Anyone noticed this??

Specialties Emergency

Published

I've worked for about 5 yrs in the ED and have seen some unusual things, but lately, it seems patients are now becoming increasingly demanding. Today I had the brother and sister of a peds patient ask me WHEN I was bringing them chips and a drink, another patient came up to me in the waiting room and insisted that she needed a soda (she was in for nausea and abd pain of course), I had two patients request GLOVES (latex), and one demand the no slip slippers, and one "steal" an ace bandage (we don't charge for them as it is). Of course, several had decided prior to arrival what meds they needed. I'm pretty used to the requests for food, but lately it is getting extreme. Anyone else noticing this?? (or perhaps I am just noticing it more and mroe lately?)

I don't mind requests, or even frequent requests, but the demands or the desire to completely dictate treatment... I think Brownms46 is right, it's not just in the ED, people are getting ruder all over ther place. I wonder why??

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

Howdy Yall

from deep in the heart of texas

I think the stress of current times, is showing itself in all areas of life in general. Rudeness is increaseing in all aspects of life in general. And is showing up all over the place. I held the door to a store open for a man and his wife not long ago, and I was told To F++k Off. I just shake my head and go play more golf.

keep it in the short grass yalll

teeituptom

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Long Term Care.

Re: Increasing rudeness. Anyone remember how decent and kind most people became in the weeks right after the 9/11 tragedy? People headed back to churches in droves, there seemed to be less aggression with drivers, more politeness in stores with clerks and other shoppers, less partisan politics, to name a few, and people seemed to be living at a different pace, more slowly and deliberately-- I'm not sure how to describe it. It didn't take long to get back to the same old same old, did it? :o

Up Vote Up Vote ×

teeituptom is right... it is a shocker that keeps me shaking my head also.... I'm still a young one... and if I did half the stuff that people twice my age do... I would be so ashamed of myself i would crawl under a log and stay there forever...

I am always polite to everyone... even on my bad days, albait... they never notice.. they ask receive and then ignore... I see so many people being rude and ignorant in the general public... it is horrible.. and often wonder where the world is coming to.... Often times I pray for u poor souls how have to deal with them in your jobs.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh My goodness, today I just lost it. I was taking care of a (not sick) lady who vomited one time and headed off with her teenaged children to the ED. Her daughter told me, "I asked this lady for ice chips a long time ago and I can't believe she didn't bring them, what is wrong with her?" I looked at ther and very nicely said, well, dear, I think that lady is taking care of the actual patients." I did go get her the ice, and she pretty much was respectful and had no further requests for several hours. Probably overstepped my boundaries, however.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

Howdy Yall

From deep in the heart of texas.

There are certain times and patients that make us want to overstep our boundaries, just remember In the long run how you play the game is what counts. Then go to the driving range and get rid of your frustrations thataway,,,,,,much safer

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

Katie- good reply

Tom- hope you let the door go in their faces ;)

In our ER they get some crackers and juice unless they have been there long enought to actually need a meal. And nothing while they are still waiting unless they are under 10yo- wouldn't want to feed anyone who might need to be NPO donchaknow. And there is a water fountain, along with lots of nurses that can give very good directions to the cafeteria if they are really that hungry.

I think if you let people treat you like maids then they will, but most of the problem comes from admin that perpetuate the myth of nurses as servants rather than professionals.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

long story short...a pt told me should give back my nursing license the other nite cause l didn't know an answer to a question, {what does RSD stand for?}....l said...''after 22 yrs l am considering it..waitresses get better tips.''..l guess l still have this thing for tips....LOL.....LR:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

OK, so what DOES RSD stand for- or did she mean RSV?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Trust me y'all, it trickels down to our office setting as well. Our pt.s are so spoiled!:stone They come into our office and pretty much tell the Dr. how to treat them. "Give me a shot of PCN. " That will take care of my headache. And get so upset when you try to explain that it wont:mad: Then the phone calls. Wheww calls like my momma wants pain medicine just give her vicodin. It worked for my sister in laws's brother.:imbar And we here are so stressed with the new HIPPA laws for pt. confidintuality that we dont know where to turn. If someone wants to talk to the Dr. about "mothers condition" we cant discuss it without mother present. Well "mother" is homebound. Well try to explain laws and procedures to some of these hometown folks. No way!

Try to explain this.. Mr X you can not have this shot or PSA drawn because your medicare wont pay for it. They just simply dont understand but still demand you to give them that shot or draw a type and Rh just because they want to know what their blood type is. Truth is we have spoiled our pt.s and now they are demanding and Rude.

Gotta Love It:chuckle

Up Vote Up Vote ×

RSD:

The only RSD I know about is:

What is reflex sympathetic dystrophy/complex regional pain syndrome?

RSD/CRPS is a chronic condition characterized by severe burning pain, pathological changes in bone and skin, excessive sweating, tissue swelling, and extreme sensitivity to touch. The syndrome is a nerve disorder that occurs at the site of an injury (most often to the arms or legs). It occurs especially after injuries from high-velocity impacts such as those from bullets or shrapnel. However, it may occur without apparent injury.

The condition called "causalgia" was first documented in the 19th century by physicians concerned about pain that Civil War veterans continued to experience after their wounds had healed. Doctors often called it "hot pain," after its primary symptom. Over the years, the syndrome was classified as one of the peripheral neuropathies, and later, as a chronic pain syndrome. Currently, there are two types of CRPS that are differentiated-type I and type II. Both types share the same basic set of symptoms, but have one distinct difference: type I (previously referred to as RSD) describes cases in which there is no nerve injury, while type II (formerly called causalgia) refers to cases in which a distinct nerve injury, for example from a gunshot wound, has occurred

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/reflexsympatheticdystrophy.html

I also know it takes a truck load of demerol (250mg IM) to relieve the pain in the one case I have seen regularly.

bob

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm all for being a caring and attentive nurse, but sometimes I feel like posting a sign that says,

"This is not the Hilton, nor is it the Holiday Inn. In fact, you're not even close if you think you're at Motel 8. You are in an EMERGENCY ROOM, where EMERGENCIES come first. If your treatment requires food (diabetics) we'll bring it to you. Otherwise, stop at Dairy Queen on your way home."

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment