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!
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
A psych consult would remove all responsibility from the bedside nurse for dealing with the patient's psych issues? You'd get orders to medicate them into submission?
Stupid and nasty aren't psych issues -- at least not that I've ever heard of.
Here's another problem with the psych consult: someone from psych comes and spends 2 hours listening to the pt's life story. Then he/she prescribes an SSRI and walks off, patting self on the back for a job well done. The pt resumes obnoxious behaviours and even if the SSRI is appropriate, it still takes 2 weeks to take effect. Meanwhile, you've got another pill to administer with no change in the situation. Just added on charges for a whole lot of nothing.
Here's another problem with the psych consult: someone from psych comes and spends 2 hours listening to the pt's life story. Then he/she prescribes an SSRI and walks off, patting self on the back for a job well done. The pt resumes obnoxious behaviours and even if the SSRI is appropriate, it still takes 2 weeks to take effect. Meanwhile, you've got another pill to administer with no change in the situation. Just added on charges for a whole lot of nothing.
Ok, I'm probably going to regret this, but here's a reply for you. It in no way is meant to insult, demean or belittle you. Actually, it isn't so much for you as it is for those who still try to do a good job at the bedside.
Patients have been hitting the call bell inappropriately for decades. Even back in the 80s, when hospitals actually had decent staffing, you could count on a few who were wedded to their call bell, and a few families who would hound you relentlessly.
Knowing how hospitals work today (on a Customer Service model), I think I can see why the issue has grown so large to us.
Back in the day, we had actual visiting hours, and on the general floors, there was a break from visitors from 8pm to 11am. We could tell visitors it was time to go home without worrying about Press Gainey scores.
There was also a limit on the number of visitors at one time for each patient. If 2 visitors were already there and a third showed up, the front desk would call the floor, and someone would have to leave before the other visitor could come up.
Children were discouraged from visiting, and on the rare occasions it was allowed, people were expected to keep an eye on their little darlings and not let them run rampant up and down the halls, or let them crawl on the floor (gag). If they didn't, buh-bye.
If a visitor was given permission to spend the night, they weren't given a cot, recliner or twin bed to sleep in, pajamas to wear, or room service. They either sat in the chairs already in the room or sacked out on the sofa in the patient lounge.
Hospitals began to be criticized for doing things for their convenience, not the patients. That was when it began to go downhill.
Hospitals became profit and reimbursement driven. Nurses were no longer given the time and tools to actually do their job, which was to be NURSES, not maids or waitresses. Hospitals today are run by the patients and Press-Gainey.
If I were still working in a hospital setting, I would be frustrated and irritable too. Nurses can't get away from people being in their faces and up their butts anymore, so they can do what they spent years learning.
The solution? The one I have in mind will never happen, as long as reimbursement remains tied into "customer satisfaction". I would go back to the things I mentioned earlier. Wouldn't stop the bad behavior, but floor staff wouldn't be subjected to it 24/7.
Ok, I'm probably going to regret this, but here's a reply for you. It in no way is meant to insult, demean or belittle you. Actually, it isn't so much for you as it is for those who still try to do a good job at the bedside.
Patients have been hitting the call bell inappropriately for decades. Even back in the 80s, when hospitals actually had decent staffing, you could count on a few who were wedded to their call bell, and a few families who would hound you relentlessly.
Knowing how hospitals work today (on a Customer Service model), I think I can see why the issue has grown so large to us.
Back in the day, we had actual visiting hours, and on the general floors, there was a break from visitors from 8pm to 11am. We could tell visitors it was time to go home without worrying about Press Gainey scores.
There was also a limit on the number of visitors at one time for each patient. If 2 visitors were already there and a third showed up, the front desk would call the floor, and someone would have to leave before the other visitor could come up.
Children were discouraged from visiting, and on the rare occasions it was allowed, people were expected to keep an eye on their little darlings and not let them run rampant up and down the halls, or let them crawl on the floor (gag). If they didn't, buh-bye.
If a visitor was given permission to spend the night, they weren't given a cot, recliner or twin bed to sleep in, pajamas to wear, or room service. They either sat in the chairs already in the room or sacked out on the sofa in the patient lounge.
Hospitals began to be criticized for doing things for their convenience, not the patients. That was when it began to go downhill.
Hospitals became profit and reimbursement driven. Nurses were no longer given the time and tools to actually do their job, which was to be NURSES, not maids or waitresses. Hospitals today are run by the patients and Press-Gainey.
If I were still working in a hospital setting, I would be frustrated and irritable too. Nurses can't get away from people being in their faces and up their butts anymore, so they can do what they spent years learning.
The solution? The one I have in mind will never happen, as long as reimbursement remains tied into "customer satisfaction". I would go back to the things I mentioned earlier. Wouldn't stop the bad behavior, but floor staff wouldn't be subjected to it 24/7.
Sorry, not sorry. You asked for a solution, I gave you one. It's called a dialogue.
Other solutions? The only ones I can think of right at the moment range from the ridiculous (duct tape) to the absurd (personal valets for each patient).
It your job too. Just because you're a nurse doesn't mean you're above that task. You're no better than the tech.
Not sure who this is addressed to? Using the Quote feature makes it clearer, as sometimes there are several posts between yours and the one you're actually responding to.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Ok, I'm probably going to regret this, but here's a reply for you. It in no way is meant to insult, demean or belittle you. Actually, it isn't so much for you as it is for those who still try to do a good job at the bedside.
Patients have been hitting the call bell inappropriately for decades. Even back in the 80s, when hospitals actually had decent staffing, you could count on a few who were wedded to their call bell, and a few families who would hound you relentlessly.
Knowing how hospitals work today (on a Customer Service model), I think I can see why the issue has grown so large to us.
Back in the day, we had actual visiting hours, and on the general floors, there was a break from visitors from 8pm to 11am. We could tell visitors it was time to go home without worrying about Press Gainey scores.
There was also a limit on the number of visitors at one time for each patient. If 2 visitors were already there and a third showed up, the front desk would call the floor, and someone would have to leave before the other visitor could come up.
Children were discouraged from visiting, and on the rare occasions it was allowed, people were expected to keep an eye on their little darlings and not let them run rampant up and down the halls, or let them crawl on the floor (gag). If they didn't, buh-bye.
If a visitor was given permission to spend the night, they weren't given a cot, recliner or twin bed to sleep in, pajamas to wear, or room service. They either sat in the chairs already in the room or sacked out on the sofa in the patient lounge.
Hospitals began to be criticized for doing things for their convenience, not the patients. That was when it began to go downhill.
Hospitals became profit and reimbursement driven. Nurses were no longer given the time and tools to actually do their job, which was to be NURSES, not maids or waitresses. Hospitals today are run by the patients and Press-Gainey.
If I were still working in a hospital setting, I would be frustrated and irritable too. Nurses can't get away from people being in their faces and up their butts anymore, so they can do what they spent years learning.
The solution? The one I have in mind will never happen, as long as reimbursement remains tied into "customer satisfaction". I would go back to the things I mentioned earlier. Wouldn't stop the bad behavior, but floor staff wouldn't be subjected to it 24/7.
martymoose, BSN, RN
1,946 Posts
well, since customer service is such a big factor- then we need more staff, concierge, runner, I dont know...