"That girl was just sitting there the whole time, doing nothing!"

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I was talking to the Monitor Tech yesterday, we were talking about patient/family complaints or letters of thanks, and I joked with her that she probably never gets either. Not so, she told me. A family member once went to the manager and just wanted to let her know that "That girl was just sitting there the whole time, doing nothing!"

That's the funniest complaint I've heard of in a long time.

[oramar]

I have heard complaints about, "that nurse that sits at the desk all day and talks to her friends". When ask for a description of the nurse I realize they are describing the unit secretary. We teased her and told her "she is just sitting at the desk talking to her friends on the phone". LOL

[NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN]

No doubt from the person whose family member was throwing PVC after PVC.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I have heard complaints about, "that nurse that sits at the desk all day and talks to her friends". When ask for a description of the nurse I realize they are describing the unit secretary. We teased her and told her "she is just sitting at the desk talking to her friends on the phone". LOL

Ha ha, that's a good one!

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Petty complaints like that are what get my aides chased out of the nurse's station even when they are taking a legitimate (and much-needed) break---"it looks bad to the families", management says. :icon_roll

I don't enforce it, though. Why? Because A) I know how hard these people work, and B) I will NOT have families dictate when and where my staff may take their breaks. Frankly, I urge them to get as far away from the floor as possible when on break, just so nobody will bug them! That's not to say that I won't call their attention to the fact that the hall is lit up like a Christmas tree........but by gosh and by golly, if an aide gets two minutes to sit down and catch her breath, I'm gonna let her do it, and if someone wants to pitch a fit about it, I have NO problem explaining that these people are human beings with needs just like everyone else.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Oh, please...one time, I worked in my Coumadin clinic (one nurse is there alone, and we can see as many as 40 patients a day). One patient had an appointment at that clinic, but didn't know why. I saw that the appointment was booked, but saw no referral there, so, before the patient can become disgusted and leave, I went to get the three doctors that did treat him to be sure that no one ordered a Coumadin referral before I let him go. I explained to the other patients that this may take a bit longer, so, please be patient.

One goes to get the nursing manager to report that I am giving this patient more attention than I ever gave her mother and that I am wrong. When I took the manager to the side to explain what really happened, this woman walked up to try and listen and even though she didn't hear the entire thing (HIPPA, you know...??), she says that I did not give HER the same explanation I gave the nursing manager. I told her that if I were entirely capable and inconsiderate enough to do that, then, she would REALLY have a complaint.

Ahhh, you just caught me on the tail end of a bad day...

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

You bad inconsiderate woman, Pagan! You are just so mean!

[youngandnursing]

Petty complaints like that are what get my aides chased out of the nurse's station even when they are taking a legitimate (and much-needed) break---"it looks bad to the families", management says. :icon_roll

I don't enforce it, though. Why? Because A) I know how hard these people work, and B) I will NOT have families dictate when and where my staff may take their breaks. Frankly, I urge them to get as far away from the floor as possible when on break, just so nobody will bug them! That's not to say that I won't call their attention to the fact that the hall is lit up like a Christmas tree........but by gosh and by golly, if an aide gets two minutes to sit down and catch her breath, I'm gonna let her do it, and if someone wants to pitch a fit about it, I have NO problem explaining that these people are human beings with needs just like everyone else.

AMEN! I am going to be a nurse like you, who gives her CNA's a da** break! I have high respect for these people! They work HARD! And if a patient wants to complain, I will tell them just how hard these people work! Amen and AMEN!

[jayne109, RN]

"They are't doing anything" until they notice "UH Mr. X is having a run of V'tach-uh Make that HE"S IN V TACH CODE CODE!" and it is the family member of MR. X that was complaining! That will change their TUNE a BIT!

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

You bad inconsiderate woman, Pagan! You are just so mean!

Yeah... Ain't I a STINKER??

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

AMEN! I am going to be a nurse like you, who gives her CNA's a da** break! I have high respect for these people! They work HARD! And if a patient wants to complain, I will tell them just how hard these people work! Amen and AMEN!

I feel the same way. I want someone who is alert and rested caring for my patients, myself and my loved ones.

[WalkieTalkie, RN]

Shortly after starting computer charting at my hospital, we got a couple of complaints that "the nurses are spending too much time on the computer..." LOL!

We're supposed to chart in the rooms, but often times when I have an awake/alert patient or family present, I will go outside the room to chart to avoid such nonsensical complaints.