This is sort of funny. It's about one of my favorite ER techs, but she annoys the heck out of me by being pushy and bossy at times. I had a nose bleeder, an old man, history of nose bleeds since childhood, now made worse by now being on Coumadin. A&O, we started the whole deal that we do, with him in charge since he was very familiar with his nose bleeds and likes to be in charge. It wasn't a really bad one.
Then he says " I feel like I'm going to pass out like I did last time", he briefly bradyed down to the 40s, probably a vagal response, right? I quickly pop in an IV and notify the Doc. This tech, always wanting to be prepared says "Do you want the rapid infuser?" LOL.
I'm thinking, that's the most idiotic suggestion I've heard in a long time. But I hate to put people down, so I tell her, no, he probably just vagaled. He was fine with a position change, he didn't even need a rhino rocket this time.
Yes I did teach her. I gently explained that he wasn't bleeding out, but most likely vagaled. Incidentally, this gal is very savvy, and never hesitates to try to make others feel like an idiot for not knowing something. Yes she's in school toward nursing.
And yes , I'm courteous to my coworkers, thought I'd share the funny moment here on an anonymous forum rather than humiliating her in real life. A mistake, I see...
Wow, someone who is trying to think ahead and anticipate needs and your response is that it was an idiotic suggestion? She sounds like a wonderful asset to have around and you sound like, well, a tad high and mighty.
I'm encouraged by all these responses. As a CNA going to nursing school I've heard the phrase "nurses eat their young" so many times. In my thinking, it's better to be over prepared than under prepared. I've seen far too many cnas take the lazy route by sitting on the couch playing on their phones instead of tending to their patients. The fact that so many of you nurses on here are compassionate and are eager to teach those of us who don't really know what we're doing yet gives me hope.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
I think it would have been funnier had it been told differently; the word "idiotic" is what put most of us off.
Maybe. But I have to admit, as someone who doesn't work ED or critical care, or even have much of a med/surg foundation, I would have shrugged my shoulders. So even as an experienced nurse, the suggestion didn't seem idiotic or amusing to me. I was just thinking "Huh, sounds like someone who is trying to be a team player and help anticipate needs."
I'm not against OP for anything. This is an isolated incident where the OP got to stick it to the man, which they though was funny... Know one knows who this CNA is except the OP. The CNA could be a nightmare and by the looks of it, the CNA probably is if the OP gets a small piece of amusement out of this.
I think some are jumping the gun in thinking that the OP is being too hard. Maybe she isn't being hard enough... No one will know because the OP is the only one who actually knows the person.
Eh, ya know what? What was the guys blood pressure anyways?
Not to mention he COULD have been bleeding profusely, but down the back of his throat as opposed to out his nose....
which I would say putting him in a position where his head was that low, and his legs up, well, that is contraindicated for a nosebleed in my neck of the woods.
My point is that we could all pick apart practice until the cows come home, however, the ER tech (and wow, at least you HAVE one) was trying to anticipate your needs before the little vagal response would become a rapid response. Which, thank goodness the tech did NOT say "ok, then, you got this I'm outtie" but instead stuck around long enough to assist you if needed.
It is unbecoming to call anyone an idiot. And I could also see where a rapid infuser could be needed if things did not settle for this patient. Best have it then to be running amok looking for it if it was needed and the patient's BP was 75/42......
I have worked with a couple of techs going on MDs as we call it. It is frustrating and dangerous at times with pushy and bossy techs who think they know it all. I think that is what OP is referring to.
"This tech, always wanting to be prepared says "Do you want the rapid infuser?" LOL. "
Most certainly not an LOL moment. You have a tech anticipating a need, asking an appropriate question. I would appreciate be most appreciative of that response.
This is sort of funny. It's about one of my favorite ER techs, but she annoys the heck out of me by being pushy and bossy at times. I had a nose bleeder, an old man, history of nose bleeds since childhood, now made worse by now being on Coumadin. A&O, we started the whole deal that we do, with him in charge since he was very familiar with his nose bleeds and likes to be in charge. It wasn't a really bad one.
Then he says " I feel like I'm going to pass out like I did last time", he briefly bradyed down to the 40s, probably a vagal response, right? I quickly pop in an IV and notify the Doc. This tech, always wanting to be prepared says "Do you want the rapid infuser?" LOL.
I'm thinking, that's the most idiotic suggestion I've heard in a long time. But I hate to put people down, so I tell her, no, he probably just vagaled. He was fine with a position change, he didn't even need a rhino rocket this time.
I'm thinking that this is the least tolerant, most off-putting response that I've seen lately.
Emergent, RN
4,300 Posts
Yes I did teach her. I gently explained that he wasn't bleeding out, but most likely vagaled. Incidentally, this gal is very savvy, and never hesitates to try to make others feel like an idiot for not knowing something. Yes she's in school toward nursing.
And yes , I'm courteous to my coworkers, thought I'd share the funny moment here on an anonymous forum rather than humiliating her in real life. A mistake, I see...