Ever had to take care of someone you knew and/or didn't like?

SweetLemon · Oct 12, 2010

dealing with difficult/hard to get along with patients happens quite frequently. even the nicest person can become cranky/cantankerous when they are sick. i have learned over the years to maintain appropriate boundaries while still meeting my patient’s needs in a respectful way. i can't say by any means i get it right 100% of the time (i wish). but i have found that at times if i really do get burned out by someone it’s okay to ask for help from someone else as i would do the same if it was asked of me. having a good team and coworkers who support you makes a world of difference. good luck

Otessa, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2010

Right now, I'm a nursing student and I will soon be doing clinicals at the hospital near me. I know a lot of people and I think that I might come across someone that I know/are friends with OR someone that I DON'T like.
Has this ever happened to you guys and how do you deal with it?
**Can someone edit the title to "Ever had to take care of someone you KNEW or didn't like?" Darn typos!

Taken care of convicted felons:murderers, rapists, drunk drivers who have killed almost the whole family-alternate days on who you cared for(felon one day, victims the next).

You give the care that you were hired to provide and try to forget about the other stuff the best you can....

So, yes, I have taken care of someone I didn't like.

Otessa, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2010

You can "what if" forever . . . what if your patient was Charlize Theron? . . . hmm, how 'bout that one!!

Taken care of my share of celebrities-most seemed to like being treated like a real person with respect, confidentiality, and kindness. The ones that tried to bribe me with $100 bills to give them extra narcotics without an order-they were reported to my director and their MD was called

ChristinP · Oct 13, 2010

Yes, I have taken care of patients that I do not like. They never had a clue, I treated them with the same level of care I would have anyone else. It is not my job to judge.

It's not easy and some patients are harder than others. For me it's patients with drug and or alcohol addictions. Why? Because I took care of the children who were abused and abandoned by drug and alcohol addicted parents.

Just because it's hard to do doesn't mean you can't do it!

I have also taken care of patients I know, it's a small town. I abide by the rules, I do not discuss their cases with others and do not give special treatment, I treat everyone the same. If I were really close with the patient or family member I would ask the patient if they were comfortable with me taking care of them.

LJordan · Oct 13, 2010

I have not run into anyone (as a patient) that I didn't like. I have on the other hand had to ask for reassignment due to one of the patients being someone I know and like. I really don't feel comfortable taking care of friends.

tjstrong · Oct 13, 2010

"(I mean I live in a really rough ghetto neighborhood with lots of crime)"

Do your job...it's your ticket OUT...to a place where the "LIFE" is not so crazy. When you said "violence, theft etc.." you didn't say whether you were the victim or the perp...You put your new career/new life in jeopardy if someone you have harmed in some way in the past can hold it over your head today. You might think about taking a job outside of your immediate locale.

I don't get upset about who is parking their car in the garage of a house I "Used" to live in....Old bf's of old gf's should be treated the same way. High school is over.

If the career we chose was as a firefighter or a policeman we would come in contact with similar issues...and the solution would be the same. Do our job with integrity, confidentiality and ready good will.

(In my younger/wilder days I was somewhat younger and wilder...I have laid my past to rest, it took time, but I can't think of even ONE person who I couldn't/wouldn't work with. While at one time I was a problem for people and society, today I am a solution TO their problems)

cosmicsun · Oct 13, 2010

I have to reply to this and I know you "won't like me", but here goes anyhow...

I think your attitude is somewhat immature. Nursing is difficult enough. There are going to be personalities you don't understand, but there is always some way to find a common ground to at least get along and make the day a little better. Mistreating one of your co-workers ("you'll know it if I don't like you") because you don't like them, in time, will eventually backfire on you. Just my opinion....

I enjoy working with people who are consistent and friendly, no matter what. If I see someone who demonstrates unkindness to someone, even if it is not me, I find that I don't trust that person. I will still be friendly to you, but also leary. Do you want that?

It's like being in the trenches together. You have to put aside your differences for the duration of the shift please.

PumaAngel · Oct 13, 2010

I didn't read through all the posts, but the few I did read said that if you do your job well there shouldn't be any problems. I feel this is correct except in the instance where the feelings are mutual. You should definitely not care for anyone with whom mutual bad feelings are in place. First of all it isn't fair to the patient. They are sick and hospitalized and now they have to deal with you a person they can't stand. Also, regardless of the quality of your care you may be opening yourself and the hospital up to a lawsuit. If anything at all bad happens while under your care they may decide it's all your fault whether it is or not and if they are at all litigious you will have a whole lot of trouble on your hands. It is in everyones best interest to request a different patient assignment if this is the case.

Alnitak7 · Oct 14, 2010

You do your job and there will be no problems.

When it's someone you don't like, it depends on if it's based on misunderstandings or if it's a moral issue where you feel raped by their presence.

In some cases, I have forced myself to go in a patient's room and made myself get used to them and had good luck with this.

Some other times, there are people who will be a threat to your welfare or your safety or your mental health and who you need to stay away from and when the fact is that the others can survive them and you can't!!

Some co-workers will use power and control tactics on you, ie, "He is on your assignment and it's your responsibility," even if they know that patient is abusing you.

If your team mates and supervisors won't listen to you and can not understand this they are not being a team, they are being a threat to your welfare.

I think, only in emergencies would any of this change.

belgarion · Oct 14, 2010

Okay, this is an extreme case but it goes to show that there are times.... We had a pt. come in one night who had, years ago, killed the mother and younger sister of one of our nurses in a DUI. His alcohol level at the time was .29. This was before MADD and tougher laws, so he basically got off with a fine and a little probation. He had never acknowledged what he did or tried to make any kind of atonement or show any remorse.

To all those who say you have to retain your profesionalism and do your job, could YOU have taken care of the person who killed members of YOUR family?

I took the pt. that night and all the rest of us tried to make sure she didn't have to go anywhere near the man's room. Even so, having him in the hospital where she was working was extremely stressful. The DON came in the next day and let her have PTO for the rest of the stay, which was fortunately short.

Like I said, an extreme situation but in small towns you just never know.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 14, 2010

i have to reply to this and i know you "won't like me", but here goes anyhow...
i think your attitude is somewhat immature. nursing is difficult enough. there are going to be personalities you don't understand, but there is always some way to find a common ground to at least get along and make the day a little better. mistreating one of your co-workers ("you'll know it if i don't like you") because you don't like them, in time, will eventually backfire on you. just my opinion....
i enjoy working with people who are consistent and friendly, no matter what. if i see someone who demonstrates unkindness to someone, even if it is not me, i find that i don't trust that person. i will still be friendly to you, but also leary. do you want that?
it's like being in the trenches together. you have to put aside your differences for the duration of the shift please.

i hadn't picked up as much on the statement "you'll know it if i don't like you." you're right. it is immature, and in the long run, self defeating to mistreat someone because you don't like them. even if it's "just" a co-worker and not your patient.

Spikey9001, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2010

Look, I'm NOT one of the people that just dislikes someone "just because." I generally get along with everyone and the only way I wouldn't like you is if you somehow disrespected me really bad or put your hands on me or my property.

I'm mature enough to put the petty **** aside to do my job as needed. It's just that I'll find it HARDER to put those said things aside if I've had a negative run in with the person before.

You think I'm going to like or want to take care of the guy that robbed me at gunpoint? Hell NO!

You think I'm going to like or want to take care of the hoodlums that tried to jump me on more than one occasion? Hell NO!

And I couldn't care LESS about work place politics... That stuff means as much to me as the color of my next door neighbor's cat. I don't let peoples' attitudes affect mine, but I also won't be fake about it and "pretend" everything is all good when it isn't.

It'd be like "just because I'm taking care of you, doesn't mean that I like you."