WondeRNurse

Sadly, I work with a liar. Everyone knows this coworker is a liar. At least that is what I am told. I have taken the matter to our DON in the past, after watching him/her tell a patient's family member that she did a procedure that, in fact, I had done. She proceeded to answer the family member's questions, as if she really had done the procedure. Of course, she made up those answers, too....and they didn't match up with what really happened. More recently I watched this coworker tell the doctors lies about how patients are doing with their medications. I witnessed him/her telling the doctor that the patient needed a medication increased because the q4h prn amount ordered wasn't enough. Fact was, the patient was using the q4h prn med approximately q6-8hrs. I even brought this up when we were discussing this with the Doc, but she said, "Oh, no! She's asking for it more than that!" Well, the Doc increase the dosage and changed it to q6h. Two daya later I returned to find the order was back to the lower dosage and q4h. I asked why and was told, by another nurse, that the increased dosage had been too strong for the patient. No surprise to me!! Now a new scenerio has emerged. The other day I admitted a patient. The following morning the nurse I question told me, "She's really confused!" Now, I know that confusion can come and go, and this person did have a UTI, but there was absolutely no confusion noted upon admission. And she was 10 days into a 14-day course of antibiotics. What with my coworker's track record, I'm having a very difficult time trusting her assessment report. It's almost as if he/she is creating pathologies to rescue, so he/she can be the hero. Unfortunately, I didn't have an opportunity to follow-up and do my own assessment on this patient. I only have a gut feeling that I should beware. My question is this: if a nurse is telling fictitious information about patients, and those stories involve patient care outcomes, is it a matter that should be reported to the State Board of Nursing? Perhaps there's not enough concrete evidence to go to State....unless a q4h admin record counts. I really don't like confrontations, but I'm concerned. It may be best to compassionately approach this coworker in my DON's presence just to address these issues, first. Bring it out in the open and see if he/she wants to change ways on his/her own. But, I feel unable to sit and watch this continue. This person even has even been promoted to a Leadership position. It's beyond my understanding that a person in Leadership should behave in these ways. Shouldn't that person be leading by example and possess a quality of character that is admired and respected? What I have reported here was what I alone have witnessed. What's to say there's more? It's rather scary!! Sadly, I have to work with this person frequently, sharing the same patients. I'm not feeling very good about it, and haven't for quite some time. Anybody have some thoughts on this? Thank you.

Macawake, I appreciate your post, but only because you clearly voiced your opinion (a freedom) out of concern for others' well-being (compassion--a good thing). I will use a quote I heard one doctor say about current treatment of cancer: "You can't fault physicians for not knowing the truth, when the only education they get teaches them differently." Physicians are taught by pharmaceutical company-backed and supported research, (which, by the way, has been called-out on being skewed. Research should be done by an independant lab, but is done by the company who stands to profit from the said research.) Same goes for vaccines. If one were to study how vaccinations affect the immune system, it would become clear that man-made induced vaccinations run counter to the natural process of building immunity. I studied under a physician who taught this very information, so I clearly see how what we are taught as nurses (and doctors) is not helping things. For instance, why do we inject foreign substances into children before their immune systems are fully developed (which occurs around age 6 or 7)? It is the snotty noses and fevers in childhood ilnesses that develop the immune system! So, why do we suppress fevers, when it's the fever that stimulates the production of WBC's to the tune of 10,000 extra WBC's PER SECOND for each degree above normal temp? I actually know of families who vaccinated some children and not others, and the ones without.have proven to be much , much healthier. Overloading the immune.system with the onslaught of more and more and more vaccines is actually weakening the immune response. But back to the topic at hand. I must confess, I haven't seen this movie. But I do have friends who are Naturopath Doctors, who have watched their friends die of suspicious causes. I have heard one doctor state there are nanobacteria in vaccines that no one knows what to do with. They're just there. I have personally taken care of 3 children who were fine one day, got their vaccinations, and within two days were paralyzed. AND, I know of a pair of twins who died--together!--after receiving their vaccinations. SIDS was ruled out in that case, and the etiology of their demise remains "unknown". One example I argue, is why give chicken pox vaccine? It is temporary and puts the individual at risk for complications later in life. Whereas just having chicken pox as a child will give lifetime immunity. I am so grateful my children actually had chicken pox! We all see the world through the lenses of our own learned responses. I have learned there is too much at risk to just blindly accept vaccines as the answer to building health. I personally believe in building up the immune system, accepting the body's natural ways of eliminating toxins and working WITH the body's natural ways. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that, when you claim these conspiracies are built upon fears without any foundation (scientific facts), I argue, your opinion is also lacking facts. There is a plethora of scientific and medical proof to support these claims against mass vaccination. I wish I had time to site all the sources from all that I have claimed here, but today I do not have time for that. I really wish I did. Because ALL medical professionals need to be educated. The only ones coming out on top with our current practices are the pharmaceutical companies and the for-profit medical practices.

It makes me cringe to read , "What have you seen that makes you want to commit assault? " The very question seems to hold within it the essence of violence. I would suggest using a different means of conveying the same question, such as, "What have you seen that makes you anrgy?" or, "...that breaks your heart?" To incite the very thought of violence as a response to the horricities we witness as nurses will plant a seed deep within the subconscious mind, with no positive outcome. This being said, I can only share that never, ever, ever have I wanted to harm anyone. I wanted to legally detain the father who molested his 19 lb 3 year old daughter....who was being returned home -where "daddy" lived- for the 3rd time. And I DID ask Social Services, "Why?!" I was VERY upset when I witnessed a lab tech tell an uncooperative patient, "I hope you die!" (I persued corrective action in that event.) But the thought to physically harm anyone never entered my mind. What HAS entered my mind is questions I have regarding the limitations I have as a person to change what is happening in this world, and the amazing tools I have at my disposal to make a difference. It is the ol' Serenity Prayer at its best: to know what I can do and to accept what is beyond my abilities. Do what you can. Then (or, maybe even before step 1), pray for the person who is failing to be anything much above an animal. To be truly human involves the heart, involves caring. And THAT is what you described as lacking in each of these scenerios. One doesn't have to be religious to know the power of the heart, backed by thought, has transformative capabilities! (Check into Heartmath! ) When you think you want to act violently in response to these events, you are contributing to the overall problem, in a global sense. As nurses, we are much more than a pair of hands with bandages and a pair of ears and a stethoscope. We each have a heart. Granted, some nurses have closed their hearts, and perform tasks with the grace of a robot, BUT each one of us, at any and every given moment, can make a thought that the person whom is less than caring will have a transformative moment, an awakening of their heart. After all, we are all on a journey called life, all at different levels of awareness. I dare say, it is this very act, this intentional thinking, that has given me a transformational experience! I have more compassion. I have more acceptance for the little bit that I can do. And I feel good, instead of frustrated. I am making the thought that all nurses, doctors...PEOPLE!.... come to have this level of awareness.

Maybe you should consider a different vocation. People have poop. They give stool specimens, at the very least, when at a doctor's office. And who is it that takes that poo and puts it on a stick, or digs it out with a stick, and puts drops on it, or spreads it on a card for labs? Usually, the nurse. I most certainly would not want to go to ANY facility where the NP that shows up to be my medical care experience has less experience, and even less heart than experience, than the average two year RN. Believe me, going through school will get a degree, but it will bring you nowhere close to having good nursing judgment. Why are you in nursing? This makes as much sense as having a pilot who's afraid of heights. Yeah- fly THAT plane, why don't ya?!

I have found that if I take myself out of my *self*, and think about the patient, then my little misery is nothing. I may not like the odor, but perhaps this patient has been defecating profusely due to a condition that has him in dire need of assistance. Key word: dire! YOU ARE THERE FOR HIM! To be a nurse is to SERVE. We serve at times when people need us. Like when a baby needs it's mommy to change it's diaper. It is out of love that the mother is able to attend to the baby's needs. And, to love means to think of the others' needs first. Do I *love* my patients? Not in the romantic sense of the word!! By no means! But, I do think, when you are there, attending to your fellow human being, there is a quality that should (I repeat, should) be there, in which your concern for your patient goes beyond your own need for comfort. Do you think your patient really wants to poop and not be able to clean himself? Do you know the humiliation of being dependent, or of having had a BM that smells (like hemoccult +), and you have to have someone else remove it from your room? Those situations are very humbling, and the most we can do as nurses it be grateful to serve in the capacity we have chosen, in a manner that the patient is put to ease, and is allowed to feel blessed with your presence, instead of ashamed of what is beyond his control. I think, perhaps, once you master the heart of nursing, you will become an incredible nurse, and the poop will not be an issue anymore. Too, there *is* something to be said about those who have come from down in the trenches, who have "been there, done that" and can now tell the story. You are probably getting some valuable experiences that will mold the ability to make good, sound nursing judgments in the future. After all, it is very easy to distinguish the nurse who has had experience from the one who hasn't. (Think of the many, many ways we can describe fecal matter!! And, what does that say about the patient's condition?) So, try thinking about your patient's needs, and be glad you are not the one in the bed. At least, poop usually cleans up pretty quickly. Hope this helps. Good luck to you.

AUGH! Sleepy me! Agnus, I apologize for my FYI, which was clearly an inappropriate response. I appreciate what you had to share. Please disregard my previous post. (I'm heading to the bed right now!)

FYI, a Naturopath is ND--Naturopathic Doctor. NP is Nurse Practitioner.

CharlieRN, I suggest you read a book entitled, Vibrational Medicine by Dr. Richard Gerber, MD. In that book you will get exposed to more clinical case studies, and, hopefully, a new awareness of what's really going on in this material world. I am currently an RN, as well as a student of Homeopathy. In the book, The Homeopathic Treatment of Influenza, by Sandra J. Perko, Ph.D, C.C.N., a clear distinction is made on the outcomes from allopathic vs. homeopathic treatement, with case after case of lower mortality rates when homeopathic treatment was administered. I also encourage you to read some case study reports, from the multitudes of professionals who share their experiences with others. These and more can be found through the National Center for Homeopathy, as well as other sources. Homeopathy is both scientific and profoundly effective, to which I can personally attest. To shed more light on Homeopathy, is is both green (enviromentally friendly) and cost-effective. No animals are abuse or used for testing purposes. There is no toxic waste from treatment. And the means of determining what remedy works for what illness is done through 'proving', which utilises only healthy individuals and their responses to treatment. They remain healthy, too, unlike the multitudes of animals who, painstakingly live lives with all kinds of growths, diseases, etc. in labs across the world. (And, might I add, at great financial expense!) We fail, in allopathy, to recognize that the human system is wonderous and capable. We fail to see that it is the fever which is killing off the pathogens, and that the diarrhea or vomitus is only the body's way of releasing toxins. We fail to see that skin conditions are one of the body's ways of elimination when we apply a salve to stop the rash. So, what does our body do? It looks for another place to store the toxins or another way to eliminate them. Homeopathy serves to assist our body in its wonderous way of dealing with this world's onslaught of pathogens, in the way that the body knows how. Hopefully, if you take the time to read and research more about this modality, you will see how absolutely amazing homeopathy really is.

PLEASE RESPOND! Everyone, talk with your co-workers and friends, families. See what they think, and share here!

I have been running a thread in the General Nursing Forum regarding how meds are wasted. It has been a concern for the nurses I work with and for others across the nation, as so much goes down the toilet or sink. Some say it goes into the trash, others say it goes back to the pharmacy or to the reps. The AP released a study last year stating most of the medications found in public water was from excretion. However, several nurses have expressed that they knowingly contribute to the pharmaceutical waste in the water supply, leading one to believe that at least a percentage of health care workers contribute to this growing problem. It would be good to know some numbers, so I have decided to poll: How do you waste your medications? Do you have environmental concerns? Are there laws/policies that mandate disposal practices in your area? What kind of facility do you work in? What state/country do you work in? It is my belief that if nurses speak out, we can make a difference in the environment. Please share your thoughts and experiences. Even if someone's experiences are the same, please add yours to the list. There is strength in numbers. Let's make Health Care care about health.:redbeathe Our children thank you.

mpccrn has the right idea, in my mind. After years of psych experience, I have learned that sending the angry energy back to the "problem" only keeps the anger 'fed', and the problem escalates. True control comes from being in control. Another key to quelling the irate person: help them to feel heard. Like mpccrn said, when they feel heard, they are able to calm down, because they know you really care. Perhaps you could give them a paper to fill out, so it would be ready when you were done with the patient you were attending to? Did they need to get prescriptions filled? Was there a reason that discharge #2 had to be Discharge #2? Perhaps Discharge #3 had left her dog alone for days and he/she was frantic to see how the pet---in his/her eyes, a member of her family---was doing. I have seen many times when the staff nurse wants to be the one in control, and exerts that authority over the needs of the patient--just so she can let others know who wields the power. (Yes, it's usually women who do this---very disfunctional women.) Lastly, each situation has it's own 'flavor'. Not every situation like this is going to be resolved in the same way. That is where the communication skills of the nurse comes into play. And, that's where experience counts!

neneRN, I had the same idea, to do this as a poll---so I am! Please, anyone reading this thread, hop over to "Nursing Polls" and contribute!!! I believe the environmental concerns are huge, and we are strong. This issue is not going to go away. It will only get bigger until it has to be dealt with.

I continue to thank everyone for their reponses and request all viewers to share and/or comment. This is a HUGE ISSUE, and one that can be directly influenced by nurses' actions!!!!! The issue is not going to go away. Rather, it must be dealt with. My research has lead me to understand that there are regulations---but either they are not enforced, or facilities are not fined for failing to enforce these regulations. Repeatedly (as you can read here), it is common practice to dump the meds into the water supply. Psalm51, thank you for the links: I will add them to the plethora of info I have compiled on this subject. PLEASE CONTINUE TO ADD YOUR EXPERIENCE TO THIS BLOG. YOUR EXPERIENCE AND VOICE MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN GETTING CHANGE TO THIS METHODOLOGY!!!!! The more who respond, the louder the voice! On a more humorous (but still serious) note, I thought this emoticon characterizes the way John Q. Public feels when hearing of the outlandish waste practices going on in our health care system today: Let's make a difference, Nurses!!!

I want to thank all of you for contributing your thoughts and experiences. As I told Turtle in Scrubs, we aren't conducting a study, although it sounds like it would be a good idea. I AM unofficially collecting data to support my passion for the environmental concerns that are raised from our expeience with wasting meds, coupled with the recent media attention there is to this issue. If you could tell me where you live and what kind of facility you work in, I could get a better idea of what is going on where. I think all of us as nurses have, collectively, a HUGE voice and the ability to protect the public from massive amounts of waste going into the water supply. I know a couple of you have responded that you heard that the drugs in the water are coming from excetions---that is what was reported in the AP report earlier, in March of this year. However, when talking with John Q Public, I am finding that nobody understands that hospitals and other facilities routinely waste into the water supply. Hospice nurse organizations often have to flush down the toilet with the deceased's family and in home health, meds are wasted down the sink/toilet. Excretions may account for a percentage of the pharmaceuticals in the water supply, but I think a whole lot is also coming from our health care systems. So, Ladies and Gents, if you could help me undersand more of this issue, we can begin to make a difference!! Thank you to all who are responding!! And, if you are reading this PLEASE RESPOND!!! The number of responses is useful data, and is as important as the response itself. I.e, we can see the number of people/places/facilities doing the same practice---or not---so your response really matters, even if it's already been said!!!!

Turtle, I am just curious. No study---yet. But, I do think one is warranted. Perhaps there should be legislation mandating appropriate disposal. All facilities I have worked with---hospitals, nursing homes, home health--all are wasting down the drain, in the trash, or in a sharps container. I have inquired at several facilities and from different states, and have found it to be the same. I hear--second hand---that it is the same in Canada. (I'm in the US.) Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts!