Today's cringeworthy event..

Published

So today I had the pleasure of seeing someone I already believed to be an idiot confirm it.

We have a serious issue with people maintaining proper sharps containers. They over stuff them, don't secure the tops to the bottoms, don't latch them when they are full, and stuff the storage container they go into once they are used. I have nearly been poked by a sharps on more than one occasion because of this. In fact I worked with our manager to create a policy about responsibility for these (sad that we are all "professionals" yet lack basic common sense).

I had serious suspicions this person was the cause of several of the issues, but could not prove it, until today. Said nurse dropped a sharps container when taking it to the already too full bin. She dropped it and sharps went all over the place. Why, because the top wasn't latched shut and the top wasn't connected to the bottom.. Guess who happened to see this as well... My manager who was right around the corner. Said nurse then started to pick up the used sharps with her bare hands.. Guess who doesn't take BBP seriously..

So not only was I proven right (my manger felt I was simply being a "bully" or NETY to this nurse), but now this issue can be fully addressed with this particular nurse - and hopefully we can all be a bit safer.

Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

Said nurse then started to pick up the used sharps with her bare hands.. Guess who doesn't take BBP seriously..

Just....:nailbiting::no::facepalm:

I. Can't. Even.

HOW has she not picked up a communicable disease yet???

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Wasn't it Ron White who said, "You can't fix stupid?"

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Specializes in ICU.

At least you can move your sharps containers!

Ours are locked into the wall/cart. Literally locked in. We have to get the company that services our sharps containers to come in and change them out for us... note that I said company, as in an outside company who does not work for the hospital system. You ought to see how bad some of our sharps containers get. They have apparently been making fewer trips to us to save money lately.

Not that I enjoy moving sharps or anything, but when I'm having to carry used sharps into other patients' rooms or the med room just so I can dispose of them, I get a little irritated.

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At least you can move your sharps containers!

Ours are locked into the wall/cart. Literally locked in. We have to get the company that services our sharps containers to come in and change them out for us... note that I said company, as in an outside company who does not work for the hospital system. You ought to see how bad some of our sharps containers get. They have apparently been making fewer trips to us to save money lately.

Not that I enjoy moving sharps or anything, but when I'm having to carry used sharps into other patients' rooms or the med room just so I can dispose of them, I get a little irritated.

That's just as bad as the foolishness I'm dealing with. How is that safe for anyone?? I wonder what OSHA would think of that.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

This is basic safety 101. Even a clueless graduate should have more common sense than this!

I hope she doesn't get fired for this. Someone needs to discuss with her the risks she's putting herself and others on. However, how do you know she's the one that stuffs the sharps container? I doubt she's the only one putting sharps there. If you notices it was stuffed and full, why didn't you remove it before it got overly full? Maybe you could have talked to her and told her she could get in trouble for not properly disposing of sharps or when she dropped the container telling her to not touch the sharps. Sheeshhh why do more experienced nurses have to always eat their young and make fun of their mistakes. We were all a clueless graduate once!
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Just....:nailbiting::no::facepalm:

I. Can't. Even.

HOW has she not picked up a communicable disease yet???

Maybe she has and feels she doesn't need to bother with gloves anymore. :confused:

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So today I had the pleasure of seeing someone I already believed to be an idiot confirm it.

We have a serious issue with people maintaining proper sharps containers. They over stuff them, don't secure the tops to the bottoms, don't latch them when they are full, and stuff the storage container they go into once they are used. I have nearly been poked by a sharps on more than one occasion because of this. In fact I worked with our manager to create a policy about responsibility for these (sad that we are all "professionals" yet lack basic common sense).

I had serious suspicions this person was the cause of several of the issues, but could not prove it, until today. Said nurse dropped a sharps container when taking it to the already too full bin. She dropped it and sharps went all over the place. Why, because the top wasn't latched shut and the top wasn't connected to the bottom.. Guess who happened to see this as well... My manager who was right around the corner. Said nurse then started to pick up the used sharps with her bare hands.. Guess who doesn't take BBP seriously..

So not only was I proven right (my manger felt I was simply being a "bully" or NETY to this nurse), but now this issue can be fully addressed with this particular nurse - and hopefully we can all be a bit safer.

You took pleasure in that?

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You took pleasure in that?

Yeah I thought that too. Rather a lot of crowing and blowing about how smart the OP is and how stupid the colleague is.

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You took pleasure in that?

Often times that saying is meant in a very sarcastic or droll way.

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You took pleasure in that?

Well, maybe pleasure in being shown to be right. OP said she had tried to bring up this nurse's unsafe practices, only to be shaken off and not taken seriously. So more of feeling of being vindicated rather than glad the nurse is engaging in patently stupid behavior that could harm her.

Just a guess, though.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I took pleasure in it in the same way I would take pleasure if a cop finally pulled over the person who repeatedly blew through stop signs on a residential street despite the "children playing" signs, etc. It's just disheartening to me when someone can reasonably be expected to follow some basic rules and chooses not to for reasons of their own. You can stand outside and yell at them to slow down, but should you have to?

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Looking at a full sharps container on the med cart when I'd just start my night shift used to drive me nuts. It's so unsafe.

I got to the point where I started demonstrating how to unlatch the container and tape it properly for all the staff.

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