How do you spell R-E-S-P-E-C-T at work?

sored · Jun 6, 2005

I have been 1 year in this ER and I am definitely getting more and more respect. I learn more and more and knowledge is a way of getting respect, but respect can be many things.
A few days ago on the nightshift an old LPN took me aside and told me that there was something I had to stop doing, because it was not right. She said it in such a gentle way, and I had not thought about it before. She definitely showed me respect, correction done right is a way of showing respect. If she did not respect me she would have talked behind my back or yelled something at me.

Please read the books I mentioned. I don't know how long you have been a nurse so forgive me if my advice is what you already know. I have been an ICU nurse 20 years and I can still say I love taking care of people. So much.

Never allow yourself to be yelled at. We are not cavemen and we have the communication skills to solve problems. When I was 23 a cardiologist cursed and screamed at me for nothing that was my fault. I was brave enough at that tender age to take this 50 year old physician in a private area and simply tell him that under no circumstance does he ever have the right to speak to me this way. He did apologize. Every one of us on this planet deserve to be treated decently.

Remember working in the ER is hard because it is where adrenalin junkies and ego migrate, not to say that is necessarily you. But ER is where criticism abounds. If you like the work stay but don't let that get under your skin.

Just as we are not cavemen we are also not robots. It is expected at times you will not do the perfect thing. You will also make mistakes. That has to be OK because we are human. A nurse who says she never made a mistake is a liar. Don't be afraid. Say you are sorry and listen. We all have to.

Lastly, do not let them define you. You define yourself and be proud enough to recognize the pettiness of disrespect. I hope you teach by example, like the LVN.

You'll be fine. Read the books. Read exerpts on the internet today.

stidget99 · Jun 6, 2005

I recently received the "ultimate" in disrespect and respect last week (will try to keep it short and simple)...

New adm---pt was hip displacement that was slid back in. Injury happened when he and his father were on the side of the interstate trying to fix a flat tire when another car came up and slammed the two of them. Father died. Pt was found face down in the woods ~30 feet from impact per ED/EMS report. Pt had his hip slid back in. Came to floor w/ a cervical collar and leg immobilizer. Not too many other s/sx of trauma- just a few minor abrasions. As he reaches the floor, he begins vomiting, resp rate 8-10 (but he had received mega drugs in the ED), pupils very small and sluggishly reactive, very lethargic/difficult to arouse at times. I call the ortho surgeon (the only doc on this case)....told him what was going on, asked him if we were worried about head trauma/ICP? No head CT was done in the ED. He said treat him w/ phenergan. "I already wrote the order :angryfire " I said "Yessir!!! Ticked me off. Pt continues vomiting. Did not give him phenergan due to his resp status and I didn't want to knock him out any further. I call back ~30 mins later. Again ask doc,,,,"Are you SURE we're not worried about ICP/concussion" after reiterating what was going on. He not so politely informed me that he treated the bones only :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire and that if I had any questions re: anything else I should call the ED doc:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire . I said I can't do that - once they hit the floor, ED is out of the pic. I stated then "So am I correct in that you have no orders for me?" He said yes. And I said, ok, "I will write that as an order" (which I did). Within 5 minutes, the ED doc was up there, wrote an order for a head CT. While ED doc was reviewing chart, I made comment to another nurse "Well I'll be dammed, he does care!". ~ 5 minutes later, the ortho doc called an actually apologized to me saying I was totally right in calling him and that I did a good job. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TOTAL VALIDATION!!!! Pt was sent to ICU. Not sure what happened to him after that.

It is sooooooooooooooo incredibly wonderful when docs actually listen to their "eyes and ears and ?brains" on the floor. Too bad he was a jerk to begin w/.

Mystery5 · Jun 6, 2005

We're all human and can make an error in judgement, and say the wrong thing sometimes. It's cool that he was able to ackowledge it. That's an encouraging story.

sored · Jun 6, 2005

I recently received the "ultimate" in disrespect and respect last week (will try to keep it short and simple)...
New adm---pt was hip displacement that was slid back in. Injury happened when he and his father were on the side of the interstate trying to fix a flat tire when another car came up and slammed the two of them. Father died. Pt was found face down in the woods ~30 feet from impact per ED/EMS report. Pt had his hip slid back in. Came to floor w/ a cervical collar and leg immobilizer. Not too many other s/sx of trauma- just a few minor abrasions. As he reaches the floor, he begins vomiting, resp rate 8-10 (but he had received mega drugs in the ED), pupils very small and sluggishly reactive, very lethargic/difficult to arouse at times. I call the ortho surgeon (the only doc on this case)....told him what was going on, asked him if we were worried about head trauma/ICP? No head CT was done in the ED. He said treat him w/ phenergan. "I already wrote the order :angryfire " I said "Yessir!!! Ticked me off. Pt continues vomiting. Did not give him phenergan due to his resp status and I didn't want to knock him out any further. I call back ~30 mins later. Again ask doc,,,,"Are you SURE we're not worried about ICP/concussion" after reiterating what was going on. He not so politely informed me that he treated the bones only :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire and that if I had any questions re: anything else I should call the ED doc:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire . I said I can't do that - once they hit the floor, ED is out of the pic. I stated then "So am I correct in that you have no orders for me?" He said yes. And I said, ok, "I will write that as an order" (which I did). Within 5 minutes, the ED doc was up there, wrote an order for a head CT. While ED doc was reviewing chart, I made comment to another nurse "Well I'll be dammed, he does care!". ~ 5 minutes later, the ortho doc called an actually apologized to me saying I was totally right in calling him and that I did a good job. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TOTAL VALIDATION!!!! Pt was sent to ICU. Not sure what happened to him after that.
It is sooooooooooooooo incredibly wonderful when docs actually listen to their "eyes and ears and ?brains" on the floor. Too bad he was a jerk to begin w/.

You sound so smart. Thank you for noticing the problem and thinking on your feet. You may not know what happened after transfer to ICU, but I am sure your patient's outcome was improved because of your diligence. Good Going!

I can tell you were frustrated by not being heard. Rightfully so. But, if there is a next time, chart no orders recieved in the nursing notes, not orders. You did everything right and getting mad because someone in your care is not provided the attention necessary is maddening. But nursing notes. Writing in orders "no order" is almost like a doctor writing in orders "file incident report".

I am glad you were mad. The ortho doc is a clear example of the complacency that seems to be a norm these days. Reed the books I listed in previous postings

sored · Jun 6, 2005

You sound so smart. Thank you for noticing the problem and thinking on your feet. You may not know what happened after transfer to ICU, but I am sure your patient's outcome was improved because of your diligence. Good Going!
I can tell you were frustrated by not being heard. Rightfully so. But, if there is a next time, chart no orders recieved in the nursing notes, not orders. You did everything right and getting mad because someone in your care is not provided the attention necessary is maddening. But nursing notes. Writing in orders "no order" is almost like a doctor writing in orders "file incident report".
I am glad you were mad. The ortho doc is a clear example of the complacency that seems to be a norm these days. Reed the books I listed in previous postings. And never dobut yourself