Bad day at work

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Hello to all! I am sorry that this post is so long......I am really upset and I was hoping to get some of your thoughts about this situation. I Got a job as a CNA at a hospital last summer (hoping to get some experience during school) and I usually like my job. However, yesterday was such a bad day and I was hoping that someone here might understand. It all started about 3 months ago when their was a patient in the unit that was combative, and severely confused and needed to be restrained. During my shift he was given some medication and transported to cardiology for tests. When he returned, I helped the orderly get him back into the bed and noticed that he was no longer restrained so I went to his nurse and I told her that cardiology returned him unrestrained. He had a tube placed for feeding (NG) and was scheduled for surgery the next afternoon. (PEG)

Anyway, about a half hour later, she came into the room, because she was going to start his feeding. I was in the room changing his gown. She was in a hurry and she finished quickly. A little while later, I passed by his room and I heard a gurgling sound. I went in and he looked like he was choking. I called for the nurse and tried to sit him up as straight as possible. She came into the room and suctioned him. I asked her what happened and she did not answer. I said, "Mindy, did you check the tube placement before you started the feeding??" (he WAS unrestrained for a while in cardiology and was constantly trying to get to the IV's and tubes!!!)

BIG MISTAKE! (her exact words) She ordered me to "get the hell out of the room!" which I did, quickly. Now I was NOT saying this to her to be smart. I was thinking out loud, basically.(and I know that she didn't do it) Anyway, she has been very hateful to me ever since! It seems she goes out of her way to be unkind and she rolls her eyes at everything that I say no matter who I am talking to. I heard the patient got pneumonia and the surgery was cancelled due to this incident. I have NEVER said a word about it to anyone. I have been hoping for a time when Mindy might be open to conversation so that I can discuss it with her. I have wanted to apologize to her for sometime now, but it is not happening. I offended her, yes, but I did not do it on purpose. Not like she thinks.

Yesterday she was the charge nurse, and I overheard her talking about me though she did not say my name. (named my school and said how stupid we all are at that school, and a few other examples) I was so hurt and so mad!!! How can someone like that be in charge, or a leader?? I have since given up trying to apologize to her, she doesn't deserve it. I won't even say anything about her professionalism........

I do not like to go to the boss and complain because I think that it speaks volumes about who I am, but I am considering it this time. Please help me and tell me what you think. If I overstepped my bounds by what I said, then I wish she'd just get it out in the open and be done with it. I feel what she is doing now is making me look like an idiot to my future peers. I can take the reprimand but not the torture. Thanks in advance.

I am sorry you are going through this. I have a question for you though. 1) Did you ask her this while the two of you were still in the patients room? If so maybe that is why she got all pissy and yelled at you. AT the same time though she should not have told you to get out of the room the way you said she did, that is disrespectful as well and that should not take place in the presence of a patient no matter what.

I have found through my personal experience that there are some nurses who treat CNA's REALLY, REALLY bad. Not all of them but some of them and they will talk about you behind your back about anything and eveyrthing about you. It happens every where. Since CNA's are on a lower level the nurses take the big man attitude that means, I am higher up then you and I have more education than you. NOT all but a select few have that attitude and ALMOST every CNA will run across it at some point or another. It is like some doctors with nurses they will take the BIG man attidue that I am higher up then you, I have more education that you so anything I say goes, after all I have to be right.

Originally posted by Gator,SN

Yesterday she was the charge nurse, and I overheard her talking about me though she did not say my name. (named my school and said how stupid we all are at that school, and a few other examples) I was so hurt and so mad!!! How can someone like that be in charge, or a leader?? I have since given up trying to apologize to her, she doesn't deserve it. I won't even say anything about her professionalism........

.

Yes, it does make you wonder how some people are put in charge of others! If that woman had something to say to you personally, she should have called you somewhere in private. I'm sure I'll run into some of those types, but I doubt that they will run over me. I also don't like the way some doctors talk to nurses either. I know that you'll have to put up with a certain amount of junk while working as a CNA, but you may want to try and smooth things over with that nurse. Two wrongs don't make a right. Go ahead and apoligize to her, and leave it at that. Your conscience will be clear, and you'll feel better knowing that you did the right thing. After that, just do your job, and avoid her if possible. When you become a nurse yourself, please remember how you were treated and try to change this behavior toward people who you'll be in charge of. Good luck. Darby

to Peaceful2100, you are absolutely right! I should have never said that while I was still in the room, within earshot of the patient. I was wrong to do so. I should not have questioned her while she was in the middle of this scene. I have learned my lesson!

Gator

Gee, ((((Gator))))

I've been on both sides of this fence all righty...

had a pt who was gurgling like crazy even though HOB was up almost 90 degrees, so hearing the nurse outside the door, I turned off the pump and got the suction equipment ready, and then stepped out to tell nurse that pt. might need to be suctioned, but in any case, needed to be looked at stat because she was gurgly.

Well, after she spent about 15 minutes going up one side of me and down the other about turning off the pump, what did she do? but wait til she thought I was out of earshot and suction the pt. (Same nurse also almost missed pt going into CHF but instead of arguing with her, I simply said, this pt does NOT act like this, EVER, and I got her vitals and stayed with her til she became symptomatic; then the nurse got on the ball)

Another time, another place: Cna tells me that pt is SOB and needs neb tx. What she missed was that I had just finished assessing pt and that is why he was sob. I said no, he doesn't need that now, and she went off and got the UM. Well, by then pt was fine and he never did de-sat below 91%. CNA was so pissed she refused to talk to me for the rest of the day and ignored me when I asked her to do stuff.

What's my point?

Two: One, you must have trust, respect and cooperation to get the best effect for the patient. Bend over backwards if you have to; it's not a matter of your pride, but a matter of quality pt care.

Two.....people like this?

they're freakin' EVERYWHERE!!

and when those ones leave, more of 'em just keep coming up to take their place.... :uhoh21:

Really!! :chuckle now just remember that, and you'll do fine, ok? :D :cool:

Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.

gator, hugs to you.

Bless your heart. I think you shoud go up and ask to speak to her and apologize for saying something in front of the patient. That'll clear your side of it. Then, if she's still grumpy at you, at least you know you've done your part to ease the tension.

I agree with Julie... Do your part and be the bigger person...

PS.. Julie.. Nice pic.. only 2 weeks... WOW

Thank you all for your kind words and understanding ear.

I needed those hugs! you are the best!

I will take your advice, and do what I can to make this better.

Thanks again, and God bless!

Gator :)

Gator that is the way to go. Don't beat yourself up about what you said in front of the patient. I would definitely apologize and if the nurse still acts like a witch then so be it at least you know you were the bigger and better person in all this.

Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

(((((Gator))))) :kiss

I agree with the advice Julie has given you. Owning up to what you did and apologizing for it takes courage in the midst of any fear you may have in doing so at this point. Whether or not that nurse accepts your apology is neither here nor there. You cannot own her attitude, but only your own. Pray for her that she will come to see the "error" of her own behavior in that incident. You will have to work with people like her anywhere you go, so let that incident be a lesson of growth for you as a person and as a CNA. Sometimes we need to endure others bad behavior or attitudes to keep us on our toes as what NOT to do. ;) :kiss

:D (((((Gator)))))),

The only thing I can say is "you done good"...perhaps she did NOT like the fact that you asked her in front of the pt...however, you are in a position of learning...you are there not only to perform a service and earn money,you are there to learn an abundance of knowledge. Perhaps you should have approached her outside of the room...her response may have been more calm.

Other than learning to always check a pt's tube placement when they have returned from x-ray and prior to any feeding,you have learned a great comminucation skill and you have also learned that when YOU are an RN, you should never,ever speak to anyone the way you were spoken to that day...

I am truly sorry the nurse is making you miserable...I do believe I would have been a bit more gentle with you...she knows you are a student nurse as well as a CNA... so many opportunities for each of you to learn from one another...

Take care...this will pass...

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