I am a new BSN grad, fresh out of nursing school, with no previous experience other than my rotations. I have encountered an issue with an old LPN on the unit. I won't get into the specifics, but it had to do with an outdated practice. I was using what was emphasized as "evidenced based" by my preceptors and nursing school instructors. However, when the LPN saw me do that, she chewed me out in front of the patient and basically said what I was doing was completely wrong. She then stepped in and did my work for me. This was not my first, or tenth time doing the technique, and when the LPN stepped in, she was doing something quite different.
What should I do now? Should I go talk to her tomorrow? If so, what should I talk about/how should I approach her about this subject?
Why is it that when we bring up issues with CNAs being rude, the main response is "they're jealous". We acknowledge that nurses are "higher" on the latter and earn more, and that thus creates the perfect environment for jealousy to abound. Obviously no one is always alike, and some CNAs are content in their role. However, when there are issues with LPNs, the thought of jealousy never comes up, and if it does it's immediately refuted. Again, obviously, there are LPNs that are content in their role and have no wish to go back to school. There are also LPNs that feel stuck in their situations and are frustrated they can't go back to school, which can create hostility. In school, the LPNs bridging over were vocal that in their facilities, the other LPNs started treating them differently when they learned of their acceptance into the RN program. They also added that jealousy is an issue and spoke about how some PNs feel stuck in their situations. When considering the reasons why the PN was harsh with the RN, jealousy may be an issue. Although the RN's scope encompasses the LPN/CNA scope, we can all acknowledge that it isn't a pass to think you're better than other members of the healthcare team. We can all learn from each other.
Maybe the OP was in fact doing something that was unsafe or against policy, and the PN had to step in and correct them. We won't know.
I remember trying once to tell a brand new intern and a brand new GN (didn't even have a license yet) that giving 20 mEq of KCl IV push into a 22 g. hand IV for a K+ of 3.9 was a bad idea.
Even in my first semester of nursing school, I knew this was a very, very bad idea!!!!
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Even in my first semester of nursing school, I knew this was a very, very bad idea!!!!
Yeah -- I think the difficulty was that they were "bonding" with each other and didn't want to let reality intrude. The most difficult part of that whole interaction was when I went to have my annual exam, free in the hospital's clinic, and I was on the table with the paper sheet over me when THAT intern walked in to do the exam.
"Uh -- I don't think this is a good idea," I gasped. He just turned tail and fled!
I will always remember my first RN job I was terrified and had lots to learn and I really felt like the "more experienced" LPNs were being mean to me.
What I found out later was the DON had told them she had hired a NEW strict RN who was going to "whip them all into shape" and they actually lost money because they weren't getting their charge nurse bonus per shift they had been.
So they had many reasons to be upset and I didn't get a lot of support from them.
My new nurse jitters were perceived as something else since they were expecting me to be mean. (Far from the truth, just scared and inexperienced).
I would only recommended to take a step back and learn as much as you can from the seasoned nurses. They know a lot more than any amount of book smarts right now, and maybe learn to say something along the lines of, "I am new and don't remember learning it that way in school, would you come with me and we can review the policy together so we get it right"
That would let you leave the room, address any differences out of earshot of the patient.
First, you're being very disrespectful of the LPN. LPNs are nurses, too, and they're our colleagues. "New BSN vs. Veteran LPN" shouldn't be an issue. You're on the same team.
Second, there's usually more than one way to do anything, and what you've learned in school, "EBP or not", isn't always the best way to do it. Without knowing exactly what the "evidence based" practice was, we cannot know who was doing it correctly. Given that you are new, however, I'd be willing to believe that you may have inadvertently skipped a step and the LPN was genuinely trying to help you or protect the patient.
Third, did the LPN really "chew you out" in front of the patient? Did she raise her voice, call you names or behave in an unprofessional manner? Or was she merely trying to get you to stop what you were doing before it got to the patient? Because if she's experienced and you're new, she might very well have had a good point and it doesn't sound as if you were listening -- or that you were very respectful of her.
Fourth, if you do go talk to her tomorrow, please apologize to her for being disrespectful of her. Then you two can look over the policy and procedure manuals and decide who was doing it correctly. You both may learn something.
Apologize?No.There was no disrespect here and using the term veteran is a sign of respect.
Even in my first semester of nursing school, I knew this was a very, very bad idea!!!!
SmilingBluEyes
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