Do you accept tips?

[987!]

It offered money by a patients or a patients family, are you allowed to accept it?

Do you?

[Altra, BSN, RN]

No, as I am NOT employed in the hospitality industry.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

Of course not. If a patient or their family wants to do something nice, I encourage them to bring some chocolates or cookies or a nice card for the entire staff to share.

Although one time, when I was still an aide, I had wheelchaired this pt. down to his car, and he tried to offer me a dollar. I refused it, but he would not hear of it. He had Alzheimer's dementia and was convinced that the proper thing to do was to tip me. So, rather than attempting to reason with someone who was in no cognitive condition to be reasoned with, I accepted the dollar bill. It made him feel good.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I don't know if there's an actual policy against it, but no one I work with has ever taken money, as far as I know. I know I wouldn't.

We take doughnuts, pizza, cake, cookies, and pie :)

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I don't. We do like cookies, though. Someone already said that. :)

[PetuniaRN]

Some cultures feel like if they give a present to you, you will give their loved one better care. I would not accept any gifts, but would reassure them that you will take very good care of the patient. Many hospitals have policies about it, so check out your handbook. If a patient or their family brought cookies though, I would eat one! And if you are a nurse, you may make a lot more money than them and it would be shameful to take money from someone who needs it if you don't, don't you think?

[correctlywrong]

Absolutely, positively not.

People often have strong emotions about the person who provides care to them and their family, and want to express their appreciation in ways that are not entirely appropriate. I am already being adequately financially compensated for my services (or if I am not, that is a matter for me to address directly with my employer or contracting agent in a formal negotiation.) There is moral/ethical hazard in accepting a financial tip.

If someone offers a gift of nominal financial value, such as an inexpensive food item, or a handicraft, I will accept those with great appreciation, as to do otherwise would be rude. If someone is adamant that they want to give me a financial gift, I advise them to contribute to a charity relevant to our mutual interests, such as the American Heart Association, for instance, if they or their loved one has experienced a stroke or MI. I tell them, quite honestly, that the greatest gift that they can give to me is to do well and extend kindness to others in turn.

I do shamelessly direct them how they can verbally/in writing express their appreciation to administration, if they so desire. (Those comments helpeed add up to a very favorable review and a sizeable raise this last eval... earning me far more than the few dollars that the patients offered me as a monetary tip.)

Everyone with whom I have taken this approach has responded positively.

While I do overtip excessively when I am a customer in certain settings, I don't feel that it is at all appropriate to cheapen the nurse/patient relationship by engaging in a custom more appropriate to waitress/patron.

[RazorbackRN, BSN, RN]

Of course not.

Not only is it against my hospital's policy, it is against my personal policy.

I am a professional. I do not expect, nor want, monetary compensation from my patients (or in my case, their families). I give my all to each and every person that I care for. This is not an "extra" service I provide.

However, I gladly accept hugs, crayon artwork, high 5's, and gummi bears!:heartbeat

[correctlywrong]

Of course not. If a patient or their family wants to do something nice, I encourage them to bring some chocolates or cookies or a nice card for the entire staff to share.

Although one time, when I was still an aide, I had wheelchaired this pt. down to his car, and he tried to offer me a dollar. I refused it, but he would not hear of it. He had Alzheimer's dementia and was convinced that the proper thing to do was to tip me. So, rather than attempting to reason with someone who was in no cognitive condition to be reasoned with, I accepted the dollar bill. It made him feel good.

There is always an exception, isn't there.

As opposed to tipping health care professionals as I am, I have to say that in the situation you describe, I can see why you chose to accept. I can't say for certain that I would have done different, though my first thought on how to handle that would be to try to slip the bill back into one of his bags, if possible. Or to donate it to charity myself, if that weren't possible.

One thing is for sure... I would have charted it when I got back inside! Even though it was only a dollar, dementia patients are known to forget that they gave something away, and when they can't find it later, they can come to some unfortunate conclusions about what happened to it! I had a patient once who accused her grandchildren of stealing money from her when she had given it to them and forgotten that she had done so!

[johnjrb]

Well I just completed our yearly training for my hospital and I can tell you for a fact at our facility we are not allowed to accept cash gifts of any amount. We can however accept small gifts valued less the 50.00

[daisybaby, LPN]

A few years ago, I took care of a mom and baby who had a rough start. They didn't speak much English, and the mother would ring out literally every few minutes, usually to have her bedside table pushed a little closer, or to hand her something that was already within reach. They were not the most popular couplet on the unit, to say the least.

The day I was assigned to them was no different. This time the father/husband was there, sitting quietly as I continually returned to the room to hand the patient a cup, or the phone, or something else either one of them could have done by themselves and I did my best to smile all the while.

A few hours later the father walked out into the hall after me, with five one-dollar bills in his hand. "For taking such good care of them," he said. Face red, I thanked him but said it wasn't allowed, that I was just doing part of my job. He insisted, saying it would bring good luck and good health to the baby, who was the most severely jaundiced infant we'd had in a long time. I finally accepted it and told him I would see that it was put to good use.

A nurse on the eve shift was leaving shortly on a mission to build a school and infirmary in Africa. I taped a note to her locker explaining the circumstances of the little windfall, hoping that it would bring good luck and good health to a child who needed a little of both.

I couldn't think of a more appropriate way to 'pay it forward'.

[nightmare, RN]

If any of our more demented residents get upset because they want to pay for there cup of tea or whatever we just take it then put it in an envelope with their name on it and put it in the safe.It is then returned to their rooms later on.