Published Sep 28, 2008
jnrsmommy
300 Posts
I work in LTC, and I'm sooo tired of coming on shift to find:
1) Orders that are not fully taken off I understand that you might have had a busy shift, I get that, I really do, but if you are going to take off an order, take off the whole thing (correctly), and not just the ones you feel like attending to. Otherwise, just let me know there's an order that I need to take care of.
2) PEG syringes with dried meds in them Is it really that hard to take an extra 10-15 sec when you're done to walk to the bathroom, and rinse the darn thing out?
3) Peg feeders This is a little two fold here. If the bottle is running low towards the end of your shift, please change it out, so that I'm not running around the minute you walk out the door to machines beeping because they're empty. If you cannot take the time to change it, okay, at least be kind and leave me a fresh bottle and tubing in the room. Also, Mouth care It's amazing what a little water and mouthwash every round can do for a resident. You should try it some time. Oh, you're too busy? How about a CNA, you have one, right?
4) Petty nonsense between co-workers I seriously have no idea where to start w/ this one. Just going to say, grow up and get over it. We are here to do a job, not to be best friends. Just because someone is not talking to you for a shift does not necessarily mean they don't like you, it could be they are really busy taking care of two admits, a discharge, and a bs that wants to keep bottoming out.
5) Lovely messages from the powers that be I appreciate you telling me what I might be doing wrong or missing, but get your information straight first. That all important documentation that is missing from me that you are threatening to write me up over and possibly suspend me for... was on my weekend off, get the right nurse.
Sorry, that was part of my night in a nutshell, and I just had to get that off my chest.
icyounurse, BSN, RN
385 Posts
Good ones. I also hate coming behind people who neglect mouth care, its a major pet peeve:argue:
Here I'll add one I have had lately:
Doctors that prescribe inadequate pain control post op and then get mad when you call them at 3 am because the patient is HURTING.
The other night had a post op open colectomy, partial gastrectomy, cholecystectomy, and hysterectomy (yeesh) that came out from PACU at like 1 am and when the anesthesia and PACU meds wore off, guess what?? 1-2 mg morphine Q4 hours (!!) wasnt cutting it, big surprise since the pat was getting 2 mg dilaudid Q1-2 hours pre-op............
Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN
1,787 Posts
People who use the last of something and don't re-order.
Things I've run into - using a insulin pen for a pt. Nurse gives insulin - only 5 units left but doesn't call pharm and re-order. Next nurse goes to give insulin and finds there isn't enough!
Or even worse - someone used the last colostomy bag and doesn't reorder. Next nurse ends up with a real mess! grrrr
Or people who find something broken but won't put in a maintance request - and then complain that it isn't getting fixed! grrrrr
Eirene, ASN, RN
499 Posts
Not leaving 50 ml in the IV bag! There is nothing I hate more than having an IV run dry at the first beep in the beginning of your shift.
grrrr.
gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN
848 Posts
I hate walking into a pt's room to do a dressing change and finding the last shift didn't feel like following the Dr's order for a wet to dry and slapped a coversite over the wound. Such a lovely smell when you remove it! Or how about when they realize they are using the last of the med needed for treatment and don't bother to replace it!
locolorenzo22, BSN, RN
2,396 Posts
I realize that I'm new, but after being on the floor 9 weeks, and on the unit for 2.5 years as a CNA..I have a few.
1. NOT GETTING THE PATIENT PAIN MEDS NEAR SHIFT CHANGE- I hate having to reprioritize my rounds when the patient asked for pain meds at 4:55....and the other nurse did not go give those meds when I asked...
2. NOT SIGNING OFF ORDERS FROM THE AM- I realized this the other day...when the doc comes in and writes orders at 9AM...and I don't get there til 5PM...Regardless of how busy the shift is...you had to have 5 minutes to see that the patient was supposed to get blood today...like this morning...
3. I'll second the IV running dry thing.
4. PERSONALLY, EDUCATION IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE I HAVE: Patients expect to be pain free, there is no talk about plan for their stay, nobody has told them what is going to happen.....talk to your patients!
TopazLover, BSN, RN
1 Article; 728 Posts
Well, more of the pet peeve variety.
Not restocking basic supplies like med cups, drinking cups straws, and spoons on med cart.
Leaving liquid med bottles like Maalox, Lactolose, etc. with dried drizzle down the sides or so much on the top that you can't open the lid without dried junk getting all over.
Another pet peeve - labeling the pt as a "drugee" just because they ask for pain meds q4h after their knee replacement - like we teach them! And then not giving them all night because "they don't look like they are in pain" - which leaves them in uncontrolled pain all day - and they can't do their exercises or physio because of the pain and I spend all day trying to get back under control! (sorry for run sentance!)
KeechieSan
93 Posts
Know what really makes me grrrr? When you've had such a rough night that you can't see straight and the oncoming nursing is moaning and whining about IV bags running dry and mouth care not done Q4hours. WELL I am sorry, I spent the whole night trying to keep so and so from coding! I gave a total of 90 mg IV morphine, twenty tabs of tylenol, and 17 mg of ativan, plus I have three PEG tubes w/feeds, two vac dressings that needed to be changed, and one Stage IV dsg change that gets done Q6hours. Oh, not to mention the lol with dementia that keeps yelling "nurse, nurse" ALL NIGHT. SORRY I DIDN'T GET THAT BEEPING IV QUICK ENOUGH FOR YOU.
Sorry. Happened last night :)
StrwbryblndRN
658 Posts
Things that make me go GRRRRRR!
When the previous shift neglects to inform you of things that need to get done that unfortunately could not get done due to uncontrolled situations during their shift. If I am informed and left a mess I do my best to straigten and pass on the rest. I understand how busy it can be but please make sure I am aware. Makes all the difference in the world to communicate.
(This past Fri, serious mess, was told and got it somwhat straitened.
Last Fri slightly less of a mess, no one bothered and it took longer to take care of due to trying to figure out what was wrong)