No matter what's causing Broom Hilda's cold shoulder, you've got to fix it because a nurse who doesn't trust your blood draws or ECG strips can eventually affect a patient's treatment and outcome. The last thing you want is an ED doc not knowing your patient had PVC salvos just as you arrived at the ED and let that go untreated. The patient can slip into V-fib and die unnecessarily.
My gut reaction is that this nurse either doesn't have a true appreciation for EMS or she's had a bad experience with you, your partner or other crews. If she's had a bad experience with you or others, use Plan A: Find the problem and fix it. Example: If she took one of your remarks the wrong way, the problem might be resolved with a simple apology.
If you can't scrape up any dirt on why she's so anti-EMS, use Plan B: Get her away from the ED and chip through her icy personality. Some nurses remain all business while in the ED and don't loosen up until they hang up their stethoscope at 11 p.m. to meet their friends at a local watering hole. Join their ED gang after work, let her see you in a social environment, and don't talk about EMS unless she brings it up. One of the other ED staffers will eventually start talking about a great job you did on a trauma patient or how you handled a prolapsed cord on a recent childbirth call. That's your chance to chime in. But don't grab center stage and yap like a jackass that just got unhitched from his wagon. Be professional and let her see that you're not just some ambulance driver.
It's amazing what a little humility and a tequila sunrise can accomplish. If she loosens up and nibbles the EMS bait, sink the hook and invite her to join you and your partner for a Friday night's adventure in the enchanted world of EMS. I guarantee that if you get her out on a few extrications or a cardiac arrest in the middle of a packed honky-tonk, she'll change her attitude.
If she won't loosen up in a social environment or join you in the field, you're going to have to go to Plan C: the direct approach. Talk to her in the ED break room when no one else is around and simply ask her why she seems so annoyed by you and other EMS crews.
If she tells you to stick EMS where the sun don't shine and expects you to genuflect when she enters the room, you need to advance to Plan D: Unload on her. Put her on notice that you won't allow her pompous attitude to affect patient care. Remind her that they're your patients well before they reach her "controlled environment," and if you can't both play on the same team, one of you will have to sit on the bench-and you have no intention of riding the pine.
Tell her you expect the same professional courtesy she extends to other members of the medical staff. Point out that it was her cardiac care instructors and lab supervisors who taught you how to take the ECGs and draw the blood you give her. And remind her that her job includes listening to and documenting your patient reports and keeping and processing all blood work ordered by medical control or your protocols.
Let her know you'll be documenting all information and items provided to her and will note in your report if she discards ECG strips or refuses to listen to your patient reports. If that doesn't bring her nose down to earth, you'll have to move to Plan E: Formally approach her supervisor to adjust her attitude.
I'm giving you the full menu. You can use the progressive plan and move from plan A-E or simply pick the one that applies to your Nurse Nightingale.
