"So I put in the order for the CT-- now I can just sign out, right?" asked one of my interns.
"No. You have to wait for the results."
"Oh, come on. It's late."
"And what if it shows something?"
"The night team will deal with it."
"They have a million patients. We order a test, we have to wait for the results."
"That's ridiculous."
"I'm not leaving a sign-out that says, 'check his CT results, and if it shows something, do something about it.' How would you feel if you were on night float and that's the note you got?"
"I wouldn't do anything-- I'd save it for the day team tomorrow."
"And by then the patient will be...?"
"Fine. He'll be fine. What's going to happen in one night?"
"Have you worked nights yet?"
"No."
"Okay. You'll see after you work nights. There are some things it's okay to sign out. Emergency scans that may need to be acted on immediately-- not okay."
"You're the one who's always trying to leave as early as we can."
"I know. That's why when I say we can't leave yet, you should listen."
"But I don't want to be here anymore."
"I don't want to be here anymore either."
"So let's just go, and let the night team deal with it."
"We'll go after we get the results and see if we need to do anything."
"They shouldn't even do a CT this late. Then we could just leave."
"Did you finish writing all of your other notes?"
"No."
"Then you can't leave anyway."
"Come on, don't tell me we have to write notes on the weekend too."
Monday, August 29, 2011
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Interesting...we always sign over CT scans to the night staff, unless they're very close to being finished and can easily be followed up by the person leaving. Notes, on the other hand, never get signed over.
ReplyDeleteA senior administrator once mentioned that the #1 reason why folks get fired from residency, and essentially the only reason, was unprofessionalism (particularly showing up chronically late or neglecting clearly basic responsibilities).
ReplyDeleteI had always thought that he was exaggerating to scare us. I now see that, perhaps, he was not.
Unless the CT is ordered stat, it can take several hours before it's completed at my hospital. I've never seen a resident stick around after their shift for the results. That said (written)...
ReplyDeleteI can't believe people actually argue when their preceptor gives them responsibilities. I can't imagine telling my nurse "Nope. I don't feel like getting that BP. I'm going home now." It's very much understood that 'shift-out' times are guidelines and never ever rigid. I clock out on schedule maybe 1/5 times.
Holy Jesus, these people!
ReplyDeleteI hate your interns, and I'm not even working with them.
ReplyDelete