How do you get out of the room politely?

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I love talking with patients and educating them about their medical/nursing care. What I don't enjoy as much is shooting the breeze with families about whatever football game is on the TV (you know what I mean). I am more of an introvert and making small talk wears me out. I want to be polite, and not come off as "too busy to stay and chat", but at the same time, I need to do my job as a nurse and get out of the room, both for my time-management, and for my own mental well-being. Any thoughts on this (besides moving to OR or maybe ICU where talking with families is more focused on what's going on with the patient)?

I usually say something like "I'm in the middle of my medication pass right now. I'm going to come back around later to catch up with you. Are you having any pain right now? Is there anything I can get for you before I leave?" This usually works. It sends the message that I'm leaving, but I care about their needs. I usually only have one or two chatty patients and I try and allot a little time during my down time each day to listen to them blab. I don't always have the time, but I find when I schedule those chatty moments things go smoother.

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I'm the same way, small talk makes me sweat. As an aide I have it easy because I'll usually just say that I have to leave to go update the nurse on their most recent vital signs or let the nurse know that the patient is requesting a PRN med, etc.

Sometimes if it's a patient that is known to have a bad memory and tell the same story over and over I'll let a coworker know that I'm going into the room and if I'm not back out within 5 minutes to come in and ask me to "help them with something". Sometimes I feel bad doing it but the thing is there's always something to help out with on the busy floor anyway so it's not exactly a lie.

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We used to have a secret signal. You stand with your back to the doorway and make a fist behind your back. Any staff walking by knows to call you or stop and 'need' you for something. Works like a charm.

I LOVE this! We usually do the fake page - you have a phone call kind of thing. I may steal your idea.

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Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.

"I hate to have to cut the conversation brief, but I have to check on my other patients now. Is there anything I can bring in to you on my next rounds?"

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No one expects the doctors to stay in the room and chat with patients all day; we nurses are busy too! I tell them I have some work to take care off, that I'll check on them in a bit and here's your call bell in the meantime.

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Specializes in L&D.

I work labor and delivery so it's a little different as I only have one to two patients usually. But I say "I'll be back in a bit to check on you. Is there anything I can get you for now?" I'm in my rooms at least every 30 minutes anyway usually so they know I'll be in and out.

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"okay Mrs. Smith, I have to go check on another patient. You push your call light if you need us." *walk out door*

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I see where you are an NP. "I'll try to get back at you later today. I have a family meeting that I am running late for"

Works every time.

If I need to get a family member out of the room to talk to them privately when it would upset the patient. I say, "Is it ok if I show you something in the chart?" Then I explain why I needed to get them out of the room. Nobody has ever been offended...in fact, they are appreciative.

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