Bad rep?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2016

I have a few family members that work in the hospital and they feel like the nurses can be a little rude and at times and lazy.

Some family members are inconsiderate. Instead of appointing one representative to ask the questions, 10 different family members will approach the nurse with the same questions about the same patient throughout the shift: "How did Grandma do today?" "Is the infection leaving?" "Is she less confused and delirious?"

10 different family members x 10 different questions = 40 questions answered. Sometimes this behavior incites a rude, snappish response from the nurse.

As to laziness, I've alluded to the factory worker mentality. Those who have it seem to think nurses are lazy and doing nothing useful if they are seated behind a computer or talking on the phone. To those with the factory worker mentality, the only real work is physical labor.

Basically, people look lazy when one is on the outside looking in.

logank622 · Aug 3, 2016

I agree with PP that there are rude people in every profession, but I think people's perceptions of nurses are a little unrealistic. First, a lot of people only see nurses on TV, and Nurse Jackie isn't painting a flattering picture of our profession. Or there are the super nurses on TV who have time to do everything because the doctors are starting IVs, administering meds, etc. I'd love to work in a facility where the worst part of my day is trying to get a wi-fi signal in the cafeteria.

Second, nursing has changed dramatically over the last couple decades. Nurses don't have time to chat with patients, talk to the family, "how's the new puppy", crap like that. We're harried, focused, under a lot of pressure and have WAY too much to do. As a result, some nurses may come across as brusque or blunt. How many times a day are you standing in a diabetic's room telling them they need to stop munching on Oreos to get their BG under control? The first few patients may get a gentle reminder - after that, it's "at least put the $%^& cookies away WHILE I'M ASSESSING YOU!" We're only human. We have to set boundaries or else we'll burn out. And we need to prioritize care, so the patient who's crashing might come before the patient who doesn't have enough ice in his Sprite. And to patients, setting boundaries or prioritizing another patient before them = mean nurse.

So between the patients expecting Donna Reed in Danskos and the nurses just hoping to pee once in a 12 hour shift, I don't think it has anything to do with a nurse's personality. I think there's a potential mismatch in expectation vs. reality.

vampiregirl, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2016

There's also opportunities for misinterpretation of communication that can cause someone to be labeled "rude" when that was never the intension. The recipient of the communication may be unaware of other circumstances or situations that the nurse is aware of and/or addressing.

There are also occasions when people are asking for information that they legally are not entitled to or the information is not available at that time. Sometimes even when stated pleasantly and professionally that the information cannot be provided, it is not taken well by the recipient and the speaker is labeled "rude".

caliotter3 · Aug 3, 2016

One might say it was rude of nurses to say they were going to get me medication for pain, then I never saw them for the rest of their shift. Has happened to me more than once. Then one might say that is just an indication of how those nurses approached their job. Either way, I was a patient whose pain was not addressed. I do not dwell on whether my nurse is "rude", only if s/he attends to my need for nursing care.

sevensonnets · Aug 3, 2016

Logank622 you are a very wise person.

allnurses Guide · Aug 3, 2016

I know that. But I was just asking in general only because people tend to say " the nurses are rude." They tend to label them. That's why I asked. may I ask what you encounter was like as far as " rude nurses."

I would like to know where you get your information since nurses are routinely voted the most Trusted Professionals in an annual Gallup poll that rates professionals.

Hppy

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 4, 2016

Do you think that nurses receive a bad reputation for having a bad attitude? Is that something you have heard before? I have never worked around RN that has made me feel like " lower class." ( so to speak) or made me feel like " wow, he/she has a bad attitude today. When I did my externship back in 2011, every nurse I came in contact with was very nice to me. Sometimes we would even have a little chit chat. But some people tend of have a different out look on nurses. I honestly don't think it's fair. I have a few family members that work in the hospital and they feel like the nurses can be a little rude and at times and lazy. But once again, I have never had that experience. I honestly think the nurses are the heart of any company and their jobs are pretty freaking difficult at times. Even though I'am not a nurse, I truly understand. But my question is, is it something you hear a lot? And so does it frustrate you as a nurse for people to feel that way?

No, I don't think nurses have a reputation for having a bad attitude. As for your family members who think nurses are rude and lazy, I'd have to wonder about the context.

mustanglover · Aug 5, 2016

If you read a lot of the comments on the threads on this website, a lot of nurses seem to have bad attitudes, and some of the comments make me think they are lazy and resentful. I personally would not want to be a patient of some of the nurses who comment on this website.

With that said there are also a lot of nurses who comment on this website who are overly compassionate about patient care and generally seem to love their jobs even though they have to deal with rude, violent, and dangerous patients.