RN's who cannot insert IV's being Fired???

Mars · Jun 9, 2006

I am not sure why we think it is okay to be mean to our colleagues.

I have a friend whose husband had a sudden, massive MI and her CPR was unsuccessful. Her employer worked with her for counseling when she couldn't do her recertification. She now is recovering from her loss and is an extremely valuable team member who is CPR recertified.

On the side, I did have a physician one time who tried to tell us the patient's problems were psychosis due to the difficulty of his IV start. The new graduate actually listened to it, until the blood sugar came back in the cellar. I think she would have been quite traumatized if she had left the unit believing she had caused a patient's "mental illness". Now it's almost funny.

I think we will all be better off when we use the nursing process to support a nurse who clearly needs it in a time of difficulty.

chadash · Jun 9, 2006

On the side, I did have a physician one time who tried to tell us the patient's problems were psychosis due to the difficulty of his IV start. The new graduate actually listened to it, until the blood sugar came back in the cellar. I think she would have been quite traumatized if she had left the unit believing she had caused a patient's "mental illness". Now it's almost funny.
QUOTE]
I did not understand the story. Could you tell it again, with all cookies on the bottom shelf.

Mars · Jun 9, 2006

On the side, I did have a physician one time who tried to tell us the patient's problems were psychosis due to the difficulty of his IV start. The new graduate actually listened to it, until the blood sugar came back in the cellar. I think she would have been quite traumatized if she had left the unit believing she had caused a patient's "mental illness". Now it's almost funny.
QUOTE]
I did not understand the story. Could you tell it again, with all cookies on the bottom shelf.

Mars · Jun 9, 2006

On the side, I did have a physician one time who tried to tell us the patient's problems were psychosis due to the difficulty of his IV start. The new graduate actually listened to it, until the blood sugar came back in the cellar. I think she would have been quite traumatized if she had left the unit believing she had caused a patient's "mental illness". Now it's almost funny.
QUOTE]
I did not understand the story. Could you tell it again, with all cookies on the bottom shelf.
The hematology, diabetic patient had multiple attempts to restart his IV. By 5:00 am he started sounding a little funny- slow speech, a bit disoriented. The Dr. told the new grad that he had become pshchotic because of the trauma of multiple sticks.
The real story was - he usually went downstairs and raided the vending machines during the night, so was receiving relatively high dose of insulin to cover that intake. On this night he didn't make it downstairs. When the lab drew the am sugar at about 5:15, the result came back at a very low number. It was quite incredible that he was even still with us. But, that was the real reason for his disorientation and slowed speech. He was fine again when we treated the hypoglycemia.

chadash · Jun 9, 2006

The hematology, diabetic patient had multiple attempts to restart his IV. By 5:00 am he started sounding a little funny- slow speech, a bit disoriented. The Dr. told the new grad that he had become pshchotic because of the trauma of multiple sticks.
The real story was - he usually went downstairs and raided the vending machines during the night, so was receiving relatively high dose of insulin to cover that intake. On this night he didn't make it downstairs. When the lab drew the am sugar at about 5:15, the result came back at a very low number. It was quite incredible that he was even still with us. But, that was the real reason for his disorientation and slowed speech. He was fine again when we treated the hypoglycemia.
Oh, now I get it! good one.
Wacky doctor.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 9, 2006

I am not sure why we think it is okay to be mean to our colleagues.
I have a friend whose husband had a sudden, massive MI and her CPR was unsuccessful. Her employer worked with her for counseling when she couldn't do her recertification. She now is recovering from her loss and is an extremely valuable team member who is CPR recertified.
On the side, I did have a physician one time who tried to tell us the patient's problems were psychosis due to the difficulty of his IV start. The new graduate actually listened to it, until the blood sugar came back in the cellar. I think she would have been quite traumatized if she had left the unit believing she had caused a patient's "mental illness". Now it's almost funny.
I think we will all be better off when we use the nursing process to support a nurse who clearly needs it in a time of difficulty.

Employees should definately be supported through their traumas. But just like the nurse who had to eventually pass CPR to continue to work there, this nurse should have perhaps found away to work through her phobia rather than let it get to the point of being fired.

I'm making the presumption that she just didn't refuse one stick and was instantly terminated. I'm making the presumption it had gone on a while. There's a difference between supporting someone through their fears and enabling them.

There's only so much support staff can give before the person has to step up to the plate and be responsible for performing their job description.

Funny story about the MD and the psychosis. Sheesh. :lol2:

mentalhealthman · Jun 9, 2006

Amen. There are always two sides to the story...

shodobe · Jun 10, 2006

Stupid, stupid, stupid! To fire someone just because they don't meet all aspects of nursing is plain idiotic. NO, not all nurses are proficient in IV starts, but to fire someone because they can't do this task is beyond me. I know a number of nurses who are jusy plain lousy at IV starts and getting someone else to start one is so much better for the patient. I also know several MDs who couldn't hit a vein if it was the size of a climbing rope! Maybe they should be asked to give up thier privledges at the hospital because they can't do basic patient care. I agree with a previous poster that further education and skill training would be more appropriate than termination. I would virtually "run" to another nurses aid to help with an IV start rather than stand by and watch them struggle at the patient's expense. Fire them, really stupid idea.

BabsyRN · Jun 10, 2006

There has to be more to this story than just not starting IV's. Usually there's a paper trail and counselling before getting fired. what's the scoop?

Lurksalot, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2006

There has to be more to this story than just not starting IV's. Usually there's a paper trail and counselling before getting fired. what's the scoop?

:deadhorse

The original poster followed up with several posts explaining that in this case:

1) The RN had a bad IV experienced that scared her

2) The RN began REFUSING to do IVs because of the experience

3) The management OFFERRED extra training and/or a change of position to help the RN get through the problem and back to starting IVs

4) The RN REFUSED the offer from management for any kind of help and continued to REFUSE to attempt to start IVs

5) The RN was fired

NO nurse was fired for being "bad" at starting IVS. An RN was fired for REFUSING to do part of her job description, even after she was offerred assistance by her employer to overcome the problem.

Again, NO ONE was fired for being BAD at IV starts.

For those who have read this ENTIRE thread, did I miss anything? :uhoh3:

BabsyRN · Jun 10, 2006

:thankya:

NoWaNrN, ASN, RN · Jun 10, 2006

I'm an LPN with IV and its a simple task to do. If she dev. a phobia over a bad experience what would she dev. phobia's to next, inserting a cath? NG tube? Maybe the hospital could of put her through a refresher class or something first, but its not fair for her to hold the position if someone is more qualified and will do all of the job requirements.