Nurses Relations
Published Feb 7
Hey everyone! I've been working on my unit for almost 2 years now. I work day shift on a busy surgical/ oncology floor. Today I had a busy shift. Towards the end of my shift I discharged two patients so I was automatically the first one to have to take a transfer. It was a comfort care patient on a morphine drip from the SICU who was about to pass away. They sent this patient to our unit because SICU needed a bed. I got report on the patient at 6:45pm. They nurse was already holding to give report when I found out I was getting a patient. Patient rolled onto the unit 10 minutes later. I checked my morphine drip orders, introduced myself to the family and verified the morphine drip on the pump. I then proceeded to give the night nurse report. She was floating from a different unit.
Right away her approach was very unkind. She proceeded to ask "Why are the orders for the medications not discontinued? Isn't this patient comfort care?” I stated "Yes they are. I honestly got report 15 minutes ago and have yet to discontinue the orders (fyi orders were for albuterol, Pepcid, etc)”. She kept pressing me on it and in a rude tone was like "You're always supposed to check your orders before you get report!.” I'm very soft spoken. I don't like confrontation and I definitely feel like she sensed this from me. I responded with "My priority was not to discontinue orders that the patient clearly won't be getting while on a morphine drip. I was busy providing patient care and I'll discontinue the orders when I'm done getting report". On my unit our policy is that when a patient is put on comfort care all other orders are discontinued by protocol. So I couldn't understand why she was making a big deal out of this. She then shouted and said "DON'T GIVE ME ATTITUDE.” I was honestly shocked she raised her voice at me. I told her I wasn't giving her attitude it simply stating that I wasn't able to get to it as it was not a priority at the time and would discontinue the orders as soon as I was done giving report.
I later found out from my nurse manager that she stormed into her office and stated that I yelled at her. Apparently she was so mad my nurse manager needed to calm her down. I'm so embarrassed! I've never had any issue with a coworker where a nurse manager had to get involved. Let alone for something so silly. I explained my side of the story to my nurse manager and she simply asked me to discontinue the orders and apologized for her shouting at me.
I understand it's a difficult time in nursing. We're all stressed & we're all burnt out. I'm just not very good at dealing with these sort of situations. I don't like confrontation, but the same time being as soft spoken as I am I'm learning to stand up for myself. I do what I need to do for my patients. I don't question other nurses so I was very taken back by the situation. I know it sounds silly now that I'm typing it out but how would you have handled the situation?
hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I
4 Articles; 4,843 Posts
NursingHopeful95 said: I understand it's a difficult time in nursing. We're all stressed & we're all burnt out. I'm just not very good at dealing with these sort of situations. I don't like confrontation, but the same time being as soft spoken as I am I'm learning to stand up for myself. I do what I need to do for my patients. I don't question other nurses so I was very taken back by the situation. I know it sounds silly now that I'm typing it out but how would you have handled the situation?
I understand it's a difficult time in nursing. We're all stressed & we're all burnt out. I'm just not very good at dealing with these sort of situations. I don't like confrontation, but the same time being as soft spoken as I am I'm learning to stand up for myself. I do what I need to do for my patients. I don't question other nurses so I was very taken back by the situation. I know it sounds silly now that I'm typing it out but how would you have handled the situation?
Bottom line, you can't control what other people do or say. My fater who was the best man I ever new would have advised to let the situation "Roll of your back like water off a duck." He also advised during times of stress to go the pond and watch the ducks because "You rarely see an angry duck.They just go about their business in their normal ducky way."
Hppy
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Create well-written care plans that meets your patient's health goals.
This study guide will help you focus your time on what's most important.
Choosing a specialty can be a daunting task and we made it easier.
By using the site, you agree with our Policies. X