I'm a new nurse, in my job for just a year now working on a med/surg floor. Being older than my co-workers and having previous work history, I tend to be more adamant about some of the rules and ways things should run.
My most experienced co-worker ( on this shift) has 20 months experience due to the high turnover here: 100% at 2 years is the current according to recruitment.
Anyway, I was made charge a couple nights ago and things were just insane as usual. We were running short 1 nurse and we were getting slammed with admits. 5 in the first hour plus an AMA and an irate family to deal with because day shift had neglected to tell them they could'nt leave until the pt urinated - pulled their cath @ 1900.
I had 5 patients: one with SaO2 @ 63%, one getting 2 units PRBC's with Lasix and fluid overload and one with 9/10 pain and we were out of meds as usual.
My co-workers were in a similar bind with their crazy night.
The Unit secretary calls and says I'm getting an admit. I said it was wrong and the assignment sheet was made up differently, she told me that too bad I was getting it anyway the House Supervisor wanted that room.
I called the House Sup and refused saying we were completely overwhelmed and would not accept the pt. His response was to tell ER to put the pt in the room and I would call later for report.
In other words they dumped the pt and left! Further they never even told me the pt was there. I got really pissed and I even called the NM at home. Understand, Admin is only on duty here 0730- 1530 , we have NO admin here on nights weekends or holidays.
The NM's answer was I don't have enough time management and everybody runs short and we all have to deal with it.
As to having no meds from pharmacy - a regular issue here - she said that I need to address the issue and I should also confront the Unit Secretary to tell them they don't assign duties.
It's always the answer here: Deal with it & You do something about it.
The last year has been entirely like this: 5 & 6 hours to get meds from pharmacy, no stock of different doses so we have to give 6 or 12 pills for a dose, we spent two days over memorial days with no tylenol because we were out of stock and the always standard answer from Admin that we need to deal with it.
Anyway, I'm bad, I got really mad and threw a chart at the desk and was rude to the house supervisor.
Now I'm not afraid of firing, after all they've had staffers threaten homicide and they don't get dismissed, but I am afraid for my licence and the likelihood of bad references for a new job.
Recently they gave poor reviews to two staffers to keep them here and they were very blunt to them saying that they didn't need to leave so they would not get positive evals.
I do have a foot in the door at an agency for various PRN & contract work. Should I cut and run? Give notice and go?
Is it like this everywhere? The hospitals I did clinicals at in school sure seemed better.
We dont...Its sealed and clean and it's the excess of the patients' stock that they gave to my friend because of her great job for them...We nurses value the principle of asepsis, so dont worry...We dont give naked pills from the floor.
You mean there is no 5 second rule in the Phillipines?:rotfl: Just kidding!
this issue has already been addressed by the person that mentioned this incident, by stating that the tylenol is still in it's unopened blister pack, and therefore not contaminated. the poster also stated that pills that are already out of the packs that fall on the floor, are considered contaminated.
if they're still in the pack, why is she sending them to the philippines?:uhoh3::uhoh21::uhoh21:
Actually the given tylenol wasnt pocketed..it's heartily given by my friend's patients ( as an act of gratitude ) because my friend is really one heck of a loving, caring, skilled and compassionate nurse in one of IL's biggest hosp. in the Tele area.
Ricemilk, I seriously doubt that the patients know they are "donating" Tylenol to you guys.
The patients are being charged probably $5 per Tylenol. Your friend is stealing the stuff and needs to just quit doing that.
Do you guys truly need this Tylenol? Can you really not get it over where you are?
As for using stuff off the floor - when you don't have a substitute pill, when the floor is free of obvious filth, when the pill was on the floor for an nth of a second, well... no known negative consequences yet, after many, many years of Nursing.
Ricemilk, I seriously doubt that the patients know they are "donating" Tylenol to you guys.
The patients are being charged probably $5 per Tylenol. Your friend is stealing the stuff and needs to just quit doing that.
Do you guys truly need this Tylenol? Can you really not get it over where you are?
As for using stuff off the floor - when you don't have a substitute pill, when the floor is free of obvious filth, when the pill was on the floor for an nth of a second, well... no known negative consequences yet, after many, many years of Nursing.
Hmmm...I agree with madwife that this is off the topic already but to clarify, this friend of mine personally buys Tylenol (big bottle) for her mom when she goes home since her mom responds best to this pill in her present condition.
The issue about the given pill from her patients, I'll endorse to her your statement about her "stealing" it as, to quote you, patients are being charged probably $5/ tylenol. So her hospital will also be informed of this as they don't bother much about excess Tylenols that fell off the floor. Thanks for the caution, though.
We can get any meds for headache or pain wherever we are. It's just so happened that she shared me those Tylenols in her last vacation.
And, about things that fell of the floor- pills in particular- i want to make this clear again, we don't give naked pills or one that is obviously stained or grimed (common sense)...If my stethoscope fell off the floor, I dont think I'd trash it away asap. Anyway, you can say a stet is different from oral meds, but the bottom line is, you just don't trash things that are securely sealed and unstained just because it fell off the floor, like in the case of fizz2nurse where her hospital has an issue about lack of pills supply. Knowing this, I believe we'd have second thoughts trashing in the bin a newly-arrived, tightly-packed Tylenols- or vials - that fell of the floor.
"...when the floor is free of obvious filth, when the pill was on the floor for an nth of a second, well... "
Just because a floor looks clean, doesn't mean that it is clean....especially in a hospital where the nastiest of nasty germs reside! True, microbes have less chance of survival via the oral route....but let a nursing instructor see you use anything that hit the floor and your history!
So use your better judgement. If the patient saw you pick it up off the floor and expect to give it to them...don't do it. If your nursing instructor is watching...definately don't do it. But, if the pill is still in the original wrapper and your hands (which have now come in contact with the floor) do not touch the pill druing dispensing....then go ahead and prepare it properly (maybe wash your hands first). Your absolute best bet is to slow down and refrain from dropping stuff on the floor to begin with.
now back to our regularly schedueled programing....to the orignal post, i really don't see where you lost it? you didn't go ape. you were trying to deal with your bad bad bad day as best you could. i am really hoping that you have given your notice by the time you see this. there are so many other places out there that are far better. i hope that you are taking some time to document what you have found. it may seem overwhelming at first, just take about 10-15 minutes at a time to write down the things you remember stick to the facts and the dates. keep us posted. :icon_hug::icon_hug:
Hmmm...I agree with madwife that this is off the topic already but to clarify, this friend of mine personally buys Tylenol (big bottle) for her mom when she goes home since her mom responds best to this pill in her present condition.
The issue about the given pill from her patients, I'll endorse to her your statement about her "stealing" it as, to quote you, patients are being charged probably $5/ tylenol. So her hospital will also be informed of this as they don't bother much about excess Tylenols that fell off the floor. Thanks for the caution, though.
We can get any meds for headache or pain wherever we are. It's just so happened that she shared me those Tylenols in her last vacation.
And, about things that fell of the floor- pills in particular- i want to make this clear again, we don't give naked pills or one that is obviously stained or grimed (common sense)...If my stethoscope fell off the floor, I dont think I'd trash it away asap. Anyway, you can say a stet is different from oral meds, but the bottom line is, you just don't trash things that are securely sealed and unstained just because it fell off the floor, like in the case of fizz2nurse where her hospital has an issue about lack of pills supply. Knowing this, I believe we'd have second thoughts trashing in the bin a newly-arrived, tightly-packed Tylenols- or vials - that fell of the floor.
Have a nice day!
I hope you have a nice day, too. But I still don't get it. First, the pills were picked up off of the floor and sent to the PI. Then they were purchased. In between, they were donated by grateful patients, out of their excess, to your friend, then to you. Now her Mom is involved. then a nursing instructor. And all the while, I'm thinking about the cost of the pills to the patient and the patient's insurer and I know that unused meds are to be returned to the Pharmacy when someone is discharged, so Pharmacy can credit the patient's account. Your friend is not right to send them to you, opened, unopened, on the floor or never having touched the floor.
:uhoh3::uhoh21::(
Very confusing.
For OP, yes, glad you are leaving. I hope you find something better.
I hope you have a nice day, too. But I still don't get it. First, the pills were picked up off of the floor and sent to the PI. Then they were purchased. In between, they were donated by grateful patients, out of their excess, to your friend, then to you. Now her Mom is involved. then a nursing instructor. And all the while, I'm thinking about the cost of the pills to the patient and the patient's insurer and I know that unused meds are to be returned to the Pharmacy when someone is discharged, so Pharmacy can credit the patient's account. Your friend is not right to send them to you, opened, unopened, on the floor or never having touched the floor.
:uhoh3::uhoh21::(
Very confusing.
For OP, yes, glad you are leaving. I hope you find something better.
sorry youre confused, Trudy. Anyway, let's just say, this is a huge misunderstanding of a minute subject...
...... and 2) if you are on a break you should be actually taking the break- which means being off the floor.
I work nights, and on the RARE occasion when one of us takes a dinner break (or any break) we can't be off the floor, there's not enough coverage if something goes wrong. We lose a half hour of pay for a mealtime we just about never get, and it's written in our policy that on nightshift, it "may be deemed necessary" for breaks to be taken in the breakroom on the unit instead of being allowed off the floor. And they wonder why it can be hard to fill night spots...
:uhoh3::uhoh21::uhoh21:
Thanks for the caution, though.
:(
fronkey bean
491 Posts
You mean there is no 5 second rule in the Phillipines?:rotfl: Just kidding!