Need an opinion...

[L&Dnurse2Be]

Ok..not sure if this is where to post, but I needed a professional opinion...

I just had surgery. My MD came and wrote my discharge instructions about 30 prior to shift change. I knew it would be after shift change before my nurse could DC me. I didn't bother her or ask her about my DC. Well about 1 1/2 hours later, my new nurse comes in. The first thing she says to me is that she is going to do a quick assessment and that she could not DC me. Her exact words were "It would be rude for me to DC you before I see and assess my 4 patients. I will be back as soon as I can, please bare with me." It was late in the evening. I was tired, definitely ready to go and was not happy, but I was nice. Having worked in a hospital I politely asked for the charge nurse. We still had an hour drive home and had to fill my script for pain meds. The nurse really got upset with me. She argued that my husband should fill my script while a waited to get discharged. Where??? That irritated me. I was still calm though. She couldn't believe that I didn't have a 24h pharm where I lived...small town USA. Just got a CVS about 6 months ago...not 24h. Anyway, I asked for the charge nurse again. Finally the charge comes...VERY nice RN...took her 10 minutes to DC me. In the time that the 1st nurse argued w/me, she could have DC'd me. Was I wrong to ask for the charge? I hope I'm not one of those pt's people talk about after the fact. I just wanted to get home. My mom had been with my 3 kids all day and you know how MD's are...waiting till the last minute to give DC instructions...

Any opinions will be appreciated!!!:wink2:

[TexasRn21]

ok i probably am not in the right area but was wondering if someone can share their thoughts with me. i have been taking care of this patient. She is neurologically unstable and she has been getting worse day by day. Any ways he SBP dropped from 120's to 60's. Even though she was a DNR and everyone knew she was dying I thought it would be a good idea to call her primary dr. and let him know about it just incase he might want to start her on pressors or something. Well, I did call the DOc and told him about the patient and also told him about her very low bp. I asked him if he wants to start her on any kind of meds or drips or watever. He was like " what do you want me to do?" I got nervous and told him that I called him to let him know how his patient was doing incase he would want to do anything about it. The doc told me to "figure out what i want him to do and then call him back" ..He seemed really mad. I thought I was doing the right thing...i even asked other experienced nurses and they thought it was a good idea. what do yall think

[beepbeep]

I would've done the same.

[mpccrn, BSN, RN]

unless there is a medical emergency with another of my patients, d/c'ing a patient is top priority. they (usually) want to go home, and you have less to do!

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

I have seen nurses delay a discharge because then they are first on the list for an admission.

Yeah....I was just thinking that too!