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My unit is split into 2 seperate wings...we all work on the large unit, but on any given day we will be on one side or the other. We have 12 hour people and 8 hour people. I happen to do 8s. So it was about 11:15, and one of the techs came up to me and said, "I know you're on this side tonight, but can you do me a favor? One of the IVs is beeping on the other side and there is no RN over there." I said "WHAT? What do you mean "no RN"? Turns out that the RNs that were over there were all in report, and the charge RN had "run downstairs for a quick smoke", leaving just 2 of us on the entire floor, and nobody on that side! Needless to say, I hauled butt down there and stayed there till someone else came back, but was I ever mad when I heard that! Taking a smoke break and not even making sure that your unit is covered? And all the RNs were in the same room - I think they could have figured out that that left nobody out there if there was an emergency or anything...what do you think about that? I was pretty angry! Yes, it's inconvenient to have 2 nurses stations, but you have to cover both of them!!!!! :angryfire

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Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

Yes, that was irresponsible of the RN to leave the floor uncovered but it's her license on the line; who was covering YOUR area when you went to check out the beeping IV? Were you the only nurse on the entire floor then? I assume another nurse was on your side when you left; regardless, that placed you in a bad position. Did you say anything to thr charge RN when she returned?

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No, the other nurse stayed on "our side", and I sat on the other one. We were both 8 hour people so we didn't have to get report, and we had both already taped our report - we were just waiting for the oncoming RNs to finish listening. I went to the other side because I was finished, the RN who stayed was still charting, but otherwise done. But what if we were both busy and couldn't have gone?

It was only about 10 minutes after I got over there that the charge RN came back, but I don't know how long they went with no RN there. The tech didn't realize there was no RN until he went to look for someone to fix the pump - and I believe that he was pretty upset too, because they basically left him there by himself.

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PS: no, I didn't say anything...as soon as she came back and saw me sitting there, she had this look on her face like "OH SH**!" Words weren't necessary...I didn't know her eyes could open that wide. I just kinda looked at her like "Yeah..." and headed back to my side.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

Dang. Very irresponsible on their part. Good for you though for covering. Hopefully the "looks" between the two of you will prevent that from happening again.

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Miko,

You sound more and more like you need a vacation. This was very poor behavior on the part of the CN and other nurses on that side, anything can and usually does happen in a matter of a few minutes when no one is minding the farm. I do think you need to inform the NM, she may not deal with this single incident, but I have a feeling more is to come. You will not be popular with the other staff members for report this, but it sounds like there have been many incidents unreported that are now causing problems.

Good Luck on the next shift. I hope you get a few days off soon and can leave some of this stress at the door of the facility.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I'm sure if there was an emergency those in report would be able to come out and help. Just because I'm in report doesn't make me not responsible for my patients.

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Specializes in Research, ED, Critical Care.
I'm sure if there was an emergency those in report would be able to come out and help. Just because I'm in report doesn't make me not responsible for my patients.

I agree. Also, tattle tales never win. This is something to be resolved among staff. The look should be enough. Do not start the drama unless you are ready for the stress. What is a win here? For me, the CN never does that again when you are there. You cannot control everyone all the time.

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Specializes in jack of all trades.
I'm sure if there was an emergency those in report would be able to come out and help. Just because I'm in report doesn't make me not responsible for my patients.

If anything the tech may have made the choice to interrupt report and inform them who ever has Mr/Ms. So-So's pump is going off can someone tend to it please, the RN is off the floor? Then get you if no one responded. I'm not defending that no one was there as it is definitely wrong the other RN left the floor during this period. This type practice of leaving one RN on the floor or even the door open during report used to happen most of the time years ago. I'm sure it still does in some institutions particularly the small rural areas. This happened alot before the start of "taping report" or making report rounds with your relief on pts. Someone would usually have to get up to go tend to the issue then finish report. You did correct in the way you handled it as far as the coverage and hopefully the "look" will make a good impression that you dissapproved.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

While I think it commendable that you went over, took care of the IV problem and then stayed until the charge nurse came back, I don't think it was necessary for you to have done that. I disagree with your assessment that the unit wasn't covered. I would have told the tech to go back to the report room and tell those nurses what was going on rather than leave my assigned area. The report room is NOT an inner sanctum. I'm curious as to why the tech felt he/she couldn't do that in the first place.

Hopefully the charge nurse learned her lesson, but had circumstances been different (i.e., she was THE only RN there and took off without arranging for coverage while she was gone) I might have considered reporting her. She should have not only told the tech where she was going, but who to call if there was a problem.

One of my pet peeves throughout my working years has been nurses who have to go for frequent smoke breaks. After a while, they often don't inform other nurses they are going and their IVs and call lights ALWAYS seem to go off the minute they step off the unit. Of course, these same nurses were never able to help out when my IVs or call lights were going off and I was tied up in a patient's room!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

You took care of the problem. The point is, it WAS covered, even if you had to help out. I would let the CNA know there is no reason somebody in report can't come out and take care of a patient need during report. Patients don't stop having needs just because staff are in report. Actually, you might remind your coworkers of this. Or at least, agree to stagger your report times so that both sides are covered while nurses are in report. There are creative and useful ways to handle this other than reporting the staff to management and I would try these first.

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I'm sure if there was an emergency those in report would be able to come out and help. Just because I'm in report doesn't make me not responsible for my patients.

Yep! Been pulled out of both giving and receiving report quite a few times.

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