Need to vent!

Published

Specializes in Corrections, tele/med surg.

I'm sorry if this annoys people, but I have to vent because I'm so frustrated. And it's a long post...There is a nurse who is new to my telemetry unit(but not a new nurse). She has been there since February and is getting more and more abrasive. She is really just rude. Yesterday morning I gave reprt to her on several patients. When I came back last night I found out that one patient "fired" her. He said she was rude and wouldn't bring pain meds when he requested them. I had another patient who was a DNI. When giving report back to me last night, I asked if the patient was alert and oriented and she said, "She is a DNI and I don't care about that" I was astounded. I stated I at least like to have a baseline. During the day the patient became a DNR, I was not told of this, pretty important info! I found the DNR on the patient's chart so it was not a problem, but it could have been. During the night the patient's bp bottomed out. I put the patient in Trendelenberg twice, and successfully reversed the hypotension. The patient also desatted and took quite a bit of work to get her back to normal. When I informed the nurse of all that I did this morning she said, "I don't understand. Why are you doing all this, putting her in Trendelenberg and stuff?" I said, "well I couldn't give her fluids and I wanted to get her bp back up" and she said, "She is a DNR. She is here to die. Why would you do all that?" I was so shocked. She is not a palliative bed. She may be going home with hospice, but she is not a hospice patient yet. But she is not a do not treat. The more I think about it the more upset I get. I will most definitely be meeting with my nurse manager in the morning. Am I right about going to management? This is only one example, I have had other patient care issues but this one is the biggest. Thanks!

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Specializes in Intensive Care Unit.

You are definitely right to speak to management. That would make me upset too! The ignorance that she treats her patients with is downright mean and if patients dont even want her, something needs to be done. Ultimately it could affect these patients outcomes. They are lucky they have you to advocate for them!!!

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Im just a Nursing Assistant and I will be graduating NS in Dec. I admire you for speaking UP! Patients are lucky to have you!

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Specializes in Corrections, tele/med surg.

Thanks for your thoughts. I did talk toy NM this morning and she was totally supportive of me and the patient. I feel so much better!

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Specializes in Intensive Care Unit.

Yay good for you!

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Specializes in Emergency.

You did the right thing.

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Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

It's so scary that , the General, vulnerable public think all nurses, docs and hospitals are created equal .... if they all knew the TRUTH

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Props to you for speaking up. I remember in school a professor told us "DNR/DNI does not mean do not treat". It seemed trivial in the moment, but now I see there is a reason. Good for you!

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

Great job advocating! A lot of people don't get that DNR still means we want to prevent death as much as we can!

I remember this ridiculously cocky surgical resident moaning about the fact that a patient was probably going to be sent to the ICU after the OR vs. back to the floor - "She's a DNR; what's the point?" Not the first, not the last time I wanted to smack him.

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