was i wrong?

Always cover you butt. Unless you have a system that has a place to document "Reported to MD" and what was reported to MD....never assume that the info is passed on.

Use this being reported as a tool to change your system. Something that has in black and white what was given to the MD....that way even if it was not info that was given to the MD, if you had something from the offgoing shift that they said they told that info.... it would CYA.

and when in doubt, if it is pertinant info to the well being of your patient..... it is better to bother His Holyness- the MD, with info he has already gotten, then to skip it and assume he has it, and have harm come to the patient. You may get yelled at by the MD for giving him info he already has...but seriously, if it is something life or death, I would rather have 7 different people tell him every hour until there was documentation to that fact (0r an order addressing the issue) than the alternative of it never being reported.

Don't feel bad. New nurses can be prickly (I was) Talk to her honestly if you can (which is what she should have done instead of snitching) and explain to her as you have done here. It is perfectly reasonable to not want to make repeat calls to a doc that may be a little more than ticked off at duplicate calls.

Hey, we had a patient on my floor who was hypothermic (probably due to a stroke or sepsis...can't quite remember) but that patient had a rectal temp below 96 degrees for a week..... and every time I had that patient, and every time VS were due (Q4H) I called that MD on nights.... 8pm, 12am, 4am. and I got heck every time I called! She said.... I KNOW the temp is low! Im like... OK doc, just wanted to let you know what it was this time.... you order it. Im going to report it. you can yell and scream at me. that's ok. I'll call and report a lab that may or may not have been reported earlier.....if it doesn't have "REPORTED TO ME AT sutch and such a time" on it, or the MD's signature, or an order reflecting that they saw it.... well, to me, that is something I should and can report. CYA the docs may grumble, but that is what they are paid for.

i'm wondering if this new grad was feeling overwhelmed, and vented to the nm?

i would likely take her aside, and explain the 'zillion questions' you had, clarifying the need to know pertinent info.

leslie

What exactly did the nurse manager tell you? To "play nice" next time you're given report by this nurse? I really don't see what you did wrong, really. I've had nurses ask me for clarification many a times, some with more attitude than others. But it never occurred to me to report them. Unless they're accusing me of something blatantly wrong, which would be a much different story.

Anyway, you did what you had to do to protect yourself and the patient. Good for you. Sounds like that nurse needs to toughen up a bit.

dudette, i might have looked/acted pertubed but i wasn't doing it personally, i was just trying to clarify some conflicting info i was given in report, i got reported for making her upset,for being ''mean'' i don't know. will change my approach next time.

dudette, i might have looked/acted pertubed but i wasn't doing it personally, i was just trying to clarify some conflicting info i was given in report, i got reported for making her upset,for being ''mean'' i don't know. will change my approach next time.

I hate having to ***** foot around.......just because she didn't like your tone of voice or whatever.....of course I always get in trouble for being blunt, LOL

Different nurses have different preferences for report styles but personally I feel it is an exchange of information and therefore I have no problem either asking or answering questions. I'm not talking about an hour long gab session but definitely clear up any gray areas.

i'm with you, jules.

it's a pretty pathetic day in nsg, when we become reluctant in asking questions, because someone may get their feelings hurts.

dang.

leslie

Hey, we had a patient on my floor who was hypothermic (probably due to a stroke or sepsis...can't quite remember) but that patient had a rectal temp below 96 degrees for a week..... and every time I had that patient, and every time VS were due (Q4H) I called that MD on nights.... 8pm, 12am, 4am. and I got heck every time I called! She said.... I KNOW the temp is low! Im like... OK doc, just wanted to let you know what it was this time.... you order it. Im going to report it. you can yell and scream at me. that's ok. I'll call and report a lab that may or may not have been reported earlier.....if it doesn't have "REPORTED TO ME AT sutch and such a time" on it, or the MD's signature, or an order reflecting that they saw it.... well, to me, that is something I should and can report. CYA the docs may grumble, but that is what they are paid for.

In that sort of situation I will call once or twice and if they're OK with it I'll flat out saying, "Obviously you're aware of this, do you want call parameters?" This alleviates them being snarky, and it eliminates those docs that just don't seem to want to call back sometimes. Saves their nerves too when they have to round the next morning.