I witnessed something and can't do anything about it

Nursing Students Student Assist

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:confused::crying2:I am a first year nursing student in an associates program. We started our OB rotation yesterday. This morning my classmate and I participated in a first full newborn assessment with the nursery nurse as our guide. She wasn't very personable but she answered our questions and was pleasant enough. At about 12:00pm I went to use the restroom but it was occupied so I started to walk over to look in the nursery window(it is right around the corner from the restroom). I heard someone talking in a loud angry voice and I immediately thought it was one nurse complaining to another nurse about some problem so I started to walk away. As I turned my head I saw the nursey nurse holding a baby over the sink. She was washing his head and the baby was crying ,which is not in itself a problem ,however she was being very rough with him and the water was pouring all over his face and in his eyes and over his mouth.I realized there was no other nurse in the room and that she was yelling at the baby. She said "Shut up you need to shut up" and "I'm tired of you, I've had enough of you today". I froze because I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. I stood as close to the door as I could to make sure I wasn't misinterpreting something and I heard her tell him to shut up 3 more times. She had her back/side to me the whole time. I stepped back as she turned to get a towel. She then continued to complain and roughly handle the little one. She banged aound the room and dropped him into his bassinet. I have 5 children of my own and I know that babies are a lot more durable then people think, but believe me if anyone had handled any of my children that way they would not be standing at this point in time (if you get what I mean). I went to find my instructor but she was in the middle of something. When I started back towards the nursery I saw the nurse walking down the hall dragging 2 empty bassinets. Her face was read and she looked truly angry (thats the only word I can think of that fits). We gather for post comference a little after 12:00. I waited for everyone to leave and then I told my instructor what I had witnessed. She said the problem is that I was alone and she is getting the story second hand. Is this true ? Because I was the only one does that mean there really is no proof? It breaks my heart to think that this women will continue to work there. I know we all have hard days sometimes but this was not exceptable behavior. It turns out the nurse only had 2 babies in the nursery all morning and she had been told at about 11:30 or so that she was getting 3 more. I know the work is hard but that is no excuse. If anyone has had a similar problem I would appreciate some wisdom or just any kind of help here. Thankyou.
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I'm sorry, the only thing I can tell you is if something like that happens again, if your instructor is unavailable, go to the nursing supervisor of the floor. Yes, they will yell at you, but it is better than being questioned just because you are the only witness. Your instructor should make herself available to be interrupted in the case of an emergency. Otherwise, she can expect you to go to the nurse supervisor. Good luck to you.

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I would put in a complaint to the BON NOW, come he!! or high water! Regardless of what the nursing instructor says or the nursing manager, that needs to BE STOPPED NOW! I also would've walked into the room and told the nurse that she needs to take a break...now. If this continues, she could eventually shake a baby to death...especially newborns. This just breaks my heart.

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Specializes in Mostly geri :).

You need to report that, she should NOT be handling defenseless infants!

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Should have reported her right there and then ...

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Well the instructor may not be able to do something because it is secondhand information to her (she did not witness it)... but it is not secondhand to you. You witnessed it. I'm just graduating as an RN so I have not been working yet and don't know about how reporting this kind of stuff works. But I have worked with children for the past 10 years... and we were always a mandated abuse reporter. I'm pretty sure even as a student, you're mandated to report abuse (meaning if you see abuse, you must report it). You can call the abuse line (1800-96abuse) and report it. Even if nothing comes from it, it will make her supervisor and co workers aware that she is being investigated... maybe draw attention to her. You can also report anonymously, though i recommend giving your contact info because without the investigator being able to talk to you and interview you, they really have nothing to go by. Now maybe being a nurse, she is supposed to be reported to the board of nursing or something... but I also think it's child abuse and you can report it that way too.

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Yes, please report her any way that you can! Also, they should have camaras in that area, right? I would discuss with your instructor AGAIN what you saw and tell your instructor that you cannot stand by and watch babies being treated like that. If your instructor won't go talk to her manager then I would not only tell the nurse's manager but I would tell your instructor's boss as well. We are in this business to advocate for patients and those patients that you saw mistreated today cannot advocate for themselves. You are mother....if you saw someone treating your brand new baby like that, what would you want done? Would you want a student to stand by and do nothing because her instructor told her to, or would you want that student to do something right now?!?!?!? I'm very passionate about this. Please do something before it is too late!

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Specializes in Medical Assisting.

I'm totally with the others on this one...the thought makes me shudder at how 's treating others' babies. Horrific! :eek: I don't know what channels you need to go through, but I'm sure it will be worth it no matter how you report it!

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I know as students we are hesitant to say or do the wrong thing, but I really think you should have stepped into the room and offered her help or offered to watch over things while she took a break. People have a way of cleaning up their act if they think someone will tell on them or caught them doing wrong. Next time, step up! That child could have brain damage and no one would ever know how it happened. Be confident enough to right the wrong if you can. What's the worse that could happen??

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

You don't have enough to go to the BON. I suggest talking to your instructor again and tell her that while you understand that to her, it is only secondhand information, to you it is firsthand knowledge and you feel obligated to report it to someone. Ask for her help in identifying who that correct person is.

For example, there may be someone else at your school who is responsible for maintaining the school's relationship with the hospital. That person could go through proper channels with the hospital and ask them to keep an eye on this nurse. Perhaps the instructor could talk discretely with the Nurse Manager -- assuming she has a decent relationship with her. If no one at your school has a decent relationship with the hospital -- then your school has big problems that go far beyond this one incident. That's an indication that there is a serious problem with your school. Good schools have mechanisms in place to handle these sorts of things.

I am my hospital's liaison with our local nursing schools. When there are problems on either side (with staff or with students or faculty), people report it to me and I follow up on it. So don't think that your choice is only "report it to government authorities or don't report it to anybody." There are probably some options that will provide appropriate follow-up without causing the big trouble (and no results because you have no evidence) that going directly to the government would cause.

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First of all, Thank you for all your replies. I am going through what I hope are the right channels. I have contacted the head of the nursing department. She is going to the hospital liason. I am told this is how it is done. Now I am going to do a lot of praying that in the end that nurse is no longer in her position(or any position). The whole thing has depressed me. I feel sick to my stomach. I keep thinking that this nurse has been working there a long time (she must be in her late fifties or early sixties). So If you pray please add this one to your list.

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You must stick through this process, no matter what. She should not be serving the public, especially not infants. It would be pretty terrible if she accidentally drown a baby, snaps a bone, shakes one to brain damage.

Take a moment to recollect your memories. Write it all down. See it through.

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