Picked on by resident

[imaLvn2]

So, I just found out today the reason why this particular patient refuses to allow me to change his dressing. A nurse had told me he had ask the patient why he refuses to let me change his dressing and he said "I am ******* with her because she goes by the book too much". And that I don't want to give him his tramadol when everyone else does.

This is what happened about a month ago...

He is on prn tramadol on top of his scheduled T3. He always ask for it at a certain time everyday. I normally check with him before giving him his meds and everytime He tells me he always wants it, always. Until one day, I brought in his regular scheduled medications without the tramadol. He asked me where the tramdol was And I said, well, you need to ask me, I just can't give it you. And he said, well, all the other nurses do. I said but i cant just give it without you asking. You need to ask. I dont know whether you are in pain. Are you in pain? Do you want the tramadol? he said no. He ignored me 2 days after that and since that day, he's never asked me once for tramadol.

I didn't know that following the book is wrong. And mind you, this nurse claims that he used to be an lvn. Wouldn't you think that he would know better? So my question is, am I wrong for saying that to him? I feel like I should let my DON know so that she is aware why he won't let me change his dressings. Should I or no? Please advise.

[CaliBoy760]

Tell your DON what you've just told all of us. It's no big deal, really. Patients who have been in the hospital for extended periods sometimes try to create drama where no drama really exists. You could also make a point of checking in with him before the med pass and ask him if he is in pain and if he'd like his Tramadol. Believe it or not, most patients don't really understand the concept of PRN.

[SleeepyRN]

The ignorance of the general population on what PRN means vs scheduled drives me up the wall. I have many scenarios such as yours where I bring their meds and they ask, "Where's my pain pill.' That breaks a trusting patient nurse relationship if in his mind he thinks I forgot a med. Because all the other nurses who usually care for the patient KNOW to bring the pain med.