observing nursing errors as a PCT

[ashlauren]

A few days ago, working as a PCT in an ER I witnessed the triage nurse inserting several IVs without cleaning the pt's site and/or using gloves.

I was outraged, but unfourtunately, I did not report it or say anything out of fear (I know, I should have) What would you do now?

[DoeRN]

I once had a pt say to me "what is the point of gloves if you are going to rip the glove and touch me with your dirty finger." (I did have a diplomatic response to that at the time.)

I'm sure I can imagine what you were thinking in your head lol.

When I was checked off on baths I did it the way she taught us on the mannequin. In clinicals I wore gloves and I continue to do so. Sometimes I double glove.

OP just make sure you do things according to your hospital policy and procedures when you graduate. I wear gloves when doing IV's because I'm messy when I start them.

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[misdolli]

If there is a nurse you have a good relationship with I would talk to them about it. Maybe you can talk to your charge? I'm very lucky in that the nurses and techs in my ER all have a strong relationship, sure, we have some ***** but most of them are pretty approachable. In fact, I had to teach a nurse how to do iv's a couple weeks ago. Maybe you can approach it as a teaching opportunity if she's a new nurse? All the tech's in our ER are EMT's and all of us come from an ambulance so we do our best work in a moving, cramped box, I used that as a way to help her gain confidence in her IV skills and showed her the right way to do a couple things.