Do hospital patients get better care if they're nice

nfdfiremedic, BSN, RN · May 12, 2011

I must say, it's probably true. If you enjoy being around the patient you'll probably find ways to be around them more. More contact with the nurse makes patients even happier, and nurses with happy patients are happier nurses, and the cycle is perpetuated.

Thankful RN,BSN · May 12, 2011

Honestly, I think it's true.

SilentfadesRPA · May 12, 2011

I dont think it is intentional. Rather it simply it is human nature. You know the old adage "you draw more bees with honey than you do with vinegar".

On the other hand I have never seen anyone who is medically compromised or in need be ignored because they were rude or difficult. And I have seen plenty of rude and difficult folks.

Marc

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · May 12, 2011

Of course.

That's not to say a rude, surly, nasty patient therefore receives poor care. But he certainly doesn't have the nurse popping in more often than she absolutely has to, just to see if he would like a little something extra.

Polite, friendly, non-demanding patients will have me back just to see if there's something I can do for them. "An extra blanket? No problem!". Nasty, rude patient? You're gonna have to ring and wait for the person who drew the short straw to answer.

Florence NightinFAIL, BSN, RN · May 12, 2011

I had a very crazy busy shift and one of my patients who was stable was a sweet LOL. At one point I went in and apologized that I haven't seen her much and was ready to explain myself when she said: 'Oh don't worry about a thing honey, I see how busy you are. Just do your thing, I'm alright. Thank you for caring'.

:redpinkhe

When I had a little breathing time, I went in to lotion up her dry skin and included a back and foot massage and she was so grateful. That's an example of a little extra I do for sweet/understanding/kind patients. It's human nature to want to reciprocate kindess/goodness.

P.S. That in no way means that my rude patient get sub-standard care - it just means they get what they're there for.

nedlloyd · May 12, 2011

i think that depends how you define "better". i'm going to provide the same level of care for all my patients. even if someone is mean or rude to me its not like im going to hold off on giving them pain meds or whatever they may need. but i probably do spend less time/talk less with those patients.. i know there are people truly in pain/suffering that can be short and thats ok. but then there are those patients who just seem to have a bad attitude that you dont want to be around! an example that comes to mind, my third night in a row with this particular patient. i go in to the room and give him his pain meds as soon as i get out of report at 1930 b/c i knew he would be due/wanting them. he had visitors and while i'm in giving his IV dilaudid he is telling his visitors this hospital sucks, the nurses suck (no offense) they dont give me my pain meds. i'm leaving here tomorrow and going to a different hospital where i will get better care. meanwhile all his visitors are glaring at me. so then as im walking out of the room the pt says to me sarcastically "i guess i wont see you until the morning". really had to bite my tongue on that one! maybe you forgot the last 2 nights where i was in here every 2 hours for your dilaudid?? there was more but anyways... no, a pt that gets on my nerves like that, im not going to stick around and chit-chat. on the flip side, i had this patient who was just the nicest lady. i was having a crazy night but she wanted to talk and show me pics her grandkids made for her. so i took the 10 mins to stay and talk with her. i know she appreciated it and it made me feel good i could do that for her.

so is that better care? i know if i was a patient i'd like it if my nurse could spend a few extra minutes just talking with me. i know its a lot to ask for given the nature of our jobs. but i think the same is true for any line of work, you make my job easier and i'll be more inclined to help you:)

CC Girl · May 12, 2011

Let's get right down to it......YES it's true. If you are rude, nasty, confrontational, difficult, heavy handed on the call light.......you will get the minimal necessary care from me as your nurse. I am here to serve you and help you but not to be abused. Simple as that. Nurses are people too.

Flare, ASN, BSN · May 12, 2011

Politeness gets you very far in my book. Sure, the rude and nasty ones will still get good care, but i'm not going to jump up to get an extra blanket the second it's asked for if you've been abusing the call bell ( and subsequently me!) all shift.

I think that's just the basic tenents of life. The squeaky wheel may get the grease, but at the end of the day, the polite wheel gets the fancy greasy and a nice massage.

Fiveten · May 12, 2011

I am a new nurse and I do not make my difficult patients wait longer for a blanket, meds, anything; I cannot do that. But I had a difficult patient this week who refused many meds and treatments; she made it harder to care for her because it took so long to get through anything that I would forget things. Then I would have to go back into the room to empty her Foley or turn/position her, etc. She also would become so physically tense when being repositioned that she made it more painful on herself.

Up2nogood RN, RN · May 12, 2011

I try and figure out why the pt is being difficult before they get that label as *mean patient*. Could be other life circumstances that are upsetting the pt and the nurse is just getting the brunt. Try and put yourself in that bed with sometimes not very good diagnoses.

But there are also not very nice pts too.

Flo., BSN, RN · May 12, 2011

I'm human. Nice patients do get better care. It is very difficult to go the extra mile for a person you can not stand.