TigerGalLE

I am wondering if other nurses write change of shift nurse’s notes every shift. Example: Bedside report received from ____. Then insert here current patient status or whatever smart phrase you have come up with for your change of shift note. Is this type of documentation important? Is it necessary for a court case? Is your assessment and hourly rounds enough to prove you have or don’t have responsibility of this patient? Just wondering if this is something that needs to be charted by both nurses at each shift change. Thanks Tiger

This thread is super old. I am the OP. I actually work in the NICU now. When I reread my thread I thought I sounded a little harsh.. I actually left ICU because I was burned out and felt like I had lost compassion. I remember this day very clearly. It was a BAD day...

I feel like if anything I am trying to help the situation. I did go to my manager along with 2 other nurses. My manager is concerned and seemed to take our concerns very seriously. I don't think there is any identifying information in my post but if the admin feels this thread should be deleted I am ok with that.

Thank you for your response. I know what you mean about handling a baby with a firm confident hand. She does this but is cursing at the same time. So she may not be hurting the baby but when she cusses at the same time it sure comes across as shocking. And we all know she wouldn't act this way in front of the parent or management. I am at work tonight (not with that nurse). I am Currently on break. The baby she stuck 4 times for an IV before asking for help still has bruised swollen hands where she didn't attempt to hold pressure after blowing the vein. I intervened at that point and held pressure on the hematomas. I told her the baby is bleeding and we need to hold pressure for a bit before we can continue. She said the baby bleeds like a pig and grabbed its foot and did a heel stick without applying a warmer first. So any way just an example.

Well y'all have definitely opened my eyes. If she was beating a baby I would intervene immediately and protect the patient. It is more being rough. Which you say is subjective. Rougher than I would ever touch a child. Is she beating it? No. Slamming it into the wall? No. I never said I didn't like her. I said she was mean and a bully. Which doesn't matter any way. I have worked alongside many nurses in my career that I didn't like. I never felt the need to find reasons to get them in trouble. I am not that person. I came here looking for support and advice. I was looking for some encouragement too probably. I don't want to get someone in trouble or fired. I want her to do a better job. I want to do the right thing. I have a right to be offended if I want by the harshness of some on this thread. I appreciate the helpful advice. From this point forward I will write an incidence report when she does something against policy or that is harmful to the child. And yes I will intervene if she is hurting the child. I haven't been sitting back watching her beat children. I am sorry it came across that way to some.

Thank you CBlover for your advice. I don't need anymore rude comments from any other members. I will take the advice I have received and go from there. This nurses behavior is not my fault and I am not responsible. I am trying to help. I have been to my manager. I was trying to see what other options I have. I will not be made to feel like crap by a bunch of people on the Internet. I now remember why I quit coming to allnurses.

I was trying originally to find out how to handle the situation without having to give many details. Then I got accused of trying to get someone in trouble for not liking their personality. So I offered more details. And I have seen her be rough handed with babies. Jerking them around and flipping them over onto their face with great force.

Well that is why I made this post. I'm concerned about the babies in her care and I am concerned that something will happen when I am there with her. Or when I am not there. How do you have proof of such care? Wouldn't it all be he said she said?

So how do you draw the line from being rough and not nice to being abusive?

And there has been education recently regarding poor heel stick technique. My manager has addressed this multiple times due to staff's concerns. She continue to stick the arch of the foot and bruise the infants despite education. She also knows how to start IVs correctly because I've seen her do it. The problem is she will stick a baby 4-5 times before asking for help. We have been educated to only stick 2 times per person and then contact the NNP or MD. She neglects to do so.

There are only two of us scheduled per shift. So yes I do go soothe her baby.. What is completely unacceptable is that I have to walk past her playing solitaire in order to get to her screaming baby. It isn't like she is busy doing something else. And since there is only 2 of us it isn't always possible to stop what I am doing to make sure she is doing what needs to be done. I'm not neglecting to help in order to get "proof" for my log. I think she is a bully because I have been bullied by her. I have been told that she has always been this way. I don't think being rough with a baby is subjective. I left details out. But leaving bruises from tying tourniquets so tight and slamming babies face down into the bed is rough. I'm not trying to throw her under the bus because I don't like her personality. I'm concerned about the babies under her care and I would never let her care for my own child. Honestly I am offended by the responses I have received. And as far as what is going on in her home; she openly talks about it. We don't gossip about it.

I have been keeping a log with specific examples with times and dates. Not soothing crying infants mostly. Rough with the babies. Neglecting to put babies on the monitor. Sticking babies multiple times before asking for help. Poor technique with heel sticks that lead to significant bruising.

So I have been at a new job for a year and a half. I am at the same hospital I have always been at. I love my new job. However, I work with a nurse that has been in this current unit for 20 years. She is having some issues at home. Has been for a few years. she had always been a bully from what I have heard. Well in my opinion her nursing care is atrocious. I have never experienced someone who gives bad care intently. She knows how to do better and doesn't. We work with babies and they can't ask for help. Parents trust us to care for their children. I would never let her touch my child. She is completely unapproachable. A bully. Mean. I have already been to the nurse manager who said she spoke to her about her attitude. There has been no improvement. My coworkers agree that she is slack and gives poor care but everyone is pretty much afraid of her. What is my next step? Should I go directly to the director of nursing? Should I try to approach her? We only run with 2 nurses staffed at night so avoiding her is impossible. Should I make a list of things she does that is unsafe, slack, poor care?? I don't know what to do.

We don't have an educator. :/ We are a small unit. But we are starting to rotate months on who does the education bulletin board. It is in the hallway where family can see so maybe I can simplify it so the parents can understand too.

Just to update. I spoke with the manager who has since told me that she addressed the issue. I haven't seen much improvement. I am keeping a log of extremely bad instances for my own personal reference. I am tired of it. I personally address the issue by telling her that her baby is crying and if she doesn't come I soothe the baby. It is frustrating because it is hard to get a position in our NICU and there are people out there that could do better.