Is he shirking a crap job or am I just in a bad mood?

[redheadrn86]

This is perhaps the most trivial issue I've had these past few weeks but its the one that's bugging me most- perhaps because I can't decide whether I'm justified in being annoyed or whether I'm feeling guilty for having an issue with it but here goes, fancy being my sounding board?

I work on what is usually a very busy large general ICU, but has lately, bafflingly, been an overstaffed overflow of the step-down unit. I was covering a break for another nurse when he gave me a job for while he was gone. Infusion running out? Turn due? IVABX? Nope- phosphate enema prescribed 4 hours previously. I actually thought he was joking, and said as much but no he was deadly serious and he walked away. Just a little gobsmacked the female student he had working at this bedside with him and I got on with it. When he came back we politely (read: passive aggressively) discussed my issue, we didn't come to an agreement.

His view- his patient was female. He is male. I wasn't busy, therefore I should do his enema.

My view- all nursing care in the ICU is intimate, would he have another nurse do his checks and washes, catheter care and enemas for every female patient?

He had a female student working with him, he could have used that as a teaching opportunity.

It is a 'crap job' and handing it over is impolite, just not what you do if you give a rats about your colleagues.

Should I ask a male nurse to do every enema on my male patients?

And I'd have probably responded to the whole thing much better if he'd have asked me would I mind, or could you please rather than "I have a job for you..".

I don't know whether I'd have reacted differently if another nurse had asked me to do this- one I know to be conscientious and respect. I wonder if my opinion on this nurse in general is colouring my opinion. I asked two very good nurse friends one male one female their opinions and got two completely opposite responses.

Is this a gender issue I've never considered before? Am I just tired and in need of a good meal, good sleep and an interesting level 3 patient?

[Cat365]

I agree with the previous posters. I would also point out that I don't particularly care to grab a mans member when inserting a catheter (especially the first few times I had to do it) but I do it because it's my job.

Also I LOVE your title "a crap job."

However listening to me might not be in your best interests. When I get in trouble it's almost always because of my mouth. The filter between my mouth and my brain never formed properly. I think it's a congenital deformity.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

This is perhaps the most trivial issue I've had these past few weeks but its the one that's bugging me most- perhaps because I can't decide whether I'm justified in being annoyed or whether I'm feeling guilty for having an issue with it but here goes, fancy being my sounding board?

I work on what is usually a very busy large general ICU, but has lately, bafflingly, been an overstaffed overflow of the step-down unit. I was covering a break for another nurse when he gave me a job for while he was gone. Infusion running out? Turn due? IVABX? Nope- phosphate enema prescribed 4 hours previously. I actually thought he was joking, and said as much but no he was deadly serious and he walked away. Just a little gobsmacked the female student he had working at this bedside with him and I got on with it. When he came back we politely (read: passive aggressively) discussed my issue, we didn't come to an agreement.

His view- his patient was female. He is male. I wasn't busy, therefore I should do his enema.

My view- all nursing care in the ICU is intimate, would he have another nurse do his checks and washes, catheter care and enemas for every female patient?

He had a female student working with him, he could have used that as a teaching opportunity.

It is a 'crap job' and handing it over is impolite, just not what you do if you give a rats about your colleagues.

Should I ask a male nurse to do every enema on my male patients?

And I'd have probably responded to the whole thing much better if he'd have asked me would I mind, or could you please rather than "I have a job for you..".

I don't know whether I'd have reacted differently if another nurse had asked me to do this- one I know to be conscientious and respect. I wonder if my opinion on this nurse in general is colouring my opinion. I asked two very good nurse friends one male one female their opinions and got two completely opposite responses.

Is this a gender issue I've never considered before? Am I just tired and in need of a good meal, good sleep and an interesting level 3 patient?

He's shirking. The enema was ordered four hours ago -- it probably took him that long to figure out how to get out of doing it.

I once walked in at 7 pm to have a male colleague tell me that a tap water enema was ordered for the patient I was picking up and he'd been "trying all day, but CS never delivered the equipment." The order was written at noon. I put down my pencil, called CS and ordered the "equipment." It arrived before he was through giving me report. I then offered him the choice of holding the patient on his side or administering the enema. Male nurse elected to go home instead.

The charge nurse, in going through the charts, noticed the order for the enema, but no charting about the patient having received the enema or any results. I explained the situation. Male nurse didn't come to take report from me at 7am. Charge nurse came and took report, stating that the male nurse was in the manager's office explaining his difficulty in "carrying out doctor's orders in a timely fashion." That isn't the worst of it for him -- he also had to issue a public apology to me and the physician who ordered the enema.

[caliotter3]

He's shirking. The enema was ordered four hours ago -- it probably took him that long to figure out how to get out of doing it.

I once walked in at 7 pm to have a male colleague tell me that a tap water enema was ordered for the patient I was picking up and he'd been "trying all day, but CS never delivered the equipment." The order was written at noon. I put down my pencil, called CS and ordered the "equipment." It arrived before he was through giving me report. I then offered him the choice of holding the patient on his side or administering the enema. Male nurse elected to go home instead.

The charge nurse, in going through the charts, noticed the order for the enema, but no charting about the patient having received the enema or any results. I explained the situation. Male nurse didn't come to take report from me at 7am. Charge nurse came and took report, stating that the male nurse was in the manager's office explaining his difficulty in "carrying out doctor's orders in a timely fashion." That isn't the worst of it for him -- he also had to issue a public apology to me and the physician who ordered the enema.

Wonderful outcome for this situation and Ruby, your approach was perfect.

[SmilingBluEyes]

He's shirking. The enema was ordered four hours ago -- it probably took him that long to figure out how to get out of doing it.

I once walked in at 7 pm to have a male colleague tell me that a tap water enema was ordered for the patient I was picking up and he'd been "trying all day, but CS never delivered the equipment." The order was written at noon. I put down my pencil, called CS and ordered the "equipment." It arrived before he was through giving me report. I then offered him the choice of holding the patient on his side or administering the enema. Male nurse elected to go home instead.

The charge nurse, in going through the charts, noticed the order for the enema, but no charting about the patient having received the enema or any results. I explained the situation. Male nurse didn't come to take report from me at 7am. Charge nurse came and took report, stating that the male nurse was in the manager's office explaining his difficulty in "carrying out doctor's orders in a timely fashion." That isn't the worst of it for him -- he also had to issue a public apology to me and the physician who ordered the enema.

I just LOVE this and YOU Ruby!!!

[heron, ASN, RN]

Ruby - reading your posts make me wish that

a. I had the temperament for critical care (I don't), and

b. I worked with you.

[TriciaJ, RN]

It would have been one thing if the coworker had approached you and asked as a favour. And offered to do something unpleasant for you in return. His behaviour was manipulative and arrogant. Next time you can just say no.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

shirking. yes.

also, ok , you did the enema. someone still is going to have to clean the results. His break is over in 30 minutes. Right around the time results should be arriving.

was he planning on having someone else clean up the results too?

yep, I'd blow him in to manager.

eta: I think I would have actually said " are you serious???" I mean who asks someone to do their " dirty work"