It means a lot to me when the patients themselves tell me that I'm a good nurse. That means I'm doing my job well. The first time the resident in the LTC I work at told me that was when I first started working PM. At that time, I used to work NOC shift all the time and it was my very first day working in the afternoon. The resident said, "You're a good nurse because some nurses are 3-4 hours behind."
Another patient told me that I'm a good nurse.
Despite being a thankless job sometimes, there are still some positive things about it.
How does it feel when the patients tell you you're a good (or even great) nurse? For me, it feels amazing.
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
Yes, I have, many times. I have even been stopped in the grocery store and told in the vegetable section, that I made the passing of a family member doable. I always take the compliments as just that and say thank you. I don't look into nefarious reasons why I'm being thanked.
Recently I was hospitalized over night. The surgery was planned, but it still sucked to be in a city an hour away and be surrounded by strangers. Even though I had excellent care, because warm and fuzzy doesn't save lives, it was the most robotic place. Professionalism oozed from the nurses pores. Bedside rounding, whiteboards, hourly rounding etc. The stuff that managers dream about was happening. However, nobody seemed to care I was teary eyed when the overwhelming feeling of pain and the relief of a body repaired hit me at midnight. I didn't expect them to pull down the side rail and hold my hand, but some human touch would have been nice.
I was booted out of bed to walk at 0430 with a nurse that didn't once talk to me.
Did I thank for everything they did? Yes, of course. However, none of them are memorable.
I have been told that I'm a good nurse and usually it seems to be about my personality. People like it when they are cared for by someone that is genuinely interested in them and their welfare. They don't care about how hard our day is and they shouldn't have to. Sometimes compliments are about how I get things done, residents appreciate it when they ask for something to get done and I do it. It's nice to hear that my residents think I'm good. I struggled for many years as an adult, not sure what I really wanted to do for a living and so it is nice to hear that my residents like me and think I'm a good nurse.
I think hearing that you're a good nurse from staff is more about how you perform as a nurse and so those compliments have a different meaning to me. Those compliments mean something to me as well. You can tell when people are genuine and that is touching.
I try to do my best every day and try to improve myself as much as I can. I'm still new, so there's still a lot of room to grow. The thing is, I want my self-esteem to come from the satisfaction of a job well done and not compliments. I don't live for compliments, but they are nice to hear though.
I'm still just a student, but I've been told by patients and families that I'll be a wonderful nurse. Like others have mentioned, it has absolutely nothing to do with my skills or knowledge as a (future) clinician, but everything to do with bedside manner and compassion.
Although my patients don't know about my technical abilities nor do they care about what I know and understand about their condition, it still means a lot to me to know that their perception of me as a nurse has had a positive impact on their time in the hospital. Whether they read at a 6th grade level or are Ph. D.'s, hearing that they are having an easier time in the hospital means a lot to me and it makes it easier for me to stay focused while I finish my degree.
Perhaps I'm naive, but I hope not to lose the appreciation that I have for being appreciated :-P
I agree. I've had the compliment a number of times.. Each time, I think to myself. There are so many better nurses here than me. Maybe I just seem to be better with my people skills....
I have been told that I'm a good nurse. Sometimes, it is followed by an insult to the offgoing nurse which in case I realize that they are being manipulative and staff splitting. When that happens, I make a general statement of how our hospital has great nurses and I then give a feasible excuse for the patients perception that the last nurse was "not a good nurse."
I do enjoy genuine complements from patients. I don't think complements are all about your personality, but I think it can help. Patients can also sense when you are organized and not rushed.
When I am giving a patient numerous doses of pain medication, I am wary of all complements.
Yes, I have, many times. I have even been stopped in the grocery store and told in the vegetable section, that I made the passing of a family member doable. I always take the compliments as just that and say thank you. I don't look into nefarious reasons why I'm being thanked.
Every time I'm stopped in the store, it's because someone thinks I work there...because scrubs with a pair of hemostats hanging from my v-neck is a dead ringer for the slacks and button up shirt the employees at that store wear.
anytime someone says I'm a good nurse, I always tell myself I'm a ****** nurse and I need to get better.
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
Every time I'm stopped in the store, it's because someone thinks I work there...because scrubs with a pair of hemostats hanging from my v-neck is a dead ringer for the slacks and button up shirt the employees at that store wear.
anytime someone says I'm a good nurse, I always tell myself I'm a ****** nurse and I need to get better.
Why would you say that about yourself? Is that sarcasm?
If not, nobody is perfect, so why cut yourself down? If it is sarcasm, why say that?
The establishment beats us down enough. Don't do it to yourself.
The times I have been approached in stores, I've been in street clothes. Never scrubs. Funny how people think you work at your grocery store, lol.
I get told that pretty often but it's usually for things that don't really make me a good nurse (bringing them drinks, extra pillows, etc.).
One time, while being told how great I was, I was about to hang the wrong IV piggyback on the patient because I was so distracted by such praise. Thank God I caught the error before I made it.
Yep. And like previous posters it is usually not for a nursing skill. But it's still nice to be acknowledged because it's all part of the job of caring for someone. Though the last pt that said I was a good nurse who felt I gave him really good care, asked if I was single. He was on our unit for awhile, and complimented me to a couple other nurses...it got a little creepy towards the end. But mostly I take the compliment and in turn thank the pt for being a good pt. Which sometimes isn't true but turns their attitude around!
This conversation reminds me of a pt about a yr ago. She was a retired nurse & was singing the praises of the nurse I had received report from. I just nodded & "mm hmm" while internally saying "if you only knew". This pt was bad mouthing the doctor about restarting home meds when actually her favorite nurse had dropped the ball getting something clarified which I fixed.
I had also written incident reports for 2 med errors when following this same nurse within the past week & everyone on nocs that followed her was having issues with her leaving tons of work undone. An earlier shift following her, she had not passed meds for 4 of 6 pts (overdue by 2-3 hrs), 2 dressings were not changed, plus hanging the wrong antibiotic.
I don't believe I've ever worked with a less competent nurse (& she came to us as a traveler) but she loved to talk about how her pts loved her. A few more errors/incidents & her contract was canceled.
When a patient tells me I am a good nurse, it's not usually because of my nursing skills, but rather my people skills. I smile, listen, and comfort. Those get me more compliments than anything else.
Occasionally "you're the best nurse ever!" Is followed up by, "so and so was awful, terrible, just the worst!". Next shift I am the worst, and the current nurse is the most amazing person to walk this planet. Meaning, the patient is just really being manipulative and staff splitting.
So I don't always take it seriously. I take any compliment with a grain (or spoonful) of salt, especially if it's followed up by a comparison to another nurse.
So well said. Patients have no idea what makes a good nurse and bad nurse. The only reason I'm happy when patients say that is because I won't have to worry about them complaining to management about me.
If a doctor says it, I'm happy. If another nurse I work with says it, THAT matters and has validity behind it.
tokmom, BSN, RN
4,568 Posts
Yes, I have, many times. I have even been stopped in the grocery store and told in the vegetable section, that I made the passing of a family member doable. I always take the compliments as just that and say thank you. I don't look into nefarious reasons why I'm being thanked.
Recently I was hospitalized over night. The surgery was planned, but it still sucked to be in a city an hour away and be surrounded by strangers. Even though I had excellent care, because warm and fuzzy doesn't save lives, it was the most robotic place. Professionalism oozed from the nurses pores. Bedside rounding, whiteboards, hourly rounding etc. The stuff that managers dream about was happening. However, nobody seemed to care I was teary eyed when the overwhelming feeling of pain and the relief of a body repaired hit me at midnight. I didn't expect them to pull down the side rail and hold my hand, but some human touch would have been nice.
I was booted out of bed to walk at 0430 with a nurse that didn't once talk to me.
Did I thank for everything they did? Yes, of course. However, none of them are memorable.
Just my 2 cents in all of this.