We are all supposed to love our jobs and most of us do! But we are all supposed to over look just danged annoying behaviors.
My pet peeve, I do not care for drama patients. You walk out in the hall and they are laughing and having fun with a visitor, they take one look at YOU looking at them and they are hanging on to the walls to help them walk and moaning in pain. I sometimes think my mere presence causes them harm... ;o)
Me: "Great! Your temp is normal!" Patient: "Oh, if it is normal I am SICK! My usual is 72(F).
Me: "Great! Your b/p is 120/70!" Patient: "Oh, if it is normal I am SICK! My usual is 50/10."
I never even thought of this happening. That would drive me nuts! The amount of work that goes into what happens after a fall is staggering.
My dad used to fake falls. He has MS and was withdrawing from narcs and they weren't doing it right (read: cold turkey) He figured if he fell and cracked his head open he could get back to the hospital where someone would taper him safely. He did, and they did. He is now narc free.
I accidently double posted, so I'll add one more thing. People who show up after visiting hours are over, go into the room talking like it's noon and wake both patients up.
Specializes in Peds Urology,primary care, hem/onc.
I work outpatient. I will get an urgent message from our secretaries asking me to call a parent of one of our patients (I work pediatrics).
This is typically how it goes
Ring, Ring, Ring
"Hello?"
"Good morning, this is RNsrgr8t from Urology"
silence (you know they are there b/c you can hear them breathing)
"I was returning your urgent phone call?"
Continued silence (they are still breathing!)
"Can I help you?"
"Yeah" (finally a response! but they only said one word) then silence
"What can I help you with?"
Long pause then "they didn't tell you already?"
"Well, I did get a message that you had an urgent concern, can you tell me how I can help you?"
Another endless pause before they FINALLY start to tell me what is going on.
Seriously? YOU call and state you have an urgent concern, why do I have to move heaven and earth to drag it out of you what is going on and how I can help you???
The other is when they leave a message and you immediately call them back and their phone is busy or they do not have VM set up on their phone and they do not answer. When you finally reach them and you comment on it (nicely) they are like "yeah I was on the phone" or " I do not like voicemail". If you leave a message for your medical provider, you would think common courtesy (I know it is sincerely lacking now a days) would lend you to be ready to answer the phone when you are called back.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
The other is when they leave a message and you immediately call them back and their phone is busy or they do not have VM set up on their phone and they do not answer. When you finally reach them and you comment on it (nicely) they are like "yeah I was on the phone" or " I do not like voicemail". If you leave a message for your medical provider, you would think common courtesy (I know it is sincerely lacking now a days) would lend you to be ready to answer the phone when you are called back.
I work night shift. My providers all KNOW I work night shift. When I call to speak to a provider and am asked to leave a message, the message I leave always includes the best time/way to reach me. I need a prescription refill, please call it to the Rite Aid pharmacy and the number is XXX-XXX-XXXX." "I have a question about my test results. You can call back in the next 60 minutes, but after that I will be sleeping until 4 PM. You can either email me or call me after 4 PM or tomorrow before 9 or after 4." Why, then, does my PCP call me at noon, get testy when I don't answer the phone and then NOT call back again?
Specializes in Peds Urology,primary care, hem/onc.
I work night shift. My providers all KNOW I work night shift. When I call to speak to a provider and am asked to leave a message, the message I leave always includes the best time/way to reach me. I need a prescription refill, please call it to the Rite Aid pharmacy and the number is XXX-XXX-XXXX." "I have a question about my test results. You can call back in the next 60 minutes, but after that I will be sleeping until 4 PM. You can either email me or call me after 4 PM or tomorrow before 9 or after 4." Why, then, does my PCP call me at noon, get testy when I don't answer the phone and then NOT call back again?
See YOU are the patient I love (not that suprises me RubyV!)!!! Your doctor's office should LISTEN to the message and call you when you are available! They should NOT get testy with you about that. I would definitely complain to your provider about that. I always appreciate it when the message tells me the best time/number to call and I happily comply with that!!!
What happens to me is the patient NEVER says they work nightshift, have a new # etc and get mad when I call and wake them up or call the wrong #! Am I supposed to be a mind reader???
I work night shift. My providers all KNOW I work night shift. When I call to speak to a provider and am asked to leave a message, the message I leave always includes the best time/way to reach me. I need a prescription refill, please call it to the Rite Aid pharmacy and the number is XXX-XXX-XXXX." "I have a question about my test results. You can call back in the next 60 minutes, but after that I will be sleeping until 4 PM. You can either email me or call me after 4 PM or tomorrow before 9 or after 4." Why, then, does my PCP call me at noon, get testy when I don't answer the phone and then NOT call back again?
Most of my doctor's do online chart software now that I can send them messages through. Thank goodness! So much easier to be able to write lengthy, secure, detailed messages than play phone tag with vague voicemails.
I work night shift. My providers all KNOW I work night shift. When I call to speak to a provider and am asked to leave a message, the message I leave always includes the best time/way to reach me. I need a prescription refill, please call it to the Rite Aid pharmacy and the number is XXX-XXX-XXXX." "I have a question about my test results. You can call back in the next 60 minutes, but after that I will be sleeping until 4 PM. You can either email me or call me after 4 PM or tomorrow before 9 or after 4." Why, then, does my PCP call me at noon, get testy when I don't answer the phone and then NOT call back again?
Not sure I agree with 10/10 as labor. I had two kids with absolutely no medication but I've had much worse pain than that. Kidney stones,
I have never experienced childbirth but I have experienced kidney stones and that is the most intense pain I have ever experienced in my life. An abscessed tooth does not begin to compare. That is drop to the ground and bury your face in the mud kind of pain.
People who hit the call light and than use the call light to bang on the bed rail until you come answer it. This is 95% of the time done for some petty reason like "I forgot how to turn the TV off" or "I hear a machine beeping" (in the ICU!? Really? Call me if you don't hear one and we'll talk).
People who hit the call light and than use the call light to bang on the bed rail until you come answer it. This is 95% of the time done for some petty reason like "I forgot how to turn the TV off" or "I hear a machine beeping" (in the ICU!? Really? Call me if you don't hear one and we'll talk).
Farawyn
12,646 Posts
My dad used to fake falls. He has MS and was withdrawing from narcs and they weren't doing it right (read: cold turkey) He figured if he fell and cracked his head open he could get back to the hospital where someone would taper him safely. He did, and they did. He is now narc free.