without even asking me ! I *totally* don't mind and totally appreciate the help when someone pokes their head in to a curtain where I am working and says hey "your guy in 9 is up for discharge, can I do that for you ?"
But I HATE it when I come out of a room and look for the chart on the guy in room 9 because I want to go discharge him and POOF it's gone, he's gone, chart has been taken apart,etc. There are two nurses specifically who do this to me ALL the freaking time. This last weekend I had a lady I specifically wanted to watch for 30 minutes before I sent her on her way. I came out of a room and find another nurse (who had not even seen this patient before and who incidentally, had her own four patients to take care of) discharging this little old lady and her daughter. I had specific things I wanted to teach her and her daughter and a plan for how I wanted to do it and most importantly, I had NOT asked for help. I later asked the family if they had gone looking for help (as in asking if someone could help get them going) and they said no.
Like I said, I love the team player aspect of our ER and I love that we all help each other out. I love digging in and helping everyone get it done but I ALWAYS go ask that nurse before I touch her patients.
Do I just need to talk to these people individually or is this an aspect of the ER that I must get used to ?
It is the same where I work and I love it, but there are time that you have to catch up your charting after the patient leaves and there is one nurse that will chart in the nurses note that the patient was discharged with instructions and time it when I have things I need to write down, that is when I want to scream because it makes me look stupid when I have to chart my stuff, because the times are so off!!
without even asking me ! I *totally* don't mind and totally appreciate the help when someone pokes their head in to a curtain where I am working and says hey "your guy in 9 is up for discharge, can I do that for you ?"
But I HATE it when I come out of a room and look for the chart on the guy in room 9 because I want to go discharge him and POOF it's gone, he's gone, chart has been taken apart,etc. There are two nurses specifically who do this to me ALL the freaking time. This last weekend I had a lady I specifically wanted to watch for 30 minutes before I sent her on her way. I came out of a room and find another nurse (who had not even seen this patient before and who incidentally, had her own four patients to take care of) discharging this little old lady and her daughter. I had specific things I wanted to teach her and her daughter and a plan for how I wanted to do it and most importantly, I had NOT asked for help. I later asked the family if they had gone looking for help (as in asking if someone could help get them going) and they said no.
Like I said, I love the team player aspect of our ER and I love that we all help each other out. I love digging in and helping everyone get it done but I ALWAYS go ask that nurse before I touch her patients.
Do I just need to talk to these people individually or is this an aspect of the ER that I must get used to ?
This is something we deal with every day, we have to have teamwork. I completely appreciate a nurse that helps me out to complete an order or discharge a pt for me. I know if the pt is gone and the chart is too, a nurse took care of it. I certainly don't have some territorial thing going on in my track. We all take care of each other, or most do, anyway. Whomever d/c's my pt, they make sure the VS were up to date, or they are responsible for that, seeing as they are the last nurse to see that pt. We cannot have control over every little thing in our environment in the ED, the sooner you accept that, the less stress your work life will hold. And the ED is a very very stressful place to work. Let it go and be glad you even have someone helping you. It's a lot worse to NEED help and not have anyone offering to help you.
without even asking me ! I *totally* don't mind and totally appreciate the help when someone pokes their head in to a curtain where I am working and says hey "your guy in 9 is up for discharge, can I do that for you ?"
But I HATE it when I come out of a room and look for the chart on the guy in room 9 because I want to go discharge him and POOF it's gone, he's gone, chart has been taken apart,etc. There are two nurses specifically who do this to me ALL the freaking time. This last weekend I had a lady I specifically wanted to watch for 30 minutes before I sent her on her way. I came out of a room and find another nurse (who had not even seen this patient before and who incidentally, had her own four patients to take care of) discharging this little old lady and her daughter. I had specific things I wanted to teach her and her daughter and a plan for how I wanted to do it and most importantly, I had NOT asked for help. I later asked the family if they had gone looking for help (as in asking if someone could help get them going) and they said no.
Like I said, I love the team player aspect of our ER and I love that we all help each other out. I love digging in and helping everyone get it done but I ALWAYS go ask that nurse before I touch her patients.
Do I just need to talk to these people individually or is this an aspect of the ER that I must get used to ?
What you can do if you have something specific you want to do for a pt, place a note on that chart stating what you're doing, so that no one else will touch it. I'm sure anyone would respect that.
The bed pan idea is only a good idea if they tell you about it. I have had someone but one of my residents on a bed pan and took off without telling anybody. Well, it left a nice ring on her butt.
In my ER most people will ask you if you want something done first. I've had co-workers discharge my patients, but usually after they've asked me first. Very rarely, when I've been totally in the weeds, has someone sent a pt of mine home without asking me. For one thing, once someone is sent on their way, the room is then open and you will get a new patient. I find it common courtesy to ask first.
Now, if someone wants to put my little old lady on the bedpan for me, well, I don't mind at all!!
How many patients do 2 nurses cover? is this all shifts?
Ooops that was 2 :)
We generally share the walkie-talkies but divide up the sicker patients informally. If someone needs a med hung, or a bedpan we'll do it and let them know. We only have two nurses on so if one lands in triage the other needs to be able to pick up easily, so charting as you go and keeping your partner up to date is essential.
I think knowing each other is important. I know I get all balled up if someone starts doing one thing with the patient while I'm doing another, I can't think and listen at the same time. Once I expressed that people would make necessary phone calls, help with paperwork questions, or let me give them a task instead of jumping in.
Now that I think about it we generally check in with each other before discharging anyone that required a lot of interventions. Usually that means just saying "I'm gonna discharge room 8, OK?"
WE have 2 nurses at all times except midnight to 6am when it goes down to one nurse and a secretary. Daytimes may or may not have a secretary with their 2 nurses.
I worked ER for a few years but found I enjoyed more of a critical, primary care environment ...and found I did very well in ICU. Keep that in mind for future reference for yourself. :)
nursejennie76
154 Posts
It is the same where I work and I love it, but there are time that you have to catch up your charting after the patient leaves and there is one nurse that will chart in the nurses note that the patient was discharged with instructions and time it when I have things I need to write down, that is when I want to scream because it makes me look stupid when I have to chart my stuff, because the times are so off!!