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!
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.
THIS is EXACTLY why nursing sucks. It is so one sided it is not funny. These things all described as above were BOUNDARIES. They enabled us to do our job. They enable us to not be run over by overly entitled patients and families. They enabled us to not waste time with what is essentially waitressing and concierge services. As far as the visiter policy, how many times have we tripped over the people in the room. One time I counted 13 family members in one room. We cant tell them to leave - we're supposed to be kissing their ykw.when did it become a reunion when a person is sick? 1/2 the time the pt doesnt even want them there!
Now you see why the call lights get abused. I understnd if a family member wants to stay with their loved one., Im all for that- I actually appreciate that , as they do help keep that person safe.But when its for sandwiches, a lounge chair, pop, etc.
Ugh such a touchy subject. And ridiculous to lay this all ON THE NURSE.
Too many people of Walmart loiter in patient rooms just for the free wifi. Wifi should be restricted for staff use.
Access should be available for purchase through the local internet carrier as it is in hotels and resorts.
I believe that visitors who want other free stuff should be charged a resort fee in the lobby. If they opt to bring their own beverages pillows and
blankets that is their choice. Cots and extra recliners should be rented for an additional fee. All of these amenities should be paid to and coordinated by a concierge type person in the lobby. Ca ching.
These extended guests should be paying for their use of hospital resources to cut down on the overhead expenses and man hours spent on non nursing tasks.
The implementation of both would be a significant revenue stream and enable the bedside
staff to focus on the patient's needs. This should appeal to those administrators who regard the facility as a business first and a hospital second.
Too many people of Walmart loiter in patient rooms just for the free wifi. Wifi should be restricted for staff use.
Access should be available for purchase through the local internet carrier as it is in hotels and resorts.
I believe that visitors who want other free stuff should be charged a resort fee in the lobby. If they opt to bring their own beverages pillows and
blankets that is their choice. Cots and extra recliners should be rented for an additional fee. All of these amenities should be paid to and coordinated by a concierge type person in the lobby. Ca ching.
These extended guests should be paying for their use of hospital resources to cut down on the overhead expenses and man hours spent on non nursing tasks.
The implementation of both would be a significant revenue stream and enable the bedside
staff to focus on the patient's needs. This should appeal to those administrators who regard the facility as a business first and a hospital second.
It sounds as though you've forgotten where your salary comes from. Patients don't usually live as hermits; they often have other family members who they want to support them when they are in the hospital. Without the patients who have family members that you appear to despise, you wouldn't be employed as a nurse. But the good news is that this thread has had over 25,000 views; and quite possibly has been viewed by some hospital administrators. Interestingly, when a family member of mine was recently hospitalized, various administrators asked my family member during their hospital stay about their experience of the nursing care. So your comments may be taken to heart in more ways than you ever imagine.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
It sounds as though you've forgotten where your salary comes from.
Nursing salaries come from the facility, whose sole existence is to provide nursing care to patients. It is not to provide customer service to non-patients. And those patients? Yeah, they aren't signing my paycheck, so they sure as heck aren't paying me. How many people don't pay their medical bills? How much have insurance premiums and health care costs gone up to try to compensate for that?
Nursing salaries come from the facility, whose sole existence is to provide nursing care to patients. It is not to provide customer service to non-patients. And those patients? Yeah, they aren't signing my paycheck, so they sure as heck aren't paying me. How many people don't pay their medical bills? How much have insurance premiums and health care costs gone up to try to compensate for that?
Without patients there wouldn't be any revenue and nurses wouldn't have jobs. It doesn't seem very smart to me to alienate family members.
It sounds as though you've forgotten where your salary comes from. Patients don't usually live as hermits; they often have other family members who they want to support them when they are in the hospital. Without the patients who have family members that you appear to despise, you wouldn't be employed as a nurse. But the good news is that this thread has had over 25,000 views; and quite possibly has been viewed by some hospital administrators. Interestingly, when a family member of mine was recently hospitalized, various administrators asked my family member during their hospital stay about their experience of the nursing care. So your comments may be taken to heart in more ways than you ever imagine.
Are you seriously saying that patients pay Nursing salaries? Funny, I thought my check was signed by the owner of my agency...
Are you a nurse? If you are, you have a lot to learn. If you aren't, your arguments are null and void.
Gotta walk the walk and talk the talk before you come close to being able to criticize Nurses and tell them what they should do.
It sounds as though you've forgotten where your salary comes from.
Yeah, we know it sure isn't coming from you, where it's obvious you're doing your damndest to make sure our employers don't get reimbursed because we didn't refill a water pitcher fast enough.
Keep complaining about us doing our best, and watch the working conditions get worse.
martymoose, BSN, RN
1,946 Posts
THIS is EXACTLY why nursing sucks. It is so one sided it is not funny. These things all described as above were BOUNDARIES. They enabled us to do our job. They enable us to not be run over by overly entitled patients and families. They enabled us to not waste time with what is essentially waitressing and concierge services. As far as the visiter policy, how many times have we tripped over the people in the room. One time I counted 13 family members in one room. We cant tell them to leave - we're supposed to be kissing their ykw.when did it become a reunion when a person is sick? 1/2 the time the pt doesnt even want them there!
Now you see why the call lights get abused. I understnd if a family member wants to stay with their loved one., Im all for that- I actually appreciate that , as they do help keep that person safe.But when its for sandwiches, a lounge chair, pop, etc.
Ugh such a touchy subject. And ridiculous to lay this all ON THE NURSE.