Dear Nurse Beth, I am 58 and a new 2-Yr. RN, I am a soft spoken, rule following, dutiful person & RN. I always inquire about my patients stay in the hospital but tend not to pry beyond that. I most often get very good feedback from my Med/Surg patient base, however, I am frequently dismissed from patient care by patient request. I am struggling to stop this from happening. Can you give me any advice?

Dear Dismissed By Patients, It must be very distressfully to frequently be dismissed by patients without knowing why. It's puzzling, because no one would fire you for being soft-spoken, dutiful and rule-following. The perception you have of yourself and the perception others have of you is different. This happens when you don't realize your impact on others, and come across to others in an unintended manner. The only clue you have given is to say you show an interest in your patients but then don't pry beyond that. Is it possible that what you believe to be not prying is taken as lack of caring or interest? Even if you are perceived as uncommunicative, it shouldn't rise to the level of you being dismissed. I would ask my manager for insight and help. I would also talk to some trusted friends or family and ask for their feedback. People who know you and care about you will want to help you discover whatever behavior it is that is holding you back.

Fired By My Patients

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operations

128 Posts

I liked the post! I don't think the new rn should take it too hard. Her patients may just recognize she is new, and be nervous about having a new nurse take care of them. This can be conveyed by "thinking" while doing tasks/communicating (I have trouble with this right now so I can relate). We'll get quicker one day!

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smartnurse1982

1,775 Posts

It sounds like the OP works Private duty through an agency.

I could be wrong though.

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psychenurse

3 Posts

Maybe you can ask a fellow nurse to stand outside the door out of sight of the patient and then give you feedback.

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smartnurse1982

1,775 Posts

I hate to say this,but maybe you do not smile enough?

I think nowadays anything less than a smile is perceived as "mean" or "sad"

Many patients expect nurses to be cheerful and happy all the time,even though that is unrealistic.

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Daisy4RN

2,221 Posts

Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

Not sure what you mean by "frequent". Maybe what you think is frequent is just the normal amount of patients firing their nurse. Either way, I would consider what some of the others have posted and look at the way you are being perceived by your patients. But just remember that this happens to all nurses, as par for the course, and these days with the push toward customer service people (patients) will try to get away with what ever they can so they want the nurse that will give them exactly what they want.

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canyonforest, MSN, RN, NP

75 Posts

Specializes in ICU/CCU.

I think smiles are important, and when nurses are under stress its not easy to smile, but it can make a huge difference, I have found...a smile conveys that the other person is important and worthy, and these are traits that many can appreciate....

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