What's Rude?

Nurses Relations

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  • Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

We all have our pet peeves, something that we are SURE is rude whether it bothers others or not. So I'm wondering -- what bothers you?

Things that bother me:

In a nurse's station with four or five unused computers, why does anyone have to sit down at the one I'm using, clearly marked with my scut sheet, my pen, my drink and my charting all pulled up and not finished? They take my spot, log me off (so I have to start over with any charting I didn't sign before the arrhythmia alarm jolted me out of my seat) and log in over me. Then when I return, they tell me "I didn't see your name on it." Why not just use the computer with the screensaver up and no ones stuff there?

People who put their feet up on the chairs in the nurse's station. Not only does it look totally unprofessional to anyone who visits the station, including families, but the C. Diff that that they' we picked up on their shoes is now transferred to the impossible-to-clean fabric chairs in the nurse's station.

Saying "no prob" in response to a thank you.

Taking the nurse's chair. Our rooms has a sofa and two chairs for visitors, a recliner for the patient and a chair at the computer station for the nurse to use when charting. So why do the visitors always have to take the nurse's chair? Clearly, the nurse can't chart from the sofa.

After you've taken the nurse's chair, why give me attitude when I ask you NOT to sit in front of my computer, but to sit in one of the five spots provided for visitors?

Visitors using the patient bathroom.

Staff who let patients use the staff bathroom. I've never been able to figure that one out.

I'm cranky today, I have lots more. What's yours?

Editorial Team / Admin

Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN

6 Articles; 11,658 Posts

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Nursing related: The coworkers who come into my OR to chit chat with others. Never mind the fact that I'm trying to count and insert the foley and about to be ready to position the patient. Your social life discussion can wait until the patient is taken care of.

The surgeon who absolutely refused to speak with me, and insisted on speaking with the PA, who told him exactly the same thing I had just communicated. Dude, I've worked in cardiac surgery for longer than you've been a licensed surgeon. I think I might have a little experience to base that clinical judgement on.

Not nursing related: The woman at the convenience store today who darn near refused to let me park next to her. Why? Her car had broken down and she had just called AAA. Never mind the fact that the empty space she was saving was the only spot left in the lot. And that AAA was going to take time to show up- they don't just materialize out of thin air when you call. I parked there.

roser13, ASN, RN

6,504 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Rude is a family member who continually speaks for the patient, sometimes even speaking over the awake, alert & oriented patient's voice. Including but not limited to: demanding pain meds for the quietly sleeping patient, pushing the pain pump button after explicit instructions not to, subjecting the healthcare team to interminable monologues on THEIR personal medical history, and, as illustrated by a recent thread, announcing over & over that they too are "in healthcare."

True story: patient's 20-something daughter at bedside, being totally obnoxious with unnecessary questions, unnecessary bustling around the bedside, etc. All while wearing blindingly white, fresh out-of-package scrubs. I did not bite and did not ask daughter what part of healthcare she worked in. Night nurse tucking patient in that night asks patient where in healthcare does daughter work? Big sigh from patient. "She doesn't. She just bought those scrubs to make you think she does." Which is both crazy & kinda sad, now that I write it out.

Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

I have to laugh because before I even read your post, I was thinking about the nurses that "stake out" a spot for a shift. I am the one you be getting frustrated with LOL.

We have one nurse that will actually tell a physician to get off of "her" computer. It is more frustrating that she carts up front rather than back at the nurse's station. Those of us that chart where are pts actually are, are the ones that end up having to answer questions when they won't use the call light or if a bed alarm goes off.

I tend to chart in the rooms as much as I can so I am not bothered where I chart outside the room. I try respect those that do like their space.

My biggest pet peeve is people that don't clean up after themselves. Our unit looks like a pig sty at times, our refrigerator and microwave are a mess. I just wonder what some of these people's houses look like. Take pride in your work AND where you work :)

smf0903

845 Posts

Nursing: Patient rooms that aren't tidied up. I hate to see alcohol pads, IV bag tops, bits of this and that on the floor. Or 573 blankets rolled into a ball either on the bed or tossed into a chair. It bugs me when people park supplies under the paper towel dispenser, then are shocked when the basin full of wipes, a clean gown, and dressing change supplies are all wet :yawn:

It bugs me to no end when family members just willy-nilly decided to walk behind the nurses station, usually with some over-dramatization or another.

Non-nursing: Anymore how everyone drives. Lord help me on the roads :nailbiting:

Cob94

21 Posts

Nursing: when checking a residents blood pressure, blood sugar, giving a PRN- whatever the task I'm doing for the resident, and visitor wants a B/P check or blood sugar, or " can ya grab me some Tylenol?". I hate that!

Non nursing: someone at a grocery store who takes the entire aisle, then gives me a dirty look for saying excuse me.

RNperdiem, RN

4,592 Posts

When my teenage son was in hospital, the first thing I trained him in was this: when a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional comes to your room, immediately turn off the TV, put down the phone and give them your full attention.

Blaring TVs and phone/tablet distractions are rude to me.

nursej22, MSN, RN

3,810 Posts

Specializes in Public Health, TB.

Nursing: people who answer the phone without identifying themselves or department, and conversely, people who do not listen as I identify myself and department.

Non-nursing: cashiers who continue their conversation with coworkers while ringing you up, never making eye contact through the whole transaction. And the "no problem" in lieu of "you're welcome." I once almost wrote no problem in the line for a tip at a restaurant instead of a $ amount. The service was fair, but the no problem was grating.

Specializes in CEN.

Working with me side by side several times a week and STILL not know my name. I'm not just talking about mispronouncing my name; I'm talking about calling me 12 COMPLETELY different names in leu of my real one. If you can't remember my name, look at my ID. Don't make one up. :banghead:

allnurses Guide

JBudd, MSN

3,836 Posts

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

The admitting docs have an area walled off with 7, count them seven, computers just for their use. There a few who insist on sitting at the nurses' desk doing all the admission orders and charting on the nurses' computers, and we only have 3. RNs and techs have to use those! Usually not the hospitalists though, is the private docs that come in and have been used to doing it at the desk for years. But still!

Trying to chart in the ED room works to a point, but when family and all have lots of questions, I can either multitask or be a nurse and actually listen to them with eye contact & answers.

Teens who think they can't survive the 5 minutes of triage without being on their phones. One's mother repeatedly told her to get off, I told her to get off, mom took the phone and the young woman snatched it back with "they are all concerned about me!" Honey you are going to get a lot sicker if you don't let us fix that (HIPAA) right now! She ended up in ICU.

NuGuyNurse2b

927 Posts

Nursing: people who answer the phone without identifying themselves or department, and conversely, people who do not listen as I identify myself and department.

Or the opposite - secretary is out on lunch, phone rings, and you're all staring at each other. I've been guilty of this too. You never know what's waiting for you on that other end.

allnurses Guide

JBudd, MSN

3,836 Posts

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.
Working with me side by side several times a week and STILL not know my name. I'm not just talking about mispronouncing my name; I'm talking about calling me 12 COMPLETELY different names in leu of my real one. If you can't remember my name, look at my ID. Don't make one up. :banghead:

Oh Evastone, I can't do names for the life of me. I have a hard time recognizing people I've worked with for years outside of work. Been that way my whole life, I stuggle with faces and names. I love badges! but ours are so often flipped over, not intentionally, that I just wing it. Not with madeup names but simply don't use them. Makes it hard to complement or complain about someone, when you can't come up with their name.

So my peeve is at myself and those darn badges that won't stay face up!

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