"Thats not my patient"

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I think our jobs as healthcare professionals would go a lot smoother if these two sayings were banned from all facilities.

"Thats not my patient."

"Thats not my job."

Any other thoughts on this?

the doctors I work with always ask if you are taking care of this particular patient and if you say no they always ask if the nurse is at lunch....they prefer getting accurate info from the nurse responsible and will wait to talk to her ....I prefer it that way also...the patients get better care that way

is anyone else out there after 24 years of nursing or so finding it hard to be the compassionate and loving person that nurses are supposed to be?....I get thank you letters and praise from families all the time but I deep down find it hard to put up with the crap of nursing anymore.....coworkers...doctors...management...administration......protocol that doesn't make sense.....rude people.....rotten hours and a schedule that makes you want to just quit.......if I didn't have 2 kids in college and 2 in high school I'd would quit and do something else.....any suggestions?....

Specializes in Oncology, Cardiology, ER, L/D.

I agree with StevieLynn's post about teamwork. I think that if you see something that needs to be done, just do it, whether it is anwering a call light or emptying an overflowing biohazard bag.

We are there for the patients. I am not going to sit on my butt and let a patient suffer waiting for her pain meds if her nurse is busy and I have the time to do it. If we can't help each other out when we need it, who will?:)

Hmm. Do everyone elses' work for them? I smell a quick recipe for burnout. Personally I have enough work of my own. and avoid doing others' work for them.

I suggest nurses stop buying into the 'supernurse' myth. We really can't possibly be all things to all people, and healthy boundaries must be set.

Now that said, teamwork is essential but within bounds of reason.

We need to discourage the thought we can do patient care PLUS laundry, lab, EKG, housekeeping, etc, etc. Nursing is tough enough IMO.

To quote SJoe, 'We will get as much crap as we will take'.

Specializes in Anesthesia.

While I can see the point you're making regarding the "not my patient" statement, I have to say that I don't think that it a completely inappropriate response when said politely and followed by something like, "but let me check with the nurse caring for you" or whatever, even when it comes to something as simple as getting water for a patient. What if the patient is on fluid restriction or NPO. Or what if the patient asks you to lower the head of the bed or reposition him/her in some way - that could be trouble for you if the patient is supposed to be in high-fowlers or is spinal precautions or something, but you didn't realize it because :eek, it's not your patient. If you don't know a patient and the patient's diagnosis and treatment plans, even things as simple as getting water or repositioning could put you, and worse yet the patient, in trouble.

Originally posted by cindylouwho

is anyone else out there after 24 years of nursing or so finding it hard to be the compassionate and loving person that nurses are supposed to be?....I get thank you letters and praise from families all the time but I deep down find it hard to put up with the crap of nursing anymore.....coworkers...doctors...management...administration......protocol that doesn't make sense.....rude people.....rotten hours and a schedule that makes you want to just quit.......if I didn't have 2 kids in college and 2 in high school I'd would quit and do something else.....any suggestions?....

Wow, im so sorry you feel this way. I know excactly how you feel. I felt this way waaaaaaaaaaaaay before 24 years. I love what I do, but it has become sooooooooooo frustrating. Venting helps me. I was in one thread and I started talking about the healthcare system and administration I started typng and I just couldnt stop! After I submitted it I was so shocked at what I had typed. Geez I felt better though.

I think the thread was something in the nature of "would you recommend to someone a career in nursing. The thread is about a zillion years old. So I read my post over and over again. I decided im not going to let the "Healthcare situation" make me feel this way about something I love.

Some posts stated that maybe some should take a break from nursing or work in a diff area. Im still thinking about this. But I would miss my patients.

Originally posted by mattsmom81

I smell a quick recipe for burnout.

True and correct. Teamwork is NOT me or you doing ALL the work it's everyone helping each other when needed.

Nurses are so prone to burn-out just doing their own work if you try to "do it all" you will burn out and I did.

I was in LTC for years in various positions, when I became supervisor and we had no charge or med nurse guess who passed meds or took charge for 51 residents ? YES ME.

Could I do it ? YES ! But for how long ? I was there for 8 years and feel I was used and abused. I couldnt say no and when the charting or meds were done I would stay late and get some of my own work done. When I did fuss about it I was told that I was capable and the other supervisors were not WTF was that suppose to make me feel wanted and needed ?

After all those years of doing it all I suddenly and unexpectedly up and resigned and when I did I was offered the adn position.

OH I could see it now being ADN pushing meds thru GT's and then going to a meeting with the bigwigs NO THANK YOU

I was burnt out and had lost the feelings I once had of enjoying to go to work. I was dreading the place and what the day might bring, I was becoming someone that I didnt want to be. Never knew what I would be doing for the day and of course since I was management I didnt get paid overtime and wasnt compensated either. I would be promised a "comp" day that would never be.

Im in the hospital now different atmosphere totally BUT I know what Ill be doing and know I have to pace myself or I will be facing burn-out again. :D I now wont DO ALL the work but Ill be fine with helping you out when you are needing it. I would HOPE that if I find myself with a pt going bad that YOU wont sit at the desk and talk to your BF on the phone when I could use a hand down the hall. TEAMWORK

deb

I am in the minority here. . .

Although I don't necessarily use that phrase, if the aide comes to me and says room 24 wants ________ and it is not my patient, I will tell them that they need to find the nurse in charge of that pt's care. Usually they just read the board wrong or someone told them wrong and they thought they WERE going to the nurse in charge of that pt.

IF im not busy doing other things for my patients, and IF the nurse that is needed is truely busy I will check the pt in question. But I won't leave my own patients needing something from me to see to someone elses unless it is an emergency.

The same goes for the aides. I have no problem helping them out and am not above empying a bedpan now and then. But if the aide is just standing around gossiping, I'm not doing her job for her. I'll tell her it needs done and go about my job.

Leigh

Specializes in Hospice.

What really, really, really annoys me......and that's being "polite", is when a :nurse: is in the pts room, uses the call button to call the CNA because the pt "needs to use the bedpan".........OH NO.........that just po's me so bad...........and I am not shy......and usually tell the offender as soon as they show up at the desk, or go to help the pt myself and that nurse actually has the nerve to "blush" when another nurse comes in the room.

We, unfortunately, have 2 such nurses on our shift, ones an LPN, has been for 20 yrs, the other is a new RN, and she will be broken soon......:D

That's my opinion on that ()()

I run into "Not my patient" many times, especially with aides when I try to get help. They much prefer continuing to read the paper or yack on the phone. I usually end up doing the work myself, rather than find the "right" aide. As an agency nurse, I can tell the supervisor, but that's about it. Not all aides are this way; there are many fine aides out there. Unfortunately, they are in the minority around this area.

1 Votes
Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.

i feel it is important to inquire as to why one needs assistance, and if i do not know, i will say, i am not taking care of that patient today, however, i will direct their concerns/questions to that patient's nurse and this all depends on what is asked/needed.

this is one reason i feel changing halls in nursing homes is important. since this is their "home' all sure be abreast regarding their conditions.

i might add that not every one wants help with their patient unless they are told first and sometimes, rightfully so.

Specializes in Hospice and palliative care.

I have to admit that I've been guilty of using the dreaded phrase once in a great while. But I usually make an effort to find out who is taking care of them and alerting said person that someone (family, MD, whatever) has a question/problem/concern that I can't really address b/c I don't know the patient. I'm not rude to anyone, although I have been guilty of being short with med students/ancillary staff if I'm having bad day or am in the middle of a crisis.

As far as nurses who call the aide in to empty a bedpan when they're right there---well, med students/residents are infamous for that as well, at least in my experience. I could be running around like a crazy person and a med student will come out and say "Mrs So and So needs the bedpan". I bite back the "snarky" reply of "So go ahead and put her on!" :p and go take care of it. Now I will acknowledge that med students are not necessarily there to empty bedpans and whatever, but would it really kill them to help out????? Arrggghh......maybe it irks me coz I usually get a "tood" about it on top of everything else :rolleyes:

While I'm here, let me vent about aides who give you attitude when you ask for help coz they happen to be around and your aide is busy or on break. Good grief! :eek: I got a bit of that today when I asked someone to help me move a patient from a bed to a stretcher. She was a big lady and I had trouble on my end (I was pulling, he was pushing), and the aide said to me "You're no help!" Last time I ask him for help!

Thanks for letting me speak my peace ;)

Laurie

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