I think I will give negative feedback

Nurses Relations

Published

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.

Specializes in Med Surg/ICU/Psych/Emergency/CEN/retired.
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.

I agree.

Specializes in PACU.
I'm trying hard here to not get annoyed at the suggestion "how about we talk to our patients instead of each other". Perhaps you didn't mean to sound condescending but that's how I interpreted the wording

Macawake, I'm sorry, I did not mean it in that way, when I went back to read it though I can see how it sounded condescending to you (or others) I apologize if I offended, it was truly not meant that way.

Specializes in Hospital medicine; NP precepting; staff education.

To commiserate with Emergent I'd like to share a short tale.

I was having a filling placed and the dentist had his tools and hands where they should be, in my mouth. His assistant for some reason took off her gloves (presumably to change them?) and flung the ball of nitrile at the dentist, landing on my neck near his hands. As soon as he got his tools and hands out of my mouth I chastised her right away. I said, "I'm glad you didn't hit his hands or my face!" I was livid. So it was a playful gesture.

Completely out of bounds. And even if the missile was a soft one, striking the talent while they work is enough distraction to potentially create a problem for the patient.

I did not wait for a comment card. My sentiments were well known. And I never went back to that office.

Talking about politics at work let alone in earshot of a patient is completely inappropriate but I don't think I would have reported this.

I do think that the direct comment made to them and subsequent ending of their discussion had the impact intended. I don't think reporting will have more impact (how often does reporting a surgeon change their behavior?) and could lessen the initial impact of being immediately called out by changing their response from feeling stupid to annoyance turned towards the reporter.

I also give them a bit of a pass considering the level of emotion in our country that day. Many reasoned people behaved out of their usual character that day. Definitely in the bottom 100 of acts of impropriety.

Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Pick and choose your battles. This was a small irritation in the grand scheme of life. Get over it and move on, without being a whiner who complains about little crap, little crap which could get those staff members in trouble or will fall on deaf ears anyway.

No one on this board can say they have never done or said anything inappropriate in front of a patient, or said something a patient wasn't happy with. Remember how you would feel if that patient complained about you and you got called into the "office" for it.

In the game of life remember karma really does exist!

Annie

I agree with the posters on the 'not that serious' side of the fence. It was election night after a long, tough election season that would have serious consequences for some Americans, and 2 co-workers spoke about it in patient earshot but stopped when asked to. They got the message. It did not affect your care. Is it that big of a deal?

I was admitted in the ER briefly a few months ago, before my NCLEX. I made the mistake of mentioning to the ED nurse that I was about to take the NCLEX.. and all she did every time she came in my room was quiz me about various things, which I think it's awesome, except that I was in a lot of discomfort considering my situation. I thought about giving her a bad* review, but I didn't . I think it was a good lesson in what not to do if faced with this situation.

She didn't realize that our Red Governor did not expand Medicaid. I could not break through her ignorance so I just tried to advocate for her. /shaking my head.

I think in this case, you could have definitely said that the governor chose not to expand the Medicaid. That is fact, not opinion. Correcting the patient would not have been in the wrong in this case. People should not continue living in ignorance.

Specializes in Hospital medicine; NP precepting; staff education.
I think in this case, you could have definitely said that the governor chose not to expand the Medicaid. That is fact, not opinion. Correcting the patient would not have been in the wrong in this case. People should not continue living in ignorance.

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I told her that but she still didn't connect the dots, bless her heart.

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