What causes you to almost scream (internally of course) during your day?

**CalicoKitty, BSN, MSN, RN** · Apr 29, 2019

Doing something (usually elbow deep in $), and my phone buzzing/beeping repeatedly for the patient that hits the call bell constantly. The stupid phone will alarm like 5 times every 30 seconds or something until I can deal with it. And often it is "Oh I meant to turn on/off the TV". Can't cancel or ignore it.

Davey Do · Apr 29, 2019

Thanks for asking KonichiwaRN, but my days are consistently relatively okay, and I rarely feel like screaming.

Now, my MN shifts are a different story.

RNperdiem, RN · Apr 29, 2019

When I find out that my patient needs an MRI and they are on multiple drips, intubated and heavy.

TriciaJ, RN · Apr 29, 2019

Those days when I almost got caught up. I would think "Today's the day I get a lunch!" and start fantasizing about what I'd order in the cafeteria. Then my phone would ring and I'd be told "You're getting a postop. PACU's on the phone with report." ?

PediatricMA · Apr 29, 2019

I work in a pediatric specificity office and i'm instantly annoyed when a family shows up very late for an appointment especially a procedure appointment. Then they usually flip out because they can't be seen or we see them and it screw up the whole day and other appointments ???

Ruby Vee, BSN · Apr 29, 2019

On 4/28/2019 at 1:12 PM, KonichiwaRN said:
Getting a call 30 min before shift change,
and it's from the ED. Goes something like this..
"hi there. (they "almost always" use an overly cheerful voice) we're sending a patient to you right now. can anyone take report?"

Getting a call out 30 minutes AFTER shift change from a nurse who habitually calls out. Their speech is slurred, they're not making a whole lot of sense and the background noise sounds like Trivia night at the bar down the street. That really irks me!

Davey Do · Apr 30, 2019

Here's a story from my website blog written last last January when I actually did raise my voice to a coworker:

I raised my voice in anger this past weekend at a coworker. I have not yelled at another employee in 16 years of working at WRMC.

Until this weekend.

I had been sitting for two hours on a LOS (Line Of Sight) with a patient who is the be all and end all of patients. This patient suffers from neurosyphilis and is volatile, loud, profane, spits, hits, kicks, and pees anywhere.

He was so bad that only male staff were allowed to be with him, but he is now so heavily medicated and somewhat slowed down that female staff can be assigned to watch him.

He was on a 1:1 status but the closeness and proximity of staff easily set him off, so the order was changed to LOS. Also, administration ruled that staff assigned to him was to change every hour.

The psych division of WRMC had four male Techs call off in a single shift, and it is believed they did so in order to avoid having to put in their time with this patient.

So, I'm doing the LOS with this patient who, although medicated with high doses of scheduled and PRN anti-psychotics & benzodiazepines, was constantly acting out.

Due to circumstances beyond our control, I ended up having to be with him for two hours.

A typically tardy nurse came into the unit, walked by the nurses station where shift report was taking place, walked past me, and attempted to take over on a 1:1 patient for being a high fall risk, who rested quietly all night, was no behavior problem, and stayed in his room all day.

She asked the Tech sitting on the 1:1, "Are you ready to go?"

I exploded.

I raised my voice, partially out of anger, partially to be heard over my patient who was yelling, "AHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHH!" and said, "YOU COME IN LATE, DON'T HEAR REPORT, WALK PAST ME AND FIND THE EASIEST PATIENT WITH WHICH TO DEAL AND I'VE BEEN WITH (this patient) FOR TWO HOURS! YES! I AM READY TO GO!"

My work wife Eleanor came out of the nurses station into the hallway and asked what the problem was and I loudly repeated, "SHE COMES IN LATE..."

Suffice it to say that I got immediate relief, and to this point, the only repercussion I have gotten was an inquiry when I came back in to work that night:

"Are you in a better mood?"

"Why yes. Yes I am, thank you very much."

LM NY · Apr 30, 2019

I agree with the previous post. When my my patient on a ventilator and multiple IVF's requires an MRI or CT.

Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · May 1, 2019

When i clock in and my first patient blood pressure is ridiculously low where your running fluids and labs ? im so over that. OR patient WBC sky high for a day or two and nothing done about it until im stuck managing a septic patient trying to reverse this shizzle. OR when your trying to get in touch with the on-call and they dont call back and then we get "yall need to do SBAR when calling the providers" during our shift huddles how the hell we gonna use SBAR to ourselves or what? Kinda need someone to talk to for a SBAR. The ever missing bladder scanner. The phone ringing in front of someone and they pretend not to hear it. My administrator who still dont know my name or what i do ?...sharing nurses week with the other disciplines.

And finally the call lights. Lord jesus.

Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · May 1, 2019

Oh and constantly being interrupted during shift report because my relief is a social butterfly.

Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN · May 1, 2019

Finally Having my break and being interrupted by same MD or co worker over something they could easily handle since they have MD/RN after their name too.