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!
Worst of all though is FAMILY members who come out to the nurses' station every time their loved one needs something and get right in my face and stare me down. I HATE it, HATE it, HATE it. Go back in the room and press the button. UGH. It takes every ounce of restraint in me not to snap at them that they are no more important than anyone else on the floor, and go back in the room and wait your turn. I think family members come out on purpose to push themselves to the front of the line, because if they are in our faces, they can't be ignored. RUDE and selfish.
Well, if the family members can't find the nurse taking care of their family member (the patient) and need to advocate for the patient, the nurse's station is the logical place to find a nurse. It doesn't mean they think their sick family member is more important than any other patient. It means their sick family member has a need that they believe needs to be addressed by a nurse, preferably the nurse taking care of them, but another nurse will do if necessary. Not rude and selfish at all - that's why you are employed.
NOTHING is worse than the people who come to the desk and just stare at you. I hate that. HATE!!!!!!!! And IME, these are not the people who are advocating for themselves or the patient. There is not an emergency that has been overlooked in their room. This is the patient that wants to have everything RIGHT NOW (hello, this is America, land of the instant gratification) and doesn't trust that voice on the other end of the call bell to pass on the message to their nurse that they need a top off on their Sprite. And they are repeat offenders .They simply come to the desk instead of using the call bell. Drives me batty.
I swear though, there must be something in the water lately because our bells went off so much the last shift I worked that we all had PTSD at the end of the night. Every time it rang, all of us were jumping like scared cats by about 0400.
I wish that people understood that we are but one person. When you call me for a Sprite, when YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE FAMILY NUTRITION ROOM, you may have to wait a few minutes. That does not top the pain med, the seizing kid, and the kid who is bleeding through his dressing in regards to my time management. I will get you your sprite. But when you call me again five minutes after you asked the first time to remind me that you are thirsting to death in there, my head nearly explodes.
I have gotten to where, with these offenders, I will bring them the sprite and then say "Hasn't anyone shown you where the family nourishment room is? It's right down the hall and open 24/7. You are welcome to get anything from it at anytime, it will stop you having to wait on me!"
Well, if the family members can't find the nurse taking care of their family member (the patient) and need to advocate for the patient, the nurse's station is the logical place to find a nurse. It doesn't mean they think their sick family member is more important than any other patient. It means their sick family member has a need that they believe needs to be addressed by a nurse, preferably the nurse taking care of them, but another nurse will do if necessary. Not rude and selfish at all - that's why you are employed.
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.
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 have had these people as well! I had a parent once follow me to another patient's room, and then WAIT for me outside in the hallway to nab me on my way out... I suppose to catch me before I moved on to something else that didn't include getting them their food or whatever it was. I literally walked to the door and SHUT IT IN HER FACE while I provided patient care.
The silliness is infuriating, isn't it? And it always seems like it is the room that you are physically farthest from that houses the constant ringer. We always have a few of these residents, along with a few of the constant yellers. The one that drives me a little bonkers is the lady that yells "help" non-stop. All hours of the day and night, and when you respond she will flat out deny even yelling. I truly don't think she even realizes she is constantly yelling. Sadly one of these times she might actually need help and nobody will be there to respond.
I have had these people as well! I had a parent once follow me to another patient's room, and then WAIT for me outside in the hallway to nab me on my way out... I suppose to catch me before I moved on to something else that didn't include getting them their food or whatever it was. I literally walked to the door and SHUT IT IN HER FACE while I provided patient care.
Honestly. These people exist.
Agreed. I always explain the use of the call light to the family before I exit the room and let them know that they are free to use it if their family member needs something, and that it's the best way to get our attention. Also, if they do only need something like water, then the tech is alerted as well and can help them. Trying to run me down in the hallway when I'm already frazzled, signaling to me while I'm with another patient (!!) and staring me down -- forget being in the work place, people staring at me intently for any reason in any place is enough to give me hives -- is not the correct way, and yes, it's rude as all heck. There are other patients that need my care too. If it's a true emergency I will be right in.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
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!
Oy.
Some days, this job is so not worth it.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Your kegs are too short? I didn't get any kegs at all. That's not fair!
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Well, if the family members can't find the nurse taking care of their family member (the patient) and need to advocate for the patient, the nurse's station is the logical place to find a nurse. It doesn't mean they think their sick family member is more important than any other patient. It means their sick family member has a need that they believe needs to be addressed by a nurse, preferably the nurse taking care of them, but another nurse will do if necessary. Not rude and selfish at all - that's why you are employed.
Seriously? Clearly you aren't a nurse and don't get it. Since you're not a nurse and don't get it, let me just tell you it's rude to step on a vent thread with "explanations" about how that rude family really isn't rude and admonitions about "why you are employed."
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
You'd also have more dead patients if the patients who have chest pain or can't breathe have no way to call for help.
And the downside is? If only people actually USED their call lights for chest pain. No, they suffer in silence all night and then tell the cardiologist in the morning that "the nurse didn't do anything for my chest pain." And someone who can't breathe probably isn't going to be using the call light . . . .
Seriously? Clearly you aren't a nurse and don't get it. Since you're not a nurse and don't get it, let me just tell you it's rude to step on a vent thread with "explanations" about how that rude family really isn't rude and admonitions about "why you are employed."
If you read her posting history, it's a pattern of behavior with this person. No one will ever be as caring, compassionate, or as much of a patient advocate as apparently she thinks she is, or to whatever standard of those she deems appropriate.
Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
The PTP talk about "effective hourly rounding" and how it cuts down on call lights. I don't think this is really an obtainable goal in today's society with its ridiculous unrealistic expectations (AKA...it's all about ME and I want it NOW!)
That's bunk. I'll ask my patients what they need and they'll say nothing. I leave the room and they are calling. "oh, I need ice" "I need my pain shot" etc. One pts daughter would call us to put her mom on the bedpan, then call less than a minute later to put her off, and then 5 minutes later she's calling again for the bedpan. It's ridiculous. And add to the fact that I work nights and have no unit secretary, you just get to the point where you want to give everyone heavy duty sleep meds so they'll just go to sleep
We are going to Vocera in Dec. I am so excited I could just curl up and die.
Susie2310
2,121 Posts
Well, if the family members can't find the nurse taking care of their family member (the patient) and need to advocate for the patient, the nurse's station is the logical place to find a nurse. It doesn't mean they think their sick family member is more important than any other patient. It means their sick family member has a need that they believe needs to be addressed by a nurse, preferably the nurse taking care of them, but another nurse will do if necessary. Not rude and selfish at all - that's why you are employed.