Oh my......nowwhaddoIdo?

allnurses Guide · Sep 11, 2007

I think you handled it just fine: not taking over but helping just with the line. I would make sure to go with the other nurse for the restart, and do only that, let her primary do the rest of the visit.

lilcajunnurse · Sep 11, 2007

I ALSO HAVE HAD PTS. REQUEST ME. I NURSE AT A VERY SMALL HOSPITAL AND THE STAFF IS LIKE FAMILY ..SO WE PICK OUR OWN ASSIGNMENTS. BUT IF EVER IN THAT SITUATION I WOULD HAVE HANDLED IT JUST AS YOU DID.

GeminiTwinRN, BSN · Sep 11, 2007

Tazzi, you did exactly right. Can you speak to your manager about this situation? I'm sure it's not the first time it's happened in your HH agency, and they probably have some good ideas for what to do in the future, although I have a feeling doing exactly what you did is right. :)

I'm glad you got the lady on the 1st stick! WTG!

TazziRN, RN · Sep 11, 2007

Tazzi, you did exactly right. Can you speak to your manager about this situation? I'm sure it's not the first time it's happened in your HH agency, and they probably have some good ideas for what to do in the future, although I have a feeling doing exactly what you did is right. :)
I'm glad you got the lady on the 1st stick! WTG!

Accessing veins and ports has always been my forte. I worked at a rural place before this job; they admitted a lot of kids but not enough to keep the medsurg staff proficient at pedi lines. Whenever a kid was admitted and I was working the staff always asked for me.

I'm going to talk to the clinical supervisor about this, because it's not the first time a pt has told me they prefer me to this other nurse, but this was the first time it was put so bluntly!

TazziRN, RN · Sep 11, 2007

I think you handled it just fine: not taking over but helping just with the line. I would make sure to go with the other nurse for the restart, and do only that, let her primary do the rest of the visit.

We can't go out together; we're so short-staffed right now that unless it's a teaching issue we can't go out in pairs, and I'm not gonna teach this nurse how to start a line in one visit. It's not a knowledge deficit, but a proficiency one. I'll do the restart on Thursday along with that infusion, but let the primary do the other infusions and the final D/C.

ZootRN · Sep 11, 2007

I may be little out of line here, but why some nurses are so competitive and feel they are the only good ones around?

P_RN, ADN, RN · Sep 11, 2007

I don't think it's so much competition as fact. Some people are better than others at some things.

anonymurse · Sep 11, 2007

How should something like this be handled?

Jokingly.

pannie · Sep 12, 2007

I mostly agree, but there should be some accommodation if there's truly a personality conflict. I was the recipient of home health care for 6 months. There was one weekend nurse I just couldn't abide. Her first visit I told her of my extreme sensitivity to all but one type of tape (medipore). She let me know that SHE'S "an RN and work for a cardiologist. I know what I'm doing!" I guess I was just sick enough, and weak enough, that I didn't argue. The supplies that are brought into your house are never taken out, of course. So, there were numerous different tapes in the supplies. When my regular RN came on Monday, she tried so gently and so long to get that tape off. But my skin tore all around that huge wound. While she didn't SAY anything, I think she was near tears of frustration. The next weekend, sub nurse called (having missed the morning packing) about 9:45 pm and said "Haha. I'm in the lay-way line at (can't remember the store). I just have to have these gorgeous boots. Why don't you come down here and I'll do your dressing? Hahaha" My DH cleaned and packed the wound and got me to bed. He said she showed up a little before 11 pm.

I called the agency and told them "Never send her back to my house." One Friday, the manager called and said "You're not going to be happy. She's the only one we could get for Sunday." Saturday, a friend called and said "I'm bringing tickets for the NASCAR race Sunday." I just couldn't imagine (much as I love NASCAR) summoning the energy to go. But he's a love and had VIP parking right in front of the suite. So, I canceled her on Sunday and had hubby do the packing. I heard she was PO'd. (do they get paid per patient??) and was going "to report her. If she's well enough to leave the house, she doesn't need home health." They reminded her I was private pay, who was she going to report me to? My doctors encouraged me to get out "as tolerated".

Every other RN or LVN was welcomed and a joy to have in our home. I had 3 doctors (surgeon, internist and infectious disease) and every time I saw them, they asked if I was happy with the agency because they could change agencies. I was very happy with the agency and every nurse. but her. My regular nurse even packed a suitcase with surgical supplies when we made a trip to Boston (at my doctors' suggestion).

There has to be trust and some level of compatibility.

TazziRN, RN · Sep 12, 2007

i may be little out of line here, but why some nurses are so competitive and feel they are the only good ones around?

uhh......am i missing something here? when did i say i was the only good one? i just said the other nurse asked me to help because she was no good at lines. i happen to be good at lines. i'm not bragging, it's a fact. some nurses are wonders at wound care, some can drop an ng without making the pt gag, i can sink lines. i am not competitive at all, i just wanted to know how to handle a sticky situation brought up by the patient.

Ms Kylee · Sep 12, 2007

You did the right thing, Tazzi... you handled it well and professionally. I have repeat patients coming in and when I go in to introduce myself, one said to me "I'm so glad I have you. You took such good care of me last time. That other one was just plain mean." I always smile and say thank you.