Call bells

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Call bells! I am beginning to think call bells are the worst invention in the world.

Ring, ring ,ring.

Today, the call bells were crazy. Our secretary kept track. We had 97 call bells in 2 1/2 hours from 26 pts. Several retreat offenders. You know the ones. They ring, you tell them you will be there shorty, 30 secs later, they ring again, and again and again. Look lady, my kegs are short, I simply cannot get from the nursing station to you in 30 secs.

One pt keeps ringing because he's lonely. One just puts her finger and the button and holds it until her nurse gets there.

One pt rang to have her table cleaned off.

Good thing I wasn't playing the drinking game, one drink for every call bell. I wouldn't sober up until Xmas!

Oy.

Some days, this job is so not worth it.

Thanks for letting me vent.

roser13, ASN, RN

6,504 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

What's a retreat offender?

Specializes in Gerontology.
What's a retreat offender?

Sorry , repeat offender. My cat keeps sticking his head between me and my iPad causing interesting typos!

AJJKRN

1,224 Posts

Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

The PTP talk about "effective hourly rounding" and how it cuts down on call lights. I don't think this is really an obtainable goal in today's society with its ridiculous unrealistic expectations (AKA...it's all about ME and I want it NOW!) :crying2:

Once in a while, our call system goes down. It's so ....sad? :Emoticon-Devil:

joanna73, BSN, RN

4,767 Posts

Specializes in geriatrics.

My phone is usually off. I am so tired of hearing phones and call bells by the end of the day, I am done.

You know it's bad when you're dreaming of call bells and work.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN

1 Article; 4,094 Posts

Specializes in Oncology.

In my ideal hospital, there would be a team of 3 aids that would reliably round on the entire unit every two hours. They would bring a cart around with snacks, extra linens, ice water, drinks, socks, toiletries, phone numbers for other departments. Two of them could toilet/position/clean up/lotion someone while the third documented the care and tidied/stocked the room. On the off hours the nurse would go in and ask about pain, bring meds, and update assessments. Patients would have call lights, but they would be educated what they were for- pain, shortness of breath, urgent toileting needs, nausea, feeling dizzy, etc. Things that can't wait. They'd be okay with this because they would know that someone would reliably be in there every hour. And management would be okay with it because patient would be asked about if they were educated, and clean, and treated with dignity, or if people introduced themselves, on patient surveys. Not if their dilaudid was delivered in their preferred dose, or their pillow was fluffed with adequate frequency, or the mashed potatoes were properly seasoned. Hey, one can dream, right?

TriciaJ, RN

4,328 Posts

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
Once in a while, our call system goes down. It's so ....sad? :Emoticon-Devil:

Do you accidentally pull out a wire someplace without really meaning to?

Tarrus Eliuds

14 Posts

I am kenya Student Nurse and I am glad to be engaged in a such an important forum,thanks a lot

Emergent, RN

4,242 Posts

Specializes in ER.
Sorry , repeat offender. My cat keeps sticking his head between me and my iPad causing interesting typos!

LOL, I figured you were on your third glass of wine.

:yes:

roser13, ASN, RN

6,504 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Sorry , repeat offender. My cat keeps sticking his head between me and my iPad causing interesting typos!

Lol, I thought there must be new terminology that I was lacking.

Sorry , repeat offender. My cat keeps sticking his head between me and my iPad causing interesting typos!

I thought it was deliberate. "Where's my ice cream? I asked 3 minutes ago!"

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