Scariest things you've seen

alisunshine9 · Jul 20, 2004

An admission came to our floor from the ER. She managed to be there for 3 shift changes before someone noticed she was wearing a diaper which had been soiled for at least 24 hours. :uhoh21:

Repat · Jul 20, 2004

Got my assignment for the day - no report on one of the patients. Went to find the nurse who had taken care of the patient the night before (he was admitted at about 10 pm). Guess what? He hadn't been assigned to anyone all night - he hadn't been seen once. Thank you know who that he was relatively stable and self care.

Angela Mac · Jul 24, 2004

Was anything done about this?
When I worked hospice, I was also appalled by the conduct and behavior of a couple of priests.

I don't know how things worked out. It was followed up by the Administrator & the Social Worker & the family. I know nurses are not allowed to get involved with such politics, but as for the nurse that signed it, she acted like she had not done anything wrong. I have noticed, alot of things are quickly brushed under the rug or covered up though.

cannoli · Jul 24, 2004

Glad you asked- I had no clue either. I Googled "guedels" and it looks like it's an oral airway (Aussie style).

Thanks, I figured that's probably what it was.

cannoli · Jul 24, 2004

Got my assignment for the day - no report on one of the patients. Went to find the nurse who had taken care of the patient the night before (he was admitted at about 10 pm). Guess what? He hadn't been assigned to anyone all night - he hadn't been seen once. Thank you know who that he was relatively stable and self care.

That's a nightmare, it's never happened to me personally but I know of it happening. Whenever I get an assignment that has skipped rooms or skipped beds I always ask and make sure someone else is assigned to those rooms or beds. I guess people must think I'm crazy but oh well.

RN92 · Jul 24, 2004

the stupid idiots kept her there most of the day, gave her some iv fluids and gravol, and sent her back home!

i saw her the following morning, wrote a very nasty note to the er, along the lines of dont you idiots recognize the s&s of a raging infection when you see them?? and sent her back.

just curious, did you call and give report to the er nurse before you sent the pt. did you get report from them when she came home? i did home health 9yrs and it was mandatory that we communicate with the er..sounds like there was a lack of communication between her healthcare providers. i do understand your frustation, though. ive been in your shoes and that has happened to me

nursbee04 · Jul 25, 2004

As a student I saw a resp tech drop a suction catheter on the FLOOR and pick it up to use again :stone . At one inch from the pt's nostril I asked if he would like me to get him a new suction kit. Flustered, he said sure. Could anything be germier than a HOSPITAL FLOOR???? :eek:

RN92 · Jul 25, 2004

Once, I had a pt who was getting nitroglycerine drip. very unstable pt. xray had called and was ready for her. without me knowing - the nurses aid took the nitro off of the pump. it was clamped but the pt didnt get her nitro for at least 30min. I had walked by her empty room and saw the pump sitting by the door.

That same aide took the kcl 40meq off of the pump and the tubing was not clamped. Luckily, I saw them before they got off the floor (I noticed she didnt have the pump). There was almost a whole bag of k+. Sooo many close calls. I wrote an incident report for both of them...but she's still there. We just have to watch her closer. I told her to never take medicines off of the pump just because you dont want to fool with them. This is in an ER for God's sakes. !!

Repat · Jul 25, 2004

How about the people who let their babies crawl on the floor during a visit?!

HJBeans · Jul 25, 2004

We got a patientin CCU one day. The order said give Fleets Phospo-soda 1.5 ounces now and 1.5 ounces in 8 hours. Pharmacy sent two 3 oz bottles. The nursing student gave the patient 1.5 bottles.

Anyway, when we got him he was having a lot of PVC's mostly and had loose stools like you wouldn't believe. The poor guy needed serious K+ replacement.

MelissaRN · Jul 25, 2004

How about the people who let their babies crawl on the floor during a visit?!

OMG I have seen that too. I absolutely cringe to see a baby crawling around on the hospital floors. Have also seen overnight visitors running around in barefeet. I always offer the slippers! That's nasty.

I saw a nurse attempting to hang IV Dilantin piggy backed with NS with 20 of K. I was like ahhhh you need to hang that separately and only with NS running with it. She was thankful that I said something.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2004

How about those pts visitors that come in with Vidcams wanting to capture everything you do in videos from the time you walk in the room till the time you leave.

My answer there is sugn language

Extend middle Finger in a salute to them