A patient's experience with RUDE nursing staff.. Should this be reported?

Nurses Relations

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My best friend went to a facility today for the first time for an annual gynecological exam. She currently has one of those partially state funded health insurance plans as she was laid off a few months ago and was eligible for this program as she has children (single mom) and is living on unemployment. It was a very large clinic type setting and she only went there as she was advised by her gyn's office that her current gyn worked at this facility a few times per month. So, today while at the clinic she was waiting in the exam room and overheard several nurses (nursing station was outside her exam room) poking fun at her type of insurance. Stating "xyz insurance is the everything insurance" , "I bet you can buy food or a manicure with this insurance", "yes, I bet you can even pay your rent or take your kids to McDonalds with this insurance" on and on and on... then they :lol2::lol2::lol2: This went on for about ten minutes with several more derogatory remarks. Just as she was starting to dress and LEAVE this place, as she was so embarrassed, the CNM came in to do her exam. The CNM stated that she would be doing her exam as the dr had to rush out to an emergency. Which was a lie as my friend heard him in the hallway only seconds beforehand stating something about "not doing first time gyn appts". So, she had her exam, reluctantly, and the CNM was very nice to her. But she is SO upset right now and does not want to make a big stink about this but yet feels that the nurses outside her room were out of line and cruel. Do you think she should call the facility and ask to speak to the supervisor or DON?

Specializes in Mental Health, Medical Research, Periop.

One of my aunts adopted 2 kids from foster care.She got the first at 4 days old, and the second at 3 years.The adoptions took about 2 year to be finalized. In the meantime, the kids got WIC and Medicaid, because they were wards of the state.

My aunt had a good job, a new car (Mazda) and owned a home. She had good insurance through her job, but she couldn't add her kids until the adoptions were finalize. When she went to the doctor's office, she was just another single Black woman with 2 kids and a new car, using Medicaid. When she went grocery shopping, she was just another single Black woman 2 kids and a new car, using WIC.

You really don't know what is going in people's lives. Things aren't always what they seem.

You actually quoted the person I quoted in your post, lol! Those werent my words. Hey! and I actually just quoted "Not_a_Hat_Person" and it says lilymom. Confused :confused:

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No one should EVER be made to feel inadequate or less than they are. Your friend should go ahead and report it.

It was very improper and disrespectful of the nurses to carry on in such manner. The intent may not have been for her to overhear their conversation but the fact cannot be overlooked- she did hear the conversation and she felt upset about it.

In situations like this, you understand when people say "money talks and BS walks". Sad state.

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You know, I like this suggestion. Good one, Majick:up:

Only thing is, will it make a real difference to the way these nurses/clerks/whatever conduct themselves? Where do they get off commenting on anyone's method of payment anyway? Whether it's paid by the insurance, the State or the patient herself, their salaries are paid by their company, so it's got absolutely nothing to do with them! And this really bothers me:

It reminds me of those catty schoolkids, a few of which are to be found in every classroom, who pass comments about the nerd, or the circumstances of the poor kid in the class; to me, it's spiteful and childish, and if it happened in a classroom, would be described as bullying. I do agree with you that it's much better if you go out and confront them immediately, but sadly, far too many people are too timid to do it.

I would hope it would make a difference, because if confronting them that way (immediately or with a letter/card) doesn't work, then the official reprimand won't make much difference, either. I understand more actions might be taken, official reprimands handed out, if she were to officially report it.....But would it change their behavior when noone's looking? As they say, honor starts in the morning when noone's watching... Because really we're talking about basic human decency, here.....

Yeah, that's what I was thinking as well---catty schoolgirls consisting of those that already have too much money to know what to do with, or those that WISH they had the same...Standing around passing judgments and hurting others. But then, my last comment is full of my own judgments as well; so who am I, right?? :cool:

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I have first rate insurance and went to one of the most prestigious hospitals in the

country and still encountered rude and unprofessional people.

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Nothing I have Tricare, lol. I was saying I dont care if they have Medicaid (govt paid insurance) or Tricare (self paid insurance) they will be receiving the same care from me. IDK how you think I was saying something was wrong with anything from my post. My point was, I dont care what kind of insurance anyone has. TAKE CARE OF EVERY PATIENT LIKE THEY WERE YOUR FAMILY! geez.

Okay.

I read it as if you were equating Tricare with Medicaid.

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Thanks to everyone who has responded to this thread. Some very sound advice from many of you. I sent the link to my friend so that she can read through this and have a little more courage to write a letter and follow up on this situation. (She doesn't have the big mouth I have!) ;) Funny thing happened though -- she received a call I think it was yesterday from this clinic that they need her to go back there on Monday to take another copy of her insurance card. I guess it wasn't done... or was lost? NEVER had anything like that happen to me when I went to the dr. Seems like these ppl have more than one issue -- not just rude staff, but careless too! Anyway, I told her she could address this in person if she wants on Monday -- might not be a bad idea.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

To me the bottom line is they were having a laugh-fest at the expense of an entire group of people based on a characteristic that has nothing to do with what any one person with that insurance is like. This is hurtful..

In a way it's like some of the members here who have chronic pain and use the ED, and through various verbal and non-verbal ways are made to feel like just another drug seeker in search of a high. It's wrong. We're allowed to think anything we want, but just about every nurse in the ED that I read here states "you will never know by the way I treat you that you are different from anybody else I care for."

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Thanks to everyone who has responded to this thread. Some very sound advice from many of you. I sent the link to my friend so that she can read through this and have a little more courage to write a letter and follow up on this situation. (She doesn't have the big mouth I have!) ;) Funny thing happened though -- she received a call I think it was yesterday from this clinic that they need her to go back there on Monday to take another copy of her insurance card. I guess it wasn't done... or was lost? NEVER had anything like that happen to me when I went to the dr. Seems like these ppl have more than one issue -- not just rude staff, but careless too! Anyway, I told her she could address this in person if she wants on Monday -- might not be a bad idea.

Sounds like fate/universe/destiny/god/goddess has stepped in to allow your friend another chance to address the issue.....

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