Lapzs

I have no experience elsewhere, so I can't provide a comparison. I became a nurse about 2 years ago in Las Vegas, got a job a month after I passed my NCLEX, and have since gotten 2 per diem jobs. All of my jobs are on med-surg floors in acute care hospitals. If I could get a job straight out of school and get 2 per diem jobs with the little experience I have, so can you, especially if you're in a highly specialized and needed position (ie. anything involving critical care). The cost of living here is very low. There is no state income tax. Like Orca said, many of the hospitals are expanding. If you have a family, both public and private schools are rampant. There are two public bachelor's-granting institutions and one community college. Everything is within driving distance. Grocery stores, IKEA, and, most importantly, my work hospitals. Gas is cheaper here, too. I was raised in New Jersey. Not as expensive as California, but it was definitely more expensive than Las Vegas. Moving here was the best financial decision that my family has ever made.

I appreciate everyone's input, but it seems like some people formed a different perception, both of the event itself and of Jen and I. Others seemed to have read the story but did not absorb all of the details and are making suggestions of "I would have done this," etc. when in reality, I already did those suggestions or explained why they couldn't happen. Some details of the story seem to have been passed over by some posters. Others are fighting among themselves. I've summarized all of my forethoughts of this event in subsequent posts. What happens from now on, only time will tell what happens with Jen and I.

My final set of clarifications: 1. I couldn't wrap the IV after my med passes. I didn't have the opportunity. I was in the process of finishing up my med passes when I was suddenly bombarded with insults in the hall. 2. I didn't mean to interrupt her break. I already mentioned I didn't know whether she was on her break, lunch, (both of which are entitled), or just walked in to relax for a minute. If she was on the last of the 3 and not on either of her entitled breaks or lunch, I would have asked her to wrap the IV. 3. I didn't chase her down. My poor choice of wording gave some people here the wrong perception. At the same time, those same people refuse to accept the subsequent clarifications I provided.

Agreed. However, I can't perform my job if she doesn't perform hers. We both have roles to play and unfortunately, she cannot perform all of mine. So I prioritized, like I'm supposed to do as the RN, and made a decision and delegated a task. And as I explained in my earlier posts, I didn't "hunt her down." That phrase makes it seem like it took much longer than it actually did to reach her when in reality it took a minimal amount of time. I stand by my decision.

I think your post sums up pretty well my forethoughts on this entire ordeal.

I already addressed your concerns in this thread. Many times. I think you have an incorrect perception of what happened. I didn't tell her to stop her lunch. I told her the task can wait until afterwards. And I did talk to the family. What you would have done is similar to what I told them. If you want any further clarification, I suggest you re-read my original post and any subsequent ones.

I disagree. Though, I can see how I may have come off as such. 1. I already clarified this. I think 5 times now. I won't explain any more. 2. Stopping her from leaving was definitely a mistake. I already acknowledged that. 3. It is within my scope of practice but it is NOT ultimately my responsibility. What is my ultimate responsibility is to ensure the well being of my patients. Making sure less important tasks get done is secondary to that. In this case, as I've said many times, my meds were my priority. I delegated this task appropriately. I've also explained this part of the story numerous times, including my interactions with the family before and after the conflict. I stand by that judgment call. If she was hurt, I didn't mean it. However, we were at work. And at work, I am the nurse and she is the nursing assistant. I did not treat her like a servant, even if she felt like it. That certainly wasn't my intention. I delegated a task well within her scope of practice. I didn't force her off of her lunch. I told her the task could wait. There is no way I can force her to end lunch early. If she gets hurt and feels like a servant every time one of her work friends (the RNs) delegates a task to her, then she must get hurt quite often.

Well, it's the truth. Oftentimes, they offer me some but I learned quickly that their sprays only make my own BO worse.

WOAH! I'm glad to see that a lot of people are willing to provide their input. I appreciate what everyone has said. No need to fight with one another. Here's a summary of my thoughts so far: 1. Obviously, I was wrong to block her in. Not good judgment on my part. The event of Jen and I talking again is inevitable because as our schedules stand, we work 2 of 3 shifts together every week. When the apologies come, I plan to bring in my charge RN or other third witness. I will apologize only for blocking her in and making her feel threatened. 2. I don't feel that my choice to ask Jen whether she was on break, lunch, or on a short 1-2 minutes of downtime was wrong. As I said, she was on her lunch, so I told her "it can wait." However, if she said she wasn't on any of her entitled breaks or lunch, I would have asked her to wrap the IV. My medications were my priority and they came first. And yes, I could have wrapped the IV once I finished, but Jen began yelling and insulting me as I finished my last or second-to-last med pass, so I never got to that point. 3. This whole thing blew way out of proportion. Would I have done things differently? Yes, but only the blocking in part. I will never do that again. If a similar situation happens in the future, I will receive whatever spews and insults come my way, then report everything to my charge RN.

It sounds like it was my wording that confused you. Semantics and diction were never strong suits of mine. I've stated the truth from my perspective as best as I could. Whether you believe me based on my original post and my subsequent explanations/clarifications or not, is up to you. I appreciate the input you've given.

This happened quite recently, so I haven't heard anything from my director or anybody in upper management. As I said in my original post, I was just told by my charge RN literally the day after this happened that my director told her (my charge) to tell me that Jen told my manager (I hope I didn't lose anyone reading this) that she (Jen) was going to file an incident report. Whether she did or not, I have yet to confirm or hear from anybody yet. I guess only time will tell.

I don't understand your suspicions. Perhaps it was due to my wording? Or maybe a lack of clarification? I think I've re-explained and elaborated on this part of the story, like, 3 times now. I'll explain for a 4th time so you'll understand. When I was asked to wrap the IV, I went off the find Jen. I knew she was in the break room because before all of this happened, I was having my lunch. Towards the end of my lunch, Jen walked in the break room. I didn't ask if she was on break (15 mins), lunch (30 mins), or if she simply went in to cool off for a minute. If she wasn't on either break or lunch, I would have asked her to wrap the IV. She told me she was at lunch, so I said "Ok it can wait," as I mentioned in my original post. I hope that clears up any misunderstanding.

I agree with you. I would have wrapped up the IV myself after I finished my med passes. However, as I said in my original post, I had just finished my last or second-to-last med pass and walking down the hall when I was suddenly yelled at by Jen. Also, I didn't "hunt her down." I knew where she was because before all of this happened, I was finishing my lunch in the break room when she walked in. She might have been on break (15 mins), lunch (30 mins), or had just went in to relax for a minute. I didn't know at the time. If she wasn't on either of her allotted break or lunch times, I would have asked her to wrap the IV. Instead, as I said in my original post, after she told me she was at lunch I said something along the lines of "Ok it can wait."

I thought I explained this part already. Before all of this happened, I was having my lunch. Towards the end of my lunch, she came in. I didn't ask whether she was on break (15 mins) or lunch (30 mins), so I didn't know if she was on either. Maybe she just went in to sit for a minute and get something from her locker (I've seen a lot of the women on my floor pull out some scented sprays to feel refreshed and not stink mid-shift). I went in there because if she wasn't on either her lunch or break, I would have asked her to wrap the IV.