freaked me out but scared 10 yrs off my life Im sure.

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
One of our nurses came to work without her makeup on, that not only freaked me out but scared 10 yrs off my life Im sure.

Makeup is an voluntary option at most facilities.

I don't know a whole lot of people who put makeup on for other people. :stone

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