Most patients know that you're in for a few minutes for your nursing duties, but there are always some who expect you to be an audience. Saying, "I'm sorry, but I really need to start a blood transfusion," or similar doesn't work. I'm all for some chatting a bit and building rapport, but how to I artfully and tactfully dodge people who want to talk and talk and talk? I had a lady the other day who expected me to sit down and talk to her every time I had to give a med or something. Since her family had called administration over a "rude" nurse, I had to indulge her and spent an average of 30 minutes in her room at a time, nurse manager's orders. Another time while giving an admit interview, a man kept lecturing me on politics and religion. When I asked him to please answer the questions so there would be no delay in delivering his necessary treatment, he said, "You people only care about making money, don't you?" Beforehand I had let him lecture me a bit to try to get to know him and build a bit of rapport. All the staff commented on how he's talk your ear off and throw a hissy fit if you tried to leave.
These kind of people are egocentric and accuse staff of rudeness if we do not sit down and talk/listen to things totally unrelated to their medical care. I've tried making excuses, I've tried twisting towards the door to show that I'm trying to leave, I've tried just leaving the room after asking them if they need anything. I try to butter them up beforehand with smiles and asking how they are. Sometimes it works, sometimes I still get reported as being a rude nurse. How do you deal with these people?
