Dealing with people's negative comments about nurses.

[ledzepfan]

When I tell people that I am a nurse or because some people know I'm a nurse, why do they feel it is ok to launch

into a tirade about their or their parents/neighbor's/friends/friend of a friends negative experience with a nurse?

While I can understand the need to vent, all the negative comments are becoming, honestly tiresome and it puts

me in an akward position. I don't know the nurse personally they are complaining about. I don't know the policies

of the hospital they are complaining about.And I certainly wasn't there in person when the problem occured.

The last time this happened, I had had a week from hell at work. I finally snapped and lost my temper and launched into my own tirade about stupid patients and families.:angthts: How do other nurses handle this problem?

I know poor nursing care exists but for crying out loud I can't control other people's actions. Should I just smile and

say,"I'm sorry you had a bad experience, but you really need to complain to the nurse involved or their immediate

supervisor because complaining to me will get you nowhere"?

[Katie5]

SWIIIIIIIIISH........

If you have read my posts and are able to infer anything,you'd infer I don't do silly tactics as above. Come straight.

[chicookie, BSN, RN]

I especially like when friends and family complain to me, I answer back and then comes the typical response: "What do you know, you are a fake nurse anyway." So I'm nursey enough to complain to but not enough to answer back. O_o

But then when they come to me seeking medical advice I always say: "What do I know, I'm a fake nurse anyway."

Other than that sarcasm is my best friend.