do you think this is rude?

Nursing Students General Students

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I'm in second semester of my BSN program, and I work part-time as a CNA at a rehabilitation facility. The nurses at the facility seem really rude to me. They had a patient who was in pretty bad shape and was very incontinent. The dr. was in to see him, and she rang the call light to tell me that his bedding was wet. The lpn came in with me, and then the dr. proceeded to talk to her about the patient's condition, and she was explaining something regarding his j-tube. Then a few other nurses came and the dr. was talking to all of them. I kind of felt like I was in the way, and they were all standing around the bed, so I couldn't really change the linens at that time. Mornings of course are always very busy, and so I left the room to go answer another call light. By the time I was finished, the nurse told me that they had changed the sheets and asked me to go clean up the room. I went in there and they left the soiled sheets on the floor (not even in a bag). I think that is so completely rude, and its not going to hurt them to take a few minutes to put them in a bag and take them to the soiled utility room (right by the nurse's station). Do you agree with me, or do you think I'm being too sensitive?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I partially agree with you. The nurses most definitely could have taken a few extra minutes to bag the linens and place them in the dirty utility room.

However, people who do not go the extra mile are everywhere. These people are so prevalent in the workplace that getting upset over every instance of laziness or mediocrity will result in more aggravation for you than is necessary.

It would be nice if we were all on the same team, but that's not the reality at many job sites. For many people (including me), a good work day involves doing the minimum. My personal mantra is to not sweat the small stuff.

Good luck to you!

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I agree. It was inconsiderate. The only explanation would be if there was not a linen bag in the room and they didn't have time to go grab a bag and return to bag the linen. Even then, I would've apologized to you and explained why I needed to have you do it. That's just me, though :-)

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There are so many bigger things to worry about than linens left on the floor. Let it go. It's not worth stewing over.

The nurses were probably very busy dealing with this patient (along with the others) and needed to move on. You weren't there to change the bed, so they did. They saw you and asked you to help by finishing up.

No biggie.

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My nursing professor would have *killed* those nurses.

She was very firm in telling us that dirty linen was never to be placed on the floor. I had that drilled into me so firmly that I would never do it. She also taught us the right way to put on a pillow case and to never leave the linen closet doors open in the hallways. Many other things as well that I still do to this day.

Infection control wouldn't be very happy with those nurses either.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
My nursing professor would have *killed* those nurses.

She was very firm in telling us that dirty linen was never to be placed on the floor. I had that drilled into me so firmly that I would never do it. She also taught us the right way to put on a pillow case and to never leave the linen closet doors open in the hallways. Many other things as well that I still do to this day.

I've tried to leave the open side of a pillowcase facing the door.. .nope, can't do it! :no:

Is it rude to throw the linens on the floor to me is a glass half-full, half-empty thing because they changed the patient's wet linens first.

I know how it feels to enter a room and discover bloody gauze and nasty gloves all over the place, and poop-covered instruments tossed in the sink, etc. Not sure if it's even possible to fix that kind of rude.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospital.

I agree with you. Upper titles that do things like that, make me wonderful if they started at the bottom. It ticks me off when my LPN does that. It also bothers me when she treats me like dirt and doesn't respect me. I go the extra mile for her in the mornings so she doesn't do everything. Not only do I do reg CNA work, I do all of her blood draws, her EKGs and her skin treatments with IV care. So I get where you are coming from, not all nurses are like that. You just have to find them and don't let go! Good luck!

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But...what if those nurses were annoyed the cna left the room? What if they didn't see her as being discluded from the conversation? What if a nurse turned around to say "Good point right ssqared. .?" But only empty space there?

I'd still have bagged though haha. I just always like flip side checking.

Edit typo!

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Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.

The idea of dirty linens on the floor is disgusting. I would agree that it was somewhat rude but nothing that I would stress over. No one here was part of this situation so we cannot provide a reliable assessment. It has been said that the nurses may have been upset that you left during the issue which might be the case. Either way the linens should have been placed in a bag. Finishing the cleanup would be part of your responsibilities and I feel the nurses did help by changing the bed.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

No,it was not "rude" to you,however it was an infection control issue.When you are a nurse you will think twice.....

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.

I totally agree but I wouldn't take it personally. Many people in life, even in nursing, are very lazy...just gotta keep doing you and brush it off.

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Inconsiderate, but probably best to let it go. Not worth your time and energy to worry about. It's likely they meant nothing by it.

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