So... how was YOUR weekend?

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Specializes in onc, M/S, hospice, nursing informatics.

Well, my weekend sucked, thanks for asking.

Let me preface by saying I work with some brand new nurses, and some who aren't brand new but act as though they are... and they aren't getting any better. I can deal with new and asking questions, but it's those who don't ask, don't let you know what's going on, that scare me.

Started off Friday night with one such nurse. Came to me about 2300 (just as I was about to get report from another nurse) and asked me to start an IV in her patient. What she didn't tell me was that this patient had been there for at least FIVE HOURS by then, admitted with dehydration, and not getting IV fluids or his NOW dose of Decadron. Took almost 3 hours to get an IV in him, after multiple attempts by multiple nurses. She had not done any of his admission paperwork... nothing! And what's bad is that I could have done it earlier when I didn't have any patients (just charge) and was trying to help people get caught up. :angryfire

Fast forward to Saturday night. Same two nurses plus a float nurse who didn't seem much more experienced. But at least that one could think beyond his nose when directed to do so.

First patient's room I walk into was supposed to go home, just waiting on his wife to pick him up. Well, come to find out his wife didn't know he was being discharged. Call was long distance, so I get a portable phone to call for him. While in the room, patient suddenly becomes aphasic, right sided weakness. At first I thought he was teasing me, so I told him if he was messing around he needed to stop. Didn't stop, and still hasn't spoken. Right leg now flaccid, incontinent, everything. When his wife arrived, had to tell her the doctor didn't order anything (no stat CT, nothing), and he was not coming, either. MD said he was DNR and wasn't going to do anything anyway!! Lovely!

Then, about 0100 this morning, one of my patients comes out to the nurses station, carrying her chest tube, screaming and hollering at me about how I don't care about her, how we were all ****, raising her fist to me (she has brain mets, so I don't blame her... but still out of character for her). Well, here she is, shaking her fist in my face, telling me what a horrible person I am. She had the look of hatred and rage in her eyes that I haven't seen in a while. Could not be calmed down, would not go back to her room or even away from the desk. What do my wonderful co-workers do (all three of them)??? They WALK AWAY and leave me alone at the nurses' station with this patient!!!

:angryfire:no::confused:

Instead of calling security, staying to be sure she wasn't going to do something... they leave me! Great, guys, thanks for the support. Thankfully, nursing supervisor walks up to the desk and was able to talk to her and calm her down somewhat while I call MD for Ativan. I later told them, "Don't you ever leave me alone with a patient like that again!"

I'm so wiped out, just want to sleep for 2 days! But get to do it all again tomorrow night. Wonderful!

:scrm:

Thanks for letting me vent!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Whew, that was quite a vent. I hope you have a better shift. Been there and done that myself a time or two. :)

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Specializes in ER, ALF.

OY!! What a weekend!! I'm sorry it was rough for ya! When do you have to go back? If I were you I'd settle in with a glass of wine and a long bath...

Hope your next night on goes much better!!! :cheers::tbsk::icon_hug:*wine

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Specializes in Peds; Peds Oncology.

Sorry about the lousy weekend.

Hugs!!:icon_hug:

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Specializes in ICU, CCU, Trauma, neuro, Geriatrics.

Been there, might I offer a foot massage and a glass of wine?

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I'm so sorry, but just think how lucky those people were that you were there.... you deserve a :bowingpur in my book....

hope you have a better night...

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Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

I,too, am sorry you had such a lousy weekend. Hopefully tomorrow night will be better.

If I were you, I'd take up those offers for wine and massages! Sound like both are deserved! Pamper yourself---especialy after hellish shifts like that!

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Tele, ICU.

Sorry your weekend was so horrible. What bothers me is the fact that just because someone is a DNR does not mean they are a do not TREAT! I for one do not want CPR performed on me but I'd have second thoughts about signing a DNR because some doctors simply look at that and then they do not treat the person. Am I wrong?!

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Yuck!! Sounds like some of the weekends that I have had since started my new job, with one notable exception...

I can't imagine any of the people that I currently work alongside, EVER leaving me alone to deal with a patient like that. I'm lucky.

Otherwise though... I work with a brand new nurse whom I've actually become somewhat fond of; she went through orientation with me at this new place. However, we have had some disasters and near disasters on our unit, because of her. I followed her one night (she works days) and there were some RATHER IMPORTANT orders written on a patient of hers, at THREE THIRTY. It was now about SEVEN THIRTY, and she still hadn't looked at them.

A couple of nights ago, a patient nearly coded because she had given him WAY WAY too much Morphine.

It has been suggested to the day shift charge RN and manager that this girl needs to be re-trained.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

dont even get me started on my weekend....horrible horrible horrible...

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Specializes in CVICU-ICU.
Sorry your weekend was so horrible. What bothers me is the fact that just because someone is a DNR does not mean they are a do not TREAT! I for one do not want CPR performed on me but I'd have second thoughts about signing a DNR because some doctors simply look at that and then they do not treat the person. Am I wrong?!

I think the point to not doing a CT was the fact the man was a DNR and was not going to be intubated, CPR etc so therefore what was a CT going to show.....the man had a CVA and if that is what the CT showed what was going to be the treatment ? The treatment would be the same as how the patient was treated without putting him thru a CT.

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Specializes in onc, M/S, hospice, nursing informatics.

:tku: to everyone who replied with hugs and empathy. And hugs:icon_hug: to all who had a weekend such as mine.

I'm feeling a little better this morning and more optimistic about working tonight because I will have more experienced nurses to work with.

:hpygrp:

Happy Monday everyone!

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