Oh no she didn't!

Published

Oh yes....she did.

I work as a CNA for a small hospice and really love my job. For the most part, it is a wonderful place to work. Except for one RN that the CNA's and even some RN's have a hard time working with.

Yesterday we had a resident that was actively dying but very restless. Nothing seemed to calm her, her relatives were there at her bed side, we kept her comfortable, she was even give some anxiety meds to help. Nothing seemed to help. I was sitting with the daughter, who was very distraught at seeing her mom like this. I asked her what would your mom do at home when she was feeling uneasy, she said her mom would light a scented candle and put on some soothing music. I told her that we have cd's there with nature sounds and asked it that would help, she said yes so I went and got one, popped it in then asked her what her moms favorite scent was. She said lilac or lavender. I then went to the RN that is a nightmare, to put it politely, and asked her if we had any lavender scent for aromatherapy. She just looked at me with the smuggest of looks and said it's not a priority. Well, to me, that was unacceptable, making a dying person comfortable IS a priority in our facility so I went through the cabinets, found some lavender/vanilla scented oil and proceeded to set up the aroma lamp. The nurse came into the room, stared me down and told me to come out into the hallway. She then told me that she was giving more meds to the patient and that she told me that the oil wasn't a priority and that I need to leave decision making up to the people that are EDUCATED to make those decisions, you are JUST a CNA! Um, wow. I just stood there for a minute, waited for her to leave the room and finished setting up the lamp. That is what the family wanted, so that is what I did.

I waited for about 20 minutes, then walked into the nurses station. The RN mentioned above was in there along with the charge nurse. I took a deep breath and it just poured out. I calmly told her that I didn't appreciate the condescending tone in which she used when speaking to me. I would appreciate it if when addressing a problem or situation with me, that she would treat me with the same respect that she wishes to be treated with. And furthermore, there is no such thing as just a CNA. I resent that you would think that we are the mat under your feet, you are no better than us, you just have a nursing license. Oh and by the way NURSE PEGGY (not her real name) compassion isn't learned with an education, if it were, you would have failed. Yes, I said all of that. She just stared at me with her beady little eyes and a frown. The charge nurse asked me to shut the door on the way out. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when I left. When I left the room, I was shaking like mad but felt very good that I said all of that. I also wondered if it would get me fired, especially with the CN being in there, but they haven't called me in yet. I am scheduled to work tonight so we will see if I am sent packing.

Thanks for reading, I just had to share my lovely day yesterday. Oh and by the way, the resident died about two hours later and the family thanked me for taking those extra measures to make her more comfortable.

MissLo

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MissLo - I am appalled and I'm a hospice nurse.

Of course music and scents are part of therapy - I just returned from a hospice conference where the keynote speaker was Ira Byock, THE leading advocate for hospice and palliative care and I've read his books and he talks about other ways besides meds, (not excluding meds), that can help calm patients.

Good for you for standing up for yourself. That nurse should be ashamed of herself.

http://www.dyingwell.org/

steph

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Specializes in Critical Care, LTAC, Post-Partum.
Oh yes....she did.

I work as a CNA for a small hospice and really love my job. For the most part, it is a wonderful place to work. Except for one RN that the CNA's and even some RN's have a hard time working with.

Yesterday we had a resident that was actively dying but very restless. Nothing seemed to calm her, her relatives were there at her bed side, we kept her comfortable, she was even give some anxiety meds to help. Nothing seemed to help. I was sitting with the daughter, who was very distraught at seeing her mom like this. I asked her what would your mom do at home when she was feeling uneasy, she said her mom would light a scented candle and put on some soothing music. I told her that we have cd's there with nature sounds and asked it that would help, she said yes so I went and got one, popped it in then asked her what her moms favorite scent was. She said lilac or lavender. I then went to the RN that is a nightmare, to put it politely, and asked her if we had any lavender scent for aromatherapy. She just looked at me with the smuggest of looks and said it's not a priority. Well, to me, that was unacceptable, making a dying person comfortable IS a priority in our facility so I went through the cabinets, found some lavender/vanilla scented oil and proceeded to set up the aroma lamp. The nurse came into the room, stared me down and told me to come out into the hallway. She then told me that she was giving more meds to the patient and that she told me that the oil wasn't a priority and that I need to leave decision making up to the people that are EDUCATED to make those decisions, you are JUST a CNA! Um, wow. I just stood there for a minute, waited for her to leave the room and finished setting up the lamp. That is what the family wanted, so that is what I did.

I waited for about 20 minutes, then walked into the nurses station. The RN mentioned above was in there along with the charge nurse. I took a deep breath and it just poured out. I calmly told her that I didn't appreciate the condescending tone in which she used when speaking to me. I would appreciate it if when addressing a problem or situation with me, that she would treat me with the same respect that she wishes to be treated with. And furthermore, there is no such thing as just a CNA. I resent that you would think that we are the mat under your feet, you are no better than us, you just have a nursing license. Oh and by the way NURSE PEGGY (not her real name) compassion isn't learned with an education, if it were, you would have failed. Yes, I said all of that. She just stared at me with her beady little eyes and a frown. The charge nurse asked me to shut the door on the way out. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when I left. When I left the room, I was shaking like mad but felt very good that I said all of that. I also wondered if it would get me fired, especially with the CN being in there, but they haven't called me in yet. I am scheduled to work tonight so we will see if I am sent packing.

Thanks for reading, I just had to share my lovely day yesterday. Oh and by the way, the resident died about two hours later and the family thanked me for taking those extra measures to make her more comfortable.

MissLo

MissLo-

Congratulations for standing up and being a patient advocate!! It's too bad that nurse was 1.) so completely out of touch or....2.) so insecure she felt like she had to demean you to feel competent. I am a PCT in a Planetree Hospital (http://www.planetree.org/) and we focus on the exact thing you were trying to give your patient. Luckily, the family of that patient was spared a life-long negative memory due to your diligence.

:yeah:

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I think you did right by your patient and I think the things you said were true.

Let's hope the CN takes your side. I think Nurse Nightmare is jealous.

Meds are important but definitely not the only way to help restless patients. You helped the dtr and that is very much a part of nursing the dying.

Please get your RN license so you can be paid better for your kindness and good sense. And try to forgive and pray for that nurse. I think she is very lonely and unhappy.

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Specializes in OB.

MissLo - :yeah:

Good for you for not only standing up for yourself and your patient's needs but for doing it in such a professional way!

There is definitely no "just" about the job you are performing - you undoubtedly did more to bring comfort to that patient and her family than any amount of "meds" would do.

Don't ever let anyone stop you from being the kind of caring individual you are!

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Specializes in Peds.

Hi,

I'm not a hospice nurse. The "dying patients" I usually am involved with are the "actively trying to die" type. So take my post with a grain of salt.

"not a priority"
????

That statement alone just confuses the heck out of me. :confused: I just can't comprehend the rationale behind that statement.

I mean, it's a dying patient. They're on hospice care. I know we aren't actively trying to euthanise them - but if comfort care isn't a priority in hospice - what else is??!!

Hospice nurses - if I'm wrong, please correct me!

thanks,

Matthew

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Matthew - you need no correction. :D

The goal is a peaceful and pain free death - I work mostly with patients in the home and that is also a priority for them, to die at home.

We do everything we can - we have a team - a spiritual counselor, a social worker, a pharmacist, nurses, a physician. We talk to the family and the patient and get them what they need. If it is candles and music - we get it. If it is a hamburger (yes, that happened), we get it.

steph

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Please get your RN license so you can be paid better for your kindness and good sense. And try to forgive and pray for that nurse. I think she is very lonely and unhappy.

I am. I start the program next fall :D That is the reason I am working. I wanted to work with nurses that would educate me and also to be educated by my residents. I have learned that the residents so far have been the best teachers.

MissLo

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Thank you, MissLo, for being an advocate for your patient and her family. I am SURE they will remember your acts of kindness setting up the music and aromatherapy much longer than the "meds" that the nurse gave their Mama.

And remember:

Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes!

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Specializes in CNA, Surgical, Pediatrics, SDS, ER.

I think you did an excellent job and you should be proud of yourself. You are not just a CNA you are a vital part of nursing care and your nightmare nurse should maybe take a few notes from you. If they fire you, which I doubt they will, then you are too good of a CNA to work for a facility that does not accept staff advocating for their pts no matter what your title is. Way to go!

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The charge nurse was probably laughing to herself when she heard you... you hit the nail on the head.

Kudos to you...

You get it, even if those with "education" do not!

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Specializes in Physical Rehabilitation, med-surg.

I can't stand nurses who belittle CNAs. It's repugnant to me and shows a total disrespect.

I'm glad you stood up for yourself, and I'm glad you did it in a productive way (you the nurse, and the nurse manager) instead of in the patient's room or in front of other staff.

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