Nurse Marge In Charge

Dear Nurse Marge,

I am sure this has never happened to you, but I’m hoping you can help me out with a situation.

Last week,  we had a patient code on our floor.  Of course, everyone was there, doing what needed to be done to take care of that patient, Mrs. J.  While this was happening, Mr. K was supposed to get his medicine.  It just didn’t happen: by the time I got back from the code, the medicine was 15 minutes late.

Of course I heard about it from the Doctor — I mean, he totally flipped out on me.  I explained to him twice that we were dealing with Mrs. J, who was in full code.  His angry response? “This is unacceptable.  It will not be happening again. Am I understood?”  He was shouting, at the top of his voice, two inches from my face.

It was all I could do to not cry, but I held my cool, and just stared at him until he went away.  How should I have handled this?

Signed,

Teared Up in Tucson

Dear Teared Up

Here’s what you do.

You throw a party.  You hang streamers in your unit, balloons, confetti.  The whole bit. Make it festive.  Have someone bring in a cake.  Chocolate is good.  I like chocolate.

Why are you having a party?

It’s obvious. Your doctor has figured out a way to ensure that no patients will ever code, ever again!  Isn’t that wonderful?  I’d invite the media to cover the party.  Maybe you could get a plaque, and present it to the doc, right in front of all those cameras. Have him explain how his order that no more patients are going to code is going to work, exactly…it’s sure to be a big news story.

The prestige from that?

It’ll make his career.  I bet he’ll be very grateful. And afterward? I’m sure he won’t mess with you again.

Good Luck!

Nurse Marge