Can anything be done about feeling like a waitress?

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

Don't get me wrong. I believe patients should have nourishments and drink all they can if there's not a fluid restriction. I never mind getting them ice, drinks, fresh water, etc......

My problem? Our nourishment room door is locked because too many pts and family members have raided it in the past. So the only way to get something is to ask a staff member. The nourishment room is just across from the nurses station. Doing charge I am "constantly" interrupted to get coffee, water and cokes for visitors and family members. You would think they would see that you are busy, signing off charts, talking to staff, talking on the phone, but no "can I have coffee?" I hate to say no but somedays it really gets to be a problem. I have to walk around the station, which is large, open the door, get their stuff, etc.....Any polite ideas about how to handle this? I've tried asking "who is this for" but they catch on and lie and say it's for the patient. Sometimes I say Ok I'll bring it to the room because I really can't stop what I'm doing. Does the public not realize how much trouble it is? or how inconsiderate to interrupt someone doing their work? I wouldn't consider doing that. Once I was so mad the person asked me to go into the kitchen and make them a meal. I told them that as long as they could walk they would be expected to go to the cafeteria and purchase their meal like any other visitor. We do make acceptions for elderly or mothers of children. But gees!

[llg, PhD, RN]

I think you should bring this up in an appropriate forum (charge nurse meeting? staff meeting?) and brainstorm some ideas. Then reheorifice them so that you are prepared to use them.

For example, if the food really is supposed to be for patient's only, then you might ask the patient's name and room number and ask the person to return to the patient's room. Explain that after you have checked to see that it is part of the patient's permitted diet, you will bring the food to him/her. When you deliver the food, deliver it to the patient, not the visitor and emphasize that it will be included in their intake documentation for the day. That would be a little time-consuming at first, but it would probably save time in the long run as it would discourage visitors from getting food for themselves.

If your hospital really expects you to get food for visitors, then you need to address the "lock up" ramifications with your manager. Why lock it up and make more work for you if you are supposed to get it for anyone who asks?

You might also post a polite sign on the door explaining the "refreshment" policy. Visitors would then know who, how, and when asking for food would be appropriate.

The tricky part is that the whole staff has to handle this in a fairly consistent way or else the visitors will start to play staff members off of one another, etc.

llg

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

It's one thing if it's for the pt., but the family needs to get their own stuff.

[live4today, RN]

I think you should bring this up in an appropriate forum (charge nurse meeting? staff meeting?) and brainstorm some ideas. Then reheorifice them so that you are prepared to use them.

For example, if the food really is supposed to be for patient's only, then you might ask the patient's name and room number and ask the person to return to the patient's room. Explain that after you have checked to see that it is part of the patient's permitted diet, you will bring the food to him/her. When you deliver the food, deliver it to the patient, not the visitor and emphasize that it will be included in their intake documentation for the day. That would be a little time-consuming at first, but it would probably save time in the long run as it would discourage visitors from getting food for themselves.

If your hospital really expects you to get food for visitors, then you need to address the "lock up" ramifications with your manager. Why lock it up and make more work for you if you are supposed to get it for anyone who asks?

You might also post a polite sign on the door explaining the "refreshment" policy. Visitors would then know who, how, and when asking for food would be appropriate.

The tricky part is that the whole staff has to handle this in a fairly consistent way or else the visitors will start to play staff members off of one another, etc.

llg

Great ideas here llg! The biggest problem will be getting all staff to become consistent with the rules. I've worked in an environment like the one the original poster talks about and there were staff who would not stand their ground with the rules, but would give in to the visitors request over and over to save face. The discipline must begin with the staff on all three or both shifts...no exceptions.

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

Yes, very good suggestions, especially the sign on the door "nourishments for patients only". Thanks!

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

I think you should bring this up in an appropriate forum (charge nurse meeting? staff meeting?) and brainstorm some ideas. Then reheorifice them so that you are prepared to use them.

For example, if the food really is supposed to be for patient's only, then you might ask the patient's name and room number and ask the person to return to the patient's room. Explain that after you have checked to see that it is part of the patient's permitted diet, you will bring the food to him/her. When you deliver the food, deliver it to the patient, not the visitor and emphasize that it will be included in their intake documentation for the day. That would be a little time-consuming at first, but it would probably save time in the long run as it would discourage visitors from getting food for themselves.

If your hospital really expects you to get food for visitors, then you need to address the "lock up" ramifications with your manager. Why lock it up and make more work for you if you are supposed to get it for anyone who asks?

You might also post a polite sign on the door explaining the "refreshment" policy. Visitors would then know who, how, and when asking for food would be appropriate.

The tricky part is that the whole staff has to handle this in a fairly consistent way or else the visitors will start to play staff members off of one another, etc.

llg

Excellent idea

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

Today I put a note up on the kitchen door. "Drinks and Nourishments are for patients only" Thank you. It worked like a charm! Thanks for the suggestion.

[sunny78]

i know exactly how you feel,i have complaints made to my supervisor and the dr's only because i would not help a patient to the car! when their family member brought them in their!!!!!!!!!:angryfire i did not know that when a patient comes in to see the dr or go into the ER that there was a sign on the wall that said "NURSES HAVE NOTHING TO DO BUT WAIT ON THE PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS" someone please tell me you can relate!!@@#???

[Creamsoda, ASN, RN]

How about saying, can you please ask the patients nurse?

[KatieBell]

When I was a Nurses Aide, I used to go around and do scheduled vitals. Of course at that time, I was bombarded with multiple requests. (Especially if the nurse had not gotten there yet). I had a little cart to do the vitals and refill water etc. After a while I got smart, and carried about 10 juices, and 10 sodas, and some of the crackers and such. When I did the vitals, i refreshed the water and asked, "Would you like anything like crackers or juice"

It decreased the calls quite a bit. But I suppose you would have to have a willing NA, which can be hard to find.

[TinyNurse, RN]

Trust me....i would love to give water/ice visitors stuff, but in my ER I don't have time...... I mean how can i explain that we only feed admitted patients, and for family members our cafeteria is open?

Instead our visitors have many comebacks......"what, it's not free for me too?" and "why can't i eat?" ( pt with abd pain)

it gets old. i'm sorry

[JBudd, MSN]

I had a kid about 9 years old ask if he could have a blanket to wrap up in: but he had his coat on and was on the way out the door. I looked at him kind of puzzled and asked "to take home? ahh, no, sorry". His mom shook her head and said he'd be fine, but grandma muttered "well Medicaid is paying for it!"

Just how is Medicaid paying for a kid to take a blanket home? He had a perfectly good coat on, it wasn't a cold night......... how am I supposed to charge MEDICAID?!? Not only food for every Tom Dick and Harry, but clotheing and blankets too.