When they're SO sure they're right...

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You've all seen them (sometimes on AN)- a person who believes with all their heart that a practice is correct while you and the rest of the civilized world know they're wrong.

What's the weirdest, most outlandish clinical or technical misconception that you've seen a co-worker espouse?

Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.
That you can fax an xray film.

Can't you? ;-)

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

I had a patient one shift then was off a few days. When I came back, he was still NPO (by this time he would've more than likely had his diet advanced) and I asked the off-going nurse why he was still NPO. She said...

"Well, has to be. He has JP drains in."

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so while I guess it is possible that the physician fell out of the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down, I do wonder if this wasn't just some type of misunderstanding/miscommunication between the nurse and resident.

That is so funny. I'm definitely going to plagiarize you.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I worked in ICU and a resident was covering - patient's urine was low flow via catheter and I advised him - he told me "well, she's sleeping, you don't produce urine when you sleep!"

OMG are you serious?

I've had a general surgeon also insist that nobody makes urine while sleeping.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Straight cathing a patient for urine culture, managed to get patient's urine all over me. Fellow helpfully says, "at least urine is sterile!"

No. Also if it was, then why do you want a culture of it?

Generally urine is actually sterile, but it's also true that if you're sending it for culture then it's because there's sufficient suspicion it's not. We're allowed to tube urine because generally it's sterile, we've pointed out that the sludgy stuff we're sending likely isn't to no avail.

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Specializes in ED.

"why are you guys flooding this guy with fluids?" From a med/surg nurse asking about a guy that was nearly DKA, hyperglycemic and wondering why we gave him 2 liters of fluids. Well, the fact that he has syrup for blood might be a good reason. This guy argued for a half an hour and I just had to stop arguing and tell him you're wrong in this situation, I'm right, I'm not going to explain myself any longer.

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Specializes in ORTHO, PCU, ED.

Just this week a coworker of mine gave 1g of Vancomycin IV. The patient immediately seized, started having anaphylaxis, went unconscious. Was super scart. Needless to say, signs showed up all over the unit in all caps NEVER GIVE VANCOMYCIN IV PUSH. I honestly tried not to be judgmental but come on really?? Vanc IV push?

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

I had a patient in pain and asked for IV Dilaudid. Got a little sidetracked by another patient but went and hung it as soon as I could. Meanwhile MD was doing rounds with residents/interns and patient told MD that they were in pain still and wanting pain meds. MD decided to call me into the patients room (via patient call light) and berate me in front of patient and residents/interns as to why this patient had to wait for pain meds and I better go get it now blah blah (this kind of behavior was normal for this Doc), I just calmly let him finish his rant and pointed to the pain meds (already infusing) and walked out.

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Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.

I had a doctor lecture me about the ABC's when I asked her to transfer a patient to the ICU for a very low blood pressure. I had already given him 2 NS boluses and he was deteriorating rapidly. As his kidney function sucked, I was concerned. She kept insisting that since he could breathe and his airway was patent, he would be fine. I finally got him transferred and two days later he died. Of course, in the case of this MD, it could have been just pure laziness on her part. She did the same thing a week later to another nurse on my unit.

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A coworker is frequently telling patients they shouldn't drink coffee, it's harmful to their body.

I pull that move with my kids.

"Mami, can we have one of your Snickers bars?"

"No. It's harmful to your body."

"Then why do you have them."

"I'm testing to see at what levels they are safe enough to eat. It's extensive research."

"...."

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A very annoying one which this person keeps repeating even after classes /lectures on the topic.

Telling new mothers of healthy full term infants:"You do not have enough breast milk so you have to give a bottle."

The baby is big so you have to give a bottle,or the baby is small so you have to give a bottle.

As a mom, hearing crap like that ^^^ or "You won't make enough pumping" irritated the crap out of me. Yeah, I know my body, I know what it can do, how about a little support doing it instead of being discouraging?

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Specializes in school nurse.
As a mom, hearing crap like that ^^^ or "You won't make enough pumping" irritated the crap out of me. Yeah, I know my body, I know what it can do, how about a little support doing it instead of being discouraging?

Careful with this pro-breastfeeding stance. The Trump administration may threaten you with sanctions...

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