All Bad Nurses - Please Stand Up

night owl · Jun 3, 2004

To me a good nurse is when the pt himself tells you, "You know, you're a very good nurse." Or when the pt asks, "Are you my nurse tonight?" "Oh thank God!" That's enough for me to know I'm making a difference. The "not so good" nurse is the one the pt complains about and sometimes not just once, but many times. When a pt requests to NOT have a certain nurse take care of them, you can only assume that nurse can't be all that good and it does show in their attitude. They are the ones who don't take the time to listen, or never return to the pt when they said they would, never goes the extra mile, shows no compassion towards any of their pts and are simply there for a paycheck. They complain about anything and everything, they don't take pride in being a nurse and the bottom line, probably would be better off in a different field. Sometimes I have to wonder why they stay in nursing or simply why they even wanted to become a nurse at all.

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 3, 2004

Ok a Good nurse to me:

Has integrity

Works hard

Can prioritize well and adjust when things go to hell in a handbasket

Keeps up on his/her education, staying current at all times in any way he/she can

Is not concerned only with the disease process, but the WHOLE person suffering it and treats the WHOLE person as a result

Has empathy, compassion, but KNOWS when to draw the line so that his/her personal life is not affected badly. Knows when to leave work at work, and home at home

Arrives at work ON TIME, not habitually late

Jumps in and helps coworkers when they need it, without having to be asked.

Has enough respect for him/herself and the profession to dress neatly and with dignity

He/she can stand up for him/herself in adversity or in the face of abuses heaped on him/her from patients, family members, doctors, administration as needed

Is an activist, not necessarily ANA, but of his/her choosing. instead of always complaining, is willing to write letters, walk the line, speak to representatives as needed to address nursing concerns

Knows when it's time to take a break or vacation to prevent burn out and stay connected to his/her loved ones

these are a few that make a good nurse to me. anyone agree?

Dialyzin' Dar · Jun 3, 2004

To me, a good nurse is one who tells me what I can do for myself. That way, I don't tick her off with needless requests and I can start doing small things for myself while I recover. A few seconds' worth of chit-chat is really appreciated, too-- I know nurses don't have the time to yak with patients, but just a friendly greeting or a quick funny comment makes a big difference to someone who's stuck in that room all day.

TeenyBabyRN · Jun 3, 2004

To me a good nurse is when the pt himself tells you, "You know, you're a very good nurse." Or when the pt asks, "Are you my nurse tonight?" "Oh thank God!" That's enough for me to know I'm making a difference. The "not so good" nurse is the one the pt complains about and sometimes not just once, but many times. When a pt requests to NOT have a certain nurse take care of them, you can only assume that nurse can't be all that good and it does show in their attitude. They are the ones who don't take the time to listen, or never return to the pt when they said they would, never goes the extra mile, shows no compassion towards any of their pts and are simply there for a paycheck. They complain about anything and everything, they don't take pride in being a nurse and the bottom line, probably would be better off in a different field. Sometimes I have to wonder why they stay in nursing or simply why they even wanted to become a nurse at all.

Sorry, but this just doesn't hold up. Patients will request not to have a particular nurse again for the most asinine reasons, such as:

The patient tried to treat a particular nurse like a slave and the nurse would not stand for it.

The nurse would not give the diabetic patient candy, cookies, and soda.

The nurse would not change the diaper of a visitor's infant.

The patient felt pain when the nurse gave the injection/started the IV.

The nurse didn't have time to fluff the patient's pillow or refill the ice pitcher because she was coding one of her other patients.

The nurse asked the 15-member family of a patient to select a representative to receive updates and keep the rest of them informed, rather than have to take 15-30 phone calls per shift to give updates.

The nurse was floated from an entirely different type of unit and was uncomfortable with the procedures/patient load, therefore seemingly incompetent to the patient.

The patient did not want to be NPO, but the nurse enforced the order.

Sometimes people are just not reasonable and you cannot judge a nurse just by what people say. Get real.

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2004

please refrain from personal attacks and debate the issue not the person!!

cannoli · Jun 3, 2004

Sorry, but this just doesn't hold up. Patients will request not to have a particular nurse again for the most asinine reasons, such as:
The patient tried to treat a particular nurse like a slave and the nurse would not stand for it.
The nurse would not give the diabetic patient candy, cookies, and soda.
The nurse would not change the diaper of a visitor's infant.
The patient felt pain when the nurse gave the injection/started the IV.
The nurse didn't have time to fluff the patient's pillow or refill the ice pitcher because she was coding one of her other patients.
The nurse asked the 15-member family of a patient to select a representative to receive updates and keep the rest of them informed, rather than have to take 15-30 phone calls per shift to give updates.
The nurse was floated from an entirely different type of unit and was uncomfortable with the procedures/patient load, therefore seemingly incompetent to the patient.
The patient did not want to be NPO, but the nurse enforced the order.
Sometimes people are just not reasonable and you cannot judge a nurse just by what people say. Get real.

Have to agree, maybe they just don't like the color of the eyes, the accent, whatever!

lisamc1RN, LPN · Jun 3, 2004

Those sound like excellent qualities for a nurse! This brings a very interesting question to the front... do nurses and patients have the same ideas of what makes a good nurse? I am thinking that my list of reasons from a previous post were pretty lame compared to what you have listed. Since I'm not a nurse yet (haven't even started school yet!) I was going only by my own experiences with nurses. A patient may not have a clue what's going on behind the scenes of their own room. I would certainly want my nurse to have those qualites that you listed. I would take them over a cheerful dispositon, too!

Ok a Good nurse to me:
Has integrity
Works hard
Can prioritize well and adjust when things go to hell in a handbasket
Keeps up on his/her education, staying current at all times in any way he/she can
Is not concerned only with the disease process, but the WHOLE person suffering it and treats the WHOLE person as a result
Has empathy, compassion, but KNOWS when to draw the line so that his/her personal life is not affected badly. Knows when to leave work at work, and home at home
Arrives at work ON TIME, not habitually late
Jumps in and helps coworkers when they need it, without having to be asked.
Has enough respect for him/herself and the profession to dress neatly and with dignity
He/she can stand up for him/herself in adversity or in the face of abuses heaped on him/her from patients, family members, doctors, administration as needed
Is an activist, not necessarily ANA, but of his/her choosing. instead of always complaining, is willing to write letters, walk the line, speak to representatives as needed to address nursing concerns
Knows when it's time to take a break or vacation to prevent burn out and stay connected to his/her loved ones
these are a few that make a good nurse to me. anyone agree?

NursesRmofun, ASN, RN · Jun 3, 2004

Good nurse:

1) Eats less than 4.5 KK or Dunkin donuts per shift.

2) Answers call bells in 6.5 secs. or less.

3) Always says, "Can I do anything else for you. I have time."

4) Always agrees with the doc.

Bad nurse:

1) Hogs all KK or Dunkin donuts.

2) Answers call bells in over 6.5 secs. or not at all.

3) Says, "Yes," she will do it and does not.

4) Calls the docs many profane names under her breath or out loud.

(Tongue in cheek. heehee)

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2004

A good nurse knows the difference between what a patient wants and what they need in order to get better - a great nurse will give a patient what they need over what they want but the best nurses give the patient what they need to get better and make them believe it is what they always wanted!!!

SRbear · Jun 4, 2004

If you are 'dealing' and the nurse buys the illegal drugs....bad,bad, bad nurse. !!!! Could not help myself

gypsyatheart · Jun 4, 2004

how can you tell if the nurse your dealing with is bad nurse or good nurse?

Well, you've gotten a lot of good answers here....maybe now you could define exactly what you mean....give us some insight as to your question.... :coollook:

Personally, I think a good nurse is a "patient advocate". Like someone else said, doing what's best for the patient, even when the patient doesn't want it or know it. And, speaking up for a patient, when the patient has " no voice" so to speak....

angel337, MSN, RN · Jun 4, 2004

a good nurse:

has empathy toward the patients AND staff

takes accountability for actions

is a team player

recognizes that patient care is part of nursing care

is open to learning new things

a bad nurse:

could care less about staff or patients

disappears everyyyy single time in a code :rotfl:

common phrase is "that's not MY patient with a heart rate of 250" (saying this while surfing the net) :)

leaves patient sitting in waste for hours even though they have time to clean the patient (this is a personal pet peeve of mine)