Why would I NOT help? I'm confused.

[AngelfireRN]

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.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

As a medical student I don't help...

Please don't flame me. Let me explain. Its not because I'm lazy or don't care. But I'm scared I have no idea what to do. I don't want to hurt the patient and I feel like I would do more harm then good.

However after reading this thread on my down time I will ask one of the nurses or CNA to teach me, I'm very willing to learn.....

You're gonna be a good one, I can tell already.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I think that was wonderful of you to assist. No, it is not usually expected that the nurse practitioners in my facility to assist us. In fact, many times, they have made things worse on the floors I occasionally work per diem.

So, thank you!

[CountryGirlRN]

We have one advanced practice (Wound Care & Continence) nurse on our unit and she will ALWAYS help if asked - even though she is very, very busy. She will help clean the pt, turn the pt, change the linens, etc. The docs help too, if you ask them. They don't usually volunteer, though!

[StNeotser, ASN, RN]

No, it wasn't out of line to help it's just unusual. I get tired of MDs & NP/PA's pulling off dressings, and then not even telling me they've done it but have the patient tell me it's off.

I also had a charge nurse a couple of nights ago drop our desk diary and then walk away expecting me to put it back together. I asked if she was going to leave it that way and she said I could do it - I didn't I just told the next shift why it was a mess. She's just a regular RN but I suppose she outranks me so it was my job.

Sad attitude really because it's not really about helping ME, it's all about helping the patient.

[caliotter3]

An RN was doing treatments at a facility that I worked at. Instead of calling for a CNA to clean some poop, he cleaned the resident and proceeded with doing the treatment. The DON, who had been observing him with a clipboard, used this action as the final straw to fire him. (She was observing him after a six day suspension because State had caught him giving 7 am meds at 2 in the afternoon to residents he was not familiar with). I was not the only employee who could not see the justice or wisdom in the RN being fired. Nothing was done to the nurse who called in "sick", so that he got stuck with her med pass to begin with. The other nurses some time later were laughing about how they had set him up for the fall and how they were successful in getting him fired. The nurse who called in "sick" was talked about as if she was the heroine of the facility. I could not see her helping anyone, unless she was helping herself. I know which nurse I would rather work with, or for.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

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.

Why would you think that?

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

Anyone with two sets of hands that can help gets asked.

It could be that I don't think that a role has labels that I truly agree with. I had the Assistant Director of Surgery keeping my confused patient company the other day.

She was available and I needed help.

So what??

I wouldn't hesitate. Get the docs to help all the time.

Don't get this at all....

[JBudd, MSN]

Jeez... I cannot imagine a physician cleaning a patient, or anything of the sort!! It must be different in teaching hospitals, but in the small community ones it would not happen!! An NP seems more likely, though we don't deal with many of those. Like the title says, they're nurses first! :wink2:

Well, in my community ED, the docs do the disimpactions. Never ceases to amaze me, but I'm certainly willing to let them. Nurses still do the enemas.....

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

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.

You did a kind thing. Surely you've worked at your facility long enough to know who helps and who doesn't. Management, supervisors, Docs are not expected to perform direct pt care, and they usually don't. Some truly do think they are too good to clean butts. Some just get lazy. Some deliberately go into management so they don't have to work as hard.

[Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN]

I hit the send marker twice. sorry about the duplicate responses!

[Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN]

You did the right thing. I'm sure the nurse you helped respects you greatly, albeit the shock of you actually jumping in to help might have shocked her a little!!! I'd have been a little shocked too, but glad for the assistance

[rita359]

Have a female dr who was a nurse prior to being dr. She will get water pitcher filled for her pt, help reposition etc. It is nice to see some people are still human when they get their advanced degrees.