I can't believe the hootzpah of some people!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Conversation goes like this:

granddaughter of patient: Excuse me, do you have a suture removal kit.

me: Yes, we do. Is something wrong? (For the life of me I cannot remember patient having any sutures)

granddaughter of patient: Well, no. I have sutures that need to come out and since my mom is a nurse, she is going to take them out for me. I live out of town and can't get to my doctor.

me: I am sorry, I cannot give you one.

granddaughter of patient: Well, is there anyone else around here I can ask?

me: no

granddaughter of patient: Where is the doctor? I want to talk to him. My mom IS a nurse. I don't understand what the problem is.

me: sorry, there is no doctor here tonight

granddaughter of patient: My mom is a nurse, I can't understand why you won't give me a suture removal kit. I am stuck here and you have one.

me: Oh, I am sorry. I didn't realize you were from out of town. If you leave the parking lot and take that road straight up there is a Walgreens that you can get everything you need to have your mom take your stiches out. But I am sorry, I cannot give you our supplies.

granddaughter of patient: Well, if I was going to leave, I would just go to my mom's home and get what I need. I don't understand what the problem is...after all my mom IS a nurse.

I sincerely cannot imagine walking onto a nursing unit and asking for supplies to remove my stiches. Then being offended when the answer is No. What I really wanted to say was "since your mom is a nurse, go speak with her and she can explain to you how completely inappropriate it is for you to ask for this" but I highly suspect it was mother who told her to come out and ask for them. Really people are just getting more and more rude.

Specializes in Dialysis,M/S,Home Care,LTC, Admin,Rehab.

ahahaa!!!

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Specializes in Dialysis,M/S,Home Care,LTC, Admin,Rehab.

"The Unit Supervisor supported the Staff Nurse's decicision and advised me to obtain the necessary information from a family member after the client's discharge. I wanted to be sure I understood the Supervisor's advice. So, I reiterated that advice in my own words: "As a medical professional, you are instructing me, another medical professional, to base the medical services I will be providing to this client on a non-professional family member's interpretation of those services. Even though I should be able to examine and copy specific medical reports from the chart, according to the Releases of Information."

Excellent, Davey Do. Excellent response. Professional, Clear, Direct. Excellent!

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.
"The Unit Supervisor supported the Staff Nurse's decicision and advised me to obtain the necessary information from a family member after the client's discharge. I wanted to be sure I understood the Supervisor's advice. So, I reiterated that advice in my own words: "As a medical professional, you are instructing me, another medical professional, to base the medical services I will be providing to this client on a non-professional family member's interpretation of those services. Even though I should be able to examine and copy specific medical reports from the chart, according to the Releases of Information."

Excellent, Davey Do. Excellent response. Professional, Clear, Direct. Excellent!

My facility probably wouldn't have given access to the chart either. We've had a few times when pts wanted access to their charts and it's always a stink when I explain that I can't allow that. If you are on staff with the hospital then great if not you go through med records like everyone else.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Just for future reference: chutzpah

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Unfortunately, you don't see that only in nursing but in other professions/places as well. This is an example of how some people are just plain dumb. And what bothers the most is when they think they are right...:uhoh3::nuke:

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.
Just for future reference: chutzpah

Thanks, I am the worlds worst speller and didn't feel like looking that one up, lol.

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I like the spelling of hootzpah better. It cracks me up just to say it that way. LOL

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
I like the spelling of hootzpah better. It cracks me up just to say it that way. LOL

It really does convey the sentiment better, doesn't it?!:lol2:

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
If you are on staff with the hospital then great if not you go through med records like everyone else.

You know what, Cardiac? I didn't even think in those terms. I have been enlightened!

I was so use to obtaining information in an efficacious manner for the dischage, I didn't stop to consider that some adhere to the prescibed format. Of course, it is a good way to CYA. Perhaps I was circumventing the established protocol.

Thank you for the enlightenment!

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My facility probably wouldn't have given access to the chart either. We've had a few times when pts wanted access to their charts and it's always a stink when I explain that I can't allow that. If you are on staff with the hospital then great if not you go through med records like everyone else.

So...how much effort would it have taken for the people she asked to tell her that? I think sometimes we forget the rules and a gentle reminder can be much more effective and customer service oriented than the "I'm not giving it to you, so there!" sort of attitiude she got...

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
So...how much effort would it have taken for the people she asked to tell her that? I think sometimes we forget the rules and a gentle reminder can be much more effective and customer service oriented than the "I'm not giving it to you, so there!" sort of attitiude she got...

Thank you for your perspective, cotjockey.

Yes, I could have better understood the nurses' rationale, had they explained it to me. Like I said before, I was so use to working with entities that knew me, I didn't have to follow the usual protocol to obtain the required information.

Luckily Cardiac allowed me to "see the light" and I believe myself to be a better person as a result.

BTW- I'm a guy. The name "Davey" is a bit androgenous, however. When I initially registered, my workname, "Davern" wouldn't be accepted. So I opted for a lively shortened version of my given name. Sorry for the confusion.

Thanks again.

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

I can totally believe it.

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