what to do when pts aren't nice?

tokmom, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2012

Just wondering what you do when pts aren't nice? 1. don't say anything, just finish whatever you need to do and get the hell out of there. 2. politely remind him to be nice and respectful. 3. walk away and come back later. 4. smile and say I'm sorry
I am a new LPN at a new facility. Last night I was helping with the lights. One AxO older pt needs to walk to the bathroom. At first I couldn't find the power button to turn off his air mattress, he got agitated, then he insisted me flatten the bed before pulling him up. He also said I am not pulling him up the right way. I am annoyed and asked his CNA to help him instead. I know it is easy this time because I can walk away since it's not my pt, but what you do if you are stuck with a pt who is not nice?

Doesn't every pt belong to all the nurses? Even though I might not be "assigned" to a certain pt, it doesn't mean I can't be held responsible for refusing to assist. Does that make sense?

To answer your question: It depends on the pt. If it's some grumpy person, having a bad moment, frustrated with their limitations, I'm patient and I talk in a calming tone. I pretty much ignore their behavior.

The ones that cuss me out, I try to ignore it and keep assisting them. If it continues I tell them, I will not tolerate it and will not come back unless they cease their bad behavior.

For those that throw things, I warn them that security will be involved if they chose to continue tossing things at me or anyone else.

onetiredmomma · Feb 6, 2012

Kill em with kindness! Unless it is abusive and getting out of hand just smile and move on. For those that can't seem to remember to say Thank-you I often smile and say you'r welcome as I head out the door..

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2012

Ask him how he would like you to help him. Maybe you were hurting him without realizing it.

See it from his perspective - you are there to help him - but you don't know how to turn off the mattress, you hurt him when you move him.

Look at it his way too: he's lost entire control of his world. He has to wait for help with every single aspect of his life now. Of course he's grumpy.

ChuckeRN, BSN, RN · Feb 6, 2012

Since I'm in a correctional setting, I choose #2. I politely and firmly remind them to be respectful.

If they choose not to heed my warning, I either send them back home, (back to their cell) or I send them to a holding cell until which time they decide to behave, or, as it happened last weekend, an inmate was just asinine enough but did not quite meet my threshold for issuing him a citation, so my partner treated him.

Had that inmate had anything other than an asthmatic attack, I definitely would have sent him home.

The week prior, I had an inmate that was disrespectful right from the start. I reminded him that I was not his homey or his celly (cell mate) so he better watch his language and his tone. But, in the end, he chose to continue his bad behavior and threatened me, so I wrote him up for "threatening staff" and the shift commander of his yard wrote him up for "lying to staff" regarding his non-existent medical emergency.

This is one great aspect of correctional nursing in that I do not have to put up with any BS from my "patients".

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Feb 6, 2012

In this environment of corporate /customer satisfaction.. there is no other response than..

yes sir..

yes maam.. how can I help you.

Soo.. that would be # 2.. Pun intended.

VioletKaliLPN, LPN · Feb 7, 2012

Kill em with kindness.

Guttercat, ASN, RN · Feb 7, 2012

There are people who by their very nature, would find fault with the clerk who dispensed to them the winning 178 million dollar Powerball ticket...

"...that clerk didn't smile at me when I won."

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · Feb 7, 2012

There are people who by their very nature, would find fault with the clerk who dispensed to them the winning 178 million dollar Powerball ticket...
"...that clerk didn't smile at me when I won."

Sad but so very true. Don't forget to chart bad behaviors to cover your butt.

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Feb 7, 2012

I just do my job and give them zero energy. Some patients thrive on conflict and getting a rise out others.

Give them no conflict or no rise and it doesn't feed their need.

I've seen other nurses scold, wave their finger at the pt, and go into a long lecture on how to behave. I've noticed this just tends to ramp the behaviors.

Some people just aren't nice. Oh well.

exnavygirl-RN · Feb 7, 2012

The resident probably was uncomfortable and a little anxious because he needed to use the bathroom. You may not be familiar with how he gets out of bed or ambulates. I would have become agitated as well. Maybe I'm not seeing the whole picture but I don't consider this to be someone "not being nice". I guess since I deal with grumpy of men all the time, I've become desensitized.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Feb 7, 2012

I pretend they are mentally ill and concentrate on my objective in the interaction, not the interaction itself. So if I want them to take meds then I ignore all the comments and try to get the job done. In a way they ARE mentally ill, because it is crazy not to allow your nurse to be your advocate.