Something bothered me today in the Emergency Dept.

amoLucia · May 1, 2014

NO ... I don't think that I would go out my way on my time off and make a special trip to the hosp. If you're scheduled for another clinical visit at the hosp, I could see a quicke drop-by visit just to say a quick HELLO.

NOTE: a quickie HELLO. Nothing prolonged.

But I would also proffer a very strong caveat - be careful to keep your activities as a student on a professional basis. Also your school might frown upon that kind of activity.

Right now, you're enjoying the blissful afterglow of a pleasant positive nurse-pt experience. They do come up unexpectedly every now & then. But they do fade. The pt is NOT your BFF nor is she your grandmother.

At this time, keep it professional.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · May 2, 2014

The ER is no place for warm, fuzzy, hold your hand nurses. Trust me, I'm that kind of nurses which is why I didn't last long in the ER. Yes it is possible to show compassion while giving care in the ER, but there is no time to sit and chit chat with patients. There may not have been any traumas at the time, but that nurse may have been swamped with other priorities.

I don't see anything wrong with you visiting the patient, I'm sure she would enjoy that.

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · May 2, 2014

The ER is no place for warm, fuzzy, hold your hand nurses.

Oh, I don't think that's true at all. You can be warm and fuzzy and still be efficient. I strive to do this on a regular basis. In fact, I held someone's hand just yesterday! It is true that there is rarely time to have a prolonged conversation with any patient- usually you're in and out as fast as possible because you've got a million things on your plate- but that does not in any way, shape, or form, mean that you have to be anything less than empathetic.

To the OP, I am, however, concerned that you think it's okay to spend 30 minutes let alone TWO AND A HALF HOURS (really????) at an ED patient's bedside. There is so much to be learning as a student that you could be using that time for. I don't mean to sound uncaring about that patient, but as I said before, you don't have to sit at the bedside for an extended period of time to show compassion and empathy.

BahoRN · May 2, 2014

You will meet that occasional patient that tugs on your heart strings. Don't let guilt motivate you into doing

1. what you really don't want to do, or that you know is wrong

2. overstep the nurse-pateint boundary.

These boundaries exist not only to protect the patient, but to also protect you from situations that could become uncomfortable. Sometimes it's okay to walk away from your job and knowing that for one day, you made a positive difference :)

Looking a patient up in a phone book, or using facility resources to find the patient is wrong and is a clear violation of nursing ethics and may be illegal. I would definitely stay away from anything that would jeopardize the license you've worked and are working so hard for.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · May 2, 2014

While I think it is possible to be a compassionate and caring nurse and work in the ER, I agree with others that the ER is someplace that you generally don't have hours to spend with a pt unless that pt is critically ill. I work in the ER and I treat my pts with the compassion and care I would want my parents to be shown. Sometimes that means taking a few minutes to sit and listen to a girl sob after she has been assaulted, or taking the time to explain a diagnosis to a scared pt, or to advocate for what seems best for our pts.

For what it is worth there have been times in my career I have been accused by senior nurses of 'caring too much' but I always stay on top of my work and my pts condition.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · May 2, 2014

While I don't have a whole lot of experience in the ER per se, I do have a bit of experience doing transport. While I usually only had to pay attention to 1 patient, I usually had a lot do when providing care for that patient so I would have to limit the conversation that I'd be able to have with the patient. It's not that I'm not a warm-and-fuzzy guy, I'm quite the opposite... unfortunately there are priority things to do and I often just don't have time to just sit and converse with patients until/unless everything is done.

It's when things get really serious that I have to 'pull out' my very serous, no-nonsense guy and suddenly I'm not that warm-and-fuzzy guy that I usually am. I don't get rude, but I do become very, very direct about what I need done. If there are a lot of things that need to be done for several patients, I can see how a nurse has to do the same thing. It's not that the nurse isn't caring, it's that the nurse doesn't have time to do much hand-holding. You'll find that as a student nurse, your patients often like students more because we students can usually take the time to sit and be personable with them for a time. Chances are quite high that you just became that patient's "favorite" nurse, never mind that you're a student!

MunoRN, RN · May 2, 2014

How is it that you're in fourth semester and you're still only taking one patient?

There are groups that volunteer spending time those who want some company, I would suggest that route since it's very easy for a nurse-patient relationship to extend beyond the confines of what is considered appropriate.

I think it's great you're starting out with such a caring nature, although at this point in your education I'd be a little concerned that you maybe haven't figured out how to make that caring nature work in the time and workload demands of actual nursing.

caliotter3 · May 2, 2014

If you make a special trip to visit this lady and your clinical instructor should happen to find out, I can guarantee you will be in trouble for overstepping your boundaries. Who knows what could come of it, and so close to completing the program. Don't jeopardize yourself. When school is over, if you want to, look her up in the phone book and visit, call, or send a greeting card. But not now!

Racer15, BSN, RN · May 2, 2014

As an ER nurse, I simply do not have the time to sit at someone's bedside. It's not that I don't care, it's just that I have too many patients, some of which are critical and need a lot more monitoring. I have things that need to get done and it seems callous, but someone's living situation is low on my list of priorities. We have case management for that reason. I would not make a visit to that patient outside of school hours as it could be seen as crossing a line.

zmansc, ASN, RN · May 2, 2014

I think it's great that you took the time to sit with her. That much time is obviously not something that those on duty can spend with that particular patient. We sometimes ask our students to do that, usually 1st years, not 2nd years, or if were slow have a tech do so. It's often great experience for both the patient and the caregiver, and it reminds you as to what it is we all need at times.

I would not suggesting going back. She got what she needed out of it, and needs to find someone else for companionship. Although what you did was great, it isn't something you will be able to repeat on a regular basis. Let her transition to others for companionship now before she becomes even more dependent on you.

HikingEDRN, BSN, RN · May 2, 2014

How is it that you're in fourth semester and you're still only taking one patient?
There are groups that volunteer spending time those who want some company, I would suggest that route since it's very easy for a nurse-patient relationship to extend beyond the confines of what is considered appropriate.
I think it's great you're starting out with such a caring nature, although at this point in your education I'd be a little concerned that you maybe haven't figured out how to make that caring nature work in the time and workload demands of actual nursing.

I'm wondering if it was just a one-time clinical day in the ED. I have had several last semester nursing students come down from their regular clinical floor (where they are taking a higher load) to observe in the ED and get some procedural experience (IV, straight caths, things like that). They never take patients or chart though.

OP , thanks for caring. I would limit further contact with the patient as a stop by and say hello only if you are already there for clinical.