Tipped?

[Lunah]

This was too funny ... I had a patient on Saturday who was VERY high maintenance -- literally screaming (in my ear, ouch) in pain. Screaming. My charge nurse thought she was a psych patient! In any case, I took care of her pain, and her. After she was discharged, I took her by wheelchair and helped her into her husband's truck. Then her husband followed me back to the door, pulling out his wallet as he walked after me. He pulled out a $50 and tried to hand it to me, I couldn't believe it! LOL!! I've never had anyone try to tip me before. Of course, I didn't accept it. He kept trying to hand it to me, and I explained that we couldn't accept money, but that his offering it was nice in itself. (I shoulda told him to buy us all pizza with it, but I didn't think of that until later ... oh well!)

My husband is a tattoo artist, and he gets tips all the time ... but this was the first time someone tried to tip me!

[mwboswell]

well if you wanted the full on, philosophic (sp) discussion, you should have said so.....mostly already covered....but down and dirty, it (tipping) is a tool of manipulation....."i pay more, i expect more".....

I'll go with that as more of the "formal" interpretation, but in today's contemporary society, I don't buy that for the number one reason that we "tip" AFTER the service is given, not before.

Now, that being said, the one time it (tipping) is pro-active is when you have an established, ongoing relationship with a service provider (hairstylist, waitress etc) to whom you do REPEAT business.

In my personal life there is only one person (my stylist) that I tip to "ensure" future good service as I keep going back to her. Everyone else I tip, I probably will never see again so it's not a pro-active stimulus in that case, rather it's a "reward" after the fact.

And so, to counter your point (which is a good point), I don't think that "manipulation" is a good answer - maybe we can think of others???

[mwboswell]

Well, I'm not a nurse yet but I can see why it could be thought "unethical" to receive tips. I think it sets a dangerous precedent for money-based care when, in reality, nursing care should be equal among all patients, regardless of their financial status. Frankly, many patients simply cannot afford even an extra two dollars for a tip and their care could suffer based on even the perceived notion that they won't pay a tip. Nursing care needs to remain completely unbiased. Please don't take offense to this post, as I believe 99.9% of you (and me someday!) do it for the care and satisfaction of providing that care, not for the money. We all well know, however, how money can corrupt. Adding such complications as tipping (how do we track it? would tips be shared as in many restaurants? nurses need to be paid MORE, not less as they would be if tips were involved, etc.) adds dimensions of difficulty that are entirely unnecessary in an already demanding occupation.

Nice post Buffkat00.

I like how you worked in the "unbiased" concept and the possible less-than-expected care if someone feels that they won't get a tip. As you can see there could be several inconsistencies in this model.

I would like to retort to one of your points though... I DO NOT think that 99.9% of us do it "not for the money"...

Let's think about that. "IF" all employers suddenly stopped paying nurses, how many would still be on the job? I think 99.9% would LEAVE without being paid. I, myself, am not ashamed to say, that I come to work- I expect to get paid for it. Would I do my job for FREE, heck no (well I "might" volunteer a few hours a month at the free clinic), but definitely not FULL TIME!

Your points are also good about the logistics of what to do with the tips, how to split, how to report, etc.

Good post.

[mwboswell]

A few years ago one of our flight crews transported a Middle Eastern potentate who had coded while partying in a certain city known for its casinos. He was now on a vent, and a nephew came to retrieve him quietly back to their country, via NYC. Our crew handled that leg of the trip.

At the handoff in NY, the potentate-nephew profferred a couple of hundred dollars tip to each crew member. They politely but insistently refused. They gave that man the same good care they try to give every patient, no matter how much or little they pay. That is how we are expected to do our jobs; and darn well should.

How bout this...

What if instead of just declining the "tip" one suggested (as a previous poster did) that they take that tip money and donate it to some charity or non-profit or something like that... would that sit well with us?

[morte, LPN, LVN]

are we doing your homework, or will we be getting remunerated from you next article?

[mwboswell]

are we doing your homework, or will we be getting remunerated from you next article?

???????

[Riseupandnurse]

I would not like a patient to tip me. It implies they are a customer and I am just rendering a service. BUT if the hospital keeps telling us they ARE customers, does that change our relationship so a tip would be in order? Another thought: people can and do "tip" their doctors and lawyers with handmade crafts, flowers, cakes, etc. But a nurse would have to refuse these or share with the whole zone. Why is that? Actually, no hospital employee where I work is allowed to have private tips, even the parking valets. And they are not professionals. So there is more than one thing going on.

[Medic09, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

In my pastoral care position, I often refuse an 'honorarium' or tip, but suggest that they donate it to our organization. I think that is fine. In the Jewish community it is quite common to donate to an organization 'in honor of' or the like. No problem. But the cash should not be going into my pocket, and the patient or client should not think that it might.

I have no problem with suggesting that they make a donation to the hospital, or local volunteer EMS, or whatever.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

???????

since you registered in 2006, you have been here long enough to know that sometimes students come here to get their homework done for them......and you list author in your "signature".......so, are you persuing a higher degree, or writing another article?......or?...

[mwboswell]

since you registered in 2006, you have been here long enough to know that sometimes students come here to get their homework done for them......and you list author in your "signature".......so, are you persuing a higher degree, or writing another article?......or?...

nope, you're way off base on that one.

Just trying to stimulate some deeper thinking and conversation...

That being said, do you have something to contribute now?

[MaverickyMaverick]

conflict of interest.

[MaverickyMaverick]

i would like to get 20% on their bills tho'. hahaha

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

i would like to get 20% on their bills tho'. hahaha

Thanks, I almost snorked my coffee! LOL