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.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
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.[/quote']
it isn't part of dietary's job to list, nor the secretary and especially not family members. for one thing, if they don't pull when you're expecting them to, you could hurt your back. or they could hurt theirs, and since it's not their job, they don't get covered by the hospital's insurance.
Specializes in thoracic ICU, ortho/neuro, med/surg.
By the same token, when I worked as a nursing assistant I worked with many, many, MANY nurses who would walk out of the room to find the nurse assistant instead of emptying a urinal, taking someone to the bathroom, or helping to pull someone up.
And I had a nickel for every time someone said "that's not my patient" to me when I asked for help, I'd never need to work again.
p.s. I do not and would never allow family members to help me with a patient in an acute care setting -- I don't feel it's appropriate and there's always a risk they could hurt themselves with poor body mechanics. No thanks.
it isn't part of dietary's job to list, nor the secretary and especially not family members. for one thing, if they don't pull when you're expecting them to, you could hurt your back. or they could hurt theirs, and since it's not their job, they don't get covered by the hospital's insurance.
i feel ruby makes a very valid point here
utilising other staff members to help you lift is a risky action.
this can easily hurt backs. i remember having a radiology tech help lift in ct and she does this little token movement with her hands and a second later i sure felt the effect of that
By the same token, as a nursing assistant I worked with many, many, MANY nurses who would walk out of the room to find the nurse assistant instead of emptying a urinal, taking someone to the bathroom, or helping to pull someone up.
And I had a nickel for every time someone said "that's not my patient" to me when I asked for help, I'd never need to work again.
p.s. I do not and would never allow family members to help me with a patient in an acute care setting -- I don't feel it's appropriate and there's always a risk they could hurt themselves with poor body mechanics. No thanks.
I remember when I was a nursing assistant I asked the patient's nurse to help me boost him. She was one room over and told me she couldn't do it. If she had just said give me a few minutes and then I will help you I would have been OK with that. There did not appear to be a crisis going on and it would have taken all of 30 seconds. I had to run around and find someone else to help me instead. I will never forget that as long as I live. I always try to help my aides as long as there is not a crisis or something else that needs my immediate attention. If I can not help I give them a reason why.
I remember when I was a nursing assistant I asked the patient's nurse to help me boost him. She was one room over and told me she couldn't do it. If she had just said give me a few minutes and then I will help you I would have been OK with that. There did not appear to be a crisis going on and it would have taken all of 30 seconds. I had to run around and find someone else to help me instead. I will never forget that as long as I live. I always try to help my aides as long as there is not a crisis or something else that needs my immediate attention. If I can not help I give them a reason why.
Exactly you didn't know what was going on. She doesn't have to tell you that she is late on med pass or has other stuff to do. ugh. when/if you are ever a nurse you might understand that.
Exactly you didn't know what was going on. She doesn't have to tell you that she is late on med pass or has other stuff to do. ugh. when/if you are ever a nurse you might understand that.
I am a nurse of 3 years and I try to let my aides know that I am busy at the moment but I will be able to help them with a boost that takes 30 seconds in a few minutes. I was an aide for 2 years so I fully understand both sides of the equation. I do this out of common courtesy and respect for a co-worker. I try to always tell them what I have going on- just as they do to me when I ask for their help. If I just say that I cannot help them they may get the wrong message. I don't see anything at all wrong with this. Just my humble opinion.
When did it stop being customary practice on any floor that "they're ALL everyone's patient"??? Leaving call lights going while walking past was grounds for starting progressive disciplinary action, initially verbal and casual, then documented verbal, then formal written. I never worked anywhere that tolerated blowing off helping whoever needed help (and if that meant that management at least went into the room to see that someone was at least safe, so be it- at least the patient was checked on). About the only exceptions were being in the middle of an active emergency, or admission... and even the admission could be delayed a bit if something came up that was more likely to result in negative consequences for the "other" patient.
At my hospital, everyone from lab techs to unit secretaries have helped me boost a patient. Anyone who works in a patient care area is responsible for caring for the patient as long as it's in their scope of practice. Boosting a patient is definitely within everyone's scope of practice. This is the way I see it: Phlebotomists, RT's, PT, ultrasound and ekg techs, etc.-they're all required to be CPR certified and if they can put their hands on a patient during a code, why can't they do something as simple as help reposition a patient?
Not if they haven't been properly trained in moving patients. :)
If something happens during the assistance that hurts either the patient or the staff, it's not good. I agree with the principle, but non-patient care personnel have never been allowed to move a patient wherever I've worked (or take them fluids/food, adjust a limb, turn off a pump alarm, etc. They might be physically capable, but without the documented training - i.e. a certificate or license r/t direct care- they were off limits).
By the same token, when I worked as a nursing assistant I worked with many, many, MANY nurses who would walk out of the room to find the nurse assistant instead of emptying a urinal, taking someone to the bathroom, or helping to pull someone up.
That's just crazy. I know the CNAs I work with are as busy as I am. It's faster for me to do those things myself than go find one of them to do it. Unless there's an emergency (in which case who cares if the urinal's been emptied), why waste time like that?
I was orienting at one job with the ADON- let's call her "Florence", (happened to be an RN) who was so fond of herself that if she'd quit her fan club, it would have ceased to exist. We were walking through a wing when a CNA with a tray full of post-lunch dishes/leftovers in EACH arm came up and asked "Florence" if she would open the tray cart so she could put the trays in. Good 'ol "Flo" looked at her and said "You put those trays down and open it yourself"- in a tone of voice that was reminiscent of The Exorcist (minus the scratchy sound). The poor CNA (who was very polite, and loaded to the gils) looked so shamed. I was dumbfounded. Later that day, the DON asked how things were going. I asked if that was the policy around there for RNs to avoid doing something that was absolutely not going to cause them any physical, psychological, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual damage- AND help someone else out. Her response was more of what wasn't said (head down, slightly shaking head). The ADON was gone within the week.
Later on- at the same place- (I was the W/E sup, so did a lot of rounding), a CNA came off one of the pods looking like she was looking for someone. I asked if she needed help. She looked at me like I may have a parasite, and said she needed help moving someone up in bed. I said "OK, I can help". She literally jumped back and nearly lost her eyeballs. She LOUDLY said (almost panicky) "But you're an RN". I told her I knew that, but I could still help. So, still looking like I could spread something yucky to her, she lead the way to the resident's room, and we got after it. Took all of 2 minutes.
It takes SO much more time to avoid doing something.
Not if they haven't been properly trained in moving patients. :)
If something happens during the assistance that hurts either the patient or the staff, it's not good. I agree with the principle, but non-patient care personnel have never been allowed to move a patient wherever I've worked (or take them fluids/food, adjust a limb, turn off a pump alarm, etc. They might be physically capable, but without the documented training - i.e. a certificate or license r/t direct care- they were off limits).
I would not expect someone from dietary to help me boost. An RT or a PT are fair game though. I would never have someone not trianed in how to boost someone help me. Where I work the unit secretary's are also aides so there is no problem there.
I would not expect someone from dietary to help me boost. An RT or a PT are fair game though. I would never have someone not trianed in how to boost someone help me. Where I work the unit secretary's are also aides so there is no problem there.
That's a good idea :) It would be good if there were more cross-training
Leaving call lights going while walking past was grounds for starting progressive disciplinary action, initially verbal and casual, then documented verbal, then formal written. I never worked anywhere that tolerated blowing off helping whoever needed help (and if that meant that management at least went into the room to see that someone was at least safe, so be it- at least the patient was checked on). About the only exceptions were being in the middle of an active emergency, or admission... and even the admission could be delayed a bit if something came up that was more likely to result in negative consequences for the "other" patient. 
I agree with the principle, but non-patient care personnel have never been allowed to move a patient wherever I've worked (or take them fluids/food, adjust a limb, turn off a pump alarm, etc. They might be physically capable, but without the documented training - i.e. a certificate or license r/t direct care- they were off limits).
Ruby Vee, BSN
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