Why is it all the other depts in the healthcare facility immediately notify the nurse of things that are not their job, but really aren't the nurses job either.
For example, we had a new admit whose telephone did not work. On admission I switched out the phones, still didn't work, must be something wrong with the line so I put i a work order for the faulty phone. New admission complained about the phone to everyone who walked into the room.
Got a PT waiting at the nurses station after I had been doing a 15 minute dressing change in a room. She had also been calling my phone while I was in the room.
"Your new admit is mad his phone doesn't work. Why didn't you pick up your phone?"
Me "I was doing a sterile dressing change" She gives clueless look. "Yes I know all about the phone"
Her "Well, did you try to switch out the phone"
Me "Yes, still didn't work so I put in a work order"
Her "Did you call x at x number? He's the one you need to call"
Me "If you knew who to call I wonder why you didn't do it yourself"
Other "I'll Tell the Nurse" issues,
Patient wheeling along the hallway has lost her croc shoe. It's about seven feet behind her. However, rather than giving the patient the shoe, it seems the nurse MUST be notified so she can do it.
People who don't have batteries in their remote controls. Nurses station doesn't have batteries,(we are not to be trusted with batteries, just lives and narcotics) so the reception desk has them. However, these people know this, the nurse MUST be notified so she can go and get a battery. People would rather hang around the nurses station doing nothing waiting for me to come back so I can walk the 40 yards to get it from the receptionist.
That is crazy. At the nursing home I worked at, I did all those tasks and more as a CNA. (Perfectly appropriate CNA work). I would never have bothered a nurse with that stuff.
You two have just mentioned my BIGGEST pet peeve!! This three way circle of calling doom I seem to always get caught up in. I have just recently started requesting that these depts call the Dr. themselves. I have also encouraged other RNs on my floor to do the same. Most of the time the person will comply if I put it to them nicely and have the number handy.
Just today, I got a dose of neurontin ordered that the pharmacist thought was too high. She actually asked if it would be ok if she called the doc and clarified the dose with him. I almost fell out of my chair! "Yes! Please do call! Here is the number!"
Can pharmacy write a telephone order?
I guess that's why this has never bugged me; I thought that pharmacy couldn't and that's why they were calling me.
BUT, shocker of shockers, I watched the other day when an attending physician ASKED a mom if she needed more blankets and then walked to the far other end of the unit and got them for her! Hats off because we all know we don't see that every day.
AMAZING! You should have got it on camera and posted this on the internet!
franciscangypsy
187 Posts
Oo! Oo! I want one! PWEEEEEASE!
Actually, after a while, they'd decide it was too expensive and then cut back on the magic wands and we'd all have to share.