bad experience with a male nurse

[bigd123]

I was in the hospital a few weeks ago and to my surprise I had a male nurse in post-op in telemetry. I was so excited about this. I wanted to ask him so many questions but to my surprise, he was a jerk. He was mean to me and called me names to my relatives. He had the worst attitude I have ever seen in a nurse. My heart sank. I thought "wow, he knows I am going to be a nurse and he is setting this example for me?" Then I thought "wow they eat their young, maybe if he knew if I wasn't going to be a nurse he would have treated me nicer" I am going to write a letter of complaint with my patient survey but it just bothers me. I was even considering going into some other medical profession, it just bothered me. I may be over dramatic but I am just mad. If I was a nurse and one of my patient's was going to be a nurse (male or female) I would take them under my wing until they left at least. Any thoughts on this?

[•M♥J•]

I think that the OP wasn't saying he was questioning whether or not to be a nurse; he was just stating that he expected better from this person. When you find someone who is in the position you want yourself to be in, it is completely natural to want to ask this person questions and gain information from them. But, when the person you are making yourself vulnerable to by asking for advice throws it back in your face, it hurts and is shocking. No, you shouldn't judge a class or group of people based off of one experience, but it's a little hard to when you are in their position.

The OP still wants to be a nurse, there is no question there. He was just trying to vent frustration over the fact that this person has what so many people want and he is behaving unprofessionally? Really, we should be expecting better from the professional, but from the patient who was in recovery under this perosn's care.

If you have a bad day, fine. Leave it at home or in private. Your patients should not know anything about how your day is going unless it's a pleasant one. That's just customer service 101. :oornt:

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

nothing to say, on second though

[morningland]

I really think you should have reported this guy. No one has any right to treat you like that especially a nurse. I am sure the hospital would have not approved of his behavior

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

Sorry to be a buddinski...not being a guy but posting on your forum...

I have been on the receiving end of some awful nursing (not much but enough to support some of the more unpleasant nursing stereotypes). The reason I decided to become a nurse was when I experienced the most amazing nursing after being in ICU then step down for 1 month. They were true professionals, experienced, mature, empathetic, respectful, skilled...

I am so sorry you had a bad experience. It isn't funny. I don't care if you were a "drama queen" or a right royal pain in the orifice -- you were a patient and unwell. Next time I hope you actually challenge someone who treats you badly and not save it for the form. It is much more powerful to deal with something directly. I can very easily see why someone wouldn't if they were a patient. Regardless of the idea that we collaborate with patients -- we (nurses) still are in a position of power...yep...over them (the patient). So if your nurse isn't looking out for you, basically you are stuffed unless you complain. That has a bunch of unintended negative consequences.

I try to always remember how vulnerable patients are...completely dependent on us (even if they have 6 family in the room).

You keep going. It is as important to learn what kind of nurse you do not want to be...as much as the kind you do.

Basically rock on brotha!

[Sendana]

I stil want to be a nurse but man that guy was a jackass. I want to be a nicer nurse then he was. It just angers me that he took advantage of me in a way. Every time he did something, nobody was there to witness it. It is not like I was in good condition to speak up. I was not feeling good and felt vulnerable, which is obviously normal for a patient. I think if he pulled this stunt around my parents he would have gotten a mouth full. Maybe I do need to grow up but it is so hard to even want to do anything when you are exhausted after 4 hours of surgery.

Well, if he was such a jackass, why didn't you tell him he was being a jackass when he was being a jackass?

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

Well, if he was such a jackass, why didn't you tell him he was being a jackass when he was being a jackass?

Why would anyone get aggressive with a nurse who is looking after them? "hey nurse...you are an orifice...now please get me something for my pain?". Yep I am sure that would really have made his stay tremendously better...not.

[Anoetos, BSN, RN]

Tell him he's a jackass and request another nurse. Chances are his co-workers will agree with you.

[SPG1975]

Sounds like someone on the Burn-Out Boat to me. There's no reason to be that short with even a rude client. Don't take it personally, and at best, use such people as an ANTI-role model. "that's what I will NOT be like!".

[Sendana]

Why would anyone get aggressive with a nurse who is looking after them? "hey nurse...you are an orifice...now please get me something for my pain?". Yep I am sure that would really have made his stay tremendously better...not.

It's not aggressive to tell somebody who is treating you badly that 1) You feel they are treating you badly, and 2) You would appreciate it if they would modify their behavior. Not only is it not aggressive, it's entirely appropriate.