I just wonder if it's my age or if being a nurse has turned me into a person who can't take crap like I used to. I guess I've always kind of been a little "edgy" but I never used to show it, I'd wait until I was alone to get riled up and fighting mad.
Now, I let it out wherever.
I was at the grocery store yesterday, and I have been without one of those "discount" cards for awhile, so I asked for another one. It was this snotty old woman behind the counter, and she was being downright rude and argumentive. To make a long story short, I ended up telling her off in a loud booming voice and telling her where she could put that discount card. I noticed her demeanor changed when she saw me get angry but I still called the manager when I got home.
And I'm writing a letter today, too.
I went from a quiet, bumbling, good-natured person to Annie Wilkes in the blink of an eye...and I don't regret it.
To me one has to pick their battles carefully. I see no reason to boom at a grocery cashier....just ask to see her supervisor. Same with a server or gas station attendant. Now if you see someone hurting a child, elderly person or even an animal, that's a Battle worthy of a nurse.
I have a relative who became so belligerent at a VW dealer she was banned from the premises.......her battle was lost right then. And it was over a 1/4 inch stain on a seat of a used car.
When you put on that uniform you put on the uniform of us all. Be nice, don't be a pushover, be assertive, don't be rude.
She licked her fingers on each plastic bag she had to open AND handled my food with those same saliva-covered phalanges.
When she was done, I said, "just a minute", and went to customer service to tell them what occurred. The manager was told and asked me how this situation could be remedied.
I said maybe you can figure out a solution while you figure out what to do with those groceries. I said good day and walked out. (I did not purchase the goods)
Did you wonder about who had packed the cans and veggies at the factory? Or the shelf stocker, how clean were his hands? My grocery store has Purell hand wipes in every aisle and I use them on the cart handle and when I pick up some items. The checker could have used one of the water filled rolling stamp moisteners....one solution.
All you have to do with the plastic bags is hold the edge taunt and blow across it, they open every time, that's how they are separated in the factory via machine (when a place buys the bags precut).
Worst case I can think of is I was starving, and went thru the drive thru of the local fast food place after my shift. Guess who was handing food out the window, taking money, licking her fingers to count back my change, etc? A frequent flyer who was always on precautions because she had MRSA in her sputum, blood and nares. Yet here she is, licking her fingers to count money, touching the money when she hands you change, and then how many people put the MRSA dripping money in their wallets, and then reached in the bag to get a french fry. They got a little something else besides "special sauce."
And, no, I didn't go in and pitch a fit. She was still my patient, and MRSA folks working in food service isn't against the law. But it might explain the sudden rise in MRSA in toddlers.....
Oh,yeah, I DO wonder about the entire process of who handles my food. And when someone is so blatent about contaminating my food worse than it already is, I am going to do something about it.
The reply I expected from the manager would have been along the line of, "I'm sorry. That practice is disgusting. I will make sure this doesn't happen again."
I actually think I have become more easy going. I have always been assertive and strong willed. Since becoming a nurse (or is it getting older?) I have come to realize some things are worth getting upset about and others are not. My kids are healthy, I have a roof over my head and a steady income. How dare I complain?
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
All you have to do with the plastic bags is hold the edge taunt and blow across it, they open every time, that's how they are separated in the factory via machine (when a place buys the bags precut).
Worst case I can think of is I was starving, and went thru the drive thru of the local fast food place after my shift. Guess who was handing food out the window, taking money, licking her fingers to count back my change, etc? A frequent flyer who was always on precautions because she had MRSA in her sputum, blood and nares. Yet here she is, licking her fingers to count money, touching the money when she hands you change, and then how many people put the MRSA dripping money in their wallets, and then reached in the bag to get a french fry. They got a little something else besides "special sauce."
And, no, I didn't go in and pitch a fit. She was still my patient, and MRSA folks working in food service isn't against the law. But it might explain the sudden rise in MRSA in toddlers.....
I would never tell off a cashier. They get paid minimum wage to deal with all kinds of horrible, unreasonable people all day. If one of them is being rude to me I finish the transaction and move on with my day. Customers who carry on and make a scene disgust me.
This is just my opinion. If she was rude and argumentative, you had a right to get angry and assert yourself. I know that cashiers are supposed to be nicey-nice all the time- it's part of their job. But I've stood in line behind too many people who immediately start acting like 2-year-olds when they don't get what they want. I've also been on the receiving end of that. A lot of people seem to think that because you have a menial job that you're worthless as a person- especially men (in my experience). I'm shy and soft-spoken. I was a clerk until I was 21 and one of the worst parts of the job was dealing with men for whom politeness was not enough. I was supposed to be perky and flirt with them. I don't flirt with anyone! I don't even know how. But they would get in my face. They think that they're entitled to whatever they want. You're not only supposed to ring up their stuff and give them their change- you have to make them feel like they're the greatest thing since sliced bread. It's dumb. Well I went off on a tangent but IMO flipping out on a cashier is not something to be proud of.
I totally agree with this post. I would not boast about flipping out at a cashier.
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
I totally agree with this post. I would not boast about flipping out at a cashier.
Me neither. That's kind of like taking candy from a baby............and with a few exceptions, most of them work too bloody hard and get paid far too little for the amount of crap they catch each day.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I am already an assertive person without yet being a nurse, well I should change that, I have no problem being assertive when people are being rude. All the cashiers I have known make more than min. wage when at grocery stores or retail stores. When I worked at walmart the cashiers made more than those of us on the floor. Regardless though I don't think anyone's income gives them a right to be rude and I have less tolerance for rudeness when it comes to customer service people. You chose a job that entailed you servicing people, if you don't like dealing with customers than find a new job. Not talking about the occasional bad day either, I have worked in CS type jobs since I was 15 and I would see it all the time. Nothing gives you an excuse to treat people poorly and if you do slip up and the person calls you on it, you should recognize it and apologize.
I have become more assertive but also less aggressive. With my size, I have to be carefull not to intimidate my Pt's and found that I have learned to "use my words". It is amazing that I have found that a few choice words in a quiet tone get me further than an aggressive manner. I must admit that I am widely read and have a great vocabulary to describe my displeasure.
My assertiveness upsets the Minister of War and Finance because when I get busy with something and she helps I go into what she calls "Nurse Mode", short clinical instructions, I need....., Pass the......, etc.
In a shop I am different, I vote with my feet. There is an old truism "A happy customer tells 6 people about their service, an unhappy customer tells 20". I tell everybody and in a small town, 120, 000 people, it doesn't take long for word to get around.
I am still working on the assertive part, I guess this is why I am reading this thread. On another note, I can't stand when some one is rude for no apparent reason. I know I have to always answer to my God in the end for my actions; however, I am not a doormat either, and think it is very fair to stand up for myself.
Btw, I want to add something about the MRSA pos cashier and whomever you might come into contact with that can contaminate your money, grocery bags or food. Have you ever thought about when you go to a buffet, all the ppl that go to the restroom, don't wash their hands and use the serving spoon to get a helping of whatever. Then, you use the same spoon to serve yourself. I often wonder about the eating utensils, there have been too many times I have found old hard food still on a fork or spoon that did not get washed off properly, how clean are they any way? Just my thoughts.
.thumb.jpg.5aa4d55557c0228e31b94de19666bbbb.jpg){kind=small}
P_RN, ADN, RN
6,011 Posts
To me one has to pick their battles carefully. I see no reason to boom at a grocery cashier....just ask to see her supervisor. Same with a server or gas station attendant. Now if you see someone hurting a child, elderly person or even an animal, that's a Battle worthy of a nurse.
I have a relative who became so belligerent at a VW dealer she was banned from the premises.......her battle was lost right then. And it was over a 1/4 inch stain on a seat of a used car.
When you put on that uniform you put on the uniform of us all. Be nice, don't be a pushover, be assertive, don't be rude.