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.

[MaggieMaggie]

Generally, no. Like you said, most are taken by a charming smile and accompanying small talk. Of course there are exceptions. And I do think some new grads make it obvious that they are nervous and patients pick up on it.

And some people get blinded by random nice gestures. I know a nurse who always offers to/does shave facial hair for male patients who want it. The families are so shocked by the kind gesture that they love her for it. Of course she did forget to notify the doc that the patient's MAPs have been in the 40's but darn it she made him feel all clean and shaved, she is a miracle worker.

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

Generally, no. Like you said, most are taken by a charming smile and accompanying small talk. Of course there are exceptions. And I do think some new grads make it obvious that they are nervous and patients pick up on it.

And some people get blinded by random nice gestures. I know a nurse who always offers to/does shave facial hair for male patients who want it. The families are so shocked by the kind gesture that they love her for it. Of course she did forget to notify the doc that the patient's MAPs have been in the 40's but darn it she made him feel all clean and shaved, she is a miracle worker.

LOL Exactly.

[Standardethics]

So, "doc" - you downgrade the skills of Registered Nurses. Of course if you're showing patients yucky faces to indicate pain levels...and entering YES NO on EHRs... then why bother with any "medical staff" other than you - at all? Perhaps a certified Medical Assistant has a longer study than a CNA, but most MAs are on-the-job trained. And, no - I well understand "nurse practitioner" - I'm telling you that an RN needs to be part of the picture because you guys, and the pseudo medical staff can't get it done right, whether due to time constraints or anything else.

"MA's are used to put patients in rooms" Yup. I've been run, even with a hobbled hip, and put into a room. Ya think? MA's are paid less than RN's? Golly. I guarantee you that your patients would fare far better if you included RNs direct in the process. Whoever you want to act as a bad host or hostess to put patients in rooms - I don't care. But when there is any more than that? A genuine Nurse is in order; they have received a thorough medical education.