Advise please...How the heck do I get OUT of pts room????

[jessi1106, BSN, RN]

I am a new nurse working on a busy acute care medicine unit.

Yes I struggle w/ organization and I feel overwhelmed..but there is suprisingly another aspect of my new job that I am finding difficulty with...how do I get the heck out of the pts dang room??? After of course the dressing is changed, meds given, assessment done, all care given..

Don't get me wrong. I do care about my pts and I do listen to all concerns..but some pts just go on and on. I would love to stay and talk about grandchildren, current events or whatever...but I have other pts! I just find it so hard to abruptly end a conversation when the pt seems to want to talk...yet at the same time I have other pts waiting for me.

This is also hard when I do admissions questions as some people go on endlessly about irrelevant medical history...I have a hard time cutting them off. After all, I have been a pt and know I like to feel "listened to".

I have been falling behind in charting because I just end up spending too much time w/pts...any advise???

We have pagers where I work, and one nurse said to me today, "you mean you haven't learned how to fake a page yet"?

Any more experienced nurses have methods to make pts feel cared for, and listend to....but quickly?

[purple_rose_3]

Okay, I know that this can make me look bad. But, here is a few tricks I've picked up. When you get that certain person that you know is going to get you trapped in a room talking endlessly I will enter the room and state "I'm waiting on a phone call from the Physician so I might have to leave and answer that if he/she calls back while I'm in this room." We have pagers so we are able to get this little trick to work.

[TazziRN, RN]

If it's a person you know is going to lasso you the second you set a toe in the room, give one of your coworkers a heads up and ask for a "rescue" if you're not out of the room in howevermanyminutesittakesyoutofinishthatparticulartask. Not a thing wrong with this, at my last place it was actually encouraged for those few pts who just didn't know when to stop.

Something I learned to do, and it's worked for me so far: talk as you're working (assuming it's a task and not an interview, etc.) and cleaning up, then start edging toward the door. If you have to, stand there with the door partway open, hand on the knob/handle. Make the last comment made be from you, smile, and start leaving the room.

[EmmaG, RN]

Ah, the rescue page!

Years ago, my nursing instructor gave me some good advice that really works: if you sit down at eye level while you talk to them (rather than standing over the patient, looking down at them), their perception is that you spent much more time truly listening to their concerns.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

When I go into the room I say I'll be working with you for xxx amount of time, then if I need to I excuse myself by saying I need to go give someone a shot. So far this works pretty good

[RNperdiem, RN]

If you know beforehand who will trap you, schedule them last on rounds if their condition allows. I used to see, assess and chart on my nonverbal patients first and try to stay caught up before I saw the chatty patients.

[reesern63, RN]

"I've enjoyed talking with you, but I have to go check on my other patients now. Maybe we can talk more later." Smile nicely, but leave.

[bluwavyhat]

I have not mastered this area yet, but I like the advice given above. Try if situation allows to place chatty to the end of the med pass, but when you enter the room concentrate on the med pass, ensure the patient either takes the med or refuses it, chart or note accordingly, and take over the conversation politely, end it, and firmly move out the door. Chatty patients often know you are busy, and do not care. Some chatty patients run hot, cold, or indifferent. Some patients try to control the situation on their own terms, and your med pass will be held up due to their decision-making process about the same pill they have taken six hours ago, but take once a day at home, but now the doctor has them in the hospital taking it twice a day.

Stick to your med pass, Chatty will still be there, and you have work that needs to be completed, too many patients rely on you to get them their medications on time.

Chatty has to respect your work, even if they believe they know what you do, or have been in the hospital many times, or have relatives who are in the medical field. Keep your humanity, but stick to where the rubber meets the road, and keep moving...

[CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN]

[evil]

[color=white]tell them that your actions of leaving mid conversation is often considered rude, however you have others to attend to and we can talk later :0)

[color=white]ask them if they have family and get their numbers then proceed to call call call. cause they're most of the time lonely and family may not feel that the patient needs anyone there at this time, because the patient is now stable or now out of icu. for example: one time i was at the bank and i overheard a couple's conversation while in line at the bank: "charles is wanting us to come visit him at the hospital. why?? he's an adult, he's no baby, he can handle it!!":uhoh3:

[/evil]

then proceed to go to coffee break or get some breakfast!!! for real? if only life as a nurse could be so simple!

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

"I've enjoyed talking with you, but I have to go check on my other patients now. Maybe we can talk more later." Smile nicely, but leave.

I mostly use this technique. I've never had a bit of trouble. Timing is important. Or else I'll tell them that I really need to catch up on my paperwork and charting, with a little lighthearted complaint about the government, most people can relate and sympathise with that.

Be sure to pass on in report that a particular patient is 'chatty' so your collegues can be forewarned.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Ah, the rescue page!

Years ago, my nursing instructor gave me some good advice that really works: if you sit down at eye level while you talk to them (rather than standing over the patient, looking down at them), their perception is that you spent much more time truly listening to their concerns.

This is very important. Sitting down and giving them a few minutes of undivided attention makes them feel more secure. Don't talk to them while trying to edge out of the room. Make them feel like they are, for a few minutes, the most important person in the world.

[EmmaG, RN]

This is very important. Sitting down and giving them a few minutes of undivided attention makes them feel more secure. Don't talk to them while trying to edge out of the room. Make them feel like they are, for a few minutes, the most important person in the world.

Exactly.