Hello all! I recently had a shift that left a bitter taste in my mouth. One of my patients was a coworker from another unit. Let's call her "Claire." Claire works in the ED and is a well-regarded nurse. She received many gifts from colleagues and doctors offices, and I responded to many calls during my shift of physicians "just seeing how she's doing." I know Claire fairly well, and she's a very kind person.
I did NOT know she was a terrible patient. She kept a list at the bedside and made note of all the "errors" I made during my twelve hour shift. For example, she was due an antibiotic. I scanned her bracelet, asked her name and DOB, scanned the med, administered the med. Then, she asked for a tylenol for fever...and then a pain pill...and don't you know she can't take her pain pill without Zofran? So after my FOURTH trip to the med room, I scanned her bracelet, scanned the med, and administered. She claimed I made an error by not asking her name and DOB the fourth time.
Another time, she claimed I entered a drug into the IV pump incorrectly and reprogrammed it herself. It was a med you could give over a 1.5 hour to 3 hour window. I programmed it for 1.5 hours. She had a TON of IV antibiotics and with her IV being a 20 in her forearm, I figured 1.5 hours would be fine. My charge nurse agreed with me.
She then requested I bring in new IV flush bag, primary tubing, and secondary tubing with every antibiotic. She would stop the programmed flush after the abx administration, and even once claimed I caused phlebitis by running two abx one right after the other. However, there was a 20 cc programmed flush, and I even alternated IV sites with every antibiotic.
She has already gotten a colleague of mine fired due to the "errors" she made. I made a ton of narratives regarding the situation, and the nurse and house supervisor were both aware during the situation.
Has anyone else experienced this? No matter what I did, I was wrong in her eyes. I'm not really worried about it, I just wished I had handled the situation better.
As a patient I am on the opposite end of the spectrum. I don't want nurses looking after me. I know they are busy and so I tell them I can take care of myself.
That doesn't seem to matter to them though, they take over and do it anyways. lol
It's an interesting dynamic, but in the end I love them for what they do anyways. ❤️
I had a colonoscopy done, (yeah, I'm at that age); and kept telling them my IV hurt. Got to the next room, and it swelled to a goose egg. Different nurse tried the hand, it blew, he pulled it and put pressure on but couldn't stop the bleeding (until I told him the tournequet was still on). Third nurse put one in my AC (I can only use one arm), and they gave my propofol almost immediately! One way to shut me up, LOL.
I've told this one before, I was admitted for flu and cellulitis during chemo, and my morning nurse told me she had called down to the onc floor for help drawing my labs off my port. I said, oh that's easy, just get A,B & C and I'll walk you through it. Next morning I had 6 people around the bed to learn how ?
I bet you she is going to have a reputation of not so kind anymore, because people talk. It will get out in ED where she works. She is not very smart acting like a diva in the place she works.
I bet you she is going to have a reputation of not so kind anymore, because people talk. It will get out in ED where she works. She is not very smart acting like a diva in the place she works.
The ED knows and doesn't mind a bit! They even tubed up chocolate chip cookies and warm wipes to her last night ?
The ED knows and doesn't mind a bit! They even tubed up chocolate chip cookies and warm wipes to her last night ?
She sure seems to have people wrapped around her finger. As another posted stated, I wouldn't doubt BPD. They can suck you in and make you think you're great, then turn on you on a dime.
You never know, her coworkers in the ED might be doing it subconsciously out of fear. I’m amazed at how many intelligent people I’ve seen become trapped in a manipulative relationship.
Claire is not “a nice person”. A nice person would not treat her nurses this way. The fact that she is a nurse herself makes it even worse.
She is mean spirited and vindictive. Yes I know, she is sick, she probably feels out of control and is just trying to.... Blah, blah, blah.
Do your best to remain professional and protect your license and career from her spite. I am happy to hear that she put in for a transfer to your unit. I’m sure it will be a heck no! To her transfer application.
It is good to know that karma won’t take long to catch up with her.
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
Oh heck no. My first thought was that I would refuse to be assigned to her after one shift. Glad you didn't have to go back in there and glad that management is recognizing this strange behavior.
OMG, she is super anxious and to curb that she controls. I wonder if her physician knows what she is like, if so, then he/she should recommend she perform her own IV's in her own home.
You better keep your own notes, not that I would tell her but I honestly would like to see the look on her face when she is told notes are being taken on her too! I wonder if she rides the people she has personal relationships with like this. Can you imagine living with her?
She definitely has some psychiatric issues of some kind.
Scared and angry. And taking it out on you, and everybody else. Suggest a Team conference and team approach. Charge nurse and/or supervisor should stop in periodically just to chat. Head off the complaints @ the pass. Within her dietary restrictions, bring her a "treat" from the gift shop. Not saying that bribery works, but---it does.
Crash_Cart
446 Posts
As a patient I am on the opposite end of the spectrum. I don't want nurses looking after me. I know they are busy and so I tell them I can take care of myself.
That doesn't seem to matter to them though, they take over and do it anyways. lol
It's an interesting dynamic, but in the end I love them for what they do anyways. ❤️