Why would I NOT help? I'm confused.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

OK, so I am seeing a consult in the unit, sitting at the desk, writing progress notes, and one of the nurses starts yelling for help. I went over to see what she needed and saw that she was trying to clean up a rather large, very obtunded lady, and the nurse who was supposed to have been helping her was not there. So, without really thinking anything much about it, I grabbed some isolation gear and started suiting up. The nurse looked out and saw me and said, "Oh, no, Angelfire, I'm wiping poop, you don't want to do that. RN2 was supposed to be here, they'll get her".

I looked at her and before I could police my mouth (big surprise, I know) I blurted out "You know, I was a NURSE before I was a Nurse Prac." She looked back at me, kinda relieved like, and said "Are you SURE you don't mind?".

We got her washed, dried, slicked up with Calmoseptine, and turned. The other nurse never did show up. They were so slammed this morning.

Afterward, I went back to the desk, finished my progress note (which had no spontaneously combusted or walked off like that poor lady thought it might), and dictated. I bet she thanked me 10 times before I left.

You know, I'm confused......I thought I was SUPPOSED to help out. No, the lady we changed was not on my rounds list, and yes, I was doing things and had plenty of other things to do, to be sure, but I would never not help a fellow nurse that needed it, just because I have a different role now. It took 15 minutes, my consults were not critical, no one was dying, and she needed HELP! The way she reacted just kinda stunned me, I guess. I remember my days as a floor nurse, and having RT or PT or some other faction come out of a room and announce "They're ready to be cleaned up." and walk off. Always steamed my clams.

So, docs, NPs, nurses, weigh in here, please. Was I out of line? I mean, if I'm not really supposed to help, I'd like to know, and I'd like to know WHY. I thought (and everyone says) that I was a very friendly, outgoing person, and I have never given the impression that I don't want to help or think that I am too good to do certain tasks. I don't know, maybe no NP or doc had ever offered to help her before.

Do the docs and NPs help out at your facility? What is the reaction? What is the expectation? Thanks in advance.

[EMSnut45, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I'm a new grad in an ICU that utilizes NP's. They are all willing to jump in and help with bedside nursing skills if they see a need. We certainly don't expect it, though!

Thanks, Angelfire, for remembering your roots! It means a lot more than you know!

[dlzk123]

I appreciate your way to help her.HElping mnd is always good just because if we help someone ,in our need also some one will help us.I personally feels that"patience'' is the most important quality for a nurse.Then we can able to overcome any situations .Dont worry everything is a part of our job.Have a nice time

[BigBub1000]

You weren't out of line but I think it must be unusual for an NP to do bedside care.

When doctors occasionally lend a hand with bedside care, it is appreciated yet somehow embarrassing.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

Good for you!

Nope, the doctors don't do bedside care, and we don't have any NPs in our ED. I recently had a doctor tell me "It's kind of hard to do a rectal exam with a patient who still has his pants on, but I managed.". Don't worry, I didn't say anything "smart".

[leslie :-D]

i am recalling when i was over my head with a pt, and needed help stat.\

a pa was the only one around, so i asked him to help me.

it was obvious i was flustered and need help NOW.

the pa looked up at me, and said, "you want ME to help???" and i immediately responded, YES!!!

he asked me what the problem was, and i told him i had a hallucinating, combative pt w/diarrhea, vomiting and trying to pick those "f'ing bugs" out of his fungating lesions...and that i needed help NOW.

mind you, this is an inpatient hospice facility, yet this pa reminded me that he didn't go to school for 'that'.

i slammed the door shut, kept the call light going and re-entered the battle grounds.

so yeah, of course there are some who didn't go to school...

"for that".

you know that angel.

you're just one of the rarities.

thanks for being you.:redbeathe

leslie

[SaraO'Hara]

I would share my cookies with you anytime.

I had a doctor who helped me pull patients up in bed a couple of times... I was pleased but a bit frightened.

Then again, you get the ones who pull off the complicated/painful/takes 30mins and two nurses dressing, don't tell you, and walk out the door. :angryfire

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

Oooh, I hate the dressing thing! Did they not learn how to do dressings while in med school? I recently went in to DC a pt., and she says to me "You'll have to redo my dressing, hon, the doctor took it off to look at it."

[CBsMommy]

I'm not even in the hospital setting yet but yes, it's very rare for someone high on the totem pole to help out. I think people are so used to having to "go it alone" without management's help. I was in the mortgage business for 13 years and when I was low man on the totem pole, I was used to having the "big" bosses sit in their ivory towers and not help (I'm not saying this is ALL managers but most). When I was a manager, it was a SHOCK to my employees that instead of sitting in my office down the hall, I would sit in a cubicle in the same row as my employees helping to do their job (we were very short staffed). I got looked down upon from my managers that I would sit in a cubicle and help out. It made me closer to my staff and they were, in turn, more willing to help me out. Kudos to you, Angelfire, for helping to step in there where so many wouldn't.

[Anisettes, BSN, RN]

You weren't out of line - just something of an anomaly. It's just that it doesn't happen much on many floors (or hospitals) and often other nurses don't/won't help you out, let alone someone in advanced practice.

Kind of along the lines, but also kind of off tangent, I remember ages ago when I was a new nurse working med/surg in New York, I put a patient on the bedpan and left so she could do her business in privacy. I came back a few minutes later to take it from her and she was chatting with one of the medical residents who was assessing her.

I said "excuse me a second, doc, I need to take Mrs. X's bedpan". The patient smiled and said "Oh, the doctor already took it." I thought I must have dropped acid without knowing it because I was obviously hallucinating - BUT - he actually had!

I must report however, he was not an American born MD, he was from Nigeria, spoke 5 languages, had the most wonderful bedside manner and soft voice, and PRINTED in block letters all of his orders. I bumped in to him about 10 years later in a Las Vegas hospital (small world) and he was still just as sweet as an attending.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

My OM just told me that I was perfectly OK to do what I did, but that the nurses just were not used to that, that everyone for the most part had theirself planted very firmly in the "That's not MY job" box.

Nice to know that I did not screw up for once.

[vivacious1healer]

That is awesome that you helped her out! Thank you!

I laugh out loud to even imagine any of the NPs on our floor helping out with such a mess. It just would NEVER happen....even if asked.

I have put some of the newbie residents to work by asking for their assist to reposition a patient if they happen to walk by or be in the room. I have asked them to accompany a confused and restrained patient to a test.