The other day an elderly gentleman is wheeled into the triage arena c/o urinary retention. He is jumping out of his skin, very distressed and in pain. My 2ndary triage nurse says I am going to take him back and put the foley in right now. Triage was fine and our docs have no problem with our suggestions for issues like this. Anyway, our policy is to allow only one visitor back until the Doc sees the patient. Mainly, because of the space constraints in the rooms with so many people in the room. (Doc, registration at the bedside, nursing, and a family member) So we say to the daughter that she will have to wait in the triage area and will beable to go right back after the doc sees her dad. She starts throwing a fit. I say to her, mamam, it's our policy and actually they are going to catheterize you father asap and it would be best that you are not in the room @ that time. She continues to protest....marches into security office right off of triage and demands that they call the head of security (her personal friend)...next thing ya know, a security guard is escorting her into the ED arena....until I stopped him and asked what he was doing. (I did the triage nazi thing and stopped him in his tracks, refused entry) She began yelling and screaming in the traige arena....I'm a VIP here...(She works in housekeeping)>>>>If I'm not a VIP in the ER and I actually work there, there is noway in H#ll she's a vip in housekeeping on OB. Within 15 minutes she was back sitting with her father who was much releived after his bladder was emptied....he proceeded to chastize his daughter for her behavior and told her....Do not treat these nurses the way you just did ever again. Why in h#ll would I want you back here while I'm getting cathed.....lol...love it....she apologized...but I got to tell ya....There are reasons for rules in the ER....!!!!! Oh by the way...I called the head of security and told him he has no authority to over-ride ED rules....
Ok I'm guilty of this- just did it Friday when I took my daughter to the ER. She was laying on a litter, visably shivering, & the nurse gave her a SHEET. I asked for a blanket, nurse disappeared, n did not come back. So I got her a blanket! The nurse was sitting @ a computer playing a game! I told her to add it to my bill.
Specializes in ED, Tele, Med/surg, Psych, correctional.
"Ok I'm guilty of this- just did it Friday when I took my daughter to the ER. She was laying on a litter, visably shivering, & the nurse gave her a SHEET. I asked for a blanket, nurse disappeared, n did not come back. So I got her a blanket! The nurse was sitting @ a computer playing a game!"
This is my biggest pet peeve!
OK...you caught us...we promise you things like blankets and then we leave the room laughing under our breath because we never plan on going back..Actually..we hate you..the patient...and we want to freeze you out..similar to restaurants that keep the air temperature cold to get you out faster. Then we go back to our "computer games" never to return again.
Hilarious. Oh in case you are not able to tell..that's sarcasm
Anyway...for those who think we "play computer games" and don't care about blankets and want our patients to shiver...let me explain something to you...
WE ARE VERY BUSY
I have been guilty of forgetting a blanket or two in my career. Want to know why? When I left your room promising you a blanket...I didn't make it back to the desk for 10 minutes because another family member from room 10 stopped me to ask "When is the doctor coming in?" and then proceeded to tell me all about her mother's horrible experience on a specific floor in the hospital 5 years ago. After listening politely for what seemed like an eternity, I then stepped forward 2 steps and was stopped by the ER doc who came out of room 11 and rattles off stat orders like a machine gun. I proceed into room 11 and start the IV, draw the blood, send the blood, obtain the pain meds, give the pain meds and then try again to sit at the desk to chart. However, I don't make it because the dementia patient in room 12 is climbing over the side rails and I must run full speed into the room to stop her before she falls. When I FINALLY sit down at my computer (to play computer games of course) I am now faced with the task of not only charting on your daughter's assessment and complaint, but the procedures I completed in room 11 along with his assessment and documenting on the fall risks and prevention measures I instituted in room 12. I then have to check on room 10's doctor and find out when he is coming in because if I don't I will be asked 10 more times before the day is out. (Of course when I call the doctor he tells me "I'll get there after office hours..well when the hell is that?")
Seriously though..this seems to be a common misconception out there...that we are surfing the internet or something when we are documenting care. Although I actually like IBEX which is the system our ER uses...the amt of charting that needs to be done is incredible. Also, I document all of the outrageous behavior by patients and family members. "Patient presents with complaint of acute SOB. Upon entering room, patient talking non-stop on cell phone in no apparent distress..strong smell of cigarettes...cigarette box and lighter on counter next to purse" or "Patient present with c/o vomiting and diarrhea x 2 days..states unable to hold down food or water. Family member enters room during assessment with cheesesteak from cafeteria and bottle of Pepsi. Patient states I'm starving..I haven't eaten anything in 2 days. Advised patient he should remain NPO until evaluated by ER doctor. Patient refuses my request and proceeds to eat and drink food brought by family member"
When family members come out to the desk asking for blankets, pillows, water, straws, the channel changed on their TV, the volume raised on their TV, the lights dimmed in their room, food, coffee for themselves, etc. I point them in the direction of the linen cart or the cafeteria.
Once again for those who might have missed it: I AM NOT SITTING ON MY ASS DOING NOTHING. I HAVEN'T PEED OR EATEN IN THE LAST 10 HOURS AND I STILL HAVE TO DOCUMENT ON 3 OTHER PEOPLE BESIDES YOU SO HELP ME OUT HERE
No offense about the blanket thing but I pulled out one for myself one time while I was in the ED with my boyfriend for asthma exacerbation. It was 200 am and I just wanted something to rest my head on because we were waiting for so long. I didn't think it was a big deal and I wasn't going to bug a nurse to get me something that was already in the room, that's a tad ridiculous.
Does MR mean you work in medical records? No I work in a group home with Mentally/Physically challenged clients, formally mental retardation.
As for an ER nurse being busy or not, I didn't mean to imply that this is how ALL ER nurses are. The nurse we had that night left the room, sat at a desk & resumed her solitaire game- I WATCHED her do it. I live in a rural area & we were 1 of 2 people in the ER that night- I could see every ER room in there. Only 1 other curtain was pulled shut & no one had been in the waiting room when we arrived or came in as we waited- nor did an ambulance come in. We were only there for about two hours. I was not complaining about anything regarding the ER nurse or the care my daughter received. I was just saying that I was guilty of getting things for myself/family. I realize that ER nurses are busy, all nurses are busy, that you can possibly get busy pretty darn quick. I don't even care if you play games all night long- as long as the patient is getting what they need when they need it, or as reasonable as possible. This a small hospital, and most traumas get sent to a larger hospital about 15 miles away. For the most part you get excellant care in this ER, they are very friendly & helpful, and nice & kind. I don't know what this nurses problem was or if she had one at all- she was nice with my daughter & spoke to my daughter when asking questions about her complaint, it just seemed like she couldn't have been bothered with getting her a blanket. But I have been to that ER so often with clients that I knew where to go to get a blanket, it was no big deal- No need to read me the riot act! I apologize for offending anyone.
There's nothing wrong and I would be grateful if a family memeber got their loved one a warm blanket. But they need to check first , cause if there is fever we do not cover patients up with blankets from the warmer.
As far as a nurse playing card games in an ED, that ED is not busy I guess. And your right, within moments things change in the ED. (I personally would never play cards on the computer or talk/text while on duty to friends or family.) Actually you can be fired for doing it in my ER....and we do computer charting but no (fun) website access.lol.
From the moment I arrive for duty....I am there for my patient, co-worker, Employer, Doctor, myself...and family is last on that list. It's not that I am rude to any family member unless defending myself (knowing I have every right to at the time). I would prefer not to have family in the way so to speak. But I certainly do not like friends visiting/Family fighting over who can be in the room when we have a guest limit in my ER....It's like for instance......Would the cook like all of his customers standing behind him while he cooks them their meal...NO.
No doubt there are lazy nurses out there....I work with a couple, but try to bump them off my team when I see it.lol.....But I am NOT LAZY, I go over and above everytime I come in....I even start early and do not charge my employer....But...I still get the nastiness, the entitlement mentality, the ignorance and the RUDE....Makes me angry
TraumaNurseRN
497 Posts
What's a litter?
How do you know she was playing a computer game?