"Just do it"-"But Ive never done it"

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2004

Those of us who have flushed ports thousands of times might not appreciate that you have questions and are uncomfortable with it. It's unfair of your supervisors to belittle you like that.

No, I would never do anything that I didn't feel comfortable with, even if everyone is telling me how simple and easy it is to do. As a charge nurse, I wouldn't ask that of "my" staff either.

Kudos to you for standing up for yourself.

nagmeriendaak · Oct 9, 2004

Those of us who have flushed ports thousands of times might not appreciate tat you have questions and are uncomfortable with it. It's unfair of your supervisorso belittle you like that.
No, I would never do anything that I didn't feel comfortable with, even if everyone is telling me how simple and easy it is to do. As a charge nurse, I wouldn't ask that of "my" staff either.
Kudos to you for standing up for yourself.

Well thanks 3rd Shift Guy for your support. You know what the funny thing is? No one as yet,and its been a couple of weeks,has stepped up to inservice me. Wonder why that is?

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2004

You did the right thing,by not going to do it on your own, but maybe the question should have been,, would someone go with me while i do it since ive never done one on my own before? You probly would have gotten more action if posed in that way than refusing to do it because you hadnt done it before. If your not comfortable with a procedure you have every right to ask for someone with experience to at least be with you while you do the procedure, thats using good nursing judgement.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2004

Well thanks 3rd Shift Guy for your support. You know what the funny thing is? No one as yet,and its been a couple of weeks,has stepped up to inservice me. Wonder why that is?

Makes you wonder. Probably no one is using proper technique and doesn't know what the protocols are and how to teach them. The first time I accessed a port, I watched it done a couple of times, then had someone in there with me, and then I did it on my own. I've even taught new nurses how to do it. I'm always willing to help and to teach, too bad there's no one around like that where you work. Usually there's at least one person every where you go.

Good luck. :)

mattsmom81 · Oct 9, 2004

It's soooo wierd out there today isn't it...the other night I was in an unfamiliar ICU as agency. A patient had an epidural cath alarming empty so I asked the charge how to call anesthesia, etc, to get a new infusion bag. She was so rude to me....insinuating I should know it was MY job...well I consider epidural caths anesthesia's job in view of how I am accustomed to practicing. Everybody out there assumes 'their way' is the norm and loves to 'put down' if you're unfamiliar...yeesh!!! No wonder there's a shortage of practicing nurses....so few facilities/staff members seem willing to accept different strokes for different folks and be accepting of another's experience today...

Frustrating and I can relate to the OP for sure.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Oct 9, 2004

You did exactly what you should have done.

The procedure book only goes so far. You should be checked off on everything before you are expected to do it.

I guess I was spoiled by working at a teaching hospital. We had a Nutrition support team. Among other things they had a briefcase with about half dozen different brands and styles of ports. It had synthetic skin you could flap over them to simulate the feel. There were all kinds of non coring needles, winged, plain Huber etc. Great experience.

After literally hundreds of times there were still a few I had problems with.

angel337, MSN, RN · Oct 9, 2004

would it have been too much for someone to just show you how to flush the port a cath?? some people enjoy making others feel incompetent and unfortunately that is the probably one of the number one reasons people don't stay at the bedside...because of lack of support. this really irks me because i see nurses i work with chew, eat and spit out nurses no matter how much experience they have. but like tweety said, there is always at least one person who is nice and helpful. you seem to have a nice positive attitude, these people don't deserve you as a coworker if they can't be a resource when you need it. good luck, you'll do fine.

MandyInMS · Oct 9, 2004

Simple rule to go by : When in doubt...DON'T !!!

Say you went ahead and did a procedure you weren't comfortable with, you 'messed' up, what would be the first response from the 'in charge' nurse,doc,management? WHY didn't you ask for helpppp? I NEVER feel bad refusing anything I'm not trained for, nor comfortable with..the pts deserve the best care...that's what we are there for...right?? :)

Blackcat99 · Oct 9, 2004

Yes you did the right thing by refusing to flush that port. I am new to flushing ports myself and I am still very nervous about doing it. Thank God there are 1-2 nurses at my job that will help me out. Yes, why is it that some nurses are so rude and mean spirited? Some of the other nurses at my job are so hateful that I avoid asking them anything. :angryfire

okie2 · Oct 9, 2004

I am only a pre-nursing student but I have a previous degree, i've worked as an inpatient pharm tech, cna, & a tech in medical research----in all my experiences the following practice applied

"see one, do one, teach one"!!!

BUT it's all suppossed to happen at once----I was never expected to know and perform a procedure that I had witnessed weeks before! why couldn't someone take a few minutes to review it with you, show you- geez!

You did the right thing! maybe there wouldn't be so many med & treatment mistakes if more people stood up for themselves and the patient's safety like you did.

SuperSGirl · Oct 9, 2004

you should have stated you would willingly do the procedure yourself with somebody observing you. it is possible to do things by observation first. you basically put a needle through the skin through the middle of the round circle, aspirate blood and flush. hold pressure on the plunger of the syringe while you withdraw the needle so that no blood can come back. it's a simple task. basically you are responsible for your own learning. i wonder, do you make use of your down time by asking such questions and trying to learn or do you sit around. this tends to chap my hide when i have somebody claim uncertaintity or lack of skill when they manage to take more breaks that i do, especially new nurses. i always looked for opportunity to learn every chance i got. i set my first arterial line up during an emergency, having only observed one. none the less, your supervisor was out of line.