An RT was in my patient's room. I heard the DD ask the RT for her mom to be moved up in bed. It was right next to the nurse's station where I was standing, so I started to go in there to help the RT with the boost. I walked into the room, past the RT, and went to the bed. I turned around, expecting the RT to be standing there waiting for me to get into position. He was walking out the door. I had to walk back out and get another nurse to help.
I was in the middle of doing paperwork when the monitor tech called to say that some of the leads were off on a patient. I asked the only PCT in sight--who was leaning against the station doing nothing to go in there to adjust it. "That's not my patient" was the answer. "Yes, I know, but the leads need checking. Please do it." Huff-n-Puff.
Do you ever feel as if you work with a bunch of children on some days who can't look past their own narrow world? I don't think I'll ever get used to this attitude. Ever.
I have a strict rule. Nobody, not me or anyone else walks past a light that is flashing.
and what do you do about it when they walk right by??? You can't be their mother/father - you can't be the "help each other" police and try to rule by intimidation. That doesn't work. Either people will help, or you will beat them over the head with threats to get them to help. Either way, in the end, those people do not change. You either are a teamplayer and pitch in, or you don't.
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
Your post brings to mind a conversation I had recently with a surgeon.
I was scrubbed in with a transplant surgeon and as we were closing skin, the circulator and I were discussing the challenges of surgery and anesthesia working together. There has always been an "us v. them" mentality, which I have yet to understand.
In the midst of our discussion, the surgeon said to me, "So which side are you on? You are a surgical nurse." I pointed to the patient and replied, "HER side."
Sometimes during the course of our daily tasks, we lose sight of the fact that we are ALL caring for one person: the patient. It is a job to us, but it is life-changing for the patients that we care for.
I hope that we all keep that in the forefront of our minds as we deliver care, no matter our titles.
I have to agree with the RT, that boosting a patient up in bed is a nursing function not a respiratory function. I wouldn't expect a lab tech that was drawing blood to help boost a patient up in bed either.
I would absolutely expect an RT to help me boost the patient up in bed. I had an RT come all the way down the hall from a precaution room and tell me the patient's phone did not work. It was not my patient. How would it be if I said that is not my patient therefore I am not going to help that person. Not being my patient was not the problem as far as I was concerned. It was the fact that this RT did not even try to see why the phone did not work. It was a simple fix as the phone was not plugged in. Pis--d me off and still does when I think about how EVERYTHING is the nurse's job. THis same RT came to tell me my patient was sitting up with her legs dangling over the side. I just looked at her and asked her if she helped the patient back to bed. The worst thing is that this RT was a nursing assistant before she became an RT.
I have to agree with the RT, that boosting a patient up in bed is a nursing function not a respiratory function. I wouldn't expect a lab tech that was drawing blood to help boost a patient up in bed either.
I can't believe people really feel this way. I really don't care if it was dietary standing there. If the patient needed moved up in bed I always ask first, "can you lift?" and then instruct them how to help me. I have had family members, p/t, RT, and even the secretary assist me with moving someone up in bed.
Dietary won't help with anything in our hospitals. Secretaries won't help move people up the bed, cos if they get hurt, they aren't covered by insurance. Physios certainly wouldn't help. I've had physios say that it wasn't their job.
When I was a secretary a RN wanted me to help get a patient off the toilet. Now this patient was not light. I said to her I can't as it's not in my job description & if I get hurt, I won't be covered by insurance. She begged me but I said no. It's like me not giving meds after I've finished my work day - I'm not allowed to practice outside the hours of my work, as I'm not covered by any malpractice insurance thru my company.
Blame the insurance companies for putting fear into people.
I hate it when some people take advantage of you, they know that you always help and finish your assignment quicker and they go slow motion and when you take a 2 min break they come and bother you. Everytimeeeee, and there are 10 PCA around. It also annoys me when some nurses talk smack about doctors and how they don't treat nurses with respect and guess what nurses do? They treat their PCAs like crap, they give them 5000 things to do as if they never been in nursing school and they forget that just yesterday they were PCAs too. I love the nurses on my floor but there are a few that I dislike.
and what do you do about it when they walk right by??? You can't be their mother/father - you can't be the "help each other" police and try to rule by intimidation. That doesn't work. Either people will help, or you will beat them over the head with threats to get them to help. Either way, in the end, those people do not change. You either are a teamplayer and pitch in, or you don't.
I ask, "Did you not see the light? You and I are going in to answer it." I know it doesn't work always but it works when I am there.
You know what? I see the flip side here. I am sick of being asked to be the "teamplayer." Its just another way the big corporate healthcare world makes sure you never sit down, pee or eat without making someone else's role your own.
Healthcare workers know more hidey holes than any other people I have ever met and I can't blame them. I don't want to be accused of not being a "teamplayer" because my lazy "neighbor" nurse forever hides in a room and I happen to be charting outside of the room so I should answer all of her call bells. Sorry. I have a large enough patient load as it is and so does she which is why she is hiding. Every one is just trying to get through the darned day!
Do I offer help when i can? Do I expect help from everyone else on the patient's behalf if the PT/RT/transporter or whoever is able? Yes. I also understand if they say no without explanation because let's be frank, no one has a light work load here.
And I agree, the overspecialization leads overqualified whomevers scandalized by being asked to help with basic patient care.
I agree with VICEDRN. I help when I can, but if I'm too busy, I say no, or I will help out when I'm not too busy. It's the only way my patients get proper care. Also it's about the only way I can stay sane. I used to run my a$$ off running around after everyone else's patients, & mine were being neglected. I also felt like a headless chook & was more worn out at the end of my shift than ever.
It really is up to the hospitals/facilities to have more orderlies/carers to help out.
I have a strict rule. Nobody, not me or anyone else walks past a light that is flashing.
My hospital just instituted a facility wide policy that states no one should walk past a flashing light. Not housekeeping, dietary, nurses, the CEO, anyone. We can be written up if we do. I think it's a fantastic idea. Staff that don't do direct patient care were taught what they can do--like move the bedside table a little closer and when they need to find the nurse--pt wants pain meds, that sort of thing.
I feel lucky. I work nights and we usually only have 2-3 nurses and 2-3 CNAs, so we have to work together. Most of the people I work with are great about checking on lights even if the ringer isn't their patient. It only makes sense. If we all have each others' backs, everyone's night will go that much more smoothly.
Considering that boosting gets the patient in an optimal position for maximum lung expansion, I would have to disagree.
A PP mentioned PT refusing to help toilet a patient. PTs teach safe transfers, so I see no reason why a PT couldn't participate in that "nursing function" for the broader need of patient care.
As for a phleb, they might not know how to do it safely. If I was in a bind, I might ask though, while providing thorough direction.
At any rate, you've helped prove my point about a narrow focus on function/role/assignment, rather than a broader focus on patient care.
I have a feeling Mulan wouldn't help you move that patient, either.
You know I have ran into this a lot to. I have even had them snap at me in front of patients for asking them to help or for even calling them for breathing treatments for patients just because they didnt feel like going down there right when I called them. I have meet some really wonderful RT, and I know they are not all like that but some of them really should get their priorities straight and consider why they chose their profession and if their answer is something other then to provide the best care for patients they need to find a new profession. Don't get me wrong I have some very wonderful RT at my job but a Few just a few should rethink their job career.
MassED, BSN, RN
2,636 Posts
and what do you do about it when they walk right by??? You can't be their mother/father - you can't be the "help each other" police and try to rule by intimidation. That doesn't work. Either people will help, or you will beat them over the head with threats to get them to help. Either way, in the end, those people do not change. You either are a teamplayer and pitch in, or you don't.