Ever feel like..."STOP COMPLAINING"..

Nurses General Nursing

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Vsummer1

656 Posts

First semester student here... as soon as some people hear that, they ask me questions about their health. Ummm... I am a 1st semester student!!?? I always just listen and say "wow, what did your doctor say?" then they usually reply with something about how they didn't want to bother their doctor with it. So why the heck are you bothering me, a know-nothing 1st semester student?!

I usually add that I haven't had the opportunity to learn about that particular problem, but if they need a foley, staples removed or diaper changed then I am their gal. They never bother me twice with questions anyway... :rolleyes:

flowerchild

381 Posts

I have learned that the acceptable and normal greeting exchange of "how are you?" is a loaded question and now leave that sentance out of my vocabulary. I also avoid letting people who do not know me, find out that I'm a nurse. It saves me hours of giving free advice. When someone gets out of hand, I tell tham I'll send the bill, which usually shuts them up and allows me to enjoy myself instead of putting it on about how concerned I am for their real or imagined minor discomforts and illnesses. Please don't get me wrong, I love helping people, and will run to the side of a freind to help in a minute. But, when I'm out to dinner, at a party, or at the grocery and I don't even know you very well......give me a break please! I have also learned to listen them and just tell them to see their primary physician, (works well for relatives) CYA ya know.

RNsweetie

153 Posts

Wait to go Vsummer1, you got it right on.:roll

MQ Edna

1 Article; 1,741 Posts

Originally posted by Dr. Kate

It's even worse when your Mom is a nurse. QUOTE]

I admit it!:imbar I've been known to use the following phrases with my children:

"Are any body parts missing?"

"Go bleed in the sink; you're making a mess!"

ICUBecky

109 Posts

I feel your pain Dr. Kate!! my mom (a RN) never let me stay home from school...except when i was diagnosed with mono or puking (and she actually had to see me puking AT HOME). anytime we would complain...she would just say "you think you're sick...come see my patients in the ICU". so anyhow...i just learned not to complain to her. even though i thought she was cruel sometimes...now i see the other side of the coin. i am sure i will be the same way with my children (when i have them!). i say the same thing to ppl who complain about every little symptom. people can be annoying with their ailments...that's for sure.

zudy

475 Posts

Guilty! I always ask my kids "Are there any bones sticking out?" "Don't bleed on the carpet!!!"

oramar

5,758 Posts

I know where the original poster is coming from. I always try to watch myself as not to become to insensitive. Most of the complaints we hear stem from anxiety. I understand what anxiety does to a person. The last year I worked I worried that I was actually passing from insensitive to callous. That is something I never wanted to do. The cases that really try me are the self inflicted ones. Drug dealers with gun shot wounds. You know that they have shot other people and now it is there turn. Chemical abusers that have been in every treatment program know to man. People that have two Cabgs and keep sneaking out for smokes. What are you going to do but turn a deaf ear to their complaints.

oldgirl, RN

56 Posts

Have a friend who, now that she is over 50, is always whining about how "old" she is. Aches, pains, eyes not as good, on and on. I finally said"go hang out for while at a skilled care facility, and then come back and tell me how old you are!" Don't hear anywhere near as much of the "pity party" as I did before.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN

49 Articles; 5,349 Posts

Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

I am a very knowledgeable, caring, and competent nurse, but I will not give out medical advice to people, simply because of the litigious nature of our society. Remember, if you have , oftentimes it will not cover you for any "medical advice" given to friends, neighbors, family, etc. I remember watching a Court TV segment one time, in which distraught parents were suing a hospital over medical advice a nurse (in an ED) had allegedly given them over the phone. They had called about a rash, fever, flu-like symptoms that their teenage daughter had been having... you know the rest of the story. The child was not taken to the hospital soon enough with a fulminant case of meningitis--ending up having both her legs amputated. :o So, nosiree, don't give out any medical advice.... I will listen respectfully, then tell people, "you need to go talk to your nurse practitioner or doctor about this."

Worthy

93 Posts

I'm not even IN a nursing program yet, but I've signed up for some prereqs - and people ask me for advice!!!

Hello! The course I am taking is "Writing Skills for Health Sciences" and no, I cannot diagnose that funny thing on your arm, but I can tell you what a dangling modifier is :)

Go see a doctor!

sjoe

2,099 Posts

Specializes in Corrections, Psych, Med-Surg.

"It seems like EVERYONE around me is DYING of something."

Aren't we all. It's called "being alive."

But yes, when you consider all that we have (and this Thanksgiving season might be an appropriate time of year to do so) we Americans are the biggest bunch of whiners and complainers on the planet.

IMHO

Tweety, BSN, RN

34,248 Posts

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

Don't get me started on family members who are nurses. I guess because you are a nurse and mom's in the hospital that gives you the right to treat the staff nurses like crap.

I missed that part of the nurse practice act. I love the "I'm a nurse and......" my response is "and....you know better than to treat your peers this way, now leave!". It's one thing to be your loved one's advocate, it's another to be a pain.

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