Do patients know a "good nurse"?

[NursesRmofun]

This is a subjective question with poll. I am not sure if patients, in general (the average patient), really knows who a good nurse is. I once worked with a very charming woman who was slow and couldn't seem to do much more than get her meds out. She did have a gift for gab and the patients seemed to love it. Plus she knew many from living in the surrounding area much of her life, church, her children, etc. I got all of my meds done, all my assessments, all my bed baths, lotioned and massaged my patients and held their hands...but didn't really gab. Somehow, I think a lot of our recurrent patients and "regulars" would prefer her. I just wonder how many patients would understand that you might be better with the nurse that really did a good assessment and got all the more important things done.

[Libby1987]

I have the gift to gab but it's the sincerity that gets them. The old basics of a few moments of eye contact and active listening.

I will never understand how nurses who c/o hotel expectations with no time to pee let alone spend a few minutes listening to their patient's non essential to the nurse needs but turn their nose up at home health where you have time to do more than pass meds and fluff pillows.

[wanderlust99]

Not always. Similar to management not always spotting or appreciating the good nurse.

[Anonymous865]

While I agree that a bedside RN might not automatically know which formulary drugs were substituted for non-formulary home meds... It would concern me too if a nurse said "Darvon...oops, I guess it's Diovan" (after the pt stated she wasn't on Darvon).

I'd also be concerned that she was so singularly focused on the pt taking the drug and how she said "I'll just chart you refused it," rather than try to ascertain why the pt was concerned about Diovan vs. Benicar. A better way to approach it is if she was insanely busy, to advise the pt that it will be a while before she is able to call the physician, but that she trusts the pt's report of what has worked for her. She will follow up, but in the meantime would Anon 1.) like to take the Diovan (as it's probably better than nothing) or 2.) wait, with the understanding that it may be a few hours before it's available? If nothing else, if it's Benicar HCT that she takes at home, the pharmacy could dispense their formulary angiotensin II receptor agonist plus a separate tab of HCTZ (like you suggested in your reply)

I'd also wonder why she was ID'ing the med by looking at the computer rather than at the packaging. If she'd brought it into the room opened, she should have known what it was since she should have done all of her "Rights" already. If she's planned on checking "Rights" at the bedside, it should have still been in its packaging.

I get that floor nursing is stressful--I've done it. I also get that pharmacies will often sub drugs without consulting the pt. However I really don't think this RN handled it well.

Exactly.

I understand that hospital pharmacies cannot possibly carry every known drug. I understand that they make substitutions.

My major complaint was that she didn't know what she was giving me.

A minor issue was that she charted patient refused w/o indicating why. It appears I was just being difficult rather than I had a legitimate concern.

If she had asked Why as you indicate you would, I could have told her that my BP was HIGHER on Diovan than on no medication. My Dr tried increasing the Diovan and the blood pressure went even HIGHER. I went off the Diovan and my pressure went down. My Dr is an MD and a PharmD and couldn't explain it.

[scaredsilly, BSN, RN]

It does depend on the patient, especially in the older population, a patient prefers a nurse who will sit and visit and talk about their personal life. I have an elderly family member who gets home care and her favorite nurse is one who will come in and look at the patients pictures of kids and discuss recipes, etc. No matter that the nurse missed pneumonia (twice), leading to hospitalizations that may have been avoided, no matter that the nurse mistook a pretty nasty contact dermatitis for candida, no matter that the nurse failed to get a UA when the patient had a fever and some signs of a UTI (leading to another hospitalization-patient is in her 80s). Patient LOVES that nurse because patient is lonely and anyone who gives her the kind of attention she gets from this nurse is the most awesome nurse in the universe.

So--totally depends on the patient!

[Anonymous865]

I sure hope this was years ago and before Darvon was taken off the market.

It was about 5 years ago.

There were a lot of things this particular nurse did that made me think that she didn't pay attention to detail.

I was in the hospital for 4 days. Fortunately I only had that nurse one shift. Every other nurse and CNA I had during that stay was excellent. They were so good that as soon as I got home I wrote a letter to the CNO and copied the unit manager and my surgeon and told them how wonderful the staff was. I mentioned each person by name and gave an example of why each person was a stand out. I copied my surgeon, because he was a huge money maker for the hospital. If he was happy, everyone was happy.

[rnccf2007, BSN, RN]

Just out of curiosity, why are you a member of this website? Are you monitoring your doctor, pharmacist, mechanic? Why monitor only the nurse?

[rnccf2007, BSN, RN]

You concern me.

[rnccf2007, BSN, RN]

Also, Anonymus, what kind of job do you do? Do you work 12-15+ hours with no (I mean no) breaks? Without pay? No food, no water. So you had a bad experience with a nurse. The majority of us work very hard because we are dedicated to people at our own expense. When the public starts thinking that we are maids and waiters ("get me my coffee", "I need a salad")...they forget that we are professionals with college educations...we can save your life... Give us our due respect.

[rnccf2007, BSN, RN]

Totally agree, as you say "keeping patients (and family members, significant others) in the loop." I feel that is essential.

[rnccf2007, BSN, RN]

Curious,

After 5 years, why are you now voicing your complaints!

[Karou]

Also, Anonymus, what kind of job do you do? Do you work 12-15+ hours with no (I mean no) breaks? Without pay? No food, no water. So you had a bad experience with a nurse. The majority of us work very hard because we are dedicated to people at our own expense. When the public starts thinking that we are maids and waiters ("get me my coffee", "I need a salad")...they forget that we are professionals with college educations...we can save your life... Give us our due respect.

I think you need to cool down. She didn't bash all nurses, she explained a legitimate complaint she had about one particular nurse. The rest of her posts speak of how she appreciated and enjoyed her other nurses and care providers.

Not all nurses are great. Neither are all doctors, policemen, military members, ect... Just saying there are bad apples and bad people everywhere. A good nurse can have an off day and seem like a bad nurse to a patient.

[rnccf2007, BSN, RN]

And your comment "he was a huge money make for the hospital" totally offends me. We may not be huge money makers but we are the very people who save lives...all we ask is your health.