What to do when others wont answer their own call bells?

[eriksoln]

A couple topics discussed earlier got me thinking about an issue that has come up for me frequently and I wanted to know what others think.

I'm a travel nurse. I more often than not walk into a work environment that offers low moral and nurses who are overworked. I'm often find myself, while trying to be a team member and contribute as much as I can while there, being relied upon to answer a great many call bells that are not mine. Too many nurses, when the know someone of this nature is on board, wil abuse it. I've known more than my share of nurses who, literally, will not answer a call bell their entire shift, including their own. There are even those that will take it a step further. They will refuse to answer their own call bells, then when you inform them of what the pt. is requesting, they shoot back with something to the effect of "You answered the bell, you'll have to get it". Obviously, I tell them to "First, go to the ER and have a thourough neuro exam performed cause you must be outside your mind. Second, get off you ass and take care of your patient." Yeah, this approach has led to a couple bad reviews.

Right or wrong, I've learned a strategy to keep this from affecting the care given to my patients (yes, I have had this behavior go to such an extreme that the pt's actually assigned to me suffer). I pay carefull attention to the one's who abuse help and the one's who dont. Once I've made up my list, I'm carefull not to offer any help to those who wont do for themselves, much less anyone else. I let their call bells ring ring ring and eventually they have to get it, or they ask me to and I say "NO".

I understand the pt. must come first, but thats not the issue in my eyes. To me, not allowing myself to be bogged down by another nurse's patient load is in truth being a mediator for the patients assigned to me. Its great to be considered a team member and all, but being a team member is useless if you are getting frequent complaints from your patients because you had no time for them.

I only ask what people think/do when they are in the same situation. I ask because, I know for a fact the unit my next assignment is on has a serious problem with this. DON, during the phone interview, even warned me about it and blantently told me "I'm using travel nurses at this time to get a better quality nurse on the floor while I rid myself of a few people who are bringing down the pt satisfaction scores on this unit. It is my expectation that, as a traveler you assist me in helping with the call bell problem until I can get a handle on it myself. It is for that reason that my unit pays well". It is true, I'm being well reimbursed for this position. Obviously, I have to find a way to handle nurses who dont want to participate in pt care. I dont think my usuall routine will work.

[heron, ASN, RN]

Hey I even started my own thread not long ago titled " how come nurses dont answer their call lights" But it was closed because some nurses got defensive and offended:clown:

Be careful now....

The thread was out before I could read the end, so I don't know about other members, but I was offended by the age-ist, historically inaccurate and disrespectful stereotyping going on.

Now ... derail over ... back to your regularly scheduled discussion.

Call lights on my unit are not a problem ... answering them reasonably quickly is a priority for us.

Since your manager said she was working on the problem, maybe it would help her if you kept an informal log of call lights answered for another nurse, ie rm #, nurse assigned and her response. A bit like being a tattle-tale, I know ... you'd have to decide whether you can live with that on a unit where your time on the job is limited.

Otherwise, the approach you've already described seems most likely to work. If you stop rewarding that behavior by picking up their slack ... maybe they'll modify it.

[MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN]

Where we are everyone is expected to respond if they are in an area to a call light; does it always happen? NO

I feel for any traveler as I see the treatment they receive when they arrive at any facility, I don't care how much they are paid, the patients still need to be cared for and treated safely-that's why I don't understand killing the travelers with the worst of the worst. Anyway, I say do what your conscious and time allows. Your first priority is your patient assignment, that being said....if you are there and can help do it. Who cares about the lazy ass(regardless if RN, LPN or CNA) the patient needs it and it's the right thing to do. Your wings will come later.

Remember the pitchfork is waiting for the lazy ones who purposefully don't do their jobs.

JMHO as always,

Maisy

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

I'm glad to hear I am not the only one who gets burned up by this. Sometimes, I wondered to myself....."Do I have a complex about this or are my complaints valid"?

I think this is just one of those things you will always have to live with as long as you are a clinical nurse.

Truth be told, I'm considering OR nursing only because there are no call bells.

[hzrizen]

I will answer the bell if the nurse is not there and I am standing there. I make sure that the patient is ok then I let the nurse know. I expect the same in return. If the nurse is there I have no problem with telling them "your patient is calling" and I keep moving. I have been on the call bell side of things and I do as I would like done to me. For the ones who ride the call bell I at least make sure that they are safe by walking by even if I dont answer all of the time.

Best wishes to all.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

If I'm busy, or just walking past on my way to get something or in the middle of something, I'll at least look at the patient to see if they're in any observable distress. If they appear to be okay, I think it's safe to assume it's a routine call, and I'll let the CNA assigned to that room answer it. Obviously, if the patient is in distress or is climbing out of bed, I will respond and get help if needed. I think, for the OP, I would say it sounds like you are being used to "clean house", so to speak. I would just go, do your job to the best of your abilities, and keep your nose clean.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

If I'm busy, or just walking past on my way to get something or in the middle of something, I'll at least look at the patient to see if they're in any observable distress. If they appear to be okay, I think it's safe to assume it's a routine call, and I'll let the CNA assigned to that room answer it. Obviously, if the patient is in distress or is climbing out of bed, I will respond and get help if needed. I think, for the OP, I would say it sounds like you are being used to "clean house", so to speak. I would just go, do your job to the best of your abilities, and keep your nose clean.

Yeah. Its an odd situation to be in, to say the least. Some nurses probably know I am there while their DON is trying to rid the unit of them. I will be facing fierce attempts at sabotage for sure (yes it happens, more than you would think).

I've written posts to people who felt they were being brought in to help "clean house" too. I warned them not to let management pass the buck onto them. Said just what you suggested, "go, do your job to the best of your abilities, and keep your nose clean". Although my compensation for this position is even better than the avg. traveler position, I'm not being paid administrative wages. No need to let them rely on me to be a catlyst for change, thats their role.

Eh, I can do anything for 13 weeks. I will mind my own business and be done when I am done.