A coworker had a one-hour antibiotic infusion scheduled for 0600. She opted to hang it at 0635 so it wouldn't finish at an inopportune time during the 0700-0730 shift change. Another coworker indicated that this was seriously inappropriate of her. They even said, "Well, it's your license on the line," implying that action could be taken against her license.
I'm really curious what could possibly be wrong with this. An antibiotic scheduled for 0600 can be started any time between 0500 and 0700 (at this hospital at least) and still be considered on time. I don't see any reason why the person who hung the antibiotic has to be the one to saline-lock afterwards. It's not like you have to stay with and continuously monitor the patient during antibiotic infusions. If that were the rule we would have a 1 to 1 nurse-to-patient ratio.
Does anybody agree with this other nurse? Is there something I'm missing that makes what the nurse did horrible?
Does the same apply to IVF infusing? Does this person want you to take all them down as well so they dont overlap shifts? This is one of the most absurd things I have heard in a while.
That's what I was wondering as well. What if somebody is on a continuous drip like levo? It literally makes no sense that you must finish all infusions on your own shift.
Courtesy has left the building! YOu start infusion(IV) near the end of shift. You advise the Boss Nurse at that time. She SHOULD advise the next shift to check on it. Common Sense, but in this day & age, is missing.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
This is definitely one of the most ridiculous things I've heard. Of course it is okay if you start something that won't finish on your shift. I can't believe the other nurse went to the extreme of saying she was risking her license - I can't even find an eye-rolling gif that is strong enough.
One thing I will say on a slightly related note - I do know a handful of nurses who will intentionally wait to hang their 1 hour IV infusion that is due at 0600 until 0645, for the sole purpose that they don't want to saline lock the patient when it is finished right before report or in the middle of it. Do I think that is lazy? Yes. But it falls within the approved administration time and is not inconvenient to me as the oncoming nurse though to simply saline lock a patient, so to each their own.
Weird. You mean I could have been getting all up in arms about this my whole career and haven't?!
We do this all the time at my job. No one cares. If you didn't START an antibiotic that was due at 0600 by the time you leave, then I'm annoyed, and even then only if it's not due to multiple incompatible infusions. But taking it down? Who tf cares???? Like there aren't enough real problems to complain about already in nursing.
The only horrible thing about any of this is the crabbing and nitpicking and finger-pointing and criticizing.
I don't understand why (when no patient has been actually or potentially harmed or disadvantaged) it is so hard for people to worry about their own backyard. There's some psychopathology involved in constantly having to have something to say about the way a coworker has done things.
This is the absolute truth!
We are our own worst enemies when it comes to needless nitpicky garbage about other Nurses practices. This nurse did nothing wrong at all. Hospitals are 24/7 operations. This nurse followed the existing policy of the hospital and did no harm to the patient at all. There is literally nothing to moan about here much less insinuating that somebodies license is at risk. This is hall of fame, nursey-poo, twit-a-roo fodder
Obviously this is nuts. I try to get stuff started so next shift will not have to deal with it. Would you rather start and monitor a unit of PRBCs or simply disconnect the lines and check vitals?
There really isn't anything worse than a 1800 med. Seriously. They should be made illegal.
But since they aren't, I really try to hang so they will be finished up on my shift just to make things easier on everyone involved. And there is nothing worse than having to flush a syringe pump during shift change. (I work in pediatrics, so we have these lovely annoyances). But honestly, my job is to HANG THE MED. If the oncoming shift can't handle it infusing into their shift... there is a problem somewhere. I mean, what's the big deal?
A coworker had a one-hour antibiotic infusion scheduled for 0600. She opted to hang it at 0635 so it wouldn't finish at an inopportune time during the 0700-0730 shift change. Another coworker indicated that this was seriously inappropriate of her. They even said, "Well, it's your license on the line," implying that action could be taken against her license.
I'm really curious what could possibly be wrong with this. An antibiotic scheduled for 0600 can be started any time between 0500 and 0700 (at this hospital at least) and still be considered on time. I don't see any reason why the person who hung the antibiotic has to be the one to saline-lock afterwards. It's not like you have to stay with and continuously monitor the patient during antibiotic infusions. If that were the rule we would have a 1 to 1 nurse-to-patient ratio.
Does anybody agree with this other nurse? Is there something I'm missing that makes what the nurse did horrible?
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LovingLife123
1,592 Posts
That's what I was wondering as well. What if somebody is on a continuous drip like levo? It literally makes no sense that you must finish all infusions on your own shift.