When assessing my patient this AM I noticed that the patient had a scaly rash on his abdomen. The patient was admitted from the ER last night. I asked him when he developed the rash and he said it was about a week ago. When I came out into the nurse's station his MD was sitting there. I told the MD that I had noticed a rash on his abdomen and no one mentioned it in report so I wanted to make her aware.... She is a very rude doctor anyways and she just looked and me and didn't say anything.
About an hour later I heard her paging me over the intercom system to come to the nurses station. I went and asked her what she needed... (By the way she is pregnant)..... She said in a very snide voice... "You need to go back into that pt's room.... look at that rash... when you've figured out what it is you need to come back and report your findings to me." I said... Well I've already seen it, i'm not sure what it is... She repeated the exact same thing again... I just kind of stood there and looked at her.. she then said... "Well then, take another, more experienced nurse with you, when y'all can figure out what the rash is.. come back and report it to me."
I was very confused at this point but kind of started to get what she meant....... I got another nurse and we looked again.. The experienced nurse told me she was sure it was shingles.. So I went back and said.. "I guess it is shingles." She then said... "I want you to know... that you personally.. put me and my unborn child's life at risk.. You, as a nurse should be able to recognize shingles.. But since you didn't know what the rash was.. My life was put at risk."
I was completely floored..... I just said... "well I am a nurse and I don't diagnose people." And I walked away dumbfounded and angry.... I can't believe she said that to me.. and in front of everyone! Ohhh I was soooo mad and my DON was mad too. If she doesn't want to be put at risk she doesn't need to be a MD in the hospital and if she used standard precautions she's fine. AND she's lucky I even saw the rash.. otherwise I doubt she would of lifted up the pt's gown to look and she'd never of known!!!!!!!!!
