So last night was a normally busy night in the ER where I work as a tech. All pt's are supposed to have vital signs q4, and we try to follow that the best we can but with pt's constantly coming in and out it's is sometimes hard to keep track.
When I come on shift I usually check the computer to see who needs vital signs and I right it down and try to do some rounds which are often interrupted with stat EKG's and bloodwork....It seemed everyone and their mother was complaining of chest pain last night.....:-\
So it was about 1am and I'm in the middle of my millionth EKG, when the PA gets up and starts yelling at me... "I need a BP on this pt! He hasn't had vitals since 8pm! you are suppose to do them every 4 hrs!" ...I was kind of taken back with the way he was speaking to me so I just told him okay and continued what I was doing.... When I was finished with that I was going to go do the vitals.... when yet another chest pain comes in....And when he saw me go in with the EKG machine he gave me the look of death! Sorry buddy but I don't need an RN to tell me that the chest pain takes priority of routine vital signs...He was so rude about this and while i understand he was and hour pass due for vital signs....If I had past up the chest pain to do the vitals I would have had bigger problems then a PA with a stick up his butt...
I just dont understand if it was SO EMERGENT why not...
1.) Do it yourself!
2.) Have the pt on continuous monitoring (which I asked if he wanted me to place the pt on the monitor and he said no)
How do you handle and keep track of vital signs q4 in the ER? People are in and out so often and it is so easy to get side tracked
NJust curious as to why you would be the one held accountable when the ultimate responsiblity falls to the primary nurse or at least that's the way I was taught in nursing school and the way I would teach those I precepted when I was still working in the ER.
To the OP, I think everyone who works in the ER needs a thick skin and your situation demonstrates exactly why. You did the right thing but you certainly did not make everyone happy. Unfortunately, this is the way it works in the ER. Choices have to be made.
As for who's responsibility it is, I am personally tired of hearing everyone else's job description is my responsibility. Like every other nurse out there, I work my butt off and I can't be responsible for other folks doing their jobs or not doing their jobs, especially if I can't personally fire them for NOT doing their jobs.
Having said that, I imagine the OP was either confronted with a very busy nurse (note the plethora of chest pains in her unit that day/night) or a lazy one who wasn't going to help either way (and I can sort of respect that position as well. boundaries.)
To the OP, I think everyone who works in the ER needs a thick skin and your situation demonstrates exactly why. You did the right thing but you certainly did not make everyone happy. Unfortunately, this is the way it works in the ER. Choices have to be made.
That being said, if it happens again, take the blood pressure, then tell him/her that you are doing the best you can, and if that isn't sufficient, you will be glad to show him/her how to take a blood pressure. Then politely, very politely inform him/her that you do not permit anyone to speak to you in that form ever. And ask if you have been understood.
VICEDRN, BSN, RN
1,078 Posts
To the OP, I think everyone who works in the ER needs a thick skin and your situation demonstrates exactly why. You did the right thing but you certainly did not make everyone happy. Unfortunately, this is the way it works in the ER. Choices have to be made.
As for who's responsibility it is, I am personally tired of hearing everyone else's job description is my responsibility. Like every other nurse out there, I work my butt off and I can't be responsible for other folks doing their jobs or not doing their jobs, especially if I can't personally fire them for NOT doing their jobs.
Having said that, I imagine the OP was either confronted with a very busy nurse (note the plethora of chest pains in her unit that day/night) or a lazy one who wasn't going to help either way (and I can sort of respect that position as well. boundaries.)