Difficult parents

[nerdynurse22]

Curious what some thoughts and advice you lovely nurses have.

I am an experienced RN (5+ years) and just started in a new unit and hospital. It is a lot to learn and grow. I have been here for 6 months and about 4 months solo. I would say overall it was good. I would have some busy shifts but loved it. However, the last few weeks it has been hell!! We are short staffed and taking more patients then normal, as if I wasnt busy already I am having difficulties with parents. Then 2 different parents were just down right rude and said the meanest things to me to my face. One said that I am the worst nurse ever because she couldnt sleep previous because I had to keep coming in, then said we ruined her day and birthday celebration because we called with an update, she said that she dreaded coming in to see me and more. The other parent questioned my skills saying that I should know that oral temp on her kid is not accurate and only take it axilliary. She said I didnt know how to care for her and cannot even take a temperature!! She said more items to me too. I have dreaded going into work. It also appears my assignment is the worst. I dont want to complain because I know we all need to share the load but now I am second guessing my change and wanting to change departments.

I feel so incompetent and a bad person!!!!

Lost in tears.

[jaderook01, BSN, RN]

I'm sorry you went through all of that. I have a lot of sympathy for you.

I was a teacher for a good long time before I became a nurse (still in my first year of nursing). In nursing school, I spent a day shadowing a nurse in the PICU. I thought I'd really like to work there, and then I saw this awful parent make the nurse cry. I had to literally bite my tongue because I didn't want to get kicked out. The nurse did everything right. In fact, she went above and beyond to accommodate the whims of those people. The parent was just unreasonable and uneducated. I decided then and there that I would never work in pediatrics because it would be like the worst parent/teacher conferences every single day. No thanks.