If I hear that one more time I swear I am going to stop wherever I am and scream. Literally. I will stand there and scream until The People come to take me away for evaluation. :uhoh21:
I haven't worked staff at a facility for a very long time so I haven't had to deal with this issue personally in eons but it still chaps my hide every time I hear it.
Today I was supposed to meet my sister for lunch. I arrived at her facility and waited in the car at the designated spot. She didn't come down after 15 min so I called up to the unit (I used to work there). The secretary told me she said to meet her on the unit and we could eat in the staff cafeteria instead. I didn't understand why but when I went up to the floor I saw a huge semi-circle around Nursing Station B comprised of nurses, aides, administrative big-wigs, and family members of a particular resident. Particular as in picky. I hear, from the ENTRANCE of the unit the man of the family (father, uncle, whatever?) yelling "I want her fired!" He is pointing at this poor aide slinked low against the nursing station half crying, half yelling something about new bed linens. The rest of the staff, my sister included, are trying to calm down the man and his female companion, meanwhile he is still yelling "I want her fired. If this is the type of trash you hire in this facility then you should be closed down and I'm going to call State."
:nono:Oh, no, not those words. That's a bad threat.
So now this poor girl may lose her job. I don't know for sure because obviously my sis didn't get a lunch, or rather, I had to leave before I even spoke to her, so I don't know if she got a lunch or not. But she missed OUR lunch date because some layman read somewhere or heard somewhere that if you threaten to call State you can get anything you want. That is an abuse of power and it peeves me to no end. Further, I feel it is highly improper and rude that a family member can dictate who is or isn't employed at a facility.
This is not to say that she didn't deserve to be reprimanded. I don't know what she did, but I highly doubt it is worthy of being fired and even if it IS, that should be at the discretion of the facility not a family member.
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
ahhhh...I remember a few mtgs. like that....something must need to be addressed with everyone....either that or pt. (or family) is related to someone at facility (or board member) ?????
Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
They are having a care planning meeting for the resident on Tuesday. Sister said that there was a notice stapled to all the unit nurses' paychecks today telling them that it was mandatory that they ALL attend and that floats will be sent to the unit for the hour meeting. She has Tuesday off but has to go because the SON requested the meeting and is threatening to move his mom if the meeting is not held on his next available day to attend (which I assume is Tuesday). Everyone has to rearrange their lives to once again appease this one person. Why do all the nurses have to attend? That is ludicrous. She has to go in on her day off for an hour. They set a precedent with this one family member and it's not a good one.
Too bad they don't all show up with an assortment of moving boxes and offer to help pack.
Specializes in LTC, hospitals and correctional settings.
This "the customer is always right" attitude that has taken over the healthcare facilities in the United States is part of the reason that there is a nursing shortage. You can't take care of 6-7 Pt's AND their families and make everyone happy ALL the time. I'm so happy that I've decided to go back to correctional nursing. No call lights and no families! The only thing you have to deal with is rapists, murderers and theives. But after the last year in acute care, I'd rather deal with the felons of the world than most "upstanding pilars of the community".
What a shame she was fired. If I worked there I would think of looking for a new employer. This one seems to have no backbone or respect for its staff.
I do agree with those that state to shoo family out for privacy during baths. Get everyone out and then close the door and pull the curtains around patient. If anyone enters you will hear the door open and ask them to leave during intimate care.
and this is why I will probably not return to sub acute/ltc.....I'll either suck it up and take the pay cut to work with my favorite doc or return to social work.....
too many times I have found myself saying "Sir/Ma'am in the state of New Jersey verbal violence is considered the same as physical assault. You have a choice to make: We can discuss this in a calm rational manner or I can finish dialing 911." and usually I'm pretty darn good at diffusing situations, but some folks are bullies and think nurses are safe targets.
That behavior is not tolerated in my world. I've been there. The moment he started shouting is assault (threatening behavior). My guy pushed my shoulder and I fell against something (battery). I called security, I went to the police department and filed a complaint. I made an occurrence report. He tried calling me, (harassment. )
Specializes in ICU, Paeds ICU, Correctional, Education.
What you say in a very calm voice is (with lots of witnesses)"We have some really sick patients here and unless you keep your voice down, I am going to have to ask you to leave because you are distressing them". ...Family member continues to yell... you say " I'm sorry but I have the other patients to think of, I have asked you to keep your voice down which you have refused to do. I am going to give you one more chance otherwise I am sorry but I am going to have to call security", family member continues to yell... you say in a more urgent and louder voice... "Can someone call security and ask them to take this man (or woman) down for a psychiatric assessment" When the threat of report is made, you calmly show your ID and ask if they want you to write your name and number down for the report. The humiliation should shut them up. If you don't have the confidence to do this, just walk away. Nurses are not public slaves and are not paid to put up with abuse!
At times, that can happen to a nurse here, in my place of work! (KSA) .Mind you , guys, how they threatened you here !!!! ''I WILL TELL THIS TO THE HOSP. DIR..........then investigation!!!! but, we have that fighting spirit, WE GLADLY RETORT BACK - ""DO IT MAN", WE really want to go home, anyway . CAUTIOn: YOU MUST BE A REBEL WITH A CAUSE .!!!! BE SURE YOU ARE ON THE ''RIGHT'' TRACK!!!!
Families can be crazy. I wouldn't let a family yell at my tech, but I also wouldn't let them yell at me. Had a family member yell at me cause I couldn't find info on chart (info was in medical records dept).Called me irresponsible and would not listen to explanation. Started screaming "I pay Your Salary". I said "you are not going to be able to yell at me. Let me get my supervisor. "
That is my standard response to belligerence , "Let me get my supervisor" or "would you like to speak to my supervisor?"
Works well, they feel important and I don't have to deal with their crap.
Interesting, because I was just accused (along with my STNA) of patient "abuse" because his call light was on the chair beside his bed instead of in his bed with him 1/2 hour after my shift ended. Security was there, investigating, until his roommate commented, "the nurses didn't put it there, lab did when they were drawing his blood." Yet we were accused. See how easy to draw the wrong conclusions!!!
Interesting, because I was just accused (along with my STNA) of patient "abuse" because his call light was on the chair beside his bed instead of in his bed with him 1/2 hour after my shift ended. Security was there, investigating, until his roommate commented, "the nurses didn't put it there, lab did when they were drawing his blood." Yet we were accused. See how easy to draw the wrong conclusions!!!
Why in the heck was security involved?
Who called it "patient abuse"?
I understand the importance of putting the call button within reach of the patient, so I'm not minimizing the problem. Just interested in your story.
Specializes in CCU stepdown, PACU, labor and delivery.
Our hospital takes it one step further and gave the family $50.00 worth of Red lobster coupons ( they originally gave them Outback Steakhouse ones but they refuses saying they wanted seafood instead) and sent the pt himself one of those large carved fruit bouquet arragements. This was someone who had been admitted to the unit for cocaine related cardiac issues. The family ( his brother and girlfriend) looked as if they partook in these activites too and smelled of alcohol. I cannot believe they did that! All over tylenol being given 40minutes late due to a code on the unit!!!! Blows my mind!!!
But after the last year in acute care, I'd rather deal with the felons of the world than most "upstanding pilars of the community".
I said "you are not going to be able to yell at me. Let me get my supervisor. "
aloevera
861 Posts
ahhhh...I remember a few mtgs. like that....something must need to be addressed with everyone....either that or pt. (or family) is related to someone at facility (or board member) ?????