As a RN for over 25 yrs., I must respond to the infected Ebola RN in TX. While getting dressed for work the news reported that the nurse is to blame for contracting this deadly disease because she didn’t use appropriate protocol while caring for Thomas Duncan (SERIOUSLY) and last wk a nurse was blame for discharging him from the ER. (WHICH IS NOT A NURSES ROLE) That really pissed me off! Nursing is one of the most dangerous PROFESSIONS in America. We work in several areas and exposed to dangerous and deadly blood borne pathogens through contaminated needle sticks, sharps, or splash exposures. We are exposed to violence from patients, family, gang members and the mentally ill. In the back of our heads we have to make sure we are protecting not only the patient but ourselves and our licenses remembering dosages on meds, sterile techniques, mechanical lifting, correct documentation the list goes on. Let me give you a snippet of my world, I’ve been bitten, cursed out, had urine thrown at me, I had to pack wounds that I could put an 6month infant in, I had to deal with smells that would knock an elephant out. I had to take patients off ventilators, comfort families and tag and bag lifeless bodies, I worked on young blk boys that were shot up like dogs in the street. I’ve held crack babies when they were going thru withdrawals, young girls who were raped repeatedly, held the hand of the elderly that was left alone. I’ve been an advocate, intercessor, friend, mother, sista girl you name it. I just completed my 2nd self-defense class as it was reported 2 months ago a nurse was raped in Harvey over a period of 24 hrs., in the home of a child she cared, 3 yrs ago, minutes before my scheduled visit in CCH the caregiver was killed by her boyfriend before he killed himself. Our lives are at risk DAILY !! So THAT’S why I’m upset, that poor nurse is not being represented well. If she did something that put her at risk I’m sure it wasn’t intentional. In the hospital you will see a nurse more than you see a doctor so if nothing else respect what we do, we don’t make the big salaries but we have the compassion and the education, I’m sure my nursing colleague’s feel where I’m coming from! #ILOVEWHATIDO #YOUWOULDWANTMEASYOURNURSE #DON’TMESSWITHME
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 15:56:00 +0000