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

[Sugarcoma, RN]

I'm not getting what your point is.

None of what you said changes the fact that we can't always give pts what they want right when they want it. For a pt to be upset he didn't get his pain pill right when he asked is just another sign our society is becoming increasingly childish and narcissistic. I've been a pt. I've been in pain and asked for

pain meds. I did not throw a hissy fit when I didn't get them right away. Why? Because I'm a grown a** man and know that these things happen. I'm not blind or stupid. I realize I am in a hospital full of very sick people. And, yes, this was all well before I became a nurse.

Now, I realize sometimes a nurse will be late passing meds due to laziness and/or incompetence. This is clearly not what the OP was talking about.

Being a professional nurse doesn't mean you drop everything to give a PRN every time. Being a professional means you prioritize. I agree that "with great knowledge comes great responsibility." We're responsible to use our nursing judgement. If all nursing was was shoveling pills when requested, they could just hire a CNA, right?

This is a truly excellent post!

[SNB1014, RN]

Is it so wrong for a patient to expect you to do your job?

TOS wont let me call you what you outright deserve to be called. get over yourself.

PRIORITIZE. ABCs come before the P in pain *unless* the pain is so unspeakable that you cannot catch your own breath or your pain is directly associated with a acute issue with your ABCs.

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

After watching a required video at work about patent interactions I have tried to refrain from saying "I have other patients" , not because it isn't true but because it doesn't help. The people who care already know and those who don't just don't give a darn. And saying it to make myself feel better doesn't work.

When I think about it, that's really the only reason I say or think it (notice I wrote "I", not generalizing here). I don't think patients expect an explanation for why you can't respond instantly. You get there when you get there. You can acknowledge their frustration or anxiety or whatever, and then do what needs to be done. Explanations about why you are delayed can sound like excuses or even whining and doesn't change the here and now.

Just food for thought.

[delilas]

I've had a few patients call the patient advocate (on another nurse) for being 15 minutes late with pain medication. I seem to always get assigned to patient rooms needing "service recovery" for these things, and I think it's ridiculous. It is a PRN medication; it is not scheduled, therefore it is not really late. If their pain is truly so bad they need it on the dot, then they either need different medication or a stern talking to from a doctor.

Unfortunately, that will never happen. At least it's job security for me to do service recovery, since I'm apparently excellent at making upset people happy. I just worry I'm going to burnout faster attempting to make the most demanding of our patients happy every time I work.

[redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN]

They probably just want the pain medication on time so they can roll over and get back to sleep. If they go to sleep before you show up they'll never know whether or not you gave them pain meds! Seriously, the ones that complain the loudest always seem to be in the least amount of pain. (Yes, it is what they say it is, etc. etc. but that doesn't change the perception.)

[metal_m0nk, BSN, RN]

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.

It's as simple as the laws of physics which dictate that a person cannot be in two places at once.

Unless each nurse cares for one patient and one patient only, SOMEONE is going to have to wait and it's going to be the patient that the nurse is not currently tending to.

A very large part of a nurse's responsibilities (and one that I can tell you was a major focal point of the national licensing exam) is her ability to prioritize care.

When I'm in the room with a patient who'd had a major, unexpected syncopal episode at the end of the prior shift, so significant that he soiled himself while unconscious...then I'm going to stay in the room with him, make certain I get a thorough assessment performed, a fresh set of baseline vitals, and do my best to reassure him and his wife who had to experience the whole thing. No I am not going to stop what I'm doing to go help the 18 year old 24hour s/p lap appy down the hall to the bathroom. If that doesn't meet to your liking, fire me.

Slightly off-topic....your user name seems grossly misleading.

[hikeskibike]

As a patient advocate, I would encourage nurses to utilize our services more often. Reading through this thread is almost breaking my heart. This cycle needs to stop. Just because you call in an advocate does NOT mean you will end up with a report filed - just the opposite. When we step in, most patients become much more compliant and they are happier and calmer. We can have these difficult conversations you don't want to have. We can hold hands, let people vent and get to the bottom of the situation and find out why they are really upset (it probably isn't because they didn't get their Colace in 20 minutes). This is what we are trained to do. I have a masters in psychology, I am an R.N and I completed a patient advocacy certificate. I am prepared to handle situations where patients are in need of additional support. PLEASE contact us - we are in many hospitals! It isn't just the patient who can call on us!

[ProgressiveActivist, BSN, RN]

"so sorry I was tied up in an isolation room. Next if you don't get assistance ask the charge nurse to get your medication. I am sure that she wont mind."