Heinous or Forgivable???

[Flo1216]

I was doing a 1:1 observation with an elderly confused woman who tends to wander. So I was in the room with her and the 19 year old unit clerk came in with a piece of paper that said " My name is !#@*. If found please return me to Unit @*!$. she then stuck the paper on the lady's back with a piece of tape. I waited until she left and I removed it because I think that is totally degrading and if someone did that to my mom I would knock them out. So later the lady and I were walking down the hall and the unit clerk goes, ' Where is her sign"? I said, "she took it off,"(even though i am the one who took it off) so then the clerk goes and gets the sign and sticks it back on her back and I was like, " come on, don't put a sign on her back, ' and she gets all nasty and goes, " well everyone else does it, " I said, " well if she is supervised like she is supposed to be and has hospital ID like she is supposed to, then she shouldn't need a sign, " Not to mention the fact that it is altogether tacky and mean. I find it the equivalent of putting a KICK ME sign on someone's back. So then the clerk grabbed the paper and ripped it up in little pieces and and stomped away like a 2 year old. The sad thing is that she just started nursing school. What does everyone else think of this? Am I overreacting?

[adrienurse, LPN]

I wouldn't let someone I work with get away with that. I'd say they'd be in for a good speech...........

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Cruel.

Reportable.

[BadBird, BSN, RN]

She totally lacks maturity, I would report her immediately to her supervisor. That type of behavior has no place in nursing and she is setting herself up for a lawsuit not to mention that poor patient who has no idea what is going on. Would you treat your mother or father that way or allow someone else to? I don't think so, as a matter of fact she should be fired.

[sunnygirl272]

if she were already a nurse, could be reported for professional misconduct for failure to maintain the dignity of a client...

[DIPLOMATICRN4HIRE, MSN, RN]

I think you need to make her a sign that states

"If Im found to have some compassion Please return me to my Nursing area. " and see how she likes it. Having a sign placed upon a resident is degrading and lessens the value of herself. You were correct in saying everything you said and you did it Much better than I would have. The 19 yr old needs to understand that these are people not case numbers or "something that adds to her daily list of crap to do list" I do hope she finds a bit of compassion and respect for the elderly when she enters the school because if not that person wont last anytime in clinicals...

I do wish she would put something on a family member of mine she wouldnt need school , she would need an Emergency Nurse.

Zoe

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Unforgiveable - needs to find another job - like McDonalds!!! I would write the report myself!!! This cannot be tolerated.

I agree with above poster - if someone did this my family member - they'd have to be treated in ER too.

[CATHYW]

If this was my little mother-in-law with Alzheimer's I would've reported her! I still would've reported her! As you said, with proper ID, and proper observation, there should be no question which room the lady belonged in. It sounds to me as though she was hoping that housekeeping, or visitors, would help that unit keep track of their patients. Abominable! :stone

[night owl]

If you were already 1:1 with her, what was the purpose of the sign on her back? It shouldn't have been there 1:1 or not, but this was inhumane and degrading to the resident. The youngster needs a real quick lesson in Ethics I tell ya!

[LasVegasRN]

All that would have needed to happen was that resident's family to walk in and see that. If I saw one of my loved one's with a sign on their back like that, someone would have to hold my purse.

[DIPLOMATICRN4HIRE, MSN, RN]

Vegas

Call me I will come hold ya Purse and keep the heffer from running so fast too.

Zoe

[night owl]

I would have beat them up with my purse never mind hold the darn thing!