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Blueorchid, ASN, RN
133 Posts
Dear Nursing Students in the ER,
While the fine print on my badge says that I am in fact a tech, please take note when you hand the urine soaked, dehydrated patient with contractures, two pressure ulcers, and anxiety so bad that he looks like he's going to strangle the stretcher off to me that you "half triaged" that I too am a nursing student and know what's going on. When the three of you stand in the room watching as I get a temperature (that I told you was possible with the same machine you tried it on and failed to do so) while explaining that the pressure ulcer was probably a stage I (how could you have looked at it? his clothes were on...) that while this is a clinical portion of your class...I am not superwoman. I needed help and asked politely, the floor was packed and running away when I started working was not cool. I know your preceptor personally and she certainly would have not thought any less of you if you'd lent me a hand. Every patient is a learning experience.
And if I was in your shoes I certainly would have done it.
Not only that but as a nurse down in the ER you have to deal with messes. Shoot you have to deal with messes as a nurse period (or so I hear...). And they're gross. This guy was gross- his undershirt was so stiff with urine and pus and god knows what else that I had to whip out my trauma shears (not the cheesy little ones we buy in school) to cut his clothes off. I don't even want to talk about the eschar around his wound that according to my school makes the whole ulcer unstageable (how am I to know how deep it goes if it's covered in black gunk?...you can only see the edges)
But then again- my badge just says "tech."
His daughter is also acting shocked and amazed that her father is this bad off and telling me that he was up and walking four days earlier (like I buy it). I'm a little shocked and amazed at the situation too. And he hasn't been picked up by a nurse yet so I want to make sure I feel safe leaving him in the room before I leave. Note that doesn't mean I run out of the room. There's still work to be done.
...I find myself getting frustrated with these students I see on the "other side" of my life in the hospital so to speak. They're all for giving medications and reviewing EKG strips and pumping chests in codes. But when someone asks to use a bedpan they run in the other direction. I've heard from seasoned nurses that this is not particularly a habit you want to get into in the ER or in general. Nursing is not all glamorous work and if you thought this was the case, you three are in the wrong profession. Granted I'm not walking through my job all day going "gee golly I sure hope I get to clean up a BM!" But if I have to do what I have to do then I suck it up.
Not to mention being there for a patient through the IV start and the EKG and all the fun and exciting stuff doesn't seem to bring you as close to a patient as when you're cleaning up their gunk and they know while they may be having one crappy day (mind the pun) you're at least being respectful to them.
Life's messy! Also note that if you help me with a disgusting patient in the future when I too am a nurse- I might be willing to return the favor. This is certainly a reminder for me when I get me license just how I want to treat techs.
Hugs and Kisses,
Me