Tying Patient Satisfaction to Medicare Reimbursement is Problematic - Page 6

I have such a strong opinion of these patient satisfaction surveys, but so little space to provide it. What I'll say is...I have yet to find the sign in my hospital that reads "the customer is always right" or "have it your way". I don't coddle people, I don't kiss patients proverbial butts, and I don't waste my precious care-giving time on pillows, lunch boxes, or water. If you need water because you're in DKA, I'll get it for you, and quickly. If you need a warm blanket because you're hypo-thermic or the heat went out in the winter, you got it! If you're boarding in the ER because the house is full, I've got your pillow and lunch box. But if you just got placed in a treatment room, the gown is still folded on the bed, and the doctor hasn't seen you yet, that lunch box you just requested will never become a reality for you. If you want to give me poor scores for that, BY ALL MEANS DO IT WITH A BIG RED SHARPIE. But I will put you in your place when you're demanding a blanket when we're coding the pt on the other side of the curtain.

I agree with the above, but unfortunately the surveys don't discriminate- the higher ups aren't going to have specifics as to WHO actually did the survey.

That's where the rest of us are getting spanked for "low scores"

It really sucksssss.

I had a nasty complaint from parents to management because I left the sliding glass door cracked open. The child was a trauma pt, vented, bolt, lines and all. The parents couldn't sleep comfortably with all the noises of course and I even caught her silencing the vent and crs monitor alarms. Unit was full so relocating the pt was not an option. It was explained to the parents that PICU tends to be a noisy environment and to bare with us. The answer was I don't care. I even suggested they take turns sleeping, possibly one going home nearby to sleep well and switch. How dare I. Lesson learned.

Management sided with her of course in the name of customer service. It will be six yrs in a few weeks as a nurse and I am ready to hang my steth. I am rearranging my life to be able to make it on a few PRN shifts a month if need be and take a FT for 1/8 pay in a non-related field.

I am too heart-broken of what nursing has become and how this is not what any of us went to school for. I am putting in my 2 weeks notice tomorrow and really mean it this time.

^^^ Im sorry. This is only the tip of the iceberg.