I think I will give negative feedback

[Emergent]

The day after the election I had minor surgery. During the preparatory phase, the crew began to negatively discuss the presidential election, specifically their unhappiness with the president elect.

I said "Are you really going to talk about Trump?", in disbelief.

Thankfully, they shut the ---- up.

I think I'll mention this on the feedback survey. I thought it inappropriate. The patient shouldn't have to correct professionals in this way.

[justavolunteer]

I am 'justavolunteer'. I have volunteered more than one place in my life. Practically the first thing I was told each time is to stay away from politics or religion. Two very incendiary subjects.

[quazar]

I'm just old school, in that I firmly believe that in "polite" company, aka anybody you don't consider a close friend/family and in public, you don't discuss politics, religion, or other volatile subjects. I have seen first hand too many ugly outbursts, and just make it a general practice to absolutely positively refrain from discussing such things with anybody but my very close friends and trusted family members. ESPECIALLY something like this recent election. Good Lord, talk about a powder keg.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

All you ever write about here is DRAMA. You LOVE creating DRAMA. Leave them alone, for god sakes they were talking politics WHO CARES! GROW UP!

Entitled whiney patients/coworkers like you are the reason nurses leave nursing!!!

Annie

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

All you ever write about here is DRAMA. You LOVE creating DRAMA. Leave them alone, for god sakes they were talking politics WHO CARES! GROW UP!

Entitled whiney patients/coworkers like you are the reason nurses leave nursing!!!

Annie

Well Annie - you realize you are talking to the majority of responders on this thread. We all think the OP had a good point and have been discussing the reasons.

I didn't see this as drama.

[Boomer MS, RN]

Well Annie - you realize you are talking to the majority of responders on this thread. We all think the OP had a good point and have been discussing the reasons.

I didn't see this as drama.

Amen Amen

[DTWriter]

I am with Annie on this one.

Keep this in mind, OP. When you write a negative feedback, you not only put someone's job in jeopardy but risk being labeled as a whiner, and when something more serious happens, your next complaint will fall on death's ears.

Every patient gets one "complain about the service" free card. Why waste a complaint over employees having a conversation on politics, especially if they did not involve the patient? You really want to get someone written up over that? :/

[VANurse2010]

I'll go against the majority a bit here and say that while it's not the wisest thing to do in front of patients, IMO it hardly ranks in the top 20 or maybe even top 50 unprofessional things that can be done in a hospital. Ratting on them for this is a tad overdramatic.

[Emergent, RN]

All you ever write about here is DRAMA. You LOVE creating DRAMA. Leave them alone, for god sakes they were talking politics WHO CARES! GROW UP!

Entitled whiney patients/coworkers like you are the reason nurses leave nursing!!!

Annie

Your post is rather histrionic, if you really want to know . Something in my contributions here apparently push your buttons.

Just to clarify, it was the anesthesiologist and surgical resident who were blabbering , not the nurse.

The feedback form is meant for just that, to help medical personnel to improve. It can be written respectfully. An up and coming doctor needs it as much as anyone.

[Boomer MS, RN]

Your post is rather histrionic, if you really want to know . Something in my contributions here apparently push your buttons.

Just to clarify, it was the anesthesiologist and surgical resident who were blabbering , not the nurse.

The feedback form is meant for just that, to help medical personnel to improve. It can be written respectfully. An up and coming doctor needs it as much as anyone.

Emergent,

I appreciate this response from you. My experience has been about nurses, although I recognize it can be other healthcare personnel who exhibit the behavior described. I am passionate about what happened during the electoral process but have kept my opinions to myself while still working in front of patients. (Many of my patients in the ED were disenfranchised and could have cared less about political issues and certainly did not have a "dog in the fight" re: their weekend/vacation plans.) I continue to support you about giving feedback. Sometimes another's comments help us.

[klone, MSN, RN]

All you ever write about here is DRAMA. You LOVE creating DRAMA. Leave them alone, for god sakes they were talking politics WHO CARES! GROW UP!

Entitled whiney patients/coworkers like you are the reason nurses leave nursing!!!

Annie

Whoa, you okay? This outburst seems very out of character for you.

Not to mention, I think you were totally off base.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Anyone attending you during minor surgery retain their rights to free discussion.

Politics, religion.. whatever. Get OVER yourself. As long as it does not breach HIPAA.. why would you care?

[Susie2310]

As I understand the OP she is expressing displeasure at what she experienced as a lack of respect for the patient (herself) by the surgical staff discussing politics in front of her while they prepared for her surgery. Had I been in the OP's position I believe I would have experienced this as inappropriate and rude. It would have been better to talk about a neutral topic that would be likely to include the OP, or a topic she could relate to in a pleasant way to help her to feel as though she has made a good decision in trusting the surgical staff to take care of her/perform surgery on her, and that would help her to build trust in them.