Things you'd LOVE to be able to tell patients, and get away with it.

[AngelfireRN]

Hi, my name is AngelfireRN, I'll be your nurse tonight.

I am not a waitress, nor am I your slave.

Yelling and hurling obscenities at me will not get you your pain meds any sooner than they are ordered. Nor will having your family member or entourage do the same.

Threatening lawsuits and having umpteen family members camp out in the halls or hold up the nurse's station will not get you preferential treatment.

Physically grabbing me as I go down the hall is NOT a good idea.

I do not give the orders, but I do have to follow/enforce them. This is something that you should take up with your doctor.

No, I will not call him again to ask him for more pain medicine. He has been called twice and has said no both times.

No, I will not give you his number so you can "straighten him out".

No, you are not my only patient, and I highly doubt that you are single-handedly paying my salary. On the off chance that you are, let's talk about a raise.

NO, NO, NO, I most empahatically will NOT come get you when it is time for your next pain shot while you are having a smoke break. I also will not bring it to you in the smoking room. (Have actually said that, I am allergic to cigarettes. I did it once, had an asthma attack, desatted to 83, and turned blue, according to the patient and my charge nurse, after the patient had to help me back to the floor).

No, I don't really care if your family has not eaten all day, they drove here by themselves, they are not sick, and no, I will not call for 6 guest trays. (This of course, is if the patient in question does not need all 6 family members present, and is not at death's door).

No, you may not have 3 six-packs of soda from the kitchen, there are other people that would like a snack, too.

No, they will not open up the kitchen up just for you, at 1 in the morning, because you don't like the snacks we have on the floor.

I could think of hundreds, but those will do for a start. I know it sounds mean, but this is why I got out of bedside nursing. When a hospital becomes the Hilton, I'm gone!

Have fun!

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

There are some patients who I swear have the tea room under video surveillance - the microwave goes off and buzz; you sit down and buzz, and some of them (and others) must also be watching the staff loo because if it's not my pager going off then it's the ward portable phone. I just want two mintes!

O_O That is exactly how I felt, like I was being watched!

I took a spoonful of yogurt and buzz so I went to where that patient was. It happened 3 times! The last time I went back my yogurt was gone. Housekeeping had thrown it away.........and I was sad. That was all I had because I had gotten up late and it was the only thing handy and had no money. Longest day on the floor ever.

[serjohn]

I could read these all day!! Some are pretty funny. I would love to say to the fourteen year old pt I had last week, " Oh congrats on your new baby! What a beautiful time in your life to welcome a child into this world!" " And, maybe when you get your driver's license in two years you can drive her to the park." It was pretty uncomfortable for me to help this pt. She had a group of teenagers in her room and one replied, "Oh I miss being pregnant, and rubbing my bell all the time!" OMG!!!!! GEEEZZZ Now, I may get attacked AGAIN on this thread for voicing my rant, but I think if that "well-to-do-nurse" had a 13 year old daughter get pregnant she may agree with me on this one.

:spbox:

:oUmm, Im a nurse, and I had a baby at 15, and at 17... and if my daughter (born when I was 17) did too, Id tell her she should have known better because of me, but I would not think less of her... Our hormones rage at 14, 15, 16; but society tells us that youre still too young to be a mum even at 25, which I will be soon, and I only just had my 3rd bubba... I understand this is a venting thread, but being prengant at a young age is NOT a health issue until it is before puberty has had a chance to make the necessary physical changes (hips, breasts etc). It is an education issue. I am not attacking you, but you need to direct these feelings to the parents and teachers of these kids for not teaching her how to correctly use birth control. It is THEIR responsibility to make sure she is well educated, and to a point, YOURS TOO. Not hers. She is too young! And sex is fun!:omy: They are told that all the time! She cant be blamed for wanting to try it. In my case, I fell pg the first time because nobody had the sense to tell us that condoms come in different sizes, just like memberes. It broke. At the worst. possible. time. My second was planned, however. And I have been with this man now for 9 years :blushkiss.

I guess what I want to say, is, I understand this is a venting thread, and I understand your frustration with these kids, but your anger, for the wider group of girls who have been there, is misdirected. We generally dont go out and TRY to get knocked up, but it happens. mostly due to poor education.:igtsyt:

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

:spbox:

:oUmm, Im a nurse, and I had a baby at 15, and at 17... and if my daughter (born when I was 17) did too, Id tell her she should have known better because of me, but I would not think less of her... Our hormones rage at 14, 15, 16; but society tells us that youre still too young to be a mum even at 25, which I will be soon, and I only just had my 3rd bubba... I understand this is a venting thread, but being prengant at a young age is NOT a health issue until it is before puberty has had a chance to make the necessary physical changes (hips, breasts etc). It is an education issue. I am not attacking you, but you need to direct these feelings to the parents and teachers of these kids for not teaching her how to correctly use birth control. It is THEIR responsibility to make sure she is well educated, and to a point, YOURS TOO. Not hers. She is too young! And sex is fun!:omy: They are told that all the time! She cant be blamed for wanting to try it. In my case, I fell pg the first time because nobody had the sense to tell us that condoms come in different sizes, just like memberes. It broke. At the worst. possible. time. My second was planned, however. And I have been with this man now for 9 years :blushkiss.

I guess what I want to say, is, I understand this is a venting thread, and I understand your frustration with these kids, but your anger, for the wider group of girls who have been there, is misdirected. We generally dont go out and TRY to get knocked up, but it happens. mostly due to poor education.:igtsyt:

I agree, I also had my first child at a very young age (15, almost 16). I was blessed with wonderful parents and I'd never think for a second to abort any child of mine. My son is 18 now and a wonderful young man. A very bright, intelligent, handsome and polite young man that would have never been here if I'd done what his father told me to do.. ...

However, this is a vent thread, and if the nurse was really sickened by the teenage mom, then that is her vent. I was a very mature child and knew that when I got pregnant I had to be responsible for my child. It was not fun and games. It was a very serious life changing event. Most of these young girls know it, and they just want to be treated with respect even though they screwed up.

[serjohn]

I understand totally that this is a vent thread, but I just had to get that out. Its frustrating to be seen that way all the time. So that was MY vent.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

:spbox:

:oumm, im a nurse, and i had a baby at 15, and at 17... and if my daughter (born when i was 17) did too, id tell her she should have known better because of me, but i would not think less of her... our hormones rage at 14, 15, 16; but society tells us that youre still too young to be a mum even at 25, which i will be soon, and i only just had my 3rd bubba... i understand this is a venting thread, but being prengant at a young age is not a health issue until it is before puberty has had a chance to make the necessary physical changes (hips, breasts etc). it is an education issue. i am not attacking you, but you need to direct these feelings to the parents and teachers of these kids for not teaching her how to correctly use birth control. it is their responsibility to make sure she is well educated, and to a point, yours too. not hers. she is too young! and sex is fun!:omy: they are told that all the time! she cant be blamed for wanting to try it. in my case, i fell pg the first time because nobody had the sense to tell us that condoms come in different sizes, just like memberes. it broke. at the worst. possible. time. my second was planned, however. and i have been with this man now for 9 years :blushkiss.

i guess what i want to say, is, i understand this is a venting thread, and i understand your frustration with these kids, but your anger, for the wider group of girls who have been there, is misdirected. we generally dont go out and try to get knocked up, but it happens. mostly due to poor education.:igtsyt:

this is a vent thread. it is for venting. it is not for education of nurses who have worked for years as nurses by someone who has three years of education as a student, whatever your life situation. you are not a nurse. therefore you couldn't possibly understand the real nurse's need to vent. if you feel the need to vent about nurses making assumptions about teen pregnancy, if you go to the general nursing section and click on "new thread", you can start your own thread and do just that.

and if you're old enough to choose to have sex, you're old enough to be responsible for birth control. (this does not apply to those teens who got pregnant without choosing to have sex.)

[serjohn]

:flmngmd:

Am I allowed to vent too or not?

I AM a nurse, I have been an EEN in Palliative oncology and Orthoi Rehab (my facility does both)for 4 years, and I am a student RN. Forgive me for not taking time out of my busy schedule with my Newborn, work, study and my other 2 kids to change my info at the top . I will do it now, shall I?

My issue is that I am having a b!+(h about the educ they receive and ignore, not the patients themselves. OK, maybe yes about the patients too, because even though its BAD advice they choose not to follow, its still advice.

One girl I had looked after whole on my Maternity placement decided to have unprotected sex WHILE SHE WAS LIKELY TO BE OVULATING because

A. she thought it was meant to be more lubed then, so she wouldnt need the spermicidal libe she had bought

B. isnt that when its hardest for sperm to live

C. doesnt it take 3 weeks for the egg to get to the cervix to the sperm to get to it anyway

Worst thing is, her PE teacher had TAUGHT THEM THIS!! So yes, the first thing that the dr should have done was put her straight, and if it were me, in the bluntest possible way. But no, she called her a stupid girl.

anyhoo... heres my "idiot of the week" contribution...

Pts son: Ser, can you pleae come and cut up my fathers steak? hes in rm 4

Me: Sure, Ill be there in a minute.

*finish with oesoph tumour pt's feeds*

I go to rm 4, and the pt that normally has a steak is not having one tonight, hes having fish instead (I forgot it was friday). Instead, my MVA rehab pt with both arms in casts and his JAW WIRED SHUT is having a steak... SO he thinks!

Me: SIr is this your dinner?

Pt: Nods and grunts Yes...

Me: did you order a steak?

Pt: nods emphatically, poijts to son, gives thumbs up, i assume his son ordered it for him...

Me: you ordered a steak, but your jaw is wired shut...

Pts son: Well are you going to cut it up and feed him or not?

Me: No.

Pts son: Well why the >expletive

Me: because your father is on a liquid diet due to his jaw being broken, I am happy to cut it up, but I will NOT feed it to him. If you would like to feed it to him, you will need to teah him to inhale it, because it aint going in any other way. I wil feed it to you though, because you are obviously incapable of working out that ... FOOD GOES IN MOUTH... So if his mouth doesnt open, where is it going to go, coz I aint shoving it up his ae!

NUM thought it was funny. SOn had never visited in 3 weeks, and just shows upand says 'you want a steak dad? SUre Ill get you one"!!!

[kukukajoo, LPN]

i just don't think that a comment like this is even close to being acceptable. this attitude should not be acceptable by any nurse, new or experienced, i don't care how many years of experience you have or don't have.

this is a vent thread. it is for venting. it is not for education of nurses who have worked for years as nurses by someone who has three years of education as a student, whatever your life situation. you are not a nurse. therefore you couldn't possibly understand the real nurse's need to vent. if you feel the need to vent about nurses making assumptions about teen pregnancy, if you go to the general nursing section and click on "new thread", you can start your own thread and do just that.

and if you're old enough to choose to have sex, you're old enough to be responsible for birth control. (this does not apply to those teens who got pregnant without choosing to have sex.)

[sharpeimom]

I just don't think that a comment like this is even close to being acceptable. This attitude should not be acceptable by ANY nurse, new or experienced, I don't care how many years of experience you have or don't have.

When you have actually been a nurse and not only a nursing student, you will have learned just how correct Ruby's response was. I'm not chomping on your head and neither was she. It's just that we've both lived longer and had more experience -- with patients as well as with people in general -- than you probably have. Something good and useful has to come with getting older than we used to be.

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

[kukukajoo, LPN]

I'm not a student, nor am I young, so please don't assume. I have plenty of life experiences to go on in nursing and from before I became a nurse and understand the need to vent whether it be about patients, co workers, family, bosses, the corporation, and the list goes on.

EVERYONE in life needs time to vent sometimes, no matter if you are a nurse, daycare worker, office manager, a mother, a student, a principal, doctor or a factory worker.

Ruby's response just sounds so negative and somewhat inflammatory to Serjohn and I think that as a whole, the profession is really working hard to not be judgmental and condescending to new nurses and nursing students. It is that which I find somewhat inappropriate. It makes it sound like because she assumed she was not a nurse (which she has been a nurse for some time) that she had less of a right to vent here, if she even has the right at all.

When you have actually been a nurse and not only a nursing student, you will have learned just how correct Ruby's response was. I'm not chomping on your head and neither was she. It's just that we've both lived longer and had more experience -- with patients as well as with people in general -- than you probably have. Something good and useful has to come with getting older than we used to be.

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

[serjohn]

come to ausstralia - there's no "customer care" ethos in the public sector, at least, and visitors who disrespect the staff get told off by the resource nurse, unit manager or clincal coordinator. if they're aggressive they're evicted by security and banned.

there are any number of other faults, but at least i know management has my back if people mistake this for a hotel and object when i correct them.

:spam:aussie [color=yellow]aussie aussie!:onbch:

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i'm not a student, nor am i young, so please don't assume. i have plenty of life experiences to go on in nursing and from before i became a nurse and understand the need to vent whether it be about patients, co workers, family, bosses, the corporation, and the list goes on.

everyone in life needs time to vent sometimes, no matter if you are a nurse, daycare worker, office manager, a mother, a student, a principal, doctor or a factory worker.

ruby's response just sounds so negative and somewhat inflammatory to serjohn and i think that as a whole, the profession is really working hard to not be judgmental and condescending to new nurses and nursing students. it is that which i find somewhat inappropriate. it makes it sound like because she assumed she was not a nurse (which she has been a nurse for some time) that she had less of a right to vent here, if she even has the right at all.

serijohn's profile (as does yours) says she is a student. a student is not a nurse. neither is a daycare worker, office manager, principal, doctor or factory worker. a mother may or may not be a nurse -- depends on the mother. i found serijohns's comments to be condescending to nurses who were venting on this, a vent thread. in fact, i find it negative, inflammatory and inappropriate for student nurses, nursing students, pre-nursing students and anyone else who is not actually a licenesed or registered nurse to be coming on a vent thread and telling nurses how wrong their attitudes are when they are venting. i did not assume that serijohn was not a nurse; i looked at her profile which said she had 3 years of experience as a student. i have concluded that you are not a nurse either, as your profile says you're a student. if that information is incorrect, it is not my fault.

everyone has a right to vent. however it is bad manners for a student to come on a vent thread where nurses are venting and chastise them for venting about one thing or another. if you'd like to vent about how awful all of us nasty old nurses are to vent, please feel free to start your own thread to do so.

i wish "the profession" was trying as hard not to be rude and condescending to seasoned nurses, senior nurses, experienced nurses and old nurses as it was to be careful of newbies jumping in and telling us we're wrong.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

When you have actually been a nurse and not only a nursing student, you will have learned just how correct Ruby's response was. I'm not chomping on your head and neither was she. It's just that we've both lived longer and had more experience -- with patients as well as with people in general -- than you probably have. Something good and useful has to come with getting older than we used to be.

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

I am getting to the age where I dont like amuesment park rides as much. They scare me anymore, and I get sick as a dog. Yeah, I need something to replace my fav. hobby.