Customers always right- Really??

[Leelee2]

After being told I am a great nurse, with excellent assessment skills and documentation....with zero resident complaints against me...and they said I was great with the residents...I was fired. For what?? Lack of customer service skills!! Really?? Yes because census is low we must kiss up to all the family members that complain on a daily basis....Yikes, this is Not what I signed up for. Moving forward and moving on.

"The customer is always right" saying is great in retail or maybe in a fine dining place.

In healthcare...sorry...but the "customer" may not always be "right"

[dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I]

I hope (and will bet) that in time you will feel being fired was the biggest favor they could do for you. The "TCIAR" attitude orignated in for profit businesses, and some healthcare facilities have adopted it. The rest of the story is that while the customer may be right, the customer will hold somebody else responsible for their own stupidity. You're better off outa there. Best wishes for a quick job recovery and long happy career.

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

I worked customer service in retail for 3 years. The customer is not always right and I can prove that.

We recently had an in-service on customer service and my facility values customer service but I'm really glad they didn't throw across the "customer is always right" ********.

I treat family members/visitors how I would expect to be treated by a nurse if one of my family was in their situation. If they start treating me with any rudeness or attitude.. my supervisor is made aware(to cover my ass if they go to administration on me) and I steer clear from that family member while they are visiting.

[Chico David, BSN, RN]

The whole idea of patient as "customer" is a deeply wrong way of thinking. Patients come to us in a time of need and put their trust in us to do what is best for them.

A "customer" goes to a business to buy a product and the business tries to maximize their profit by selling the customer as much as possible of their most profitable products - without regard to whether that product is good for the customer. Is that the relationship you want to have with those you care for?

Yes, we all do this for a living and we expect to be paid fairly for our knowledge and our work. But hopefully we have some higher motivations too and some sense of obligation to our patient beyond the simply mercenary relationship that a business has with its customers.

[biker nurse]

Smells fishy to me. Sounds like you were a scape-goat. Collect your unemployment, but start looking right away. I'm in small town too and had a hard time finding work. Thank god for the prison,,,,,, Now if the state could move on the paperwork,,,,

[Leelee2]

Ahhh, only 4 hours later, and I get a call for an interview tomorrow morning.

In a completely different field, non nursing.

Feeling that this occurance is probably a Blessing in disguise!!

[Hubby's girl]

Good for you-but too bad that family member drove you from nursing. Best of luck!!