I am struggling to find a balance, where I can practice as the diligent nurse I am, following policy/protocol, vs becoming the enemy. If I hear “we’ve always done it this way” one more time, I think I’ll have a coronary!
I am not a “yes (wo)man” and I don’t do things based on archaic and dogmatic thinking. The whole cold weather/air conditioning causes colds myth makes me want to cry.
I very recently oriented with a nurse that firmly stated trach changes were “clean procedures.” She rolled her eyes as I was doing my best to maintain a “sterile field” and laughed out loud, literally, when I confirmed that she’d take out old trach, on my count of 3.
Her confusion re how to “sterilize” a Bivona was the scariest part. She’d been soaking them in H2O2, letting it air dry, and “packaging” it with no date, no #of times used...nothing.
No wonder a wicked “cold” had been traveling from nurse to family member, and vice versa, for weeks. I had to call out, my 1st solo shift, because I caught the dag-nab thing!
Clinical managers can’t complete the tasks expected of them, so “snitching” on someone will get you super unpopular, in a real hurry.
Real-life, honest and genuine responses, based on experience, education, etc are most welcome & appreciated.
