Nurses not responding fast enough-VENT

Nurses General Nursing

Published

This is truly a VENT. A VENT about my own family-specifically my AUNT.

It all started last week when my aunt said she would have to spend the night with my grandma(her mom) because the nurses would probably not be there enough to help grandma after surgery. Went on to remind everyone how my grandpa suffered during his death 30+years ago with cancer and that the nurses wouldn't give him anything for pain. OK how they treated cancer patients in that era IS so different now-told her that. Also said nurses don't prescribe medicine they administer it so it's not up to us. She still kept flapping her mouth. I just ignored her and went on-no use in arguing with someone who already has her mind set up anyway.

Grandma had back surgery yesterday..23 observation pt. Did great. My mom stayed the entire day and I worked until 7pm so I went to see her and stayed for about 30 minutes after work and made sure she had what she needed. No one stayed with her--grandma said she would be fine and she was. My aunt called a few minutes ago said grandma was home, did fine BUT IT WAS A GOOD THING SHE GOT THERE WHEN SHE DID--GRANDMA HAD RANG THE NURSE TWICE FOR ASSISTANCE TO THE BATHROOM. I said maybe the nurse was helping someone else to the bathroom? Or giving a pain med, etc. She was like "told you nurses don't come fast enough." I am so mad I can hardly stand it.

Do patients and families really think we are just sitting around watching TV??:angryfire

Specializes in OR, CVOR, Clinical Education, Informatic.
I went to Chik-Fil-A yesterday. When I received my order, the person said "It's been my pleasure serving you". I immediately thought of KeyMaster's post! Especially since he looked so "Pleasured". :lol2: This sort of scripting is just ridiculous for nurses. WHY can't these admin. sorts SEE THAT????? We are not selling sandwiches here! We are caring for the sick and injured and they really don't care if it's our "pleasure" or not!

ebear

Change the sheets you just pooped again without asking for a bedpan? It's my pleasure! Uuuhhh - do you want fries with that, too? :lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg; Psych; Tele.
I love medical dramas (ER, House, Grey's Anatomy) but c'mon! I know the focus is on the dr's, but can't they show the nurses in a more realistic light?? ER isn't as bad, but I hate when they show dr's doing all the work, things the nurses would do. We all know that nurses do 95% of the work, and dr's get all the credit. House has to be the worst though....the dr's pull blood, administer meds, do MRI's and cat scans, do lab work, do surgery. Do they have any staff there?!?

What I love is how none of those patients ever have to go to the bathroom. Heck, you never even see Nursing Assistants in those shows. Or mid-levels either for that matter. When will these shows ever get with the times?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg; Psych; Tele.
My son was in the hospital not long ago and there was 2 nurses on the peds floor at the time. My ex-mother-in-law(son's grandmother) came to visit and my son needed more fluids and was still vomiting Well,she(ex-mother-in-law),after we rang for the nurse and after 15 min. with no responce, started to get loud and talking about what she was going to do to the ladies. That floor was full of sick kids, including my own and she was acting plain ignorant. I told that fool that I am the mother and if I am not having a problem with the wait, then it was none of her business to say a word and if she would not shut her you know what, I was going to slap the you know what out of her and have her excused and not to return while my son was in the hospital. She got mad and left and that was the best thing that she has ever done in all the years I have known her. I get mad everytime I think about it.

I honestly wonder if those type of people actually think that nurses are just kicking back in the break room watching soaps or something. Do they really think we would ignore them or delay getting to their requests deliberately? Or perhaps they do know that we are running our butts off and they just need someone to blame for the terrible system? I swear, we poor nurses get it from every angle!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I honestly wonder if those type of people actually think that nurses are just kicking back in the break room watching soaps or something. Do they really think we would ignore them or delay getting to their requests deliberately? Or perhaps they do know that we are running our butts off and they just need someone to blame for the terrible system? I swear, we poor nurses get it from every angle!
I know because this one poor baby girl coded twice and I couldn't do anything but be patient because what if it was my son that was in that condition. I want to be a nurse and I am very sympathetic to what they do, but that heifer was just rude and impatient. I really don't talk to her if I don't have to.:trout:
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg; Psych; Tele.
I went to Chik-Fil-A yesterday. When I received my order, the person said "It's been my pleasure serving you". I immediately thought of KeyMaster's post! Especially since he looked so "Pleasured". :lol2: This sort of scripting is just ridiculous for nurses. WHY can't these admin. sorts SEE THAT????? We are not selling sandwiches here! We are caring for the sick and injured and they really don't care if it's our "pleasure" or not!

ebear

I do have to say that I enjoy those times when I have to "get onto" those darling lil' patients who say something in passing followed with, "I know you're so busy"...and then I look them straight into the eyes and tell them, "Hey, that's not your concern. You are my concern. I am here for you, to help you get better and make sure you are comfortable." Then I usually say something kinda jokey like, "I mean it now. If you need me before I get back, call me. Don't make me crack that whip."

I know that they know it is a heartfelt response and, well, not to brag, but I pretty much always get great patient reviews/comments. Why can't admin. see that sincere dialogue like that is what makes patients feel good about their care? I have never scripted and I never will!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Behavioral Health, Show Biz.

Familes and friends who require nursing-care/STAT should hire private-duty nurses---PERIOD!

Like the song goes,

"Put your MONEY where your (high-demanding) mouth is

or you ain't sayin' nothing.

Put your money where your mouth is

or you ain't sayin' a DAMN thing.

TALK IS CHEAP!"

(I LOVE this song)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC Pharmacy.

The posts about the TV shows are right; when was the last time you saw a massive code brown on ANY of them?

Guess I'll go put my feet up now and eat some bon bons while doing my nails and drooling over McDreamy.

People are such idiots.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.

I think of the word eccentric.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC Pharmacy.
I think of the word eccentric.

You're right; "eccentric" is probably better. I'm just a crab today.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
The posts about the TV shows are right; when was the last time you saw a massive code brown on ANY of them?

Guess I'll go put my feet up now and eat some bon bons while doing my nails and drooling over McDreamy.

People are such idiots.

Hey, don't be so hard on yourself. I'm crabby too today!!!!lol. I just muttered what I thought about these "people (patients)". If it makes you feel anybetter one of my docs told me, "people are just weird". What a hoot.

Hope your day gets better.:balloons:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

Had one today who didn't want to ring her bell to have the bedside brought over to her. I got it over and got her on and asked her if she'd like a bath while she was there. She told me that she heard "You guys don't bathe patients anymore". I about fell on the floor. I told her yes, we do, every day. I got her washed up and then she started on how I shouldn't have to do this and that for her, and she's a very independent woman, etc. I told her I understood her independence means a lot, but for now, let me spoil her a little, and if I didn't do these things for her, they wouldn't get done. Then she started on being independent again, and that she doesn't want to be there. I reiterated again that I understood she wants to be independent. Then I looked her straight in the eye and told her that if she wasn't a patient, I wouldn't have a job. She gave me a wide eyed look for a few seconds, then said "you're right, honey. Do what you need to do."

Her daughter was visiting most of the day, and she was so thrilled to hear that she got a bath. Patient told me the bath was the best part of the hospital stay so far.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The main reason I do not watch medical shows on TV is how the nurses are portrayed. I guess that some people who do watch those shows really believe what they see. We need to boycott those shows and the sponsoring products until a more accurate picture of nursing is shown. Even the one show called "Nurse" was sooo stupid that I could not believe that they had a nurse consultant. I, personally, never had a problem telling family and patients how busy I was and that I had to prioritize my work. Then, of course, we have the all invasive problem of people just expecting too much all the time and of having this entitlement mentality. Can anyone wonder why I quit!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment