Hola to all and welcome to December. Call it a socioeconomic, or demographics, patient population, or clientele, I am one of those who believes that education and socioenomics are the biggest factors in how patient and family members will behave, which is actually the biggest factor that makes or breaks my day.
After transitioning to the ER I am loving it. The days that I dislike the most, however, are when my patients are consisted of low socieoeconomics and education. I'm sure you have had experienced these folks; demanding, doesn't know how to ask properly, doesn't do anything for grandma or grandpa at home but now suddenly wants everything done and toenails polished, impatient, no acknowledgement of authority, entitled, unappreciative, etc etc. For example, I was getting report the other day and some family member came by nursing station to ask for help. Instead of proper "hello, my dad needs help, may we get an assistance?", she snapped "we need help and yal just sitting there" and I can say I observed these kinds of behavior consistent with low education/socieoeconomics. I mean, a kid doesn't even speak like that.
After numerous encounters with different people of race, socioeconomics, and education, it seems very clear to me that those with higher marks in those two factors are most well behaved, proper people who makes my day smoother and not so much regrettable; family members eager to help their own, always uses proper english such as "please" or "may I", uses full sentences, not demanding, not entitled, patient, etc, and I can speak with my conscience clear that these were people of higher socioeconomics and education consistently.
So those of you who worked from all spectrum of education and socioeconomics in clientele, do those factors ever make a better working place? My goal is to move my way towards the area with higher marks in those two. Tell me your honest experiences. Thank you
Some of the best people I have ever met were less educated, had little money, and covered in tattoos. Some of the of the worst people I have ever met were well educated, had plenty of money, and went to church every Sunday. If you really want to **** a patient or family member off, just give them that I'm better than you attitude. Trust me, you can say that to someone without ever saying a word. A lot can be communicated just through body language and eye contact, or even whether or not you greet them with a smile. You will never be respected by ALL patients and their families, but being HUMBLE goes a long way. Some people can just spot a self-righteous a-hole from across the room and will react accordingly. We are not in the business of judging people of different backgrounds, we are in the business of caring for them in the manner we would want our own families to be treated.
Please keep in mind that the OP asked us to relay our honest experiences. Yes, referring to certain individuals as "hillbillies" is derogatory, and I do apologize. However, it is also unacceptable to demand that whites and blacks be kept on segregated units in a state hospital which exists to serve each and every resident of the state, regardless of race! The Civil Rights Act was signed into law by LBJ in 1964. As an RN working in a state facility, I can say with confidence that all of our patients are treated with respect and dignity, patients from every racial and cultural background, and those of all socioeconomic levels as well. The young woman with autism was given excellent care by our staff, although only for 4 days because her family demanded that she be discharged. In their minds, this young woman could not receive proper care unless she was placed on a unit with whites only. I am sorry, but I just cannot condone that type of belief system or that belligerent behavior.
The overly demanding attitude is hard to deal with, whenther rich, poor, white, black, whatever. I want to give that extra bit of understanding and comfort, but there is a bloody limit. Then when you try to set limits they can come back with "all we wanted was...." Except there were ten little requests from them for every one from anyone else.
There's also the people that don't want to wait, Q10 minute calls to check that your attention is solely on them. So you get interrupted and have to start over again and again. Even worse they move up in the line because everyone just wants to get rid of them, and voila! being irritating is rewarded. There is a parental unit in my area that deploys the Q10minute approach every time they come to the ER, and loudly complains about their child being in pain, or not eating, or missing meds. Of course I can't announce loudly that they just need a routine procedure, and could have gone to their PCP. The whole waiting room thinks they have a dying child that's being ignored.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I have worked both areas....very socioeconomically depressed AND very entitled rich.
There are demanding jerks in both arenas. I will say however, that I saw better manners from families who lived in cardboard boxes than the snot nosed entitled brats that go to private prep schools while their parents vacation in Europe. I was once reported because "There was a plethora" of nurses and "Mother wanted tea"....we were coding a multiple trauma of teens. She had the audacity to walk into the trauma room and demand tea...needless to say my response wasn't the most therapeutic response.
After working the Southside of Chicago and Downtown Gary Indiana...the most threatened I ever felt was at this rich facility from an American Airlines pilot who choked me and threw me into a wall for waiting too long for his daughters chin laceration.....it was 2cm and he waited 20 mins...he went to jail.
Well I guess I'm an anomaly 'cause I was raised dirt poor and was still taught my manners, to be humble, and that medicine is to be respected and conserved.
I'll try to remember your super-scientific anecdotal evidence that the "unwashed masses" are the font of horrible behavior the next time a elegant, coiffed, dressed in fancy labels daughters comes screeching in her upper class clipped tones that Mother or Father has been waiting TWO WHOLE MINUTES for her/his pain pills while I'm sitting on my wide behind staring at a computer screen (prolly surfing the net no doubt).
tl;dr - dickish behavior knows no bounds to class boundaries. Horrible people come dressed in Walmart and dolce Gabbana or *** it's called.
But if you feel better being Judgey McJudgeyton, rock on.
Not that I reckon you will care...you seem a it abrasive. But the humor I appreciate. Some folks aren't as elegant as y'all, but still deserve the respect you claim to promote :-/...I have been discouraged so many times on this site by replies such as yours...maybe I don't catch the essence
Well, isn't that what a message board is? An exchange of ideas?
YES, I get your statement. You don't need to clarify again.
I don't agree with you. This does not mean I don't understand you, or am not thinking this out and leaping into a barrage, or not spreading the wings of my thoughts.
I don't agree with you. My experiences are not the same as yours.
Farawyn...some folks on here assume they have God status....they suppose they are defending a higher ethic, while offending with closed ears. They are probably the ones that talk all the time on the job as well..."oh, everyone wants to here me!!!...blah, blah, blah..."
Farawyn,I just want to say that there seems to be lurkers on this site, who are just waiting to take something you say, twist it out of context, accuse YOU of having the problem, when they should just shut up if they cannot help but making it ALL ABOUT THEM....and this reply of mine will reflect more of this...
~agape~
83 Posts
Some of the best people I have ever met were less educated, had little money, and covered in tattoos. Some of the of the worst people I have ever met were well educated, had plenty of money, and went to church every Sunday. If you really want to **** a patient or family member off, just give them that I'm better than you attitude. Trust me, you can say that to someone without ever saying a word. A lot can be communicated just through body language and eye contact, or even whether or not you greet them with a smile. You will never be respected by ALL patients and their families, but being HUMBLE goes a long way. Some people can just spot a self-righteous a-hole from across the room and will react accordingly. We are not in the business of judging people of different backgrounds, we are in the business of caring for them in the manner we would want our own families to be treated.
But what do I know..... I'm just a "hillbilly"!