Funniest Complaint on Press Ganey Scores

miko014 · Mar 14, 2007

Okay, I admit it...to me "fluff a pillow" means flip it over or smooth out the pillowcase so it's not all wrinkled up. Other than that, yeah, if you get up to go to the bathroom, I'll straighten the pad on your bed, etc. I love it when they complain that the pillows are too hot/uncomfortable/etc. Well, yeah...they're waterproof...would you want one that wasn't??? Just think about what could be in there! EEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW! :uhoh21:

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Mar 14, 2007

Okay, I admit it...to me "fluff a pillow" means flip it over or smooth out the pillowcase so it's not all wrinkled up. Other than that, yeah, if you get up to go to the bathroom, I'll straighten the pad on your bed, etc. I love it when they complain that the pillows are too hot/uncomfortable/etc. Well, yeah...they're waterproof...would you want one that wasn't??? Just think about what could be in there! EEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW! :uhoh21:

I've asked a couple of times at work just HOW those pillows are cleaned, and never gotten more than a shrug. I really WANT to know, as I have seen what goes ON them (held a saturated one by the corner on fingertips to deposit in the dirty utility room) and can't imagine ever letting one near my face.

Anyone know?

Gromit · Mar 14, 2007

No, I don't know. I sincerely doubt they kavacide them like they are supposed to. When I do a bath, or take a room apart (after discharge) I will pull the linen and kavacide the pillows, mattress, etc etc. because I just don't trust 'housekeeping' to do it -though I have seen 'em wipe a mattress down.

My wife brought my own pillow to the hospital for my stay -and I'm pretty sure I know what its had on it. :)

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Mar 14, 2007

No, I don't know. I sincerely doubt they kavacide them like they are supposed to. When I do a bath, or take a room apart (after discharge) I will pull the linen and kavacide the pillows, mattress, etc etc. because I just don't trust 'housekeeping' to do it -though I have seen 'em wipe a mattress down.
My wife brought my own pillow to the hospital for my stay -and I'm pretty sure I know what its had on it. :)

I can guarantee that should I need a hospital stay myself, my own pillow(s) is what you'll find on my bed!

Gromit · Mar 14, 2007

hehehe. Hell, I'd bring in my own mattres if I thought I could get away with it. But the pillows are always a good idea. Since many of our patients have been in the hospital for extended amounts of time (due to complications) I've often advised families to bring a pillow from home -if for no other reason than that it adds a piece of 'home' to their room that they can actually USE.

morte, LPN, LVN · Mar 14, 2007

as comfy as your own pillow is, it may not be appropriate...if it doesnt meet fire safety standards....

Gromit · Mar 14, 2007

Ok, that along with so many other things in the hospital :) Seriously, I've never worked in a hospital that had a problem with people bringing a pillow. I'd think the numerous cards and posters many of these families 'adorn' the walls and other areas of the room with are more of a hazard than a pillow.

dragonflyRN · Mar 14, 2007

Carefull....are you going to be the one that lacks in customer service? We have moved into the mindset that patients are customers. There was a time when nurses and doctors were respected. We are not servants. I know that I, and the docs I work with do not want you back in the hospital. We try to empower you to do the right thing, but you don't and keep coming back. So...now we are on a first name basis. Is it tiring to anyone else?

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Mar 15, 2007

then there are the hospitals that change linens while the patient is there (the hospital i am a patient at is one of them) we brought a pillow and then it was gone and a hospital issue pillow was there in its place.

Gromit · Mar 15, 2007

then there are the hospitals that change linens while the patient is there (the hospital i am a patient at is one of them) we brought a pillow and then it was gone and a hospital issue pillow was there in its place.

THAT sucks! I'd be pretty hot if that happened. Unless of course, it was a simple mistake? My pillows do not resemble hospital ones in the slightest (they are fuller and longer -no way could they be confused with the 'standard issue pillow', and to top it off, the pillow cover is colored, not white).

I haven't (crossing fingers) had that happen to any of my patients yet.

deehaverrn · Apr 2, 2007

"the nurse brought me ice water but she didn't even offer to go and get more for my guests"--this was from a women whose husband later in her stay had consistently gone to the unit kitchen and cleaned it out (plates of cookies, six packs of soda, several cups of tea at once) which they then served to their "guests" in the room, this couple also refused to have teaching done several times (mom-baby unit) and then complained about not knowing things

pt who responded that she had no pain when i did her assessment and then complained that i hadn't medicated her that day..even though I clearly told her to call for pain medication and also TWICE offered her meds, plus had been in her room at other times performing other tasks when she clearly could have made her needs known..she asked me for grape juice for pete's sake..and I brought that..am i a mind reader?

Dietary consistently is a low scorer..but they are grouped in with our unit responses so bring our total down (not that I think they mean anything)

Reliance on these kind of outside sources just show how poor hospital management is overall, the same I think of "magnet status"--spend the time and effort on your staff and pts will recognize it, this is just wasteful window dressing

You know how some pts and families seem to "know how to beat the system"?, they know all about the surveys and how quickly administration will respond to their complaints, hence we are now instructed to cater to them too, and I don't mean in a good way. Once a woman came in labor and her husband had forgotten his wallet, we nicely ordered a tray for the woman (even though she could only have clear liquids), we gave her clears from the unit kitchen and allowed him to have her tray. The next day, he caused a royal ruckus because she was now eating her own tray, and we wouldn't give him one, please note that even breakfast guest trays cost $10 and lunch and dinner are even more. Do you think our NM supported us? No, she said we should have just ordered a tray for another laboring woman and given it to this guy...and reprimanded us for not thinking of that..dxxxxx if you do and dxxxxx if you don't

Thanks to the Pg's our first priority when we come out of report in the morning in postpartum (so we've been told) is to check the post op day one's charts for a change in diet from clears to regular diet, take a menu in the room and assist them to fill it out, change the computer order, and send the menu to dietary. Nevermind checking on the antibiotics that were running, or on the person who had a post partum hemmorhage, or the unstable pre-eclamptc, its only breakfast for petes' sake..surely most people can eat the standard regular breakfast one time and start their choices at lunch!! We're also held responsible if their choices are messed up, so go figure.

Years ago we twice filled out PG's for employees, they were sooo bad we were never given that chance again, so its obvious that management does not care about helping us to provide better care, just harassing us into it, I was recently told about someone who complained of waiting for someone to help her to the bathroom..I didn't remember the person although i was present that day..But people, I'm on light duty and can't help ANYONE up..so if they had asked me...I must have immediately told someone else, but months later, I don't remember...(this person didn't specifically mention me..but my NM chose me to pick on

I could go on all night!!! But then I'd never be able to function in PT tomorrow morning.

lpnstudentin2010, LPN · Oct 21, 2007

i have been reading this and am wondering...is every patient sent a press ganey survey. or do we get it from. I want to give my nurses good stuff but i have never gotten one.