How to make the nurse's day.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

When your alert and oriented, walkie talkie, 25yo husband is in the hospital for observation and a little fluid resuscitation, be sure to come out of the room frequently, search out the nurse, and ask for things like a different gown, because the one he has on is too thick, or a robe so he can go for a walk, or fresh water because the ice in his water pitcher has melted. We love that. Especially when we have another patient who is a post CVA LOL on an insulin gtt and her CBG has just tanked, an older man with severe multivessel disease who needs a four vessel CABG and is hypotensive, and another patient whose sodium is 129 with a BP of 198/90, with anxiety issues who needs a breathing treatment right now.

Oh yes, we love it when you come out of the room and stand in the hallway, looking lost, until you spot us digging through a chart to find the insulin gtt protocol or frantically dialing the phone to page the doctor, and come up and ask for these Very Important Things.

In fact, I like it even more when you stand there, in the doorway, with your arms folded across your chest, watching me until I can't stand it anymore and finally ask you what it is you need. Yes, the fact that your husband's gown is chafing him is right up there on the top of my priority list. This is a hospital, after all. Can't have any chafing.

Please do not use the call light, or even worse, wait for me to come check on your loved one before you make your requests. After all, the CNA is incapable of bringing fresh ice water. The nurse is the only one qualified to do so, and this is a very good use of her time. :heartbeat

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

Rough night? :loveya::loveya::kiss

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

How did you guess? :D

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Specializes in Making the Pt laugh..

While demanding ice, new gowns and other realy important things for your loved one, instruct them to lay there and not move. Even though there is no physical reason apart from habitating a hospital bed, ensure you loved one requires a pan, (and a wipe afterwards) and continue this to the point that the NS feel the need to perform 3/24 pressure area care. Once you have reached this pinnacle of making the NS happy, abuse us with threats to sue when your loved one acquires pneumonia from not moving. We realy like that!

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Specializes in psych. rehab nursing, float pool.

One of my personal favorites. Can you pull their covers up? They are cold.

yah right, like you do not know how to pull a cover up? Okay I get it, a ploy to watch someone walk in the room, as something else might be bothering you. Please next time, tell me why you really want me in there. I am not really a mind reader, or maybe you really don't know how to pull a cover up.

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Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.

We had a family member not too long ago like this. Every single time we would leave the nurse's station, there she'd be. And if we were (god forbid) sitting down for a few minutes at the nurse's station, she would stand right outside the door and look in the window. Gotta love it!

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Specializes in ER.

Didn't you hear? Chafing is one of those "never" events per JCAHO. You can't send people home with fabric marks on their hind ends- it interferes with the comfortable flow of hot pink thongs.

Never mind, you obviously don't understand what he's been through.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

Heh heh... :chuckle

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Specializes in Gerontology.

Strip the newly made bed because "Mother doesn't like the blue bedspread". Insist that the bed be re-made RIGHT NOW!. When the nurse informs you that the only bedspreads available are blue, insist that she go to other units and find a "pretty pink to put on". Pout when she tells you its a blue one or nothing. Pout more when Mom says she likes the blue one.

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Specializes in ED.

Oh, and please make sure that the chair you are sleeping in is right next to the bed so the nurse has to trip or walk around it to get to your loved one. It would actually be better if you were standing right next to the bed, so you could guide us to know exactly how he wants his pillows fluffed.

And please, make sure you put your requests in too! A more comfy chair, an extra blanket because you are cold? A fluffier pillow? Oh! A cup of coffee, 2 creams and 1 splenda. We live to serve!

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Specializes in Nursing Student.

LMAO, you guys just made my day.

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Specializes in ER.

You all are just so inconsiderate and rude. Perhaps that pink comforter was the highlight of that woman's day, and you all were too lazy to take the TWO MINUTES to go to another floor.

What if she was colorblind- would that make you just a little more COMPASSIONATE!!! I was in the hospital once, and all they had was white sheets- I was practically snowblind- had to wear sunglasses as they wheeled me out I had such a headache. Darn nurse wouldn't even let me stay an extra 15 mintutes so I could get another dose of my Percocet.

Wait til that Press Ganey comes...

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