As a Nurse and a Patient

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2013

I'm not dead yet, although I AM pretty grumpy right now -- probably because I'm more of a patient than a nurse lately.

That'll do it!

SwansonRN · Dec 19, 2013

I can confidently say that I would want a nurse like myself and would be happy to have the large majority of my coworkers take care of my family. I think it's sad so many people have such negative perceptions about their peers...

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Dec 19, 2013

All this said my mother has been going through surgery and radiation therapy at the U of WA and she hates anything medical but feels all her nurses and physicians have been outstanding. And she is no pushover.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2013

All this said my mother has been going through surgery and radiation therapy at the U of WA and she hates anything medical but feels all her nurses and physicians have been outstanding. And she is no pushover.

Go U-Dub! Yay Huskies! Great nursing school (undergrad and graduate), too, with regular and ongoing contact c the UW hospitals and clinics. It makes a difference.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 20, 2013

I'm not dead yet either and I am not usually grumpy either. But I have to admit as a frequent patient these days I am concerned for my care more often than I am not....there is so much missing and so much lack of responsibility...I don't know something is definitely missing.
The stress on that staff is palpable. However, I see a lot of "Whatever..." attitude. There are days if i see one more gum smacking, eye rolling nurse.... it makes me want to scream.
I had one recently tell me it was no big deal the med he/she hung on me didn't have my name on it...and I quote in between the gum snapping and rolled eyes..."What difference does THAT make..... it's the right med isn't it?" I was ready to spit nails! Really? At 10 am you can't find another label or the right med with my name on it when pharmacy is in the house on a non stat med???? I was stunned.
Did I complain? Yes. Will they talk about that "female dog" in outpatient IV? Yes. Do I care? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Ha ha ha ha :) good for you!

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 20, 2013

I've said basically this same thing over and over -- the "nice" nurse vs. the good nurse. The nice nurse, the one that gets all those customer satisfaction awards, is the one who gives you all the water you want to drink even though you're on a fluid restriction. She doesn't make you cough and deep breathe post op because she knows how uncomfortable that is. If you don't feel like feeding yourself or washing yourself, she cheerfully does it for you because you know it's all about the patient satisfaction surveys and not so much about returning you to independence.
Then there's the nurse that not only knows you're on a fluid restriction, she knows why. And when you ask for that big glass of water, she tells you about the fluid restriction and explains that she's getting you a small glass of ice chips. She insists that you cough and deep breathe, nevermind that it's uncomfortable for you. She doesn't want you to get pneumonia. And while she's happy to set up your tray and even cut your meat, you can feed yourself because it's all about getting you back to being independent. No matter how nice she is about saying no to the water and insisting upon coughing and deep breathing, she doesn't get the same amount of patient satisfaction awards, but her patients some how do better. Unfortunately, that isn't rewarded.

Well said.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 20, 2013

Why have an uncomfortable moment about teaching the patient to cough and deep breathe -- just give him more pain meds and hope for the best.

Give the patient narcotics and further impair their breathing. And while you're at it, why don't you load them up with solumedrol.

Anonymous865 · Dec 21, 2013

As a patient (not a nurse) I assume that if someone has graduated from an accreditated nursing school, passed his/her licensing tests, and been hired by a hospital, that they are qualified, capable, and competant. I also assume that if I am in a good hospital, that the nurse's supervisor will monitor their work and that the hospital will insure that the nurse receives continuing education. I also assume that the nurse is aware of what they can and cannot do well and will seek assistance when necessary.

Since I'm assuming that all the nurses in the hospital do a good job, then I want a kind, supportive nurse. I'm a competant adult and don't need someone to speak to me in their mom voice. I will do my part (walk, breathe deeply, etc.) to get well.

If I have a mean, gruff, crusty, unsmiling nurse, my stress level increases. When that happens, I perceive pain as worse and need more pain med. My blood pressure increases. My heart rate increases. I feel more depressed and just want to stay in bed instead of ambulating.

Just by being kind, sweet, and encouraging, you improve my health. I'm more likely to trust you and more likely to provide you with the information you need to care for me.

ArtClassRN, ADN, RN · Dec 21, 2013

Personally I would want the toughest, smartest, assertive, grumpy old army Nurse (sadly they are a dying breed) taking care of me and my loved ones. NOT the Nurse who gets all the patient satisfaction awards.

Wouldn't you rate grumpy Nurse highly in a satisfaction survey?

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2013

As a patient (not a nurse) I assume that if someone has graduated from an accreditated nursing school, passed his/her licensing tests, and been hired by a hospital, that they are qualified, capable, and competant. I also assume that if I am in a good hospital, that the nurse's supervisor will monitor their work and that the hospital will insure that the nurse receives continuing education. I also assume that the nurse is aware of what they can and cannot do well and will seek assistance when necessary.
Since I'm assuming that all the nurses in the hospital do a good job, then I want a kind, supportive nurse. I'm a competant adult and don't need someone to speak to me in their mom voice. I will do my part (walk, breathe deeply, etc.) to get well.
If I have a mean, gruff, crusty, unsmiling nurse, my stress level increases. When that happens, I perceive pain as worse and need more pain med. My blood pressure increases. My heart rate increases. I feel more depressed and just want to stay in bed instead of ambulating.
Just by being kind, sweet, and encouraging, you improve my health. I'm more likely to trust you and more likely to provide you with the information you need to care for me.

It must be nice to think you can make those initial assumptions. Unfortunately, you would be wrong on just about all of them.

RNforLongTime · Dec 21, 2013

I had a patient tell my day shift coworker that I was a 'drill sergeant because I 'made' her use her Incentive Spirometer because I didn't want her getting post-op atelectasis turning into pneumonia! LOL I'm guessing my HCAPS scores weren't too high. I'm also guessing she didn't get pneumonia either.

Then there's an RN on the Geri-floor who happily gave his CHF patient FOUR pitchers of water because it's what he WANTED and we must to everything the patient WANTS whether or not it's good for them.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Dec 21, 2013

Oh I agree! I was in the hospital for a few days last year and give me that old battle ax nurse! My newer girls were nice and sweet but they just pretty much came in and checked me out, gave meds and took off. I was having an odd pain at my incision site....just didn't feel right and these gals were like, we'll let me know how it is Ina few hours. The older gal had a feeling something was off and insisted the doc come and check it out, I heard her in the phone...this resident was getting an earful and she insisted the fellow come down. Sure enough my internal stitches were popping and needed repaired. Thank you to the mean gal( I heard the new nurses complaining about her) or I would have dehised.