What is your biggest nursing pet peeve?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Nurses that are brilliant but do not know the difference between contraindication and contradiction! :rotfl:

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Specializes in ER!.

Little kids whose parents have not firmly established who is the parent/rule maker. Had a 6-year-old brought in last week, 103+ fever (give something at home?? Heavens no!!), and when I went in to give some Tylenol, said child refused to swallow it because it tasted "too disgusting!" He whined, refused, slapped at his mother, and said, "NO! And that's my final answer!" Parents both look at me helplessly. What I'd like to do is have a moment, just me and pt, and believe me that Tylenol would get down. I mean, what do you do here?? I do have 3 other patients, but I am not about to get forceful with a 6-year-old in the presence of his parents, I can't leave the room with the med not taken and document that it was, and neither will I leave the room and hope he takes it eventually because I don't want to explain it to the MD when he doesn't. We did manage to get some Xrays that showed some truly nasty pneumonia, so Junior got to stay. Thanked the Lord again that day that I was not a floor peds nurse.

Interestingly enough, had a nearly identical situation Monday with an 88-year-old. K+ was 2.6, and even after I went to the trouble to ask Pharmacy for liquid because it was hard for her to swallow the horse pill, she moaned and groaned about how "awful" it tasted. Her daughter pleaded and cajoled, but pt only took about 2/3 of it. Never ceases to amaze me how people can come to the ER, deathly ill, and carry on so about swallowing a teaspoon of medication that does not taste like ambrosia!

IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE MEDS/CONSENT TO PROCEDURES/SIT STILL FOR A SPLINT, DO NOT COME TO MY ER EXPECTING ME TO FIX YOU!!!!!!!! :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

Other than this one tiny peeve, I really do love my job!

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or....how about the pt.that intentionally slows you down. you come in with meds, sometimes requested pain meds, and the patient has to straighten their clothes, rearrange the bedside table, make a phone call, or some other b.s.before they take the med. absolutely frustrating when you have other things waiting for your attention.

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Little kids whose parents have not firmly established who is the parent/rule maker. Had a 6-year-old brought in last week, 103+ fever (give something at home?? Heavens no!!), and when I went in to give some Tylenol, said child refused to swallow it because it tasted "too disgusting!" He whined, refused, slapped at his mother, and said, "NO! And that's my final answer!" Parents both look at me helplessly. What I'd like to do is have a moment, just me and pt, and believe me that Tylenol would get down. I mean, what do you do here?? I do have 3 other patients, but I am not about to get forceful with a 6-year-old in the presence of his parents, I can't leave the room with the med not taken and document that it was, and neither will I leave the room and hope he takes it eventually because I don't want to explain it to the MD when he doesn't. We did manage to get some Xrays that showed some truly nasty pneumonia, so Junior got to stay. Thanked the Lord again that day that I was not a floor peds nurse.

Interestingly enough, had a nearly identical situation Monday with an 88-year-old. K+ was 2.6, and even after I went to the trouble to ask Pharmacy for liquid because it was hard for her to swallow the horse pill, she moaned and groaned about how "awful" it tasted. Her daughter pleaded and cajoled, but pt only took about 2/3 of it. Never ceases to amaze me how people can come to the ER, deathly ill, and carry on so about swallowing a teaspoon of medication that does not taste like ambrosia!

IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE MEDS/CONSENT TO PROCEDURES/SIT STILL FOR A SPLINT, DO NOT COME TO MY ER EXPECTING ME TO FIX YOU!!!!!!!! :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

Other than this one tiny peeve, I really do love my job!

I feel for you when it comes to the kids who are in charge of the parents. I witnessed several cases of it today at the dentist's office. I took my 3 year old in for an appointment and it was a very busy day, waiting room was packed. Now, my son was not happy about going to the dentist, in fact, he tried every trick in the book to get out of it, including telling me that his tooth disappeared so he no longer needs a dentist.lol. So there was a lot of preparation involved before taking him, including a promise of a reward if he was good. Well, we ended up waiting over an hour and during that time we witnessed the worst behavior I have ever seen, by no less than 4 seperate families. My mother was with us as well, and when one child of about 5 years old began screaming at his mom and calling her names, I said "You would've killed me If I'd done that" at the same time as she said "I'd have killed you for that" Well, my son was coloring quietly at first, but he was watching all of this awful behavior, kids screaming at parents or at each other, tantrums, throwing things. Being a typical 3 year old, he thought he'd give it a try and started throwing crayons. I picked him up, and took him outside for a long talk and a time out in the car.

Once back inside, the other kids were still out of control, and so were some parents, screaming back and acting like kids themselves. One mother with an extremely violent child, spanked him twice, and then totally lost her temper, in a room full of people and picked him up and threw him into his chair. He got right out of it, so she threw him again, and again. I went to the desk and told the receptionist that I am a mandatory reporter and wanted the sheriffs dept called immediately. Thankfully I was informed that they had already done so. Finally, we get called back to see the dentist, and my son was tired, cranky and wound up from all that he'd just seen and was not cooperative at all. As we were leaving, the nurse offered to let him pick a prize and I said " No, I'm sorry but Lucas didn't behave and he can't have a toy" The nurse, who was in her mid 30's, started saying things like "Oh, come on mom, don't be a meanie" By this time we were in the hall by the waiting room where everyone could see and hear. I repeated that he had not behaved and that I do not reward bad behavior. By then, my son knew that he wouldn't get the toy and gave up, but the nurse didn't. Finally, an elderly gentleman who was sitting near us, said " Lady, if these other people in here would make thier kids mind and not give them everything they want, maybe you wouldn't have a waiting room full of screaming brats!"

I smiled at him, thanked him and we left.

My son apologized, on his own, before we'd made it out of the parking lot.

I know this is long, but the whole situation today really bothered me, it's as if most parents these days have NO parenting skills at all and it makes it difficult for everyone, including nurses like you who are trying to help.

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I have no children, so in reality I cannot understand how it feels to have a troublesome toddler. It sounds like you are bringing up a lovely boy though FutureNrse!

I agree entirley with you on this. I often see parents loosing it with their children. It must be hard after you've had a hard day and the child has done nothing but misbehave all day, but you cannot reward bad behaviour. It isn't the child's fault, it's a learned behaviour. If the child realises that if he/she misbehaves, screams etc then gets what he/she wants, ie: the toy or attention, the child will misbehave! Children aren't stupid. Or the other side when a child's behaviour is disruppting others and they totally ignore it. ie: kicking seats infront deliberatley on planes or not getting out the way for some poor old lady who can't move quickly.

I feel sorry for some children as they are often then punished for this learned behaviour by being shouted at/hit/sworn at. I have seen too often children innocently playing whilst mummy/daddy talking, and obviously getting bored may do something that is a little naughty, but not THAT bad and getting "Stop that you f***ing little b****rd!" in an angry and threatning tone. I could cry when I hear this abusive language towards children.

The worst one I saw was when a mum and dad were arguing, walking up the street and little boy in the buggy was getting upset at the shouting and after a minute, the poor boy wet himself and started to cry. To this mum got so angry, and literally screamed so loud you would have heard it 2 streets away. "What the **** did you do THAT for you little ******! Just wait til you get home!" She carried on ranting at him. It was the viciousness in her voice that upset me and her tone of voice. As I was at the other end of the street, I couldn't get an decent description of them nor did I know where they lived or I would have reported them.

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

In cases with children like that who rule their helpless parents, I just say ok. Let me know if yall change your mind.

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first post!

biggest peeve: ED sending pt.s at change of shift. 7 am is always change of shift. d/t 12 hr shifts, 3 pm and 11 pm may not be; but 7am is FOR EVERYONE. btw- they only had 6 pt.s in their dept. at the time. and i got written up for refusing.

oh yeah, it also really bugs me when the previous shift lets iv's that pharm. has to mix and send go dry- and i have to wait, meanwhile the natrecor or dilt or double concentrated milrinone for my CHFer is GONE!

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I thought of some more, control freaks, people who can't go with the flow and nurses and techs who feel every minutia of detail is performed better by themselves or they always tell you how to do it better (even if your competent) instead of doing it themselves. Also busy bodies who get involved in everyones business and cause trouble simply for the joy of messing up your day, usually because their some old bitty nurse, never been married, no kids, no life, no personally fullfilling hobbies, certainly not a Christain, and think their finger point and whistleblowing is doing some justice.

I guess I am an "old bitty nurse (should be spelled biddy, actually)... no kids, ... certainly not a Christian." What the heck has anyone's religion got to do with it? I, for one, can't STAND nurses who have a captive audience in their patients and insist on preaching to them - or better yet, telling them how if they were better Christians, accept the Lord, or blahblahblah they will get better.

Open your minds, people.

Just my 2 cents.

A Pagan Chick :rolleyes:

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Orientated is actually correct English...the type we invented in England! Oriented is an Americanism that drives me nuts!

orientated

Orientate \O"ri*en*tate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Orientated; p. pr. & vb. n. Orientating.] [From Orient.] 1. To place or turn toward the east; to cause to assume an easterly direction, or to veer eastward.

2. To arrange in order; to dispose or place (a body) so as to show its relation to other bodies, or the relation of its parts among themselves.

Main Entry: ori-ent-ed

Pronunciation: 'Or-E-"en-t&d, 'or-

Function: adjective

Date: 1944

: intellectually, emotionally, or functionally directed

This is the word that means to be oriented in your unit... it's a very common mistake that everyone who speaks English, the Queen's sort or the American sort, makes.

Just thought you'd like to know!

KC in FL :p

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BIGGEST pet peeve....When a pt is in hard labor and her s.o. is snoring on the sofa. When you wake them and ask them to hold a hand (or leg depending on the time of labor) and they move soooooo slow. So sorry to interupt your night.

2nd, When the entire family, 2nd and 3rd cousins removed, all the neighbors and friends they can think of, show up for the 7pm labor induction of a closed and thick prime. Then ask me a million times how much longer I think it will be. GO HOME and we will call you when they baby gets here in 2 or 3 days (literally, sometimes).

Lastly, When fetal heart rate is down and you tell the patient to roll over. "I can't, it hurts too bad, I can't..." Ahhhhhh! NOW! or I'll roll you myself and you will probably hurt more if I do it, TRUST ME!

Oh, you got those things soooooooo right, labor sister! heehee

I'm an L&D nurse, too... don't ya just get so bugged when they come in to see you all bright & smiley because they lost their mucus plug & they're "ready to have their baby."

Or the ladies who are the frequent fliers for all sorts of complaints (which are nothing but absolutely NORMAL effects of being pregnant) but we don't know anything about pregnancy/labor, etc. They know from their mom/aunt/sister/friend, blahblahblah or read in a book/magazine/saw on TLC that such & such could happen? AAAAAAAAGH

I work in a naval hospital, also. I get reallllllllllllllly tired of those patients who treat me and other staff like we're retarded because we work in a military facility & we obviously aren't "as good" as those civilian hospitals or staff. PUHLEEEEEEEEZE. I've worked in large centers, I have to say the military hospitals I've been in are far better!

Thanks for your words!

KC in FL

:p

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Today after several reprimands on his attitude/teamwork(due to a short-staffing situation this a.m.), he says "I think this is a racial thing!" I immediately responded "This is NOT racial at all. This is about teamwork." (Later I find out he has used this 'racial' excuse from time to time with other aides in the past).

I am very very weary of hearing the "racist" or "racial thing" comments by coworkers. I am sick to death of having people fear hearing it because they know they'll be the ones called to the floor for having reprimanded someone who always uses this as an excuse to be lazy, inept, and inflexible - and remain employed anyway.

In 1991 I worked with an RN in NC who pushed her patient into my room (back in the labor-on-a-stretcher-then-go-to-the-delivery-room days) and proceeded to go back to the empty room, pull a rocking chair up in front of the TV, and go to sleep. I told her that I didn't plan do her work on that patient." She gave me a snarly look, then pulled the curtain. In 10 minutes, another RN and I went in, pulled the curtain, called her name, and she was DEAD asleep. She'd said that the BP machine wasn't working in her room (these were double rooms, so there was another monitor in that room she could have used). We each tried the machine out on one another, that gal STILL didn't wake up. And, of course, I did end up having to care for her patient as she never once came in there after putting that lady in my room (next to the patient I already had).

I told the charge nurse that she was going to have to write her up. She cried & boohooed about it. But she did it (the charge Rn's were the ones who had to write up these sorts of incidents). And this was NOT the only time complaints had ever been made about this person - she was always hanging the wrong IV fluid & taking an hour to 90-min. meal breaks, etc. But everyone feared reprimanding her because of her race. Well, when she DID get written up, she ended up calling all the black doctors "for support," called the NAACP for "help," called everyone who was working that night to find out if they remembered some bad thing I might have said, I think you get the picture.

To top it off, I was called to the hospital administrator's office & questioned about what happened. I asked why I was being called down there, and received the reply that "well, when you're in court you'd better have some better answers." WHAT BULL**T is this? AND, because we "didn't take pictures of her" to prove that she was indeed asleep, we had no "real proof" that she was asleep. She said she knew we were in there playing with the monitor (only because one of our techs told her). AFter this lovely drama, I was treated like crap by many of the black docs & nurses there, as though I had done something wrong. It really was hell.

So, you see, I am not a fan of the stupid, BS racist comments. I am more than willing & happy to work with anyone who's willing & happy TO WORK!

More of my 2-cent pieces.

KC in FL

:angryfire

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i am so so sick of these smokers. i worked in long term care for nearly 20 years and it is much worse there than in the hospital (from what i have seen so far) but i still see it some. the nurse i relieve is a smoker. she can't document her pain assessments, care plans or patient education sessions because "she doesn't have time" . 8 hour chart checks are not completed, orders not taken off but is waiting at the door with her purse on her shoulder everynite at 10:45 and she is usually reaking of stale smoke.

and...... just about hating to work on certain days when you know that the heavy smokers will be on - then you know you'll be doing twice your regular work! some of my friends & i started taking "fresh air" breaks... the smokers were floored! hahahaha

also, rn's who smoke & have constant uri's - then have the nerve to tell you "well, my doc says my smoking has nothing to do with it." is the doc a bigtime smoker too? are you just lying? or do you get your healthcare at kmart? what gives on that crap?

thanks for your comments, nitengale!

:rotfl:

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Yea, and people that call Alzheimers disease, Old Timers. And sometimes people that mispronounce are well educated and they still continue to mispronounce even when it's brought to their attention. Another one I can't stand is - orientate - wrong, it's orient. There are many others....I've had people tell me they were intimidated by my vocabulary.

Well, I've already made my reply to that "orientate" thing...

I had a nursing instructor for med/surg who insisted on saying "Lar-NIX" and "phar-NIX." Oh, I just cringed every time!

And coworkers in the south who think it's cute or OK to use terrible redneck grammar - ugh...

OK, done for this one!

;-)

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