Thursday 31 January 2008

A Messy Matter of Bad Practice: Part 2

Well, I turned up to work following the writing of a report against a registered nurse, and what a shift it turned out to be...

The nurse in question barely took any notice of me all day which was probably a good thing, until she bellowed at me in the reception area! I wasn't quite prepared for that, and apparently stood bewildered whilst trying to muster an appropriate response. The nurse then made a patient cry.

Nice one.

Later on and feeling victimised, this nurse phoned an RCN rep who spent about an hour in the Sister's office with her. We were a little surprised yet relieved when the RCN rep sent the nurse home and informed her that she wouldn't be working on Eye Casualty again. However, the following day she was working on a ward upstairs causing more trouble. Apparently she shouted at the ward Sister in front of a bay full of patients...

So it's a continuing issue and one which I'm no longer privy to. Let's hope things are sorted out as quickly as possible without further atrocity. And that my report isn't called for in a legal environment!

4 comments:

Staff Nurse M said...

Considering that the Nurse is question is a number of things, I find it very odd on a number of levels:
1) The individual is, by the sounds of it, very unprofessional in their approach. I would go as far to say a disgrace to the Nursing profession.

2) How was such an individual allowed to practice in the eye casualty for so long, and after being removed from the department sent to another ward. That surly should warrent at least 2 weeks suspension. I'm tempted to say without pay as well).

3) Is that the trust making the same effect of shuffeling the deckchairs?

Elizabeth said...

I certainly agree with you over your first point. It worries me that there are such people working in the health service.

The nurse in question had only been in Eye Casualty for about two weeks - she's permenantly based up on the ward. Many Ophthalmology staff, however, are given the opportunity to rotate which is important in Eye Casualty as the staffing levels are declining rather rapidly.

Who knows what will happen next? The problem so far is that her former employers have written glittering references for her, simply to ship her on to somewhere else where she becomes someone else's problem. Nice, eh?

Staff Nurse M said...

The point is a glowing reference is too true. There again though, I have had a good reference, but that is because I am good in my work. Given the difficulties in trying to dismiss somebody, most employers find it alot easier to simply pass the buck on to another place.

I however do not believe that the health service should be such a theatre for individuals like this. I once did write that when it comes to patients, they all are somebody's son, Daughter, or even parent, Girlfriend/Boyfriend etc. Melodramatic as it sounds I certianly remeber it when talking to folks. Another is that you never know who the relatives of a patient are. For example, my girlfriend is a patient at the moment. Both her and myself are Student Nurses, her mother is a contract manager for the PCT at a local health centre where she lives, and my girlfriend is known by several consultants. Her ward is lovelly, though bad practice would be noted before they layman. My regualr mate on the ambulance once took an elderly woman into hospital. Her son came along with her and was asking questions regarding the treatment protocals. My mate told him. On asking what he did, the son replied that he was a Barrister! Imagine what he would have done if he was displeased with the care that night!

LizzyFerret said...

Never fun to have to go up against an SN. Fairplay to you for taking your stand!

I would LOVE to know where you spent this placement/are doing your training, as I had 8 weeks of hell in the Eye Department during my nurse training!

If you are so moved to break cover and squeak you can PM me on my blog and I'll email you - saving your cover and all ;D