There. I said it....

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I was taking care of a patient last night who whined about having to have an xray, have vitals done and so on. She actually said "I want to relax and sleep and read here in the hospital" I am so sick of this attitude. I said...with a smile..."Well this isn't a spa, dear, it's a hospital"

Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

I had a post-op pt a few weeks ago tell me with the good food, tv, etc she felt like she was at a spa too. I felt like being like this is more expensive than a spa, we will come in and "bug" you with vital signs, assessments, etc, and I will make you get up and walk. Geesh

Your hospital's PR dept may be marketing the hospital as a wonderful place to come and rest. Who knows these days, lol.

Specializes in LTC, Med-Surg.

I had a very indignant patient tell me that the next time I "bothered" her she would tell the doctor not to pay me! I was doing my first assessments on my shift...hadn't been to see her before, either! :yeah:

Sigh, unfortunately this is not the correct response in a business generated health care system. I would have said... "we need to assess your health status, I will let you sleep as much as possible." SCMOOZE, SCHMOZE and SCMOOZE. Name of the new game.

I'm there to keep them alive, not kiss their heiney. I would have said the same thing. Then explained WHY I have to "bother" them. If they insisted, then I would just chart that the pt was refusing care, let their Dr know (and the charge nurse, etc.), and let the Dr handle it from there.

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