Who's The Boss, Nursing or Management???

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Totally annoying day. I have an RN who transferred from the ER to our clinic, and I promised her today that I would guide her on how to use the glucometers that we give away, to obtain teaching material from the computer and basically how to navigate the endless crowd that constantly demands our attention...NOW.

I taught her the glucometer, walked her through things and was trying to familiarize her with the diabetic medications; knowing that she had a different focus in the emergency room. She wasn't aware of diabetics being prescribed aspirin and ace inhibitors, and I reminded her of HgbA1c, etc...(some of you guys may remember my post last night asking about the aspirin).

In any event, we went to our seperate rooms and the chart I pulled had a perfect example; a patient whose a1c was 12%, was put on a statin, an ace inhibitor and aspirin, so, I walked into her room to pull the computerized chart for her to see the labs, the doctor's note and scripts for herself. The nurse told me she wanted to take that patient to learn, so, let's review, I stay there, and she would get into the flow of the teaching. Makes sense, right?? We have to help each other and we have to learn. Most times, we learn as we go, which is why we call this a PRACTICE!!!

Suddenly, our clinic manager (who is not a nurse) walked in and asked if we had the chart for patient so and so. It was the same chart we had. She tells us that the patient is making a scene in the waiting area and she was going to bring the patient to us. I told her to please wait, I would go get the patient, but we were reviewing the chart for clarity. She then gets indignant...yelling "I AM ADVOCATING FOR THIS PATIENT...SHE WAS WAITING A LONG TIME, AND I DEMAND THAT SHE BE SEEN NOW". I tell her that while I comprehend that she has a need, we are the ones that have to determine safety, teach each other and be able to provide the correct information--a job that she CANNOT DO. When she walked out, I slammed the door behind her!! And, HOPED she reported me!! She didn't, but she is the type that has to show and prove that she owns nurses like slaves. Anyways, we worked through it, and slamming the door was very therapeutic. How dare this woman determine what we should do for her convienance and :bowingpur to HER?? Is she insane?? But, if this nurse was not alerted of certain things, she would not have been effective in teaching. Yes, she is a very seasoned RN, but she needs to know where resources are, refamiliarize herself with the common medications in this area, and also, if either of us made an error, we could NOT tell the BON that we didn't do it right because Manager Bimbo rushed us!

:banghead:Goodness, we get it from all ends, huh??

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.
:banghead:Goodness, we get it from all ends, huh??

Also from ends we didn't even know existed!!

I like your therapeutic door closing!

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Also from ends we didn't even know existed!!

I like your therapeutic door closing!

Yeah, ain't I a STINKER?? :yeah::typing

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Vent!! - Who's The Boss, Nursing or Management???

Who payes the bills? Management. In the end, someone connected to someone is watching over everyone who's paid to do a service. Nursing is NEVER in charge of anything.

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.
Yeah, ain't I a STINKER?? :yeah::typing

Weren't you a stinker in another post recently?? You stinkers sure do get around!! :bow:

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.
Vent!! - Who's The Boss, Nursing or Management???

Nursing is NEVER in charge of anything.

I have had the exact same thoughts myself.

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Part of the problem is nurses are not see as revenue producers, but are seen as a cost, a budget drain. Because we do not charge for our services, per se, but are included in the room charge.

Of course, when you look at the big picture and can show that adequate staffed and trained nurses in a facility decrease complications, shorten stays, improve both patient and physician satisfaction, so they are more likely patronize said facility, which will increase its revenue, (bottom line).

However, that is looking at a hospital's nursing staff as a whole over the relatively long term.

In the short term because of the emphasis on customer satisfaction for immediate gratifcation, and most managers I've seen will not back their nurses in front of an 'irate' client, and nursing is seen as a somewhat servile profession, (not a serving profession), petty managers act 'petty' and think it is appropiate behavior, they would not act like that to a physician who was 'dragging his feet' or seeing patients, and not moving a 'back log' fast enough for them, or demanding he see an irate patient now.

Rather they would talk to him in the most tactful and polite way possible.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Weren't you a stinker in another post recently?? You stinkers sure do get around!! :bow:

Yeah, I've been on a roll this week...:dncgbby::dncgbby:

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