I just can't believe this one!

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

Heres the scenario:

30 year old patients has hernia repair. Is a very tall and large man, quite scary looking not surprising given that he is a prisoner.

Anyway procedure goes well, then it's time for waking up.

He was quite combative and there were three nurses myself included trying to keep him from falling of the OR table. He's kicking, punching and trying to jump off the bed. This started happening before we could bring his bed into the room. If this happens on a bed we put pillows next to side rails and just let them kick out all they want. But on an OR table they can quite easily fall off and it's hard getting them up off the floor.

I'm on one side (patient is facing me) trying to hold his legs without being kicked in the face. The other two nurses are on the other side as he is almost slipping off. They didn't want to push him onto me as I'm holding his legs on and trying to avoid being kicked.

The anaesthetists is maintaining the airway. I got an intern to protect the arm on my side as he was waving it around everywhere.

So where are the surgeons during all this ruckus?

Why sitting at the desk, one was on the phone the other was doing paperwork.

As soon as it started happening I yelled out 'we need assistance'. I have a very loud voice you'd have to be pretty hard of hearing not to hear me bellow.

No response from them whatsoever. And they weren't facing the other direction either :angryfire

I yelled out again 'we need a hand here'.

And again.

No response. Other nurses were yelling out for help too at this point. The only people free to press the emergency alarm were the surgeons who didn't move to help us, let alone ring the alarm (they probably don't know how to press the button anyway).

At this point I'm fearing an injury to myself as his legs were kicking towards me and I'm almost ready to step aside and just let the patient fall on the floor. May sound bad but I'm not being a hero and risking a permanent injury.

I just lost it at this point.

"GET OFF YOUR LAZY orificeS AND GET HERE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Pardon my french but it worked (one gave me an odd look like what's wrong with you?) but I'm just feeling so disgusted with the lack of teamwork and care they demonstrated towards patient and staff. I don't know whether it's because they believe they are above simple things like making sure the patient is safe after surgery or if it's just them being oblivious. I don't know. But what annoys me is that I had no chance at all today to talk to them about this.

My back, shoulders and neck is aching from holding his legs down. I'm filling out a workplace injury form and I'm going to making a report to someone about this.

And I did not apologise for my language and have no intentions of it. To have to yell out for help 4 times and be ignored while we have a patient who is about to fall off the table, staff who are struggling not to be injured is just unbelievable. If they try discipling me for yelling at them I will explain that I asked nicely to begin with, even said please but their lack of respect and the situation at the time left me no choice but to resort to shock tactics.

Anyway that's what happened today.

Any similar stories? Do your doctors just sit there and do nothing as well?

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, ER.

I'm glad you stood up for yourself and your co-workers. Hope your sore body heals-up well, and certain people learn their lesson.

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Specializes in gynecology, obstetrics, pediatrics.

that's really unbelievable! is there no possibility to punish these docs for their behaviour? i am working in a civil hospital in north italy but i guarantee you that no doc will allow to behave like that! …by the way i have a loud voice too and i am also very big….hahahaha

hoping that you feel better soon!

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Specializes in GI, Home Health-Infusions, Med-Surg.

Where were the officers? If this were an inmate then he should have had officers with him at all times. Our inmates go down to the OR all the time for surgeries and the officers are required to be in the OR with them. This isn't as much a problem with the doctors in my opinion as it is with not having officers with an offender. They should be required to have 2 officers for every inmate.

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
Where were the officers? If this were an inmate then he should have had officers with him at all times. Our inmates go down to the OR all the time for surgeries and the officers are required to be in the OR with them. This isn't as much a problem with the doctors in my opinion as it is with not having officers with an offender. They should be required to have 2 officers for every inmate.

Yeah that is what I am wondering as well.

I think you should write the docs up. They put your lives in danger by not responding and at least calling for help.

Tait

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

All I can say is I have been a Registered Nurse for 20 years and sadly enough your story does NOT surprise me at all...:crying2:

We don't get paid enough for what we put up with and the dangers we face everyday.

And, kudos to you, you need a big set of ba..er lungs to make it in nursing!:nurse:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Where were the officers? If this were an inmate then he should have had officers with him at all times. Our inmates go down to the OR all the time for surgeries and the officers are required to be in the OR with them. This isn't as much a problem with the doctors in my opinion as it is with not having officers with an offender. They should be required to have 2 officers for every inmate.

You are absolutely correct! I didn't even think of that; but is 100% right! You go girl!:nurse:

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Specializes in ICU.

You go girl! What else were you suppose to do, just stand there and hold his legs until you either tired out or he fell?? You did the right thing... although I may not have called them lazy orifices.. LOL :)

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Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.

That really sucks!

Take a nice long hot bath and get some rest! I am glad you said what you did, at least then they paid attention......

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They have to protect their hands...they are surgeons. DUH!

I would have started yelling at them sooner!

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Specializes in ED, Trauma.

Wow! I have seen attendings sit back and let resident MD's jump in and help us control a combative pt but never seen it in that kind of situation! I would be writing a letter of complaint to someone higher up on the nursing and medical sides for sure!!

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I would never ask a physician to help in a situation like this--I would not want them to help because they usually have no experience in stuff we deal with all the time, and frankly, they would be in the way and probably make matters worse. I cannot imagine any physician I know being able to manage a combative patient! However, those surgeons surely could hear and see what was happening and could've called for security to come. BTW, I'm a correctional nurse and I, too, wonder where the C.O.'s were who were stationed with this inmate? I'd be having my supervisor complain to the

correctional facilty about this. Our guys would've tased that inmate on the spot.

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