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Discussion

Questionable Dr. Ethics

I am a LPN student graduating in Jan 05, I have been working weekends at a rural hospital as a CNA, this hospital also has helped me with my tuition for school. Saturday night (we work 12's) Only two aides were on the floor myself and another. We each started the night with 12 and 10 pts a piece. I had 12, at least 5 of mine were total care and two other were close to it. The other aide and myself were busy turning a comfort care pt with multiple skin impairments when we discovered he had an incontient BM, I left the aide there with him while I ran to the clean work closet to get more supplies, during which time the unit clerk told me that another room was wet and another patient wanted a snack. I told her I would be right there once I finished changing my pt because we were already in the middle of it. I went back to my patients room, we finished changing and positioning him and went back out onto the floor, the unit clerk then told me (exact words) "This is coming from DR. M-, the patient in RM 1** is his father in law and he has been waiting for 20 min to have his linens changed, nobody should have to lie in piss for 20 minutes, I don't know who the aides are but they better get their a$$es in there now or heads are going to roll and jobs be lost. Nurse @#$# is in there now trying to change him all by herself!" All the nurses were at the nurses station and heard this, nobody disagreed with what was said, one said to me "well, he is on the board for the hospital and decides our payrate so I am going to help." I had only been informed maybe 5 minutes before about the patient being wet and was on my way to change him when all of this happened. When I entered the room, two LPNS were there, the patient is a Left side hemiplegic who can turn over if you ask and use minimal assist, I change patients by myself all the time like this, the LPN that had initated the call to the doc was there and said that we really need to spend extra time in the room with this particular patient because of whom he is related to. I dismissed both nurses and continued changing him by myself, and when I left the room, I told the nurse who told me to spend extra time that if I am expected to treat one patient differently because of whom they are then maybe I have made a mistake by going into nursing. All of my patients are important to me and I was doing the best to my ability with so many critical total care patients in my care. The other aide and myself filed a report against that nurse and the doctor who, called up later that night and ordered a foley for his father in law and took our names to turn us in and get us written up. I really believe that I was right but I don't want to get branded as lazy or insubordinate. Any advice??

Featured Replies

I think you did the right thing by making a report. That way your account of events is in writting and on the same night. So you also have a paper trail to back you up. good luck.

Angelia

Oh, families with "medical professionals" in 'em!

One, is this "doctor" really treating a family member as a patient?

Two, how does he justify a foley? Increased risk of bladder infections in longterm indwelling. That will really help Daddy over the coming months.

If there were nurses at the desk, why didn't they rouse themselves and attend to the VIP?

Thats LTC for you, the families that b**ch the most wind up running the asylum....

Oh, families with "medical professionals" in 'em!

One, is this "doctor" really treating a family member as a patient?

Two, how does he justify a foley? Increased risk of bladder infections in longterm indwelling. That will really help Daddy over the coming months.

If there were nurses at the desk, why didn't they rouse themselves and attend to the VIP?

Thats LTC for you, the families that b**ch the most wind up running the asylum....

Ummmm...this wasn't LTC (even tho this situation does occur there also).

I've dealt with families like this before... the situation stinks. In LTC one aid might have between 8-20 residents or more depending on the shift. We can all do the numbers and see how long it takes to provide care.

Prioritizing care is a skill that nurses must do often and you did just that! Making a report was good. Hopefully someone will read it.

I think the hardest part of dealing with situations its what you say to families and patients. Telling them you are short staffed, etc doesn't work. Its hard making them feel like thier needs (even if they are insignificant) are important and that you are prioritizing your care. Good luck in nursing.

  • Author
Oh, families with "medical professionals" in 'em!

One, is this "doctor" really treating a family member as a patient?

Two, how does he justify a foley? Increased risk of bladder infections in longterm indwelling. That will really help Daddy over the coming months.

If there were nurses at the desk, why didn't they rouse themselves and attend to the VIP?

Thats LTC for you, the families that b**ch the most wind up running the asylum....

Our docs are on the "buddy" system, I am sure he called his good buddy the doc caring for his father in law and told him to order it, I am not sure why bc the patient can use a urinal. As for the nurses, it is below them to help change a patient, they can't even help pass trays in the morning because it takes them forever to pass meds. We don't have a whole lot of procedures to do on nights so its actually kind of questionable why it takes so long (I only say this bc I am a student and I pass meds at clinical) At least I know how not to be when I finally get my license!

  • Experts

I think you have a great attitude. Writing this up was a positive step. Good luck...

All I can say is that if this good-for-nothing a-hole "doctor" could not help his own father-in-law get changed and comfortable (or help the staff that was available at the time), then I'm really glad he is not a member of MY family. Sounds like a lazy uncaring b*****d to me.

Makes me also glad that he's not my doctor - I wouldnt want a lazy uncaring b*****d overseeing my health care. No reason whatsoever that he could not have pitched in and helped.

Yes, I know this situation has cropped up in the facilities around here. Unfortunately, it isn't likely to stop happening. I guess it's just one of those things you have to put up with.

Well, there's probably no hope that this would work but . . . If this doc is really on the board than he might be able to affect staffing. It's not like you were sitting there reading a magazine while his relative laid in a wet bed. If you really did get written up then maybe you could add a response and forward it to said board and/or doctor.

I guess it's an eye-opener for the doctor - to see some of the realities and to interact respectfully and effectively with other staff. Because you are caring for all those patients, you would prioritize. Has the doctor considered hiring a private duty nurse? All the patients are equally important.

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