Working for the Rich Population?

jmqphd · Apr 27, 2012

Your question seems odd to me. What do you mean? In a hospital, a spa, cruise-ship??? The days of the boutique general hospitals as I remember them, is pretty much over.

netglow, ASN, RN · Apr 27, 2012

No. I don't think he means that. He means if you work in an affluent area. I live in one of those areas, and I will say that old old money folks are great as patients (unfortunately most of them are pretty much dead now). The newer money likes to make sure you know they got it. The hospitals fawn over them, and you best run and get for them or get in trouble should they complain. It's the "show me you know who I am" kind. A person simply doesn't work in those environments if you have any pride at all. Imported nurses abound in these facilities eg the perception of lower status as caregivers is quite accepted, and encouraged... which is sick.

winter_green · Apr 27, 2012

Yes, Netglow, that's exactly what I mean. I grew up pretty much poor and in my old unit, the community we serve were mostly farmers and low income resident. With this next community that I may potentially work for is very affluent... not sure how I will fit in and not sure what to expect from this kind clientele.

Netglow - can you please elaborate more? thanks.

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Apr 27, 2012

I'm wondering how it is to work for the affluent population??

It's all right. When I worked in home health, we had a few private pay clients who had more than a few nickels to rub together. They often had a lot of hours and overnights.

Other than the higher number of hours, the super nice digs and great neighborhoods, as patients they were individuals and had struggles just like the less affluent clients.

mrmedical, ASN, BSN · Apr 27, 2012

never mind please delete :)

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Apr 27, 2012

I am a traveler/ agency nurse. In the last two years, I worked at 2 facilities that were in VERY affluent areas.

And.. one that was in the ghetto.

Patients know that "customer satisfaction" is the # 1 goal of hospitals(see Medicare reimbursement.. new requirements).

I have found that rich or poor.. we must apply our lips to the correct spot.

I actually had no problem... as I treat all my peeps like I want my family to be treated.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Apr 27, 2012

I lived in a very well of neighborhood growing up. I hated how the people were there. Entitlement out the ass. I could only imagine having to take care of them.

Morainey, BSN, RN · Apr 27, 2012

I work with a lot of patients who are having elective surgeries, sometimes I think, did you really need this surgery or did you want to be doted on for a few days??

I don't really notice a difference relative to affluence... the patients with iPhones and iPads and nice clothes and expensive floral arrangements run the gamut just as much as any other patient. Demanding, pleasant, rude, ungrateful, appreciative... it's hard to generalize.

caliotter3 · Apr 27, 2012

I haven't noticed much of a difference. A sick and/or hurting person acts like a sick, and/or hurting person, no matter their financial circumstances. For the most part.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Apr 27, 2012

Yes, Netglow, that's exactly what I mean. I grew up pretty much poor and in my old unit, the community we serve were mostly farmers and low income resident. With this next community that I may potentially work for is very affluent... not sure how I will fit in and not sure what to expect from this kind clientele.
Netglow - can you please elaborate more? thanks.

Wow.....as I have worked both of these I can tell you that the major difference is the language.......and I mean the use of profanity. The facility/ED I worked had a complete renovation/overhaul with A from a family when the matriarch came in having a stroke felt the place was looking shabby and needed a facelift.........to the tune of 2.4 million dollars.

I will tell you that on some of the young entitled population their manners and behavior leaves much to be desired. They have this need to treat everyone "not of their station" as their personal slaves and the hired help. They are ill mannered and rude, thoughtless and unkind. I think it stems from the lack of parental involvement and being thrown to these prep schools while the parents flit around the globe. I saw children who lived in cardboard boxes with better manners and better behaved.

You will see much of the same things but the Trauma won't be from Gun Shot wounds and stabbings. You won't see as much heroin but you will see it. You say you worked with Farmers...I have always found them the salt of the earth and would give the shirt off your back.....you won't have that in the affluent clientele.

Remember you co-workers are from the surrounding area so keep your opinions to yourself about the spoiled rich. I found people were judged by their merits but by the car they drove and their home address.

But the rich get sick, the rich get drunk, the rich OD they just do it with a larger vocabulary in more expensive clothes. The are indigent in every society. I will say however that certain plastic surgeries of the chest look very bizarre on 80 year old women with blue hair.

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · Apr 27, 2012

I worked home health (case managing private duty cases) with an agency that served very, very affluent people (wealth that was unimaginable to me, mostly old money) and found it very strange. They treated their home health aides very well, but when I came to do the 60-day recert, the families were very cold to me. In the hospital setting as well, when we had affluent patients, I found them to be cold and sort of mean, there was as mentioned above a "servant" mentality.

Personally I prefer working with impoverished patients to the very affluent, although that population often treats us like servants also.