I'm so mad I could SCREAM! (LONG)

[shoegalRN]

Ok, here's the story. I am a nurse intern going into my 4 semester. I work on a Med-Tele floor and I work nights. I have NEVER had a problem with any of the nurses I work with. In fact, I have been requested as the "tech" by several nurses. All the nurses I have worked with know I am in nursing school.

Well, last night I work and I am doing q 4 VS. One of the patients have a BP of 215/70. I ask the patient was she on any BP meds. She tells me Clonidine. The patient's family member was in the room as well. The patient then proceeds to tell me that she had not had her meds including the Clonidine since she's been down for a MRI. I tell her that I'm quite sure the nurse heard something in report and she will be in to speak with her shortly. The family member wanted to reconfirm the BP (it was done on a dinamap).

I leave the patient room to tell the nurse about the high BP. The nurse is sitting at the nurses station and the family member comes to the door and says "I just want to make sure, what was her BP again?" as I am walking away with the dinamap. I tell her what it was and tell her I'm in the process of speaking to her nurse about it.

I ask the nurse if she knew if this patient was on Clonidine and if so, when was the last time she had it because her BP is very high. I tell her what the patient told me about not having her meds since she went for a MRI.

The nurse says she will check the orders and go in and speak with the patient.

I go about my night as usual.

The nurse ask me to keep an eye on the pt's blood pressure and to take it manually instead on a dinamap. I did. The BP was still high, despite whatever drug she was giving her and it wasnt Clonidine (because the nurse said it wasnt ordered, it was a home med). So, when I told her the BP, I asked her "is she on a beta blocker or something?" She told me "yeah, but I don't think it's working", so I asked her "does she have something else ordered?" She ignored me.

This is nothing new I do. I ask the nurses questions all the time when I'm trying to piece together the big picture. Most nurses are receptive to my questions and are eagar to teach.

Why did I get pulled into the office by the charge nurse with a complaint from this nurse? The nurse told the charge nurse I told the patient and her family member she had not been given her meds for today. How can I tell the patient anything like this when I don't even KNOW this patient's meds? This is what the patient told ME and I told the charge nurse this. Then she said the nurse told her I was "questioning her about the patient's BP meds and asking her what she is gonna do about it". I told the charge nurse what the patient's BP was and if the patient was on any BP meds and the patient stated she takes Clonidine, in which, I relied to the nurse.

The charge nurse said this nurse was highly offended that I was asking her questions and was in tears. I really don't understand when I was not rude to her, nor talking to her in a condesending tone. I worked in telecommunications for over 14 years, I know how to communicate and speak to people. The charge nurse also said that this nurse emailed the nursing supervisor, so I will most likely be having a meeting with her also.

So, I told the charge nurse I am not at work to create drama and if she felt my asking questions for knowledge was too much, then please don't assign me to her again and we can keep it at that. The charge nurse said that she understands I am in nursing school and wouldnt be offended at all that I was asking questions about abnormal vital signs. She basically told me not to worry about it and basically this nurse does not get along with any of the techs on nights.

So, I go back to the floor and address the nurses (including her) and tell them if they have a problem with me asking questions, I apologize because I'm just trying to learn. I'm not there to "take over anybody's job" or "step over boundaries" by questioning things I've been taught in nursing school and trying to apply it in the real world. The other nurses said they have no problem with me asking questions and would be kinda suspecious if I didnt ask questions, considering I am in nursing school. Of course, the other nurse just sat there staring at the floor.

I am sooo upset about this! Not only do this nurse NOT come to me directly about any issue she may have had with me personally, she got the charge nurse and nursing supervisor involved. I wanted to confront this nurse so bad, but the charge nurse decided it was best that she speak with us separately because this nurse has a hx of taking something so small and blowing it out of porportion (the whole crying thing is beyond me).

What are your thoughts? Do you think I did the right thing? What would you have done if you were the nurse or me in this situation?

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I'm uncertain where your defensiveness is coming from, as I stated that I was playing Devil's Advocate, which simply means offering an alternate perspective. As a nurse, being able to look at things from different points of view is an important skill to have.

This statement, however, is completely uncalled for:

And if you have this type of attitude as new grad, I sure wouldnt want to be a student in the clinical setting asking you a thing, let alone being your CNA. How soon does one forget?

If that is how you respond to attempts at constructive criticism, then perhaps you should rethink your career choice.

[shoegalRN, RN]

I'm uncertain where your defensiveness is coming from, as I stated that I was playing Devil's Advocate, which simply means offering an alternate perspective. As a nurse, being able to look at things from different points of view is an important skill to have.

This statement, however, is completely uncalled for:

If that is how you respond to attempts at constructive criticism, then perhaps you should rethink your career choice.

Oh, I take constructive criticism VERY well, hence, the reason I was upset because the nurse didnt come to me in the FIRST place.

And no, I don't need to rethink my career choice. In my previous career, I've dealt with constructive critcism and not so constuctive criticism, so it's no need to even go there.

And yes, I did state that no, I wouldnt want to be a student in the clinical setting asking you a question based on YOUR response. YOU are the one who stated YOU don't have time to answer questions. And NO, I dont want to bother a nurse who don't have time to answer questions. Trust me, I have developed the art of picking and choosing my battles, and I got enough common sense to know NOT to ask a nurse a question when she is running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I understand she is busy and this situation was NOT the case.

So, this is just one battle not worth fighting. I've said what I had to say, you said what you had to say. So, I will agree to disagree and leave it at that.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I give up. I'm too tired.

[RN1982]

Wow. I missed a lot. NancyNurse is just offering a different perspective on the situation as we don't know the other side of the story. Your response to her was a bit defensive.

[shoegalRN, RN]

Wow. I missed a lot. NancyNurse is just offering a different perspective on the situation as we don't know the other side of the story. Your response to her was a bit defensive.

I am sorry if you feel my response was defensive, go back and re-read her response to me (even if she was just playing devil's advocate).

For starters, I didnt discuss nothing with the RN in front of the patient. She goes on to say how I could have caused the family member and patient to doubt the nurse's ability. When in fact, this did not happen.

Although she was just "playing devil's advocate", the vibe of her post was offensive to me and I'm quite sure to other CNA's.

And I do not want to be a student around anyone who don't like to answer questions, so that's why I said what I said.

Nursing is a job you are learning EVERYDAY. Asking questions is just ONE way of learning. If a nurse dont want to be bothered with someone asking questions, then I dont pefer to ask that nurse any questions.

And as far as criticism is concerned, that is the entire reason why I made this post. Because I WANT someone to come to me when they feel I am wrong, to provide that constructive criticism, not go crying to the charge nurse that I "questioned her". We are adults, come to me to handle anything that "I" may have done to offend you so "I" will know not to do it again in the future, not go getting management involved for something that could have been handled by two grown adult women.

[Kthale81]

I think you did the right thing. I don't blame you for being mad about the way that nurse "didn't" handle the situation and just went to the manager. I asked questions while I was in nursing school, I worked on a medsurg unit during school. Asking questions is an important part of learning.