Published Sep 21, 2011
purple10
88 Posts
'If you dont have anything nice to say, then say nothing at all'
I think just about everyone heard that when we were growing up and many of us as adults and being nurses learn how to bite our tounges and with hold what we are really thinking
If you could say anything to your boss, MDs, co-workers, or anybody else while at work what would you say?
Mine would be (just a few of the many)...
1. you want to go back to get your RN? well honey you need to go back to get your LPN first!
2. if your the on-call MD tonight then why are you getting mad at me for paging you, its your job! and just for that Im going to page you a few more times.
3. Im the nurse your the therapist whay are you asking me what you should be doing?
jbowers
3 Posts
I have had those same thought many times over my nursing tenure of 37 years. I did hang up on a doctor one time. I was furious the way he talked to me...really put me down for calling him and for bothering him...he was on call. I rarely call MD's...only out of dire necessity.
Altra, BSN, RN
6,255 Posts
To my extra-special patient:
"Because I've seen you in the ER 4 times in the last 7 months, and all of those visits have resulted in admissions with significant wait times to get you a bed ... I've had a chance to observe your family dynamics at some length. You use the 'I'm having an anxiety attack' card quite effectively to manipulate your family. However, I'm not buying it."
To that extra-special charge nurse on Tele:
"When I bring the patient up to your unit, you consistently roll your eyes, sigh loudly, cross your arms, and yell to that patient's assigned nurse, 'The ER's here ... ' This drama rolls off me like water off a duck. But the patient ... not so much."
ooo got another one...
everyday you complain about something new hold me in your room for 10-15 min so you can complain about everything and tell me how to do my job, no i will not give you a enema cause you havent pooped ten times today. no i cannot change the temp in the main hallway if your cold put a sweater on. this isnt the service you paid for well this isnt a hotel you need to keep trying to do things for yourself i am not you lady in waiting.
carolmaccas66, BSN, RN
2,212 Posts
I just say stuff now. I've got to the point where if people are outright rude to me, I tell them I'm a professional and I will not tolerate it. They calm down after that.
As to rude doctors, I haven't had many of those. Maybe it's because when I speak to them face 2 face, or ring them, I say; "and what do u want to do about this DOCTOR?" Then they feel superior thinking u REALLY need their advice - and usually rattle a ton of orders down the phone.
Or maybe it's because I worked with surgeons who used to scream & shout when their operating lists weren't perfect - I learned quickly to stand up for myself. Now people don't bother me as much.
Learn...it's water off a duck's back is all it is...just don't take any cr*p & tell people that, and you will be fine.
Jenni811, RN
1,032 Posts
I feel like i get this all the time. "How do you want me to go about getting Jane Doe out of bed since this is her first time?"....."Um, you tell me."
NocturneNrse
193 Posts
I'm trying to come to terms with how I deal with the rude comments. Do I let them roll off my back, or is that really just pussing out, when I should really be dishing it back to them. My tolerance is quite long.. but is shortening with each passing day that I'm in this profession. And sadly.. it's not the patients in my situation. :sigh:
I do try to let it roll off my back.. but sometimes find myself taking it home with me and thinking "what could I have said" instead of just not saying anything. I'm getting stronger, and I truly believe that YES, you must pick your battles... BUT, you're also a fellow humann being that does deserve to be spoken to respectfully, and have to make that known too.
Hang in there!! Ugh...
nyrn5125
162 Posts
or, next time you get them up without telling the nurse and their tele isn't working and they code while you ambulate them in the hall, you'll be in big trouble
Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN
20,908 Posts
If I heard once I heard it a hundred times.....if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all. Now I say it to my kids....manners matter! Thanks Gramms...Thanks MoM!
Working in the emergency medicine sector for 32 years........I have been called everything but blond and white....which happens to me my ethnicity and my hair color. I just consider the source or the ETOH level and kill them with kindness:flwrhrts:leave it at that....
If I had a penny for every time a MD shouted on the phone......"DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?":argue: (one particular MD I bought him a Big Bird alarm clock one christmas so he'd always know what time it was....) or "WHAT IS YOUR NAME":madface:, "YOU CALLED ME FOR THAT!":no:, "AND DON'T CALL ME BACK!":madface: and my personal favourite "I'LL HAVE YOU JOB!!!" :flmngmd:usually accompanied by "WHAT IS YOUR NAME!?":yawn:.
I'd take those pennies and put them in the bank and be richer than Warren Buffett......
KimICURN
31 Posts
My response to the numerous ***** nurses recieving a patient form the ER at shift change:
I am sorry that I JUST had to bring this patient up to at shift change but the admitting doctor / NP had the chart for what seemed like 12 hours and the patient has been begging me to please take them to their room. Remember we come to work for the patient not for ourselves, just sayin'.
And I am also sorry that I forgot to tell you in report that they had a broken arm when they were 4, they had a little trouble giving me a history because they couldn't breath when they came in.