Am I the only one who finds this disrespectful?

[klone]

Right now there are two threads (one which was closed) devoted to "things you should know before coming into our department" and the tone of the thread is thinly-veiled contempt at ignorant, uneducated or silly things patients or patients' families say or do. I've been hanging around this board for a couple years, and these threads are a regularly occurring thing.

I haven't said anything in these threads, instead I just close the thread and move on. But whenever I read them, I can't help but feel how disrespectful these threads seem. I understand people are "blowing off steam" and all that, but I don't know. It still really bothers me, and makes me wonder if these people who are so contemptuous are really able to mask their feelings very well.

These threads often get SO big, which makes me wonder if maybe I'm alone in thinking that it's inappropriate and disrespectful to mock the patients we see, even if it is behind their backs.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Just another thought.

I also read/ participate on babycenter.com. They have birth boards set up. (women who are due in the same month...dec 2006 etc) Somedays I really bang my head up against the wall/ desk and bite my touge and sit on my hands so that I dont' respond to some of the posts.

We all have heard....there is never a dump question? Well, I'm sorry but there is. Maybe it is being pregnant for the first time, maybe it is the hormones....I'm not really sure, but I truely do wonder...if these people are smart enough to be able to access and surf the internet.....hmmm.

Some days I think it is too bad that the posters over there cant access this or maybe a cleaner version of these types of threads so that they can be educated before they come to the hospitals etc. Would make your jobs alot easier. (less funny at times though)

[33-weeker]

perhaps if you find these threads annoying or disrespectful, you would do best to just avoid them... i am ob nurse of 14 years and have seen wonderful and terrible, invigorating and frightening things, most nurses have. if we do not blow off steam, we will explode! it is beneficial to be able to vent to those who really understand where you come from! i do whole heartedly feel that we are able to mask these opinions and feelings, they may not even be truely the way we feel, just an attempt to use humor to deal with otherwise very difficult situations. i have consistantly gotten the highest reviews from peers, management and yes, patients and families! i have returning patients request me, and tell friends to request me. i have files and files full of thank you notes, pictures of babies at 1 year old, etc... not trying to brag, just know that i enjoy these "disrespectful" threads as much if not more than anyone else, i post comments almost daily, i feel fortunate to have found this site! if i had trouble masking my "opinions" i don't think i'd be getting rave reviews. if anything i post offends you, i apologize, but will continue to post, for me it is therapy, i would never question your choices for dealing with stress, please don't question ours!

amen!!! well said! :yeahthat:

[emmycRN]

I enjoy reading all of the posts on this site, especially the ones that include "venting". My only concern is that nurses aren't the only ones visiting this forum. I have seen threads written by lay persons needing advice, people considering nursing careers, ect. I often wonder what these people think when they read these posts. The posts I'm concerned about are the ones discussing errors and stupid things patients say or do. We nurses are the most trusted professionals out there (according to polls). I hope we never do anything to jeopardize that. OK. That's what I think. Now let me have it if you must.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i enjoy reading all of the posts on this site, especially the ones that include "venting". my only concern is that nurses aren't the only ones visiting this forum. i have seen threads written by lay persons needing advice, people considering nursing careers, ect. i often wonder what these people think when they read these posts. the posts i'm concerned about are the ones discussing errors and stupid things patients say or do. we nurses are the most trusted professionals out there (according to polls). i hope we never do anything to jeopardize that. ok. that's what i think. now let me have it if you must.

this is a forum for nurses. if lay persons are reading these posts, they need to understand that they were written by nurses for nurses. although, i suspect any adult who has had a job dealing with the public for a decade or so could contribute just as many "stupid customer" vents as any of the nurses here! you should read what my friends who are teachers have to say about "stupid parents"!

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

You should read what my friends who are teachers have to say about "stupid parents"!

I guess everyone does it. I visit a vegetarian site where theres a thread (the 2nd one of it's type with over 1700 replies "Stupid things omnivores say..." http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=50491

Surely omnivores won't be offended, it's just vegetarians "venting".

[firstyearstudent]

how do you know who is abusing the system? do you know every detail of your patients' lives, enough to know their history of abuse, neglect, illness, poverty, lack of education and other factors which have led to their being on public assistance? you are making judgements on your patients' lives based on whether they show you sufficient "gratitude" or not, when you should be focused on providing quality care to them.

if you have a problem with paying taxes to support social programs, take it up with your senator or representative. please don't take it out on patients.

by the way, i think wealthy people should be grateful to me for having the money to pay for such excellent health care because my taxes in this day and age go to a system that provides corporate welfare and extensive tax breaks for the rich while deserving social programs are cut to pieces.

kris :redbeathe

absolutely! the growing disparity between the rich and the poor in this country horrifies and disgusts me.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

I guess everyone does it. I visit a vegetarian site where theres a thread (the 2nd one of it's type with over 1700 replies "Stupid things omnivores say..." http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=50491

Surely omnivores won't be offended, it's just vegetarians "venting".

Why do the vegans not spell out the word completely? The spell it with an asterik. Veg*ns....

Or is this a stupid question asked by an omni?

(Seriously, it's a legit question)

[justavolunteer]

I have read many of the posts pointing out that it's not just welfare pts. who have a sense of entitlement. These types come from all walks of life. They all cause nurses to do a happy dance when they leave. Sometimes I have mainly wondered about people on state aid who want everything under the sun & seem totally unable to comprehend the word 'no'. How can someone be so clueless?

I also realize that there are needy people who are on some sort of assistance and couldn't survive without it. I do not expect ANY pt. to grovel before the staff. However the people who whine & carry on about every little thing! Do their families let them do this at home? If I tried some of this carrying on with my wife (or vice versa), neither one of us would put up with the other very long.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Why do the vegans not spell out the word completely? The spell it with an asterik. Veg*ns....

Or is this a stupid question asked by an omni?

(Seriously, it's a legit question)

Not a stupid omnivore question.

The word "veg*ns" is shorthand for "vegetarians and vegans".

[firstyearstudent]

My favorite stupid thing that omnivores say is to ask why you are a vegetarian when you're sitting down to dinner in an expensive restaurant. Then when you given them an honest answer, like explaining how animals suffer from factory farming and cruel slaughtering practices they get mad and accuse you of ruining their meal and being "holier than thou."

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

My favorite stupid thing that omnivores say is to ask why you are a vegetarian when you're sitting down to dinner in an expensive restaurant. Then when you given them an honest answer, like explaining how animals suffer from factory farming and cruel slaughtering practices they get mad and accuse you of ruining their meal and being "holier than thou."

That follows under the category "if you really didn't want to know, why did you ask?".

Back to the original topic.......................:balloons:

[SharonH, RN]

So... next time I have a patient looking at several more weeks as an inpatient having I&Ds on a necrotic stump who wants a me to find her a cab ride so she can go shopping before her food stamps expire in 2 days (even though she's getting every nutritional requirement met while she's in the hospital) I need to jump through the hoops to *1)get the doctor to write her a release so she can leave 2)talk social services into getting her the voucher 3)time her meds so she gets them all before or after the shopping spree 4)try to take care of my other patients while doing it* in order to be a patient advocate? I don't think so Being a patient advocate means doing everything I can to meet the needs of my patient. Doing accuchecks, maintaing accurate I&Os, pain meds so she's able to get up with PT, helping her deal with the loss of a limb... those are things I'm happy to do.

And what is she supposed to eat when she gets home. I can imagine that coming home from several weeks in the hospital to an empty cupboard would not be very conducive to a successful recovery. Instead of being so judgmental, why not consider WHY she felt it so important to buy some food while she had the means.