I've been a registered nurse for two years now. Sometimes the nurses in my unit and I get together outside of work and chat. One day, the nurses were discussing about their patient encounters (non-medical related). I do not want to write what they discussed, but they were patient encounters that many people would describe as "gross."
I believe patient confidentiality (even when patients' names aren't mentioned) should be respected during work as well as outside of work. I'm sure patients already feel embarrassed about their condition, and it ANNOYS me when nurses say they will not judge patients when giving them care, but then they go around and talk about their patients conditions.
If I was a patient, I'd be angry if an RN talked about my condition outsideof work. Patients trust nurses to give them care while respecting their confidentiality. Yes, we may encounter new and different things each day, and some may feel that talking about so-called "weird" conditions helps them "bond"with others from work, but that does not give any nurse the right to talk about patients like that.
I've noticed there was a thread on allnurses entitled, "What Is Your Most Gross,Yucky, Disgusting Nursing Horror Story?" This is disrespectful in my opinion. No offense to any of the nurses that do this. Thanks for letting me vent...
Please share more. Just on the rectum, or more like a suppository? I'm thinking a few days ago I maybe could have saved a trip to the OR for disimpaction if I'd been hanging out with you more often...
Well, apparently you just are supposed to put a little on the outside, but it sounds like they squirted a ton in there like an enema. Patient's BP tanked and they passed out and also similtaneously passed....everything, and the person telling me the story relates skidding to a stop next to the patient bed because the floors were so coated (walls and furniture too apparently). Per the story, once the patient woke up they were very pleased with the results and the doctor taking care of the patient NEVER ordered that treatment again.
Well, apparently you just are supposed to put a little on the outside, but it sounds like they squirted a ton in there like an enema. Patient's BP tanked and they passed out and also similtaneously passed....everything, and the person telling me the story relates skidding to a stop next to the patient bed because the floors were so coated (walls and furniture too apparently). Per the story, once the patient woke up they were very pleased with the results and the doctor taking care of the patient NEVER ordered that treatment again.
Something like the MD ordered "an inch" and they went with "enough to fill an inch of colon." Hehe! I'm so intrigued by this! Wonder if the MD never ordered the treatment again, or the nurses never LET him order it again!
I don't care how "professional" you are, stuff like using nitro as an enema is *gonna* get talked about. HIPAA or no HIPAA. We see too many hilariously insane things as nurses.
One midnight shift one of my cataclysmically demented little old ladies was missing. I found her in another resident's room straddling a wastebasket and pooping into it. The resident who lived in the room in question was hospice and his family were spending the night and they slept through the whole thing. You bet your bippy I've told that story to a number of friends. If telling funny patient stories (no names) is wrong, I don't want to be right....
I love to hear the stories! There are times I need a good laugh (like everyday I go to work!). Sometimes the stories are what gets me through those really bad nights! Sometimes, we are just venting, bonding, or truly needing a laugh. If you don't like it, get busy leaving.
If it bothers you, then don't read into it. Simple as that.
There is no harm done (and it is not a HIPPA violation) if there are no names mentioned or other patient identifiers. Personally, I love hearing and sharing stories, it's a way of de-stressing.
IDK, guess you just have to be careful about when and where you do your anonomous story-telling. Mostly I think people are just kicking back, de-stressing. If people are careful, the only potential problem I see is that people can get too comfortable with this, and then they may start becoming desensitized to the humanity aspect of things. But come on, some situation are so, wild or bizarre, you wouldn't be normal if you didn't share about them. You just have to be careful with the how, when, where, and with whom. You also have to keep in mind that it could be you someone is poking at one day. Course I can laugh at my stupid stuff. What should I do? Hate myself for being human?
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hiddencatRN, BSN, RN
3,408 Posts
Well, apparently you just are supposed to put a little on the outside, but it sounds like they squirted a ton in there like an enema. Patient's BP tanked and they passed out and also similtaneously passed....everything, and the person telling me the story relates skidding to a stop next to the patient bed because the floors were so coated (walls and furniture too apparently). Per the story, once the patient woke up they were very pleased with the results and the doctor taking care of the patient NEVER ordered that treatment again.