Vent re: Charging and staff being "Pulled" or Floated

Nurses General Nursing

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Ok, This is a question of if you think I did the right thing, as well as a general Vent. I will be meeting with my boss to discuss it Friday, but need some feedback first. Here's what happened:

Yesterday (Tuesday) I was in charge of my unit, I work in the Cardiac Intervention Unit, basically, where the cath lab patients who have had interventions go, we pull their sheaths, observe them overnight, and d/c them the next day. We can be "pulled" to tele, CCU, SICU, MICU, or NeuroICU, but not med/surg. When I arrived yesterday morning, we had 3 RNs scheduled, and our census of 5 pt's (It was a holiday) only required 2 RNs, so 1 was being pulled to tele. We have a pull book, where we record each time we go somewhere, and according to the book, it was "Paula's" turn to be pulled. I made the assignments, and "Sarah" and I started report on our patients. Our shift starts at 7:00am, and Paula walked in at 7:05. I informed her that she was being pulled to tele, and she began argueing with me that it was not her turn. I proceeded to show her the pull book, but she states that it is incorrect, that she has been pulled since then, and it is not recorded (BTW, it is our responsibility to write our pull in this book). I stated that Sarah is already in the middle of report, that I made assignments based on the pull book, which was accurate to the best of my knowledge, and that since Paula was late, She would have to be pulled. At this point, Paula stated that she forgot to clock in, and proceeded to walk away to go to the time clock and swipe her badge. (not too far away, but down the hall and around the corner.) Sarah continued report, finished, and the night shift was walking away when Paula returned. She proceeded to say that it was NOT her turn, sat down at the computer, and started trying to look up her last pull, based on her computerized time card. Again, I told her that according to the pull book, it was her turn, I made assignments, now Sarah and I were both finished with report, the night shift was gone, and she could not expect Sarah to give her report on the patients, then go to tele and begin report on those patients, now that it was 7:15, making Sarah late in starting her day. Paula continued arguing, and saying that she knew she was pulled on a certain Friday afternoon, explained the circumstances, and I admitted that I did remember that day, but not the exact date, but at this point, it didn't matter, because report was over, Paula was late, and had to be pulled. She then stated it was our bosses fault, that she said she would write Paula in the pull book. I said that I am sorry, but I don't know what else to do. Finally, Paula stormed off, then came back a couple of minutes later, saying that it was 2 Fridays ago (I think this is the 12th of Feb) that her pull was. I just reiterated that she had to go, it was too late to change it now, but had she been on time, we could have changed assignments before report was completed (this was about 7:20-7:25 at this time) and Sarah was already starting her rounds. Paula Stormed off again, practically yelling that she wouldn't be doing any favors for us anymore. . .so don't ask. (it wasn't really loud yelling, but a nurse from the unit around the corner could hear it, because she asked me about it later).

Anyway, this kind of ruined my day, as I am a people pleaser, and don't like making people mad at me. Do you think I did the right thing? Should I have done something differently? I wrote a letter to my boss stateing all the facts, and Sarah looked over it and agreed that it happened that way, but I won't see my boss until Friday, so I'm kind of worried about it until then. If you have read this much, thanks.

(Part of the problem, I think, is that I am younger than Paula. I'm 30 , have been a nurse for nearly 9 years, but look way younger. Paula is in her late 40s, and has been a nurse for ever)

ANyway, thanks for reading.

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Stop letting her rent space in your head. You did the right thing. It's a bummer that the book wasn't updated, but if the ultimate responsibilty is hers to be certain it was right and she didn't do it, oh well. If you had all been there, say, 15 mins before the shift started, or even when you were actually making the assignment, it would have been different. But she dropped the ball twice-she didn't update the book, and then came in late trying to change things. Wouldn't have been fair to mess up everyone else's day.

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Specializes in Making the Pt laugh..
But she dropped the ball twice-she didn't update the book, and then came in late trying to change things. Wouldn't have been fair to mess up everyone else's day.
:up:

Let her get away with it, especialy when it is her fault - therefore her problem and she will do it again and again. You need to sick to your guns and at this meeting stand firm. If you are senior in position and let one staff member walk over you, others will follow and you will have anarchy with no chance of stepping back within that unit, it will become a case of sticking with a bad job or changing to another unit/facility. As for the age thing, it doesn't mean squat, unless you let it.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

when i float a nurse, on the assignment sheet , by their names i put when they last date they floated... no surprises. being the charge nurse i am in charge of writing down when i floated a RN to another unit. i float you when it's your turn no if's ands or buts.

they have a problem with this, see the manager. i then pull out the float book and the assignment sheet i posted and show what i have written and they float anyway. if a nurse screams or cries or has a hissy fit i show her the book send her on her way. she can float or go home. she goes home don't come back stay home and find another job.

we are all adults , we all know we have to float. even i float at times. you do it and get it over with. i don't put up with that nonsense of crying and yelling like a baby. grow up and go float.

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Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.

Everyone on my unit trips out about getting pulled too. One of my coworkers actually had an anxiety attack and went into a-fib one time when she found out she was being pulled. I don't really understand it. I enjoy getting pulled, honestly. People need to mellow out

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Bottom line, if she was on time, this could have been solved. If anything, maybe she will start showing up on time. You did everything right.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Her age and experience have nothing to do with it---you did the right thing in insisting on pulling this nurse, even after she had her little kitty-fit. I'd have done the very same thing. Besides, YOU are the charge, and she is not........you know what they say, if you don't like it, don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.
Everyone on my unit trips out about getting pulled too. One of my coworkers actually had an anxiety attack and went into a-fib one time when she found out she was being pulled. I don't really understand it. I enjoy getting pulled, honestly. People need to mellow out

wow !! i actually enjoying be floated . sometimes it's a blessing in disguise. it's only for 12 hours and it will end.

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I tend to worry a lot too but you shouldn't worry about this for one more second. The book said it was her turn. Not your fault she didn't write it in. That's her responsibility not yours. She was late. Again, that's on her not you. You did what you were supposed to do and were fair in doing it. She was just being a big cry baby. Let it go and be happy. :)

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.
I tend to worry a lot too but you shouldn't worry about this for one more second. The book said it was her turn. Not your fault she didn't write it in. That's her responsibility not yours. She was late. Again, that's on her not you. You did what you were supposed to do and were fair in doing it. She was just being a big cry baby. Let it go and be happy. :)

amen to that :yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah::heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

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You did the right thing. If she has a problem with it she can take it up with management

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

This Paula should have written in the book when she floated. If she didn't turn up so late maybe you could have arranged something different but I wouldn't worry about it. Sounds like she has a very bad attitude carrying on like that.

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