To tell or not to tell!

TheNGTKingRN · Mar 24, 2015

People will tell you to turn a blind eye in the workplaceâ€¦ yet (the same individuals), will advise current students to rat out their classmates for cheating.

Not me! Lol. I knew of people with test banks and I could care less. Some of them have gone to be some very fine nurses. I couldn't care less. Unless you're neglecting or physically harming someone, Felicia more power to you.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2015

There is a difference between someone actively cheating in nursing school and what we are discussing. In fact, if the schools policed people better than some of them do and failed more students, you wouldn't see some of the things that happen at work.

Quite often, when someone is so eager to report, they don't have the full picture of what has happened. Try asking your co-workers first, and lead by example.

However, if you are in orientation, worry about your own learning.

canigraduate · Mar 24, 2015

People will tell you to turn a blind eye in the workplaceâ€¦ yet (the same individuals), will advise current students to rat out their classmates for cheating.

Dramatic, much? We're not saying turn a blind eye, we're saying take it up with the people doing it and don't tattle to the manager. (At least most of the posters are, I haven't read all of them.)

Basically, use grown up behavior.

And, "rat out"? Like the mob? LOL! Yes, take it up with the cheaters, and if they don't stop, take it up the ladder. Are you going to put a hit on me now? :roflmao:

theradiantforce · Mar 24, 2015

I think sometime nursing school makes us SO aware of every little thing we do that once we actually hit the real world it's like Waaaahhhh?!!!! These examples are in fact, poor practice.....BUT.....

As you know, nursing is hard work. Think about what other things these nurses may have going on in their heads. It would be unwise to tell without first (gently) approaching your coworker and reminding them, "hey, you left xyz med on your cart."

Learn how to solve issues amongst yourselves....especially things like you're describing. It will help you so much in the future. I believe most of us try our best and sometimes may just need reminding.

If it truly bugs you and ya gotta squeal, then just make an anonymous statement at the next meeting or inservice. That way no finger gets pointed per se, and the point gets out in the open. Such as, "I think it's really important we remember to wear gloves during blood transfusions." No names, no finger pointed, but whoever did it will know. Just don't be surprised if your coworkers are less than thrilled to see you coming.

ShelbyaStar · Mar 24, 2015

The last couple cheating threads I read generally advised not saying anything? Not sure what anti-cheating pitchfork mob is being referred to here.

Caffeine_IV · Mar 24, 2015

Those issues that you mentioned would be hard get 100% staff compliance.

I like the suggestions of leading by example. When I go into a contact/droplet room with another nurse, I hand them a gown or mask if I see that they intended not to don one. I give staff gloves when necessary, minimize a screen or say "I wouldn't leave xyz sitting out on the cart."

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2015

If nurse wet-behind-the-ears came to me to "school" me about how to take care of my patients I would not hurt you physically but your feelings would probably take a beating. You would be welcome to take some of my patients off of my hands and care for them as you please.

allnurses Guide · Mar 24, 2015

There are other factors here that you are too inexperienced to be weighing out. Those include the political nature of nursing itself, the politics of "getting along", the entire concept of "choose your battles" and then the humility that awaits you as a new grad as you get tossed out onto the floor on your own and start to know exactly how much you do NOT know.

I can promise you that a newly hired new grad not getting along with others is going to weigh far more heavily on the manager's mind than any of the infractions you will be reporting. Those infractions relate to people this manager knows, has worked with and with whom he or she has a relationship. Nurse XYZ may have been with the company for years, gets high satisfaction scores, is loved by her patients, always gets her education done on time, is in school advancing her degree and helps run the unit based council....but dang it, she left her computer screen on running to help her patient and should be re-educated. Huh?

You are the only question mark here. For a new grad, who isn't even competent yet, to be finding fault with others isn't going to go over well. If you feel a need to "report" these things, use the anonymous hotline. My strongest advice though would be to see them as opportunities to help someone who is likely overwhelmed and thus taking shortcuts in order to prioritize care, to identify what is important to you in your own nursing practice and to start learning who the major players are on the floor, who you want to emulate, who you don't, the relationship of the manager to the employees and then that pesky thing known as "experience".

Computer screen up? Shrink it down.

Meds left on cart? Put in a baggie and into a drawer, then find the nurse who they belong to and tell them you did so. If you don't know, just put them in the drawer anyway. That person will be back to look for them for sure.

No gloves for transfusions? Likely a quirk having to do with personal practice.

Not gowning for isolation rooms? This one would get a write up with consequences if a "secret shopper" was on the floor (we have those a lot). Talk to the nurse involved, quietly, privately and in the vein of looking to educate yourself so as to avoid embarrassment for this nurse. "I noticed a lot of people don't gown when going into isolation rooms. That's new for me. Can you tell me why?"

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Mar 24, 2015

I was going to go to the Nurse Manager and just tell him/her what I saw, NO names or times. My point in all this is I believe more training is needed and NOT to get someone fired. It could be something as easy as putting a training module for ALL employees to complete.

I wouldnt. If you don't have names/proof you are going to come off in a very bad light. Talking to your manager WITH names will put you in a different kind of bad light. Just don't.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Mar 24, 2015

Dramatic, much? We're not saying turn a blind eye, we're saying take it up with the people doing it and don't tattle to the manager. (At least most of the posters are, I haven't read all of them.)
Basically, use grown up behavior.
And, "rat out"? Like the mob? LOL! Yes, take it up with the cheaters, and if they don't stop, take it up the ladder. Are you going to put a hit on me now?

Gonna put you down for a pair of size 8 cement shoes, m'kay?

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 24, 2015

Dear lord, if I put on a contact gown every time I had to run into a room for something I would have a stack of them 8 feet tall by the end of the night. I'm sorry, but a baby in distress > PPE. Write me up.

I don't think anyone is arguing that in a code situation, you need to gown up before going in the room. That's just silly. But yes, aside from emergencies, you should gown up, every time. And yes, you will go through stacks of gowns. That's why they're cheap.

TexMex22 · Mar 24, 2015

Welcome to the real world. :spit:

YOU should do what you know is right. If you practice good protocol in all situations, your backside is covered & you can sleep well. You can sometimes "act" like a dope and say "oh, maybe I got this part mixed up, I thought we were supposed to _____________ (insert procedure)." You should still do what you know to be correct. If no one else picks up on it, that's on them.

Trying to police the world is:

1) Not your job

2) Exhausting

3) Pointless

Get over it. Being idealistic is lovely, but impractical. Save your strength. You'll need it.