Blog

A senior member of the nursing staff is providing orientation and training to a newly hired nurse in the hospital. When a nurse is assigned to a medical-surgical unit, she is given procedure instructions. The nurse is told to “push Heparin IV” into the patient’s arm via a tube. When the nurse was in the nursing program, she was told not to do anything like that because it could have serious consequences. When the newly hired nurse questioned the procedure, the senior nurse told her, “Look, that is how we do it here, missy.” We are understaffed and do not have the time to perform the procedure intravenously. If you want to work here, you’ll do it the same way.” What should the new nurse’s reaction be in this situation? Why?