Observed in OR and now completely doubting myself as a nurse advocate.

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So, I was observing in the OR yesterday and at first it was a really good experience the doctor, nurse, and everyone else in the room were proffesional and did a great job. But then later in the day I went into another OR room and now I am completely upset with them and myself. The patient was in the room STILL AWAKE and very frightened. The first nurse in the room was cussing up a storm "*uck this and that",and "I am f****** tired, I need to get out of here." This poor patient. Then the nurse was able to go home I guess and a new nurse came on. This guy was even worse. He never once went to the side of the patient to give her some kind of comfort, he kept cussing every other word too. Finally, they put the patient under (and I was glad she didn't have to hear anymore) because it got even worse. He kept saying stuff like "hurry up and get this b**** done" and other things that just exhaust me to even think about. It was like a nightmare. Everyone in the room tolerated this behavior. I understand that this job is stressful and sometimes dark humor is used. But this went above and beyond. I am upset with what I heard and saw, and with myself for not saying anything. This was at my local hospital and now I am terrified if I ever have to have surgery again, and I won't let my family unless there is some way of knowing who will be in the room with them. I have decided that I am going to write a letter and give it to my instructor so that she can do what she deems necessary. This experience has been truthfully horrible, and I feel so awful just being apart of what was occurring. All of this morning I have been actually crying because of this experience and I can't stop thinking of the patient. Well, I guess I needed to vent, but any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

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Just remember, you're a student and there is only so much you can do. But I agree 100% that your instructor needs to be notified. That is beyond inappproprate of those nurses.

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

Ohmigosh....how horrible....I can't imagine behavior like that being tolerated...how very inappropriate and unprofessional....whether the patient is awake or not....

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That happened to me in nursing school too. I was the only woman with an all man crew. Dirty jokes. Profanity. Making fun of the patient. The doc on the phone with his banker until the patient was ready for him. I finally left. Didn't make a fuss. Just left. And told my instructor. It didn't go anywhere.

Since then I have a rule - if I ever have to have surgery, someone I know has to be in the room.

steph

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.

That is so sad. I am fresh off of my capstone hours in a pediatric OR, and I have to say that NOTHING like this ever happened. The circulating nurses were the best patient advocates, and were not afraid to speak up. I loved it. I only wish it were that way in every other OR out there.

Anyone from the management staff of the OR that you could write to? I would definitely speak up - nothing may ever come of it, but it may help you feel better about the situation.

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Thank you all for the feedback. I am so sad that this had to happen, but the more I think about it the more I think it is important for me to become a nurse and treat patients the way that I would like to be treated. It's a shame that these nurses felt that this was appropriate behavior, it made for an awful working environment and for those in the room that did not agree with it and stayed quiet it was very stressful. I just pray that the patient had much better nurses after leaving the OR. Thanks again everyone.

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I think it is appropriate to discuss this with your instructor -- not to necessarily take any action, but to explore your feelings.

While it is not a good idea to just stand by and let something happen that you think is wrong, I'm not convinced the patient was significantly harmed. Your primary responsibility as a student is to learn, especially in an OR environment where you are basically just observing (as opposed to being assigned a patient on the floor where you are taking on the duties of a nurse). It sounds like it was a fruitful experience because it gave you a lot to think about. I guess what I am trying to say is, while it's admirable that you feel so responsible to the patients, you shouldn't feel guilty in this circumstance. You are just a student...

Now where were the nurses when this happened?

http://forums.obgyn.net/ob-gyn-l/OBGYNL.0001/0456.html

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Just remember, you're a student and there is only so much you can do. But I agree 100% that your instructor needs to be notified. That is beyond inappproprate of those nurses.

:yeahthat: Another great lesson here is that you will remember this and NEVER be someone like that. How unprofessional! That's awful!:nono:

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I'm sorry, but "just a student" and "still a student" should not be what prevents someone from reporting this horrible experience, and something being done about it. I highly doubt that what the OP saw was an isolated incident.

I'd take it to the instructor.

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I don't think anyone said not to notify the instructor.

I'm sorry, but "just a student" and "still a student" should not be what prevents someone from reporting this horrible experience, and something being done about it. I highly doubt that what the OP saw was an isolated incident.

I'd take it to the instructor.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I don't think anyone said not to notify the instructor.

Never said anyone did.

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Sure you did.

:)

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