[kimmer1113LPN]

There are days that really get under my skin especially when pts or pt's families make comments like "I'm paying more to stay here then I do at the Four Seasons. I had better get good service." ********* Sorry....I got a bit side-tracked. Good Luck with those "types" of people.[/quote]

My reply to that would be (with a smirk on my face) "but did you ever try to get a heparin drip from room service?" That shuts 'em up like right now.

[lannisz]

Our hospital has a Patient Advocate (don't ever want her position!). They handle patient and family complaints. I have not ever personally been threatened with being sued, but I often hear patients or family members threaten to sue the hospital... I usually respond "I can give you the direct line for our Patient Advocate, she can help you address these concerns" sometimes people just want to be heard,yes....but I think it's kind of stupid of them to make threats.

[GLORIAmunchkin72]

What do you say? "Go ahead. Make my day." (No. not really). I would just say, "I'm sorry you feel this way".

[pabby]

I have said:

"If I had a nickel for every time someone said that to me, I wouldn't have to work anymore". (not a recommended response)

"Get in line. If there's anything left by the time they get to you, you can have it". (again, not a recommended response)

"Do you really want to go to all that trouble to get my 9 year old car?" (once again, not a recommended response)

"Well, I am sure you will do what you feel is the right thing to do". (better response...a bit more neutral)

"What seems to be your problem? Perhaps we can fix it." (truthfully, i don't like to use this one too often, because it makes them think that the suing threat works)

The bottom line is that, as another poster said, they threaten to sue out of a sense of powerlessness over their situation, their life, their health. Anyone can sue...it's whether or not they will win, or actaully be able to make a case, that is the issue. "Reasonable and prudent" care is the goal...do that, and you should be fine.

[HappyJaxRN]

Originally Posted by siri

First of all, let me start out this post by saying I do NOT advocate doing what I did.

When I was a whole lot younger. Very young nurse in OB, I had had a horrible month of most difficult deliveries.

One night, after we had worked so very hard to save this girls' life, and, after everything was over and the mom and baby were doing wonderfully, the father (the girls' father) followed me outside the hospital.

He looked at me and said, "I'm thinking about suing you."

I said, "My name is XXXXX..........please be sure you spell it right."

LOL...Oops. I'm glad he didn't sue you...I don't know what I would say if someone said that to me directly. I've heard pts say that they want to sue our hospital, but I haven't heard that in a long time.

[kadokin]

Originally Posted by PrisonrNurs

HA! HA! HA! I had to laugh when I read this thread! In my 2.5 years as a prison nurse, I've been threatened with a law suit at least 14 times, been "charged" with RAPE 4 times and have been presented with at least 2 subponeas. Inmates are perhaps the most sue-happy people on the planet and like to play the "attorney" card whenever they can.

The first law suit involved the loss of one inmate's testicle due to an infection. We later found out that the inmate had been masturbating...while he had a catheter in place. How he pulled that one off is beyond my ablility to understand. What's really funny is that the names on the subopenas were wrong and had to be changed again!

The second inmate tried to sue us because his PPD test came back positive. He says we gave him TB.

When an inmate threatens me with a law suit, I say "Will you be using the same lawyer who tried to keep you OUT of jail?" That usually shuts them up. If not, I let them have it and remind them of all the tests, labs and assessments they refused. This is usually as far as it goes.

"The same lawyer" ha... hahaha.....hahaha

[kadokin]

Originally Posted by ShayRN

I had a similar stock reply when I worked the jail. Get in line, which would you like first, my mortgage or my car payment.

Good one!

[kadokin]

Originally Posted by kimmer1113LPN

There are days that really get under my skin especially when pts or pt's families make comments like "I'm paying more to stay here then I do at the Four Seasons. I had better get good service." ********* Sorry....I got a bit side-tracked. Good Luck with those "types" of people.

My reply to that would be (with a smirk on my face) "but did you ever try to get a heparin drip from room service?" That shuts 'em up like right now.

[/quote]
And is the astronomical cost REALLY due to the price of nursing service? HHHMMM, sometimes, I wonder. We seem to hear that a lot from management. I want proof!

Here's my stock reply to "I'm going to sue you":

THAT'S YOUR PRIVILEGE. In the mean time, is there anything I do to help you now?

So, what about it, legal eagles, is this response inappropriate? Please let me know.

[wincha]

Originally Posted by Havin' A Party!

Shouldn't comments like the ones mentioned here be addressed more directly though?

Something like: "You appear to be upset. Can I help you with anything?" Or anything to this effect.

This would give the patient (or whoever) the opportunity to state their specific prob, and provide us with some identifiable issue we may need to pass on or act on, if reasonable, to avoid or minimize any damage that might ensue.

Since the complaint may be legit, why not take advantage and learn where they're coming from at an early junction?

you are right. in one situation a friend of mine was in the hospital for 6 hours with their asthmatic child. no o2, no treatments, his toes were turning blue. no one would take care of this child they just sat their waiting. they called me i told the dad to go out and tell that he would sue someone if his son didnt' get treatment.

[Happy2Beme]

Originally Posted by PrisonrNurs

When an inmate threatens me with a law suit, I say "Will you be using the same lawyer who tried to keep you OUT of jail?" That usually shuts them up. If not, I let them have it and remind them of all the tests, labs and assessments they refused. This is usually as far as it goes.

Too funny! I worked in corrections too, for 4 years.
That's how I used to answer grievences: "I'm being denied medical attention "
I'd get the chart and and start writing: You were seeen on sick call 1/1, 1/3, 1/6, 1/12, 1/15, etc....you were referred by PA and saw MD,1/22/ 1/24....you had xray ordered that you refused to go get done,,on 1/25...you had 10 RX's written for you this month ....and lastly you have been referred to Psychiatrist