If i did something wrong?

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I am a Lpn working in a surgical unit for FMC for years now, yesterday I had one patient who is a post op patient, she almost called me q 30minutes for warm blanket, later on she experienced diarrhea x 4, I washed her butt twice, then she asked me to give her 2 cups of iced water, 1for her, 1 for her roommate(they both are independent), her roommate said: "I will go to get it", she said;"no, no, the nurse will go to get it for us;", although I am not happy at this moment, I still went to kitchen to get 2 cups of ice water for them, but I told her:"next time you should go to get for yourself;" then I walked away, because I have other jobs to do;

Later on, this patient told every other nurse and patient how mean I was,

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Sorry, I didn't finish yet, today, this patient refused me to be her nurse which it's fine for me, I believe she will complain to my manager, I just wanted to ask, do u think I really did something wrong?

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Everybody says things they shouldn't when frustrated, nurses included. If your coworkers know you then it should not matter what the pt says If your coworkers are worth their salt they will direct the pts attention elsewhere and not listen to it.

My advise to you: if you don't have time, you don't have time, "sure I'll get that for you, but it will be about an hour" Its also surgery so I would think you should be encouraging them to do things own their own. "Mrs. X I CAN get you a drink but for your health you should take this opportunity to blah blah blah" you know the speech.

If she complains to your manager big deal.....the worst you'll get is an earful.

Just be careful HOW you says things

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Thanks for understanding, daisy; I am a person good at action instead of talking, but I feel people prefer listening to good words than looking at what you actually did;

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

You were irritated. I don't think you did anything "wrong", but you probably could have worded it differently. When she asked for the ice I'd have said " I'd be glad to grab you some ice, but it will probably be awhile, I still have other patients to see" and left it at that. She would have gotten the hint.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You didn't do anything wrong. You have to draw the line with patients that try to treat you like a waitress.if they are able to get up and get stuff themselves I would have said no.

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I've actually told a patient I'm not his waitress nor his slave. If he can manage to get to the Timmie's in another part of the hospital he can fill up his water glass.

For some reason, they just don't believe we use the tap in their room even when they see us use it.

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Specializes in Palliative.

When I was a student, I had a patient that got mad at me because I told her I would walk WITH HER to get water so she could get the exercise. She launched into a tirade about how I didn't care and obviously was just too busy for poor her until I reminded her again that I had all kinds of time to go WITH HER. Then she sulked. There are people who get angry and try to manipulate you just because you won't do everything for them--but doing everything for them is NOT your job and is NOT helping them or anyone else. I often tell these patients "I am here to help you get better and doing everything for you doesn't accomplish that".

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Always amazes me how people suddenly become paralyzed when they go into hospital

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

We call it a case of the "hardly ables".

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And this is why I'm glad to nurse in Canada and not the US. No patient satisfaction surveys! No shopping for hospitals like they are hotels.

Yes, our patients are just as whiny but they don't check in expecting spa type stays and menus.

We had an American a while back that was ****** because there was no WiFi or tvs in the rooms, no Iphone charger available at the nursing station, and no menu to select meals from. Our biggest sin? We only had ginger ale on the unit, no Coke. We told him to hike to the vending machine and spend a toonie.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I did have a family member ask once if there was no choice of potato for dinner since Mom doesn't like mashed.I told him he wasn't at Kelsey's.

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