OT vs NURSE

[SneakySnake]

An OT at my facility told me today that I could NOT assess my patient because they were resting. Now anyone who knows me would describe me as pretty laid back and hard to anger but this OT really ticked me off:devil:

I held it together and didn't snap her head off like I wanted to I replied (still sweat at this point) "I think I can disturb her for just a moment to be sure she is still breathing and her heart is still beating:)". I then got my things together and headed down the hall to do my assessment. She turned followed me and said "well I guess you can go in because you are not doing anything invasive".

EXCUSE ME!!! Since when can an OT tell me when I am able to enter my patients room? Last time I checked it wasn't up to therapy to give me permission to take care of my patients.

I decided to handle this privately with her and asked her into an empty room to speak. I am sure she could tell I was upset but I was able to keep my voice at a normal tone and my body language was relaxed. I said "I really appreciate our working relationship and I appreciate the way we have been able to collaborate in the past. I know you are having a rough day (she had told me this earlier) but you can not speak to me that way. You can not tell me not to assess my patient. I get to decide when and how to care for my patient even if there is an "invasive" procedure....you don't".

I was really proud of myself for staying calm and for standing up for myself.

She became belligerent and began waving her arms wildly claiming she never said such a thing (uh....yea you did, I have witnesses) and that she has a right to voice her opinion on a patients care. At that point I realized the conversation was not going to work out like I had planned. I told her I had said what I needed to say and that I was leaving. I told her she could come talk to me if she felt she needed to when she had calmed down.

She continued to try and escalate the situation.

I was absolutely floored by her behavior.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Well, my hat's off to you..if an OT (or ANYONE not my superior and not qualified to make that call) had tried that stunt with me, diplomacy would have been out the window.

You handles it much better than I ever would have...the first time she lipped off, I'd have probably ignored it, but the 'invasive' comment would have been where I politely suggested she go play in traffic.

How DARE she try to keep you for doing your job? And the scene that followed? Unreal. I do hope the admin addresses this, but I'm not holding my breath.

[SneakySnake]

It took a lot of restraint to stay calm and I eventually lost it (but not in front of her) because she kept cornering me in the hall and trying to escalate the situation.

The nurse who called administration was the one in the room I ducked into. She had also seen the first interaction between me and the OT. By the time they saw me again I was HOT. I could tell my blood pressure was through the roof...my hands were numb, ears were ringing and I was seeing spots. I think I was mumbling something about "decking her" (terrible I know) and "I think I am having a stroke".

I calmed down quickly but them felt silly all day long for letting her get to me like that. I just couldn't believe the way she acted when i tried to talk with her about what happened. I understand now why people bark at each other in the halls rather than trying to handle things like adults.

[SneakySnake]

Administrator just called me at home. Assured me from what she has been told it sounded like i handled everything appropriately and that I am not the first to have problems with this OT. She wants to see me when I go back to work. I am so thankful to God I had everyone write down what they saw happen so I will have those notes to back me up.

Even with her reassuring me I am OK I am still so nervous now:chair:

I just want to take care of my patients........

[SneakySnake]

The administrator, DON, head the therapy dept. and the OT apologized to me today! Shocking :)

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

everyone gets to tell the nurse what to do. everyone from housekeeping, chief of medicine to the xray tech. and half the time you get chewed out for not doing it.