You are not my only patient

[anotherone]

2 different issues

I work in a busy unit with many pts that should probably be on step down unit and very time consuming patients. I go about tasks by prioritizing them. Sometimes that means someone has to wait a few minutes for their prn pain/nausea meds( that they tell you hours in advance they will need on the dot) or for something else etc. I have had a few pts go on and on about waiting. IF they are throwing a tantrum or being rude I have said in moments of extreme frustration, " you are not my only patient." Only a few times and I don't feel bad about it at all. This was to drama kings and queens that had frequent tantrums with all staff on shifts I was running my butt off. We also tend to get a lot of personality disorder types and frequent flyer drug seekers. has anyone else used that line?

The other night I was in one pt's room for 30minutes. When I came out someone told me another of my pt's needed pain meds. I went and got them and the pt was livid and started going on and on. I understand but no one told me while I was in the other room, I got them asap when I found out and one of my coworkers ( A NURSE ANSWERED THE BELL) should have gotten them or told me . Not waited 30minutes.When I came back she was sitting at the desk online..... I said to the pt, " I am sorry you had to wait but I was in another patient's room and was not told until 2 minutes ago that you needed pain meds." I usually keep my mouth shut but HAVE HAD IT with the lazy staff I work with and taking the blame for things I have NO control over or even knew about. IF I answer a call bell of another nurse's pt, I deal with it or let the other nurse know asap if I am busy. I don't answer the bell and wait 45 mins at the desk until s/he comes out of doing a dressing change and trach care and tell them , " room 456 wants zofran." ugh

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

The pts I have used that line on are the same pts every nurse complains about (even to management) and wants to refuse as a pt or weasel their way out of that assignment. I usually have a very high tolerance for these people at work so i dunno... mayne I am

getting burned out. Some of these people were ringing their call bell comstantly every few mins or screaming into the hall ( for trivial things) these pts are ao3 and i think just personality disorders or manipulative. Reading this you might think it happens every shift . No, but even if it is one pt of every 60 that is still about every ten shifts. sometimes the stars cross and we get a group of them

[Vespertinas]

I actually got complained about for a similar situation today. I almost never get complaints but when the ratio just got bumped to 1:7, I'm GLAD a complaint rolled in so I could use the situation as a platform against the new ratio.

An anxious patient and his wife told me they felt they weren't being seen (although they were seen at least once each hour) and that pt's vital signs hadn't been taken since they arrived on the floor 2 hours ago. I apologized and reassured them I'd be present and caring for their needs. When the doctor visited 5 hours post transfer they AGAIN repeated TO THE MD that vital signs hadn't been taken since arriving on the floor (embarrassing if true). I checked the computer in front of everybody and reported that vital signs were in fact taken and documented on two separate occasions.

After MD left, I briefed them on expectations regarding vital sign frequency and patient rounds on the floor as compared with an ICU. Feeling like their prior comments warranted suspicion about them raising trouble later, I also explained to them the function and purpose of my locator, "should any conflicts of perception arise." I was aware that my comment was controversial and though I have sweeter ways of dealing with the issue I had little patience to do anything other than nip the situation in the bud and accept the possibility of getting a complaint about a brusque attitude. I'd prefer that over a complaint citing complete lack of care. For the record, I promise that I was genuinely kind/caring/present for the remainder of my shift but of course, all that is negated with one negative interaction. *sigh*

This is unsustainable.

[lmccrn62, MSN, RN]

No pain was not the priority with regards to my other pts. I understand the prs frustrations but do not accept responsibility for it . I go as fast as Incan and try to plan my shift accordingly but sometimes things happen. If i am stuck in another pts room for a while and know another pt needs pain meds I will ring the bell or ask another nurse (if one is available) to please give prn meds for me. I will not comment on the behavior part aside from to say that ina few pts I completely view it as manipulation ( not that I care and will give prns and page for more as long as pt tolerates). It is beside the point.

I am sorry but the way you posted here appear very angry. My guess is this is your behavior when caring for patients. You need to decide if this is for you. I have been doing this for 30 yrs and yes there are difficult patients its all in how you are communicating. This job is very often thankless.

[brithoover]

I am sorry but the way you posted here appear very angry. My guess is this is your behavior when caring for patients. You need to decide if this is for you. I have been doing this for 30 yrs and yes there are difficult patients its all in how you are communicating. This job is very often thankless.

You cannot tell a person to rethink if this is for them based on one post you read. Everyone gets frustrated and needs to vent

[RNnur]

I disagree with this statement as well. I understand that every patient we take care of is important however, we are humans. Despite working as nurses we are NOT perfect nor can we be at two places at one time. Some nurses I have seen are very chummy with management...very good at fitting in with "the in crowd" however they will watch co-workers drown in work...refuse to work as a team (which directly enhances patient care) and can get away with it because they are absolutely brilliant with communication. I am a firm believer in equality. That means treating each person be they are a coworker, a patient, your boss etc. equally...being nice and supportive EQUALLY not picking and choosing. Although obviously this is not how the world works....

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

We have 2 extreme attention seeking patients both in the same room at the LTC!!! When you are "obviously busy" with one of the patients in the room the other patient in the room is well aware of that fact. It doesn't matter to them. They each cuss you out whenever you are busy with the other patient demanding that you stop what you are doing and attend to their needs right now.

Those two need to be split up. They probably feed off of each other. I feel sorry for the nurse who has them both.

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

We are absolutely not allowed to say "You are not my only patient." We are to act like nothing else matters but that one patient. It is all customer service, period. I think my hospital has went way overboard with the customer service mentality. We aren't really a hospital anymore, but a hotel.

[caringfornurses]

Is it so wrong for a patient to expect you to do your job? Is it their fault that you have other patients? Think about this when you look to see if your check was deposited. Would you be upset if it were a few days late? Provide that patient with the care he/she deserves every single time. Do not wait for them to be upset. If you are in a code, emergency, etc., then your co workers should pitch in. Otherwise, it is up to you. If you are not up to the challenge, change fields. You are a professional. With great knowledge comes great responsibility.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Yeah you lazy SLOB . Use all 18 hands and 18 feet to be everywhere at once........

[proud nurse, BSN, RN]

I had a patient who was scheduled for a lap chole, but ended up having surgery. I know abdominal surgery is tough, I've had it twice...but this woman was out of control. She showed no outward s/s of pain, yet rated it a 15 when I clearly asked 0-10. She was laughing and on the phone, flipping through the TV stations and literally calling out my name. We made an agreement that she would get her Dilaudid every 2 hours, and I would not wake her up but anticipate she'd need it. And let me tell you, I was on top of it, too.

So someone please tell me why she was on that light or calling my name every hour? I was coming into her room about 10 minutes early to give her 0400 dose. The PCA was taking her vitals, positioned in a way that the patient couldn't see me. I hear her say "where is that f'ing nurse with my pain killer? She's late, dammit..." So I said, "is this how you talk about me when I'm not around?" She nearly jumped out the bed. That shut her up for the rest of the night. I was able to spend the next 3 hours of my shift caring for the rest of my patients I'm sure might've felt a little neglected.

[Vespertinas]

Careful holding a mirror to the patient! They might not like what they see and then complain about you for upsetting them.

[RNnur]

And there in lies the problem.... this attitude of egocentrism that some have...I just feel somewhat sorry as a bar of perfection is set for everyone else and yet the one with this attitude does not necessarily hold themselves to such standards. What I understand from your post is that every one of your patient's was completely satisfied with the quality of your care and has never criticized your efforts? "Caringfornurses" there's a bit of irony in that don't you think? I'm not mean enough to tell you that you should rethink your career choice though....just saying