The on coming nurse -a nurse whom I've never met comes into the patients room, and announces to the family and myself that she is from XYZ agency and that she works 24 hour shifts. The family is shocked are like "how is that even legal?" And she didn't say anything and I said " Um maybe she means 12 hr shifts (the scheduled shift)" She was like "oh I guess that's what I meant."
This nurse was supposed to replace me for one on one nursing. Things got weirder when she expressed that she didn't know what the pulse oximeter was. I showed it to her. This agency says they require 6 months experience.I'm seriously asking...do some schools not have these in clinicals?
Then I was trying to give report at the bedside on this patient (family had left the room). This had been a 13 hr shift for me at this point.I was giving it succinctly and SHE INTERUPPTED ME and said that she was going to put her stuff in the break room.....downstairs....across the building.AND that she needed to introduce herself to all staff on duty.
I was just shocked! She wandered off... and the family wanted my attention and I had other things to chart.
When she came back she began doing a full set of vitals and I thought okay,maybe things will be OK......then she yelled "I need someone to write these vitals down STAT!!!" On a peacefully sleeping elderly patient. Um remember them or write them down on a scrap piece of paper like everyone else?
Then she wanted to write her notes in military time, and asked me how to do it. I explained to her how to do it, but she still struggled with the 'math' of it.
Next she began asking me what descriptive words to use in an assessment. I'm not joking it was like she had never done even a basic assessment.She kept asking me what would I write.....we're talking LTC not an ICU.
There is more but I'll leave it here. Am I getting old and crochety or is this cause for concern. There was something 'off' about this person. I really want to say something to the agency but WHAT? I know how small nursing circles are and I don't want this to come back and bite me in the you know what.I just feel that the agency needs to know the situation, because like I said, there is more.
On the other hand, these types usually disappear or get fired quickly, should I say nothing and let things take their course?Mind my own business?
Thought, BSN, RN
63 Posts
*hands out popcorn, cookies, and hot chocolate as everyone waits on the edge of their seats*