Would you disobey your instructor???
@00BleedingShadow00 (784)
Philippines
July 23, 2009 11:07am CST
I am currently studying nursing. Last week I had my duty in the emergency room. A patient was brought in the emergency room because of fever and vomiting. My clinical instructor gave me the cardex for recording purposes because I will be checking for the vital signs of the patient (temperature, respiration rate, pulse rate, and blood pressure). I saw that the temperature was already recorded and it was 36.5 celcius. I was so suspicious about the readying because when I touched the patient she was hot and she doesn't look ok. So, I checked her temperature. After 5 minutes I removed the thermometer from her arm pit and the reading reveals that she is febrile. The reading was 38.1 celcius. I went to my clinical instructor and told him that the first reading was incorrect. I ask him what to do and he told me to shut up. I was about to approach the doctor when he told me "Just forget about it. we cannot alter the first reading of her temperature." WTF!?!?!?! I was really shocked when he told me that. He told me that we will be liable for the alteration in the cardex. I turned my back at him and went to the doctor and I told her what happened. Now, the incident is a big issue in school. Everyone's buzzing about it. Some were glad because of what I did. I was just so concerned about the patient. Some were not happy because they think that I am a show-off. But I don't care. For as long as I am doing a good thing I don't give a damn about what others say. Yeah, i disobeyed my instructor.... for a good cause. 
2 people like this
3 responses
@mrakobesie (1246)
• United States
23 Jul 09
i'm studying to be a nurse too, and i see more and more that some nurses just write vitals without even checking them... it could cause many problems for the patient if something like that happens. my instructors thank god actually want us to double check everything. i have do double check the blood pressure if i'm giving medications for example, even if someone already did them right before me. some instructors don't really care. However there was an insident with my class mate when she saw patients abuse and professor told her to just let it go becasue we were guests in the hospital and if hospital thought we were too much of an inconvenience they might never let us stay there again. basically what she saw was one of the nurces aids punching a patient in the face. he knocked a tooth out, but they just recorded it as "tooth fell out." nothing about patient being punched. the patient was old and couldn't really talk any more. his mental state wasn't too good ether, so it's not like he could report it and fight for his rights. The girl didn't do anything about it after her professor said to leave it be, but honestly, nurses are supposed to be patient's advocates, we are not supposed to be tought to let thinks go when we see a patient in danger. I'm planing to tell every patient i have exactly what side effects each of their medications have, my guess is that my instructor will not be too happy about it, but they can shove it, i'm here to protect patients, not doctors, pharmaceutical companies or hospitals, they can protect themselves. I sure wouldn't want to be in the shoes of the patient who is in the ER and is misdiagnosed, so why would we allow others to be in this situation? i think you did the right thing, great job. i hope there will be more people like you in the medical field.
1 person likes this
@00BleedingShadow00 (784)
• Philippines
23 Jul 09
Awww! This is a good response, sweetheart! Finally, I have found the best response. Maybe because you are also a nursing student and you really know what I am going through? Well, I just hope to work with you in the near future because we have the same mentality when it comes to patient care. Good job! 
@mrakobesie (1246)
• United States
23 Jul 09
I think people just don't know exactly what each vital sign can mean... before i got into nursing i wouldn't even think to count pulse or respirations before taking meds, now i know exactly how important it could be and how easily people can die if it's not done... and when you are in the ER, ICU or post op it is even more important to be on top of every little change... once you see a person going from not knowing his own name to knowing the exact name of the hospital he is in and the only thing that changed was that he was finally getting the amount of IV fluids he should be getting you start thinking differently...
1 person likes this
@okkidokitokki (1736)
• United States
23 Jul 09
I have never and will never be in the medical field. I do know that there are times to disobey and times to keep your mouth shut.
I cannot say which applies in this situation because I have no medical knowledge. If what you did was right in your eyes and did not harm the patient then good for you.
I do not agree with the first person to post on this discussion. I am sure that it is a cultural difference though.
You should always question your instructors if you do not understand or think they are wrong.
I have in the past disobeyed my instructors. Nothing as dramatic as yours but just as important in my line of study. Always do what is right. But be ready to take the consequences, even if you are right.
1 person likes this
@00BleedingShadow00 (784)
• Philippines
23 Jul 09
Yes, I agree with you. Instructors are also humans and they also do commit mistakes in their lifetime. Following their wrong teachings is just so pathetic.
