Are people getting meaner, or am I just going soft?

[TakeTwoAspirin]

I have had my face ripped off today by several patients who were enraged that I wouldn't give them exactly what they wanted rather than what I believed they needed. Don't get me wrong, most of my patients are wonderful, but I'm having a run of people who are just out of control! People treat family practice like it's a Burger King. Rant over. Tomorrow is another day......

[Jules A, MSN]

Lol, I forgot to add I actually had a disgruntled patient say to me "What gives you the right to decide which medicine I get?".

[synaptic]

I think i already said this somewhere else but they should just be able to sign a form, get exactly what they want, (after we advise them of the best treatment protocols) and release our liability. Then when they come back angry for not feeling better we can just tell them "hey thats what you wanted."

Sooner or later it will come to that anyway, once there are enough nurse practitioners and family physicians to see all the patients in this country in a timely matter (which will arrive in the sub-near future) since then we will have to compete for patients, thus giving them what they want will be required or they will simply go elsewhere.

[Samantha Harris]

I believe the age of courtesy and decency is over. Just look at some of the threads on here.

[AutumnApple]

I believe the age of courtesy and decency is over. Just look at some of the threads on here.

OMG!

Yes, I was thinking that the other day. Some people are just full of venom. I'm new here and already I feel like I'm navigating a pit full of cobras when I read or post.

I think people get this idea of creating a "new self" online. On one hand, there is them, the person sitting behind the computer. On the other hand, there is the online version of them. The online version (in their eyes) is perfect and wonderful in every way imaginable.

When someone, or something, threatens this perfect online self........watch out! The venom starts to fly. Don't agree with them or aren't on the same boat with them? Don't even dare go public with your opposing viewpoint. You'll have your reading skills, your intelligence and your morals ("You don't get it. You're here for the wrong reasons.") all called out and challenged.

It's to the point where, if I don't agree a diabetic patient should be given snack (or whatever other controversial subject), I have to ask myself "Is saying you feel that way worth the attacks from the online self's that are gonna overreact worth it?"

(blushes)

I always end up saying my piece anyway, but tactfully I hope. Not as if I'm friends with any of these people anyway. They can hate me. No harm, no foul.

Nurses above all should be better than to bow down to the "group think" gods, but here we are..........

[michlynn, BSN, RN]

And this is why patient satisfaction surveys have ruined healthcare. Everyone now believes hospitals are Hiltons. And people are mean.

[anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP]

I think Dr. Google can take some credit for these issues too.

"I've read about *insert disease here* and it fits ALL of my symptoms. I need the work up."

Had a patient say they called a "cancer hotline" and spoke with a "cancers doctor" who agreed their symptoms could be pancreatic cancer and gave them a list of tests to be done. Patient completely ignored their poor diet that would very likely be contributing to their symptoms. They were just sure it was pancreatic cancer despite normal labs and imaging that had already been done.

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

I think Dr. Google can take some credit for these issues too.

"I've read about *insert disease here* and it fits ALL of my symptoms. I need the work up."

Had a patient say they called a "cancer hotline" and spoke with a "cancers doctor" who agreed their symptoms could be pancreatic cancer and gave them a list of tests to be done. Patient completely ignored their poor diet that would very likely be contributing to their symptoms. They were just sure it was pancreatic cancer despite normal labs and imaging that had already been done.

I would love to slap a DNR on Dr. Google!

[IsabelK]

I had a patient's family the other day demand to know why I would not prescribe donepezil (Aricept). I provided education about the guidelines for use and why it was not appropriate. The grandson insisted and I again told him no, that it was not appropriate. In addition, the patient had been refusing to take any medication. His response, "She has @#$$%^&* dementia. It's not her decision." Um...ok...My response: "I cannot and will not prescribe a medication which is contraindicated and on top of which you'd have to force down her throat". He told me he wanted a second opinion from someone qualified to make the decision. I offered to send her records wherever he wanted them to go. He told me to sit and spin and a few other choice things.

I used to have a t-shirt that said, "I'm an nurse, I'm paid to save your a$$, not kiss it." I still think it's true. I'm not the waitress, the hairdresser, the nursemaid, the babysitter, the maid, the room service delivery person, etc. I'm highly educated and skilled. You want to have good quality of life outcomes? Let me do my job, otherwise, go somewhere else.

[IsabelK]

I would love to slap a DNR on Dr. Google!

ROFL. Can we add a DNI, no tube feed, no IV fluids, etc? PLEASE?

[hunnybaby24, BSN, APRN, NP]

I think people come to practitioners as an outlet for their own problems. And this happens no matter if we are a NP, nurse, doctor, janitor, walmart greeter whatever. I have worked many different jobs besides nursing and it doesn't change. They are going to be mean to people no matter what because of their own life situation.

[Jules A, MSN]

I had a patient's family the other day demand to know why I would not prescribe donepezil (Aricept). I provided education about the guidelines for use and why it was not appropriate. The grandson insisted and I again told him no, that it was not appropriate. In addition, the patient had been refusing to take any medication. His response, "She has @#$$%^&* dementia. It's not her decision." Um...ok...My response: "I cannot and will not prescribe a medication which is contraindicated and on top of which you'd have to force down her throat". He told me he wanted a second opinion from someone qualified to make the decision. I offered to send her records wherever he wanted them to go. He told me to sit and spin and a few other choice things.

I used to have a t-shirt that said, "I'm an nurse, I'm paid to save your a$$, not kiss it." I still think it's true. I'm not the waitress, the hairdresser, the nursemaid, the babysitter, the maid, the room service delivery person, etc. I'm highly educated and skilled. You want to have good quality of life outcomes? Let me do my job, otherwise, go somewhere else.

And even if the indication is there just how wonderful are the Alzheimers meds we currently have available?

[IsabelK]

And even if the indication is there just how wonderful are the Alzheimers meds we currently have available?

Frankly, they stink...