So I went to work the other night and the charge nurse approaches me with this look that says, "I'm going to lay some BS on you." She tells me that we are having a VIP patient come to the floor (he was a politician) because we have all private rooms. However, we are full, so we are transferring a patient down to another floor so the VIP can have the private room. The problem is, that private room doesn't have a very good view from the window, so I would have to move one of my patients into "poor view room" so the VIP can have a room with a better view. I tell her what a load of BS that was. She agrees with me and says that if it were her choice, she would let VIP have the initial room and say to hell with a good view, however, these are demands made from the house supervisor.
I still dig my heels in and say there is no way I am kicking my patient out of her room because some dork of self perceived importance can have a better window view. This goes on for a while, and finally a different patient is moved to "poor view room" because she is confused and probably won't know the difference between a view to a brick wall, and one of the city skyline.
Needless to say, I was livid and fumed for the remainder of the night. I distinctly remember some part of the oath I took that my care would not discriminate regardless of race, gender, creed, or socioeconimic status. It seems to me that equal care for everyone only applies when there isn't a VIP on the floor. I'm also miffed that when a VIP is on the floor, we are told to "take extra special care"...and essentially kiss their butt. On one occasion, a nurse replied, "I'm going to take care of them just like I take care of everyone else."
I think it is disgusting and it has almost turned me off of floor nursing altogether.:angryfire
