Call bells! I am beginning to think call bells are the worst invention in the world.
Ring, ring ,ring.
Today, the call bells were crazy. Our secretary kept track. We had 97 call bells in 2 1/2 hours from 26 pts. Several retreat offenders. You know the ones. They ring, you tell them you will be there shorty, 30 secs later, they ring again, and again and again. Look lady, my kegs are short, I simply cannot get from the nursing station to you in 30 secs.
One pt keeps ringing because he's lonely. One just puts her finger and the button and holds it until her nurse gets there.
One pt rang to have her table cleaned off.
Good thing I wasn't playing the drinking game, one drink for every call bell. I wouldn't sober up until Xmas!
Actually, I have had pts and their family say " oh, you seem to be running around alot, don't they have anymore help?", and we've been told to never tell them we are short staffed, or someone called out, etc. And we still have to tell them "we have the time"
So I'd say even when families complain to TPTB, it doesn't help.
How ironic.
So we are supposed to lie to patients. That is good way to establish a relationship built on trust between the parties.
So we are supposed to lie to patients. That is good way to establish a relationship built on trust between the parties.
It's not so much lying as much as a customer service concept. We are not supposed to say we're short staffed because that isn't the patient's problem, it's ours and saying we're short staffed still doesn't offer the solution to the patient (because, in the "customer's" mind ::shudder:: saying we're short is a cop out or worse). FML. It's not lying, though. Also, if I was an overly-opinionated type of patient, I would probably be more inclined to complain that I felt unsafe if the unit I was on couldn't be staffed properly as opposed to looking at the evidence that the staff is simply busy (it could just be a bucket kind of night). You know what I mean? With patients, there are so many things better kept to ourselves. They really don't need to know how the sausage is made, so to speak.
It's not so much lying as much as a customer service concept. We are not supposed to say we're short staffed because that isn't the patient's problem, it's ours and saying we're short staffed still doesn't offer the solution to the patient (because, in the "customer's" mind ::shudder:: saying we're short is a cop out or worse). FML. It's not lying, though. Also, if I was an overly-opinionated type of patient, I would probably be more inclined to complain that I felt unsafe if the unit I was on couldn't be staffed properly as opposed to looking at the evidence that the staff is simply busy (it could just be a bucket kind of night). You know what I mean? With patients, there are so many things better kept to ourselves. They really don't need to know how the sausage is made, so to speak.
Yes i do know what you mean and I understand the concept. I am not the idiot you make me out to be. I do get it, but I think it is dishonest whether it is a policy, concept or however which way you want to dress it up Now do YOU know what I mean?
Yes i do know what you mean and I understand the concept. I am not the idiot you make me out to be. I do get it, but I think it is dishonest whether it is a policy, concept or however which way you want to dress it up Now do YOU know what I mean?
So why aren't these patients being proactive and going to management, the system, whatever powers that be to engage in dialogue about the system? It seems to me there is a lot of discussion about the health care system in the media -- Obama Care, etc. Hope you know what I mean?
They can use the call button like everyone else. Coming out the nurses' station to badger me for a water is not necessary, especially after I've explained the use of the call button to you several times. Stopping me mid-walk in the hallway when I'm clearly busy is also not appropriate. Or worse, seeing me in another's room and asking me for things while I'm with another patient. I beg to differ with your post, and I don't need YOU to tell me why I'm employed.
I don't want to argue or start trouble. It does seem, though, that you are not looking at this from the patients' or visitors' point of view at all.
If I were a patient or visitor, I'd think nothing of asking for what I need or want. I'd ask if you were busily walking in the hall, I might poke my head into another person's room, I'd badger you for whatever my loved one or I needed whenever we needed it.
Being in a hospital is foreign and very scary to "civilians". It's scary if you are a nurse who happens to be a patient, too. Imagine being a patient yourself and it will help you feel more kindly toward patients and their families and their needs.
I don't want to argue or start trouble. It does seem, though, that you are not looking at this from the patients' or visitors' point of view at all.
If I were a patient or visitor, I'd think nothing of asking for what I need or want. I'd ask if you were busily walking in the hall, I might poke my head into another person's room, I'd badger you for whatever my loved one or I needed whenever we needed it.
Being in a hospital is foreign and very scary to "civilians". It's scary if you are a nurse who happens to be a patient, too. Imagine being a patient yourself and it will help you feel more kindly toward patients and their families and their needs.
I guess patients need to make arrangements for their own private duty nurse while they are in the hospital. I mean that seriously. If I ever encounter a nurse taking care of my family member who has the attitude that they don't think a family member's concerns in regard to the patient are important, or that answering the call bell is not important, I will report that nurse to the Board of Nursing, and to their manager. Then I will contact a lawyer. It's too bad that some nurses don't understand their job is to take care of the patient and their family. Yes, I will tell nurses what their job is if they don't know that family members have the right to advocate for their ill family member. It's quite one thing for family members to behave unreasonably; it's entirely another thing for family members to bring legitimate concerns. Some nurses seem to have forgotten or don't understand that they are not there for their own convenience. Yes, patients have a legal and ethical right to be able to call for help; and their family members who are behaving within the bounds of reason and decency have the right to bring concerns to the nurse.
To be honest, I can't believe that nurses are having this conversation about call bells. I just read part of Esme's post. Esme has spent a lot of time in hospital. Imagine patients and family members reading some of these posts. I actually feel ashamed for my profession when I read some of these posts. The call bell is the patient's life line. I stay with my family members 24/7, but not everyone is able to do this. Reading this thread I am even more convinced of the necessity to stay with my family members when they are sick in the hospital.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
I guess patients need to make arrangements for their own private duty nurse while they are in the hospital. I mean that seriously. If I ever encounter a nurse taking care of my family member who has the attitude that they don't think a family member's concerns in regard to the patient are important, or that answering the call bell is not important, I will report that nurse to the Board of Nursing, and to their manager. Then I will contact a lawyer. It's too bad that some nurses don't understand their job is to take care of the patient and their family. Yes, I will tell nurses what their job is if they don't know that family members have the right to advocate for their ill family member. It's quite one thing for family members to behave unreasonably; it's entirely another thing for family members to bring legitimate concerns. Some nurses seem to have forgotten or don't understand that they are not there for their own convenience. Yes, patients have a legal and ethical right to be able to call for help; and their family members who are behaving within the bounds of reason and decency have the right to bring concerns to the nurse.
To be honest, I can't believe that nurses are having this conversation about call bells. I just read part of Esme's post. Esme has spent a lot of time in hospital. Imagine patients and family members reading some of these posts. I actually feel ashamed for my profession when I read some of these posts. The call bell is the patient's life line. I stay with my family member 24/7, but not everyone is able to do this. Reading this thread I am even more convinced of the necessity to stay with my family members when they are sick in the hospital.
I think hiring a private duty nurse is an excellent idea for those who need their own personal nurse at their beck and call. Some people are much too special to have to share their nurse with people who might be sicker than they are.
Meanwhile, I think hospitals should be required to publicize their staffing ratios. When the public starts making waves about staffing instead of how hot their coffee was, maybe then things will change. Not that I'm holding my breath.
Ringing because you need to go to the bathroom = fine.
Ringing 5 times in 15 minutes because you want a shower is not fine. Esp when the nurse tells you on your first ring that she will be there as soon as she finishes giving everyone else their breakfast meds.
Ringing to have your table cleared for breakfast when you are perfectly capable of doing that yourself is not fine.
I don't want to argue or start trouble. It does seem, though, that you are not looking at this from the patients' or visitors' point of view at all.
If I were a patient or visitor, I'd think nothing of asking for what I need or want. I'd ask if you were busily walking in the hall, I might poke my head into another person's room, I'd badger you for whatever my loved one or I needed whenever we needed it.
Being in a hospital is foreign and very scary to "civilians". It's scary if you are a nurse who happens to be a patient, too. Imagine being a patient yourself and it will help you feel more kindly toward patients and their families and their needs.
I don't have to imagine anything. I have been a patient as have several family members. I have been in a life-threatening situation, I have had major surgery. My family members have been ill and died in hospital. Despite my troubles, I still treated people with respect. Even when I had incompetent nurses looking after me. I went to management, the licensing body, and the media with my concerns about the incompetence, rather than badgering the already overtaxed staff. I would never be so rude as to violate another patient's privacy by going into their rooms to track down the staff. That is just plain rude and ignorant. It is about being civil to the staff, treating them how you would wish to be treated, even in the face of great difficulty and tragedy. The kinds of things described in this thread are when patients are rude and treat the staff like their personal servants. Usually when someone is really sick they do not do this. When I was critically ill, I was not ringing my call bell non-stop asking for trivial things. So, yes I do consider the patients. I have been there and I never took advantage of the role as an opportunity to abuse people.
I think hiring a private duty nurse is an excellent idea for those who need their own personal nurse at their beck and call. Some people are much too special to have to share their nurse with people who might be sicker than they are.
Meanwhile, I think hospitals should be required to publicize their staffing ratios. When the public starts making waves about staffing instead of how hot their coffee was, maybe then things will change. Not that I'm holding my breath.
Totally agree with your comments. I did in fact hire a private duty nurse once when I had surgery because I had an abusive nurse who I ended up reporting to her licensing body and considered bringing assault charges against her. I think the staffing ratios should be public knowledge. Don't these hospitals talk about transparency a lot. All the while being totally non-transparent.
If I were a patient or visitor, I'd think nothing of asking for what I need or want. I'd ask if you were busily walking in the hall, I might poke my head into another person's room, I'd badger you for whatever my loved one or I needed whenever we needed it.
YOU are the problem if you actually believe that no one else on the floor is as deserving of a nurse's complete undivided attention as you or your loved one. If you had the nerve to come into another patient's room the door would definitely be hitting where the sun doesn't shine. That is definitely not something you are entitled to do, no matter how much you think you are.
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It's not lying, though. Also, if I was an overly-opinionated type of patient, I would probably be more inclined to complain that I felt unsafe if the unit I was on couldn't be staffed properly as opposed to looking at the evidence that the staff is simply busy (it could just be a bucket kind of night). You know what I mean? With patients, there are so many things better kept to ourselves. They really don't need to know how the sausage is made, so to speak.
ActualNurse
382 Posts
So we are supposed to lie to patients. That is good way to establish a relationship built on trust between the parties.