I work as an agency nurse in UK as a PACU or recovery nurse. Most hospitals have a policy that we are not allowed to give ANY intravenous medication to our patients with or without a skills certificate. I do not have the certificate but have been a nurse since 1986 and at the present hospital I have been giving IV medication until recently when we were told to follow the policy and refrain from IV meds.
My patient was vomiting and I left a student with the patient after reassuring her and located the Dr who ordered an IV anti emetic which I gave. The patient seemed sensitive to the drug which I stopped and when back to tell him and he ordered an IM anti emetic which I also gave and it helped.
A few days later my manager shows me a letter from a colleague, who had an intubated patient BEHIND a closed screen, that detailed me giving IV medication fully knowing that it was against the rules. I was a bit annoyed and shocked at the idea that someone would feel the need to forget that nursing is a caring profession and it is OK to be vindictive towards co workers. A few days before the letter came up, another patient was vomiting and very distressed and it took about 5minutes of running around for them to find someone with a IV certificate to give when we were all very skilled AND capable to do and in the end they dragged an anaesthetist out of theatre to give the IV dose.
A professional and personal dilemma....any views appreciated
