How unprofessional is this NP??

[LibertyBellPN]

I just finished a long shift and am still stunned by the behavior of one of our NP's...am I very very tired, or is this just unbelievable?

we have a very nice hospice patient (A&Ox3) on a b.i.d. narcotic analgesic that the NP increased by doubling the dose. She gave the order over the 'phone to another nurse (who forgot to remind her to please fax the direction change/script to the pharmacy.) There weren't a lot of tablets left and we needed a script faxed anyway.

So, the nurse paged her, and she never called back, which is typical of her, and aggravating to us. (She tried several times with no response.)The next day, the 7-3 nurse paged her and when the NP returned the call she was rude and curt and said "no! I can't do it now, I am BUSY!" and hung the phone up. Hung it up on her!

This was relayed to me at report. There were enough tablets for my shift and tomorrow AM and that's it. So...I talked to the other floor and said if anyone needed her, I was putting out a call. Before I could do that, the NP called US, asking to speak to someone who wasn't there! Great, I was thinking!

I grabbed the phone, politely said hello, my name, and why I was calling. I told her we didn't have enough meds for Mr X and since she increased it, we really needed the script faxed.

She said, (or rather)---she yelled---- and I quote, "NO! I am in my F'ing car, how the F am I supposed to do that?!!!!!" end quote....and hung up on me!!

If I had the chance I might have said, "ok, I will chart that you said no to getting this patient his medication that YOU ordered", but she hung up so quickly, I never got the chance....however.....she is very good friends with the boss...so maybe I wouldn't have written that. BUT...the point is, how is the patient going to get the med?

I tried the MD after that, but of course it was a covering who doesn't want to deal with it and didn't have access to a fax, so again, the problem gets passed on--this is going on days now. The med never should have got this low anyway, but that's typical.

But I did speak to pharmacy, who was great and said they would try to reach her or the doc but I didn't recieve the med by the time I left.

The behavior and language of that NP was so far out there, I tell you....I cannot get over it. Is that unreal or what?????

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

The abovementioned NP was extremely unprofessional and rude. No professional person should curse and swear while conducting business. Her behavior was inexcusable, regardless of what was occurring in her life at the time.

[mrsalby]

Yes very unprofessional and possibly abandonment. She should be reported and written up. She chose the career and the responsibility that goes with it. She needs to grow up and accept it or get out.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

File an incident report.

This behavior could rise to the level of reportable neglect. Especially when you consider that she assessed the need for increased pain medications and then failed to insure that they could be provided as ordered to the patient. As a mandated reporter you could be putting yourself at risk by not reporting.

[justme1972]

If I had the chance I might have said, "ok, I will chart that you said no to getting this patient his medication that YOU ordered", but she hung up so quickly, I never got the chance....however.....she is very good friends with the boss...so maybe I wouldn't have written that. BUT...the point is, how is the patient going to get the med?

Right there is the real issue. People act out of control because they can. Evidently, she is pretty confident that no one is going to say anything to her.

Stories like this burn me up! :angryfire

[fultzymom]

File an incident report.

This behavior could rise to the level of reportable neglect. Especially when you consider that she assessed the need for increased pain medications and then failed to insure that they could be provided as ordered to the patient. As a mandated reporter you could be putting yourself at risk by not reporting.

I agree. If she saw the need for a medication increase then she should have made sure that you were able to get it. I hate it when doc's/NP act like their time is too valuable to deal with the "little" things!!:angryfire

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

This NP was definitely in the wrong. I would report it up your chain of command. The swearing and out of control emotional response are enough to get her in trouble with her boss IMHO.

I do want to apologize to you too. No one should ever have to tolerate being sworn at or yelled at either for that matter.

[ICRN2008, BSN, RN]

Wow, that's pretty out of control!

[LibertyBellPN]

Thank you!

I'm not easily offended, but I work with several nurses who are very religious, and I've never heard them even swear...I can't imagine their reaction if the NP spoke to them like that!

She's allowed to get away with this behavior, because similar incidents have happened and I haven't seen any change in her behavior...

When I got report I was determined to reach her and get that patient his meds. (I sort of figured the other nurse wasn't assertive enough.)

My smugness didn't last very long.I still can't believe her attitude!

I'm on the fence about reporting this. As I said, she is very friendly with the director, and nothing has been done before.I would like to tell the doc about her behavior, but I'd be willing to bet he's heard it before too!

I just wonder what happened today with that pt?

Again, thanks!

Oh...I should add, most all the NP's I've worked with are terrific! Polite, professional, and respectful to our input.

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

i would have charted exactly what she said...choice words and all. i have always told the snooty doc's .. "if you can say it i can write it."

[walk6miles]

Completely unacceptable....document, document, document.....it will save YOU and the other nurses when the proverbial "s..t" hits the fan and believe me, it will.

God bless you and the other nurses!