Ok, so I had to go to the ER (first time ever) because I sliced open my finger on Christmas. So I get into the room and I dont tell the nurse that I am in fact a nurse also. Well I wasnt my normal self bc my index finger was almost cut in half, but the nurse starts my IV, misses the first attempt, gets the second but keeps tourniquet on and my blood starts pouring out, well I look down to see him wiping my blood off with his ungloved finger:eek: then he wiped the blood off his finger onto his scrub pants:madface:. He tapes the IV on with on piece of tape (no dressing). I ask him to get something to cover the IV and he says it should be fine until the doc gets there. Well then he starts my EKG leads and places them in the wrong spots, so i asked him if the white lead should be at the top right, he said "oh yea, you a nurse?" I said yes, BAM! He goes "well I wish you would have told me that before, we cut lots of corners in the ER"..... Then off he goes to get me a dressing for my IV. I guess I should have told him upfront, but when the ER doc comes in he says "well your a nurse, you just need to do proper wound care and you should be fine" Im like NOO Please tell me exactly what I need to do bc I am the Worst nurse when it comes to taking care of myself.....
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I don't tell but if I am with family they usually do tell. I can't fathom a nurse wiping some one's blood in their pants and blame it on cutting corners...What a jerk! Some ED's allow the techs to start IV's so maybe it wasn't a nurse. Placing someone on the monitor can be a part of the routine in some ED's and I know some that place as many as possible as that is a billable/reimbursable item.
If someone tells me they are a nurse when working in the ED....I always ask them their area of speciality and how long have they been a nurse. I have had medical assistants, CNA's, and techs all claim they were nurses (usually in school) or "In the medical field" so I ascertain their level of expertise, or lack thereof....
Being busy or "budget cuts" are NO excuse for poor technique......jeeze I get so annoyed at lazy people. When I discharge people that are medical professionals....I joke with them that I am going through my whole spiel so I don't forget anything..... so if I tell them something they already know, please forgive me. Thank usually relaxes them and they can pay attention to what I am telling them.
I gave birth at the hospital I worked at and knew many people well.....eveytime someone would say "BUt you're a nurse what am I telling you for.....I said in my best gone with the wind voice "Miss Scarlett...I know nothin about birthing no babies" so I could get the basics. Some medical folks I've run into get all indignant when you try to give the because they think you're being condencending.
I hope you're finger feels better...Happy New Year!
I never tell unless they ask me, or if it becomes relevant for some reason. I agree starting and IV without gloves is not something I would want done to me, and wiping the blood off on her scrubs? :eek:Yuk, I wonder how many other people she does this with? Cutting corners is one thing, but when I worked in the ED I remember there being an endless supply of gloves on hand in each room.
Best of luck with the finger, Maybe you will get a few days of much needed rest :cheers:
I never reveal I am a nurse. I think it is funny when I get a pt in the ER and I am explaining what I am going to do..(I am going to start an iv and draw some blood) right away I get, "I know, I am a nurse". wow. Good for you. When I ask, "Oh, are you a RN"? I often get, "No, I am a CNA". I could care less if you are a nurse, the pope, a police officer or, Hell, Miss Florence herself. I will treat you with the same respect as all my other pt's.
Funny one.......the other day I had a little ole guy. Was staying in the ER until we drew a repeat troponin and then release if troponin negative. Anyhow, visitor was a "nurse". "Nurse" came to the nurse's station to ask if the little ole guy could have a cup of coffee or would that elevate and alter the blood test. I explained we were going to draw a troponin and that is a cardiac enzyme and ............she cuts me off right away with "I know. I am a nurse". It wasn't that fact that she was a "nurse". It was the attitude and demeanor in which she said it and presented herself. I asked if she was a RN. And her reply was "no, I am a LPN student". So my smart ass reply was, "well, when you are a nurse, you will know a cup of coffee will not increase his troponin level". Gave her a polite smile and handed her a cup of coffee.
I'm an ER tech and I hate it when we have family members/vistors come in and the first thing out of their mouths is "I'm a nurse" ok... that's nice.... but no need to breath down my neck every time I come in the room!
I work in a very very busy ER. When we get pt's that are nurses, no matter what speciality, I find they are often more understanding when things take a little longer, they have more patience and understanding
funny story of my own.... I HATE getting my blood drawn... I can get blood from anyone, anywhere 99% of the time, but I hate getting my own blood drawn... I am a "blind stick" and there is only one place I can get blood drawn, and that's if the person drawing it is good enough....
So I'm at the doctor and he tells me he wants to get some blood to check my TSH, rheumatoid panel....He leaves the room and I see all the equipment on the counter(butterfly!)... so I go ahead and do it myself! ( I know... stupid thing to do but I couldn't help myself. I had met his MA and she seem a little ditzy which just made me more nervous )
So just has a finished the MA walks in the room and the look on her face was priceless!! I gave her the tubes and she walked back into the hall and told my Dr what happened. He came back and asked if I was a nurse.... I told him no I'm ER Tech. He just laughed and said well thank you and dont do that again...lol
interesting note... a few months later during another appt he asked if I was looking for a job cause his MA was leaving!
Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.
I hate when you take care of a patient that has a family member present that is a pain in the behind, and keeps bothering you, because in their hospital things are different, or because in their unit things are done in a certain way.... And they start telling you what to order for thir family member..... Get a grip! Why did you bring your family here and not at your hospital? Let me do my thing! If you have something pertinent that I need to know, spit it out, if not, then go home!
I never reveal I am a nurse. I think it is funny when I get a pt in the ER and I am explaining what I am going to do..(I am going to start an iv and draw some blood) right away I get, "I know, I am a nurse". wow. Good for you. When I ask, "Oh, are you a RN"? I often get, "No, I am a CNA". I could care less if you are a nurse, the pope, a police officer or, Hell, Miss Florence herself. I will treat you with the same respect as all my other pt's.
This is one of the main reasons I dont like to disclose that Im a nurse, I really dont want it to seem like I am trying to prove something, make them feel uncomfortable, or to brag. Next time I think, even if they ask me I will keep my trap shut:) that is unless someone tries to start an IV without gloves on me again, in which case I would have object:) I almost got the feeling that after he found out I was a nurse he was mad, as if I had intentionally deceived him in some way.
And that is totally hillarious that the "nurse" family member was worried about coffee increasing troponin:yawn:
I hate when you take care of a patient that has a family member present that is a pain in the behind, and keeps bothering you, because in their hospital things are different, or because in their unit things are done in a certain way.... And they start telling you what to order for thir family member..... Get a grip! Why did you bring your family here and not at your hospital? Let me do my thing! If you have something pertinent that I need to know, spit it out, if not, then go home!
So just has a finished the MA walks in the room and the look on her face was priceless!! I gave her the tubes and she walked back into the hall and told my Dr what happened. He came back and asked if I was a nurse.... I told him no I'm ER Tech. He just laughed and said well thank you and dont do that again...lol
interesting note... a few months later during another appt he asked if I was looking for a job cause his MA was leaving!
I get a lot of MDs, RNs, PAs as patients. Most of the time they are completely cool. I actually prefer to know if they are medical so I can skip the reassuring explanations of what I'm doing to them and why and go straight to "med-speak" without needing to translate. "Ok Dr Whoever has you on percocet q4 for pain and reglan iv q6 for nausea. We'll be doing neuro checks q4 until morning. Call us before you get up so we can be with you in case you vagal down, ok?"
Occasionally, the medical professional patient expects special treatment/wants to show you they know more than you.
It's pretty much the same personalities as the non-medical population.
Then off he goes to get me a dressing for my IV. I guess I should have told him upfront, but when the ER doc comes in he says "well your a nurse, you just need to do proper wound care and you should be fine" Im like NOO Please tell me exactly what I need to do bc I am the Worst nurse when it comes to taking care of myself.....
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tokmom, BSN, RN
4,568 Posts
OMG, my mom rats me out too and I hate it. You would think I was a famous movie star or something.