jay082

Err.. so this is just a bit of a rant, but am I the only person that notice other RNs hoarding equipment that should be shared? My last shift, I needed a portable computer for an admission, and the only working on was in a room with a computer that doesnt always work. The nurse for the room made a huge deal about me using it even though she did not have a need for it at the moment, and I was willing to return it, even though it belongs in the hall. I had 2 rooms where the computer didn't always work, so everytime I needed it, it was a huge ordeal. This same shift, my new admit was a Spanish only speaking patient, and when I went for the translator phone, sure enough it was in that same room with the portable computer. So I tell her, I need to use the translator phone, her response, "Well my patient doesn't speak English." HELLO!! why do you think I need it? ERRR Then she tells me to be sure to return it. And I can go on and on. The nurses on my floor regularly hoard things. Some nurses will take the multiple use humalog bottle and carry it in their pocket ALL SHIFT!! Ill be like hey, do you have the humalog, and they'll be like yeah but I have 4 accu checks. Well so do I. It just gets really old having to bargain with people for things that they feel belong to them for the shift. Do any of you have similar issues?

There's a policy in place at my facility. Once a narcotic is pulled, it has to be given or returned within one hour.

It was an issue that she stated had started about a week prior. GI had been consulted, and cleared her. He suggested it was a muscular issue. I was giving her heat pads throughout the shift. She would say that they worked, and an example of our going back and forth, she complained that the were to small, didnt get hot enough, didnt last long enough, etc. would just complain literally the entire time I was in the room. Her family member at one point even told her to cool it, then she let him have it. She asked for some hydrocortisone cream, and I told her I couldn't give it just yet and would need to call the MD for an order, her response was, what kind of hospital is this. Im sure you have it and are just being too lazy to go and get it. she wanted the cream for her legs. she said she used it regularly at home, but it wasn't on her med rec either.

I forgot to add some details. Again, in hide sight, her attitude was awful and may have played a role in the care I gave. She was very mean and belittling and complained about literally everything. I know her attitude shouldn't have effected me as much as it did, but this is why I reflect on my weeks worth and try to figure out things I could have done better.

Asking for a another medication entirely is a really good idea, if the current one is not working at all. I wouldn't have labeled her as drug seeking, I was just really worried about her not being able to stay awake for more than a couple of minutes.

As a new nurse, I am learning new things every time I go to work. A patient recently complained to my nurse manager, as well as my department director. Since I have only been on my own for 2 months now, they are keeping a very close eye on me. I wasn't reprimanded, but it was a very long, drawn out, meeting between the three of us about a bunch of stuff that I had already gone over in orientation. I believe I made the right choices during this patients care, but I would appreciate some feedback on how some other nurses would have handled this situation. 50 year old women admitted for intractable abdominal pain. I don't remember the exact dose of her script, but she was getting IV morphine. So she was setting an alarm to keep her prn pain medications "on time" and would call 5 mins before she could have her next dose. Early in my shift she was heavily sedated. She calls and I go in. As I am starting the computer up, she falls asleep. Her respirations are 14. I take her BP and it is around 110/70. She doesn't wake up for this. So I return the medication. I also put in a call to the provider to ask for a lowered dose. She later begins to call and complain that I missed her medication, but she can have it now, so I agree to give it. She doesn't want the lower dose, and asks for the original dose. I give it. The next time she is able to have it, the same thing that happened earlier happens again. Shes too sedated for more pain medication, yet demands the stronger prescription. I literally told her, "if you can keep your eyes open for 20 seconds, I will give it to you."( In hindsight, that probably wasn't professional, but I was getting frustrated) She can't, and falls back asleep. So I return it again. This went on throughout the day. Turns out she is related to some really important person in our company and that is why I believe her complaint was given any attention to. Just curious as to how other nurses would have handled this situation.