What have other nurses done that have freaked you out?

[texas_lvn]

What have other peers done intentional/unintentional to freak you out? Good or bad. Happy or sad.

On my FIRST day as an LVN, (LTC) a res was screaming in her room as I was walking out to leave. I went in to see what was going on. She was having an anxiety attack and severe pain (post stroke). I pulled the call light, and no one came. Uggg.

So I peeked out the door and saw my CNA walking down the hall, and told him to come sit with res. I went down to get her a Xanax and a pain pill, well relief nurse was in the restroom, and relief CNA (with call light still going off) was sitting behind nurses station reading a newspaper. I told CNA to tell the nurse to get a Xanax and pain pill for res. She said OK. I go to relieve my CNA. Said goodbye to him, and stayed with res. after 10 minutes, CNA COMES INTO ROOM WITH XANAX AND MORPHINE PILL. She is soooooo shocked to see me still there, she hands me the pills and RUNS to the relief nurse. I could NOT BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!!!!

(I did immediately call DON and tell what happened. Luckily, my CNA was still checking on another res, and saw the whole thing.--------they got a slap on the wrist! that was it!!!) :madface: :madface:

[exnavygirl-RN]

We had a tech that worked day shift for several years and then decided to work night shift. After a week he was fired. The night shift nurses caught him faking vital signs, also. He admitted to it and didn't think it was a big deal. The supervisor had him escorted out of the hospital.

we had a CNA that I was sure was faking vital signs in the computer...it took several alert and oriented patients to confirm this two nights in a row to get her fired....I know she probably had been doing this for months....She would take 1-2 peoples then come and log in twelve patients vs!! we have a lot of post op pts who could be having issues....I would go behind her a recheck all my people!! I feel much better now not having to worry about that , but I keep my eyes open to make sure I see my CNA's doing them.......

[sqky]

I was observing for a part time job in a LTF with a very old LPN (I will call her Helen) showing me "the ropes" as she put it. While setting up the next round of meds two CNAs came to the med door and said a resident was dead. Helen told the CNAs to "pull out his foley and clean him up." Helen during this time called the doc, family and funeral home (all before checking him herself). I was very uncomfortable with how she was doing things and asked her about it. She just blew me off.

Now the CNAs came and said their work was done, and they did not remove the foley. Helen stomped down to the room, grabbed the foley and pulled it out with the bulb fully inflated!!!! The patient let out a scream, sat straight up in bed and let out a stream of vulgarities as the mortician walked through the door.

Helen looked at the aides and accused the them of lying to her.!!! Then she told me to call the doc and family to tell them of MY mistake!!!! I refused. I was an observer, not an employee. She retired 2 days later.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Good LORD.

[Lacie, BSN, RN]

While working in a small hospital in rural eastern Kentucky (culture shock for me as I'm orginally from Miami) I was called down to the ER to assist with a patient. At the time I was the house supervisor. When I got there and asked what the problem was the ER RN indicated she needed an IV started on a patient that needed blood. I asked what size cath had she already tried and she indicated she hadnt attempted any sticks. When I asked her why she indicated that the patient was "black" who had been passing through our area and she couldnt recall ever having a "black" patient nor ever starting an IV on an african american. Needless to say I didnt understand her not trying to start the IV. She also wanted to know about the blood as she asked "How can I tell what color the donor is before I give it?" Again I was like "HUH?" Her response was "Well I always understood you had to give the same race of blood as if you give a white person black blood they will turn black and I dont know if it's the same with blacks! I dont want to give it not knowing so you'll have to do it" Now this was the charge RN who had been there for over 10 years. It took all I could not to ask her where the heck did you get your degree from!!! I just couldnt believe the ignorance. And she did this all in front of the patient!!!

[Jay-Jay, RN]

PRBC'S hanging with D5........ :eek: :eek: :eek:

I was doing agency nursing in a hospital, and someone else had hung PRCB's with 2/3 and 1/3, and I didn't notice until I went to hang the next unit. I hadn't hung blood since nursing school, so I got another nurse to come with me, and coach me.

She told me to flush the line with NS, and THAT was when I noticed the mistake.

Gues who took the blame for that?? :angryfire

[jojotoo, RN]

This has got to have been the stupidest thing that I have heard in a LONG time. In fact, when I first read it, I thought you must have made it up. But no, I don't think that anybody could have made up anything this DUMB!:smackingf

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

This is not as bad as some, but it really freaks me out when someone gives an injection & then sticks the used needle into the mattress.

[nursejohio, ASN, RN]

I was observing for a part time job in a LTF with a very old LPN (I will call her Helen) showing me "the ropes" as she put it. While setting up the next round of meds two CNAs came to the med door and said a resident was dead. Helen told the CNAs to "pull out his foley and clean him up." Helen during this time called the doc, family and funeral home (all before checking him herself). I was very uncomfortable with how she was doing things and asked her about it. She just blew me off.

Now the CNAs came and said their work was done, and they did not remove the foley. Helen stomped down to the room, grabbed the foley and pulled it out with the bulb fully inflated!!!! The patient let out a scream, sat straight up in bed and let out a stream of vulgarities as the mortician walked through the door.

Helen looked at the aides and accused the them of lying to her.!!! Then she told me to call the doc and family to tell them of MY mistake!!!! I refused. I was an observer, not an employee. She retired 2 days later.

:chair: i can't even put into words how scary that is

[Jay-Jay, RN]

While working in a small hospital in rural eastern Kentucky (culture shock for me as I'm orginally from Miami) I was called down to the ER to assist with a patient. At the time I was the house supervisor. When I got there and asked what the problem was the ER RN indicated she needed an IV started on a patient that needed blood. I asked what size cath had she already tried and she indicated she hadnt attempted any sticks. When I asked her why she indicated that the patient was "black" who had been passing through our area and she couldnt recall ever having a "black" patient nor ever starting an IV on an african american. Needless to say I didnt understand her not trying to start the IV. She also wanted to know about the blood as she asked "How can I tell what color the donor is before I give it?" Again I was like "HUH?" Her response was "Well I always understood you had to give the same race of blood as if you give a white person black blood they will turn black and I dont know if it's the same with blacks! I dont want to give it not knowing so you'll have to do it" Now this was the charge RN who had been there for over 10 years. It took all I could not to ask her where the heck did you get your degree from!!! I just couldnt believe the ignorance. And she did this all in front of the patient!!!

This one leaves me totally speechless. I guess Jim Crow is still alive and well in parts of the south.

[Lacie, BSN, RN]

Believe me I was speechless also at the time!! This was a small town with a population of only 1200 and no african american families. The hospital was a 90 bed but the only hospital within 3 counties. My husband was a KY State Trooper and we had to live in the county he worked in as a requirement for his job. Mind you that I am originally from Miami Fl, so I would never have even fathomed there could have still been that much ignorance from someone supposedly "educated". Needless to say I am very grateful not to still be in that same area.

[Jamesdotter]

Between my first and second years in nursing school, I had an opportunity to pick up a few PM hours working as an aide in the hospital at home (basically tprs, lights and bedpans!). There was a 40-ish patient, post TAH, who was receiving an IV which was running about as fast as it would go. I, who had no business touching it, slowed the rate down to 125. When I returned to the room, the IV had been turned up again. (This was in 1960 and I think they usually ran the IVs in fast and then DC'd them for the night.)

I was off for a couple of days and when I returned, I asked about Mrs. X. "Oh, she died." What??? "She had congestive heart failure.":uhoh21:

[texas_lvn]

I was observing for a part time job in a LTF with a very old LPN (I will call her Helen) showing me "the ropes" as she put it. While setting up the next round of meds two CNAs came to the med door and said a resident was dead. Helen told the CNAs to "pull out his foley and clean him up." Helen during this time called the doc, family and funeral home (all before checking him herself). I was very uncomfortable with how she was doing things and asked her about it. She just blew me off.

Now the CNAs came and said their work was done, and they did not remove the foley. Helen stomped down to the room, grabbed the foley and pulled it out with the bulb fully inflated!!!! The patient let out a scream, sat straight up in bed and let out a stream of vulgarities as the mortician walked through the door.

Helen looked at the aides and accused the them of lying to her.!!! Then she told me to call the doc and family to tell them of MY mistake!!!! I refused. I was an observer, not an employee. She retired 2 days later.

That is awful!!!