Disney Culture in Hospitals

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Anyone out there been visited by Disney yet? That's right, Disney. Mickey Mouse was there as well as a couple of other characters.All employees were required to attend the 2 plus hour sessions and the gist is that you are working in a perfect environment and you are to provide perfect care.No patients should ever have a complaint because we are at their (and their family members) beck and call 24/7.

It was like a new horror movie...The Stepford Staff.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Bottom line for me is that my employer while at the same trying to turn us into Disney World and promoting "I've got the time"....yes Timothy we are stuck with both where I work. Also cut the budget on staffing because they claimed they are going broke.

My response to them is that they can't have it both. Give me a safe ratio and I'll be Donald Duck and my "customers" will be happy. If not, then put you money in the bank and keep Mickey Mouse away from me.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I guess saying, "That's not very 'Tweety' of you" doesn't quite bring to mind the same types of platitudes they want to enforce. . .

Because you know, ole Tweety, he's a sly one (imagine that last bit in bird voice).

And besides, I suspect that management would be the "bad ole putty tat!"

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

You know, we could take these similies a mile . . . and completely subvert their intent.

For example: I AM being 'Disney". Isn't Jafar a DISNEY character?!

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

I've never understood why the business folks get so enamored of the gimmick-ot-the-day.

It would be pretty simple, and a lot cheaper, to find out what your staff needs to give good care and then provide it.

And if they think that they can achieve perfect satisfaction among patients and family members, they are living in a dream world. Some people are going to be dissatisfied and complain no matter what. Especially when you're talking about patients; there is no way to make people enjoy getting IVs, having blood drawn, walking after surgery, etc etc- things that are necessary to good care but not fun.

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I can see management bringing in Disney characters doing this. I mean after all hospitals are such a joke now anyway, might as well bring the cartoon characters in. The last few years, I worked in a position where I would see pts that were in the hospital or shortly after discharge. What I saw, shocked and disgusted me. They will pay a million dollars for things like this but will cut direct care staff whenever they can.

This is one of the reasons I dont work as a nurse anymore.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, MS, ICU.

If I was in the middle of patient care and someone tried to treat me like a Disney Character I think I would punch them in the face...Sorry to sound violent...I am not and I love Disney! It is just that work is work and Disney is Fantasy Land! I have been to Disney 18 times and it is my happy place but when I am at work I expect to be treated like a human adult not a character from a cartoon.

I think I would have to leave if they did that at my hospital...They are all drones now anyway (Management that is)...

We recently had a visit from JHACO and the director of nursing picked me out for questions...well, the rep asked me about how to find the patients H&P...I showed them in the chart and the director started to interupt and ask me questions about this and that...Well, before I could show her where to find information she would interupt and ask things that made absolutely no sense. I kept looking at her like she was a complete fool...It amazed me that she is "THE DIRECTOR OF NURSING" and had absolutely no clue where to find any information in the patient file in question. She was furious with me afterwards...She said I was rude and made her look bad. Yup! I thought she is a corporate "Stefford Wife". The JHACO rep told me I did a great job and that the director was completely out of line.

So, I cannot imagine this witch acting like "Mickey Mouse"...it is scary and creepy at the same time. Oh, and BTW...we call her the "Cruise Director" because she does nothing more than walk around the hospital in her "Power Suit" and gossip. It is so pathetic. I would love for to be there with her when a vent patient on tube feeding is rolled on their side and they cough!

She would probably pass out or puke!

OOPS! Sorry for ranting...but I have been on both sides of the fence...worked Corporate for many-many years in management.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
You know, we could take these similies a mile . . . and completely subvert their intent.

For example: I AM being 'Disney". Isn't Jafar a DISNEY character?!

~faith,

Timothy.

Oh, yes! Cruella De Ville!! :D

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Has anyone ever asked the "Disney" reps what their response is when a "guest" screams at them "give me my medication now you f@#$ b%^&*".

I would be truely interested to hear the respose to that. I would guess that at Disney World belligerent guests don't get to stay in the parks for very long.

What a joke!!!!!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, MS, ICU.
You know, we could take these similies a mile . . . and completely subvert their intent.

For example: I AM being 'Disney". Isn't Jafar a DISNEY character?!

~faith,

Timothy.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I much prefer Ursula and her Henchmen

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Has anyone ever asked the "Disney" reps what their response is when a "guest" screams at them "give me my medication now you f@#$ b%^&*".

I would be truely interested to hear the respose to that. I would guess that at Disney World belligerent guests don't get to stay in the parks for very long.

What a joke!!!!!

They probably don't even HAVE any belligerent guests!

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thismentality from administration drives me nuts as well and i will defend my position every time.

you simply can NOT compare disney's marketing and management plans, never mind a budget, to healthcare!

first off, people willingly go to disney. some save up for years. they plan it, and after swallowing the out of pocket costs, hope things are wonderful.

patients UNwillingly go to the hospital etc. they didn't plan it, save up for it and certainly do not pay the tens of thousands in bills incurred.

when people go to disney, they have choices. they can stay on site, pay ridiculous rates for the rooms, and overpay 400% for a hot dog. their choice, and disney's bottom line grows.

when people go to the hospital, they have no choice. they pay maybe a $500 bill out of pocket for over $10,000 in services. the hospital negotiates tirelessly with insurance companies to recover at least 75% of that bill. the patient doesn't pay that and the bottom line is always falling out.

with disney's profits and ability to directly charge the single customer, they can afford to provide the best at every corner. they can fire an employee who is less than perfect, because with the pay and benefits they offer, there's another applicant at the door.

hospitals are not making profits like disney, and when they do, they have to throw the money back into meeting all the federal and state safety regulations forced on them. hospitals can barely afford decent benefits and competitive wages. if an employee is less than perfect, they think twice about letting them go bc there's NO one to replace them... and if there were, the next hospital is offering them a sign on bonus.

health care is not truly a business in conservative terms. so many rules that apply to the private sector can not be applied to health care. the role of the 'customer' is always changing. the pt thinks they're it, the dr thinks they're it, the insurance co thinks they're it, and of course, we nurses think we're it.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
They probably don't even HAVE any belligerent guests!

I would say, "That's not very Disney of you". But alas, I can't.

YOUR VERY ID IS DISNEY.

I concede that your are Disney-fied beyond reproach.

~faith,

Timothy.

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