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.
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.
Nowhere in here does it say the OP is being told not to notify the instructor.
Sure you did.
:)
Please do not take my words and twist them into something that i did not say.
I understand what you were saying Marie, as a student there is still something I can do about it. I have let my instructor know and she was very upset that such inappropriate behavior was shown. She is going to talk to someone at the hospital about it. Im nervous though, because they will know that it was myself and another student that complained about them. This was a hospital that I was hoping to be able to work for some day. But, to allow such behavior to go on without any one sticking up for the patients us intolerable.
I'm glad your instructor is supporting you. And I'm glad you did what you thought needed to be done.
Personally, as a student, I'd be very reluctant to report anyone for anything short of seriously endangering a patient. Many RNs, including some on this site, say they don't want to work with students because they fear being reported if they do something wrong. When talking with my instructor about any incidents I've noticed, I avoid identifying the specific nurse.
Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiothoracics, VADs.
Being worried about being inaccurately reported for a perceived error is MUCH different to being reported for gross unprofessionalism, imho. No way in hell would I not report this. Good on you for starting your career as a patient advocate.
I'm glad your instructor is supporting you. And I'm glad you did what you thought needed to be done.
Personally, as a student, I'd be very reluctant to report anyone for anything short of seriously endangering a patient. Many RNs, including some on this site, say they don't want to work with students because they fear being reported if they do something wrong. When talking with my instructor about any incidents I've noticed, I avoid identifying the specific nurse.
And as a student, my reply is "if they're doing what they're supposed to be doing anyway, they have nothing to worry about in the first place".
To imply less is ridiculous and speaks volumes to me about nurses who would worry about such a thing. To be sure, there is a difference in being flat-out WRONG and "doing something another way" (I see that every day in our Physical Assessment lab and our Fundamentals lab, and it is frustrating to say the least), but if a nurse is wantonly violating a policy, you can bet I'll be going straight to my instructor with it.
No hospital worth its salt would have a problem with someone speaking up in regards to situations like this. If there is a problem, then I would avoid the place and find another potential job somewhere else.
I had an OB/GYN I absolutely loved. When he retired, I had to pick another out of the group. Well in the meantime I went to work in the OR at a different hospital than I had used for my babies.
The "kindest, nicest, sweetest one of the partners (in the office setting) turned out to be the most foul mouthed, nasty acting doctor I'd ever come across. He had his own scrub and she used him as her role model. It was embarrassing to be around either one of them.
What's more the NM of the OR was their equal if not worse.
I left there for personal reasons, but I really enjoyed most of the other doctors and nurses there.
Next baby I just chose another group. My reporting this guy did no good, because apparently everyone (but me I guess) knew how he was.
I think you are absolutely correct in notifying your instructor. And keep in mind how you don't want to act. Let others see how a professional is supposed to behave.
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augigi, CNS
1,366 Posts
"I know you are, but what am I?"
Heh. Sorry - that reminded me of my sisters and I growing up