LittledebX2

hi there, i think i have insight to ortho patients, because i myself have had 15 separate surgeries all ortho. myself as a patient, pain control was the biggest issue, these pts have more pain than most esp if they have back surgery. i think these are your most challenging pts. as far pain, infection, mobility, and other complications. most importantly, if a patient asked you for something for pain, it should take you no longer than 5-10mins to go and get it and to give it. nothing was more frustrating as a patient to ask for pain meds and have to wait for 30 mins or even longer sometimes. unless you have an absolute emergency, that should be your priority. just go and get whatever med it is right away. also, turning, coughing and deep breathing is very important to all othro patients, but esp true for the older population. i worked on an icu step-down unit and unfortunately we received alot of pts from our ortho unit, mainly because the nurse would go in give a pt some sort of narcotic, and then walk out of the room and not go back to check on them. never, and i mean never give a narc and walk out, you should stay in the room a minimum of 5 mins to make sure they are doing ok. anyway i hope it helps.

a good nurse always advocates for their patient:rotfl: even if it isn't the popular view. i think also to be a good nurse means keeping your personal views on things like (pain control or assisted suicide) to yourself and not put it on your patients or families. never push your beliefs on anyone else, let them make an informed decision.

what can i do to help? my name is debbie and have been a rn since 1997. let me know if i can help.

what can i do to help? my name is debbie and have been a rn since 1997. let me know if i can help.

couple of pieces of advice; one because the doctor is adminant about this patient no going outside and she doesnt feel the need to abide by this, here is my advice. first before she goes outside tell her that she is doing so against medical advice, and that she will need to sign a ama form each and every time she leaves the unit. if she refuses (which she probably will do) then document it on the ama paper that she refused to sign.[color=#ff8c00]second, to cover your ***, chart everything that goes on before during and after she decides to leave the unit. [color=#ff8c00]your supervisor was wrong to be that accomadating to this patient. and she is putting herself and your liscense in danger. i would have called the doctor to let them know what the super was doing and to what length this super was going to please this patient. let the doctor chew her *** out and i bet she won't be so willing the next time. [color=#ff8c00]just document, document , and document.

i have had good ones and i have bad ones. you really need to sit this aide down in private and talk with them. don't act like you are superior to them and tell them your concerns in a non-threatening way. maybe this person feels like she is being treated like they are nobodies:o . and they figure if nobody appreciates me then to hell with them. just speak for yourself and not any other staff member because they will feel like they are being attacked. just let them know that this is a tough job but that you are thankful:) that they are there. instead of giving orders, when you need something, go to where they are, and ask if they could help you, and then go with them and help. trust me they will start seeing you as someone who respects them and who is willing to "get dirty" with them and they will be more willing to assist you. i would make the bed, when the aide had the patient in the chair or shower. i will ask the aide when she would do so-and-so's bed bath and i would go and help them, this way i am killing two birds with one stone, i could assess my patient from head to toe and bathe them at the same time. i know nurses say they are too busy doing more important things, but unless you want no help at all, you manage to find the time. if my patient needs assistance to go to the bathroom, i am not going to spend a great deal of time looking or paging the aide, by the time you call the aide or go around looking for her, you could have done it by then.i don't know about you but i kiss the ground the aides walk on, i make them feel like what they do is the most important aspect of patient care and try to make them feel wanted and proud to be a part of healing a patient.:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: [color=#00ff00] if nothing works then you have to go up the chain of command, if you can't get anywhere with your boss, i guess you could file a complaint with your state board.