How Important is it that your patients and their families like you?

Purple_roses · Jul 30, 2015

It's too exhausting to care about how much people like you. Seriously, that's how you get burned out. It's so much effort, and then when the patient ends up disliking you for a silly reason, you take it to heart, and that's just not healthy. Be a good nurse/aid/whatever your job title is, be empathetic, but don't weigh your worth on whether or not the patient likes your laugh.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2015

It's human nature to appreciate positive feedback. But if you are doing your best and acting in the best interest of your patients, that's the most important thing, whether they like you or whether they don't.

However, I have read that you are far less likely to be named in a lawsuit if you are well liked!

Aurora77 · Jul 30, 2015

It makes me feel good when they tell me they like me. My shifts always seemed to be easier when I could spend a few minutes chatting with the patient and family. Is it essential? No, but it does make things smoother.

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Jul 30, 2015

I try to be likeable as long as it's not too costly for me to do so. When someone is unreasonably demanding, I have no problem setting limits.

~PedsRN~, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2015

I enjoy nice families. I don't necessarily work harder for their approval, but it is easier to be a personable nurse to nice families. :)

Libby1987 · Jul 30, 2015

I want them to trust and have confidence in me, if that brings like ability along with it that's okay.

toomuchbaloney · Jul 30, 2015

When I started nursing two years ago, I wanted everyone to like me and think I was a good competent nurse and easy to talk to and I wanted my coworkers to like me and talk to me all the time. I wanted everyone's approval. Two years later, and I'm kind of sick of it. I don't want to spend 2 hours in my patient's room talking and laughing and joking with them and having their families say, "you're such a good nurse" *rolls eyes*. I remember when I use to relish that kind of thing

It's not really important to me.

It is important to me that they trust my professional judgement and believe that I will advocate for THEM not for the system.

caliotter3 · Jul 30, 2015

I treat them with courtesy, respect, and professionalism. As long as they do not interfere with my livelihood I consider myself to be "liked". Working in extended care home health, though, puts one in the line of fire of frequent episodes of not being liked, one of the disadvantages.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2015

I prefer to have patients and families like me - It tends to make things go smoother. There are some however that you simply cannot please. I'm ok with that.

SubSippi · Jul 31, 2015

Wanting to be liked is human nature. It's easier to take care of someone when they like you, and shifts are usually pretty fun when all the staff is getting along.

But I definitely don't get my feelings hurt when my patients done like me. Can't please 'em all!

calivianya, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2015

It's very important for me that the patients and families like me. I read somewhere that nurses/physicians are less likely to get sued when something goes wrong if they are well-liked. Since I have a lot of half-dead hopeless medical cases on the way to coding, but are full codes because "We want grandma to live!!!!," I try to be as personable as possible so that if the patient dies on my shift, nobody gets upset at me for it and I don't get blamed.