Is it something in the water? Inappropriate/rude patients.

Nurses Relations

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I've had my fill this week of rude and/or inappropriate patients, either to me or to the CNAs I'm working with in the room. I always limit set with them--as professionally as possible, of course--so, in the moment, they will back off. As soon as I have to go back into the room, it starts again.

What the hell? This is ridiculous. I have yet to figure out what makes them think they can talk like that to people who are doing their best to take care of them when they are sick.

Being sick is no excuse for ongoing rudeness. Maybe once, but after limit setting, STOP!

Rant over.

Specializes in Psych.

If a patient apologizes for their inaprop. behavior toward me, after I redirect them,I do not say, "It's all right, or don't worry about it".... I accept it and move on.

To say "it's all right etc... only shows it was ok in the first place when it wasn't.

Sometimes depending on the behavior I just ignore it, but then again I work in psych, so some of the behaviors we do ignore.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i also sometimes find that repeating their inappropriate phrase for them to hear changes thier attitude. When they hear that they sound like a jerk it is eye opening for them.

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that's a good suggestion

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

It's not just nursing-it's everywhere.I can't stop for a gallon of milk without witnessing rude,thoughless or inconsiderate behavior.What has happened to the human race?

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I'm with you. sometimes you can't treat the a$$h01e, but if you can treat the underlying cause of a$$h01ery (maybe they have hardly slept in days and need Ambien) then you and your colleagues can survive rest of the week... I'm always surprised at how a problem patient will be completely ignored/undocumented (VSS, pleasant, no distress, all needs met and attended, bla bla bla... YEAH, RIGHT! 8/ ) instead of dealt with. Believe me, I understand to need to be assertive and set limits. Just be sure to cover your butt and make sure you realize that everything you do with a pt like that might as well be laid out in front of a jury because there is a decent chance you might end up explaining yourself to your manager if not a judge. Jerks like that are obviously ten times more likely to drag you into court. Offer help, be above the nastiness, and Document, document, document the crazy stuff as a permanent part of the record...

It's hard but in those situations we've got to separate your personality/ego from your professional role. It really tests your level of professionalism at times. I had an MD say to me: "wow, I can hardly spend a few minutes in there and you are in there every day and you handle it pretty well." I told him "the week is young and it's not too late for a 5150", and she laughed rather uncontrollablyand said "you or him?" to which I replied "that's the hundred dollar question".

We deal with alot, but let's remember that it's pretty much taboo for us to play the victim and the patient's suffering always trumps anything they inflict on the professional. If they walked up to you on the street and did the same it would be completely different- but you are playing a different role and they are not. Always remember that the legal system is stacked up in a way that recognizes this truth.

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like holding up a mirror

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I know what you mean about certain people testing our limits. Personally I can hardly stay in my own skin when I'm around OCD people. I've been in a situation where staff is actually entertaining the unhealthy proclivities of an obvious OCD patient (we don't get to see psych diagnoses unless disclosed by the pt) and calling it "customer service" . This person wanted every medication identified, explained, and shown to him before taking, wanted them ON THE MINUTE as scheduled, kept lists and lists and lists and lists (a pile of scrawled paper rubbish covering his entire bed so that he had to sit in a chair instead of the bed). Finally someone said "this is insane and we shouldn't be feeding into it- it should be treated or they should be taught that the world won't turn inside out if the meds are 5 minutes late, and no, I'm not going to spell the word digoxin for the 15th time. I considered buying a book on dealing with OCD but I am too exhausted most of the time to read a work-related book after work.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I usually find an excuse to get them intubated. ;) Kidding...but don't I wish sometimes....

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Specializes in Oncology, OR, Surgical, Orthopedics.

I personally have a huge thing with please and thank you. It drives me nuts when a pt says get me my pills, water, etc. I usually look them right in the eye and say you're welcome. It gets my point across, and most if the time it stops further bad behavior before it starts. If they are really really bad, I have been known to say,"I am your nurse, not your mother. I am here to help you get well and that means doing as much for yourself as possible, such as picking up your own glass if water that is within your reach." Occasionally they will get upset, but once they think about it, the next time I'm in the room they will apologize. I think sometimes we need to remind the public that we are professionals, and need to be treated as such.

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