What would you do?!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Our assistant DON's daughter is the new unit manager. Today was my first day working. I needed a TB test so myself, another new hire, the assistant DON, and the unit manager were in the room. Well the unit manager gives me my TB, starts laughing after the needle is in my arm and says there's nothing in the needle. She then grabs another needle with the TB solution and does it a second time. Right after I'm sitting in a meeting and have time to process what happened. I suddenly realize that I never saw her open or draw up anything. So panicked, I go straight to her and ask her if she's sure it wasn't a used needle. She says no. I asked well did you draw it up? She says no, my mom did. So I go to the assistant DON (her mother) and ask her. She says she is the safest nurse and has been doing it such a long time. She said she put air in the syringe and then got distracted and never drew up the TB solution. She asked me if I was being a worry wart and if it made me feel better I could fill out an incident report. I told her nothing would make me feel better about the situation but I filled out the report and went to urgent care for testing so that way they would have the event documented. So now I feel like I've already started off on the wrong foot at this job because day one, I filled out an incident report. Not to mention I feel like I was belittled for expressing concern. What would you do? Even though the risk could be small, I now have to quit breastfeeding my daughter and I'm heartbroken.

Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

You have every right to be concerned and upset, a series of errors were made 1) someone received an unnecessary stick due to a medication error 2) someone else "drew" up the medication 3) unprofessional to begin laughing after committing said mistake.

Our occupational health nurses draw up everything right before us, from opening up packages to verifying doses.

I am sorry this happened to you.

I'm picturing them dressed up as clowns for some reason.

Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

Yeah... I think they are the ones who got off on the wrong foot, not you. I hope this is just an isolated incident and not an indication of the overall culture of the unit, yikes! Sorry you went through that, not a good way to start off.

Since you ask....based on the information provided I would continue breastfeeding.

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