There are situations that arise at work when I respond professionally, but there is often things running through my head that I want to say but I don't. I'm only thinking it! I want to start this thread to express some things that I wanted to say at work, whether it be to a patient, doctor, visitor, or other person. Some of the things are funny and some are passionate! Please share :)
I am a new nurse on the unit, not familiar with the residents, and not familiar with their family members. The family members are also not familiar with me! A visitor that I have never seen in my life came up to me while I was passing medications to a patient and said: "How much did Mom eat today?"
What I wanted to say: "We don't have any patient here named Mom."
And then there are families who come by the desk at lunchtime to ask "How did Mom sleep last night?" I want to say "How the heck do you think I would know? I was asleep myself! Mom's alert and oriented. Why don't you ASK HER if you want to want to know?
I'm not going to explain what happened - not sure I'd remember all I was told anyway - but another nurse where I work actually said "GET OUT! GET OUT!" to an idiotic family member who had done yet another insane thing (there's a quite a history with this guy). I cheered her for doing it.
I had one family who not only would constantly ask me when Mrs. __________ had gotten a pain med, how long has it been, etc., they would CALL OR TEXT another family member, who would then CALL ME and ask the same question when I hadn't taken action based on what the first one(s) were asking!!!! B-e-y-o-n-d b-e-l-i-e-f.
In the ER I have random family member walk up to me (who I have never seem before) saying that their "mom" or "dad" needs something or they want an update. My next question is usually "and what room is your family member in?" because you gave no identifying details other than the fact you are in this pod so presumably your family member is closeby.
I love it when they come into a room behind you after you close the door. I always say, is youreally mom/dad in the next bed (meaning same room)? I've only had a few say no, and at that, someone else in the room has said (usually patient or family), would you want some random person popping into your mom's room just because they want to talk to the nurse?
I would love to say too, did you look at your mom's white board? Do I look like a Fred, Bill, Bob, John....to you? Or, you just heard me say, Mrs. Jones, my name is Angelicpurl, and I'll be your nurse until 11. After I take a listen to your lungs, heart, and tummy, I'm going to check your wound. Before I leave, I'll write my name on your white board.
So, my name isn't Sandy, Brandon, Brenda, Jackie....
Once, after being interrupted at the med room door to them beating on it (same person!) with an ice pitcher, I wanted to say, how many times do I have to say I'm NOT the nurse for your mother? They even called me by my name! Their nurse was at the desk looking at a magazine. She said she even asked if they needed help, but not recognizing them, she thought they were with my patient since they said no & they were looking for me. I had heard her offer to help before med room door shut, and I did hear her say please don't hit the med room door for someone, and she got up to stop them, when I opened the door.
I would love to say too, did you look at your mom's white board? Do I look like a Fred, Bill, Bob, John....to you? Or, you just heard me say, Mrs. Jones, my name is Angelicpurl, and I'll be your nurse until 11. After I take a listen to your lungs, heart, and tummy, I'm going to check your wound. Before I leave, I'll write my name on your white board.
So, my name isn't Sandy, Brandon, Brenda, Jackie....
Once, after being interrupted at the med room door to them beating on it (same person!) with an ice pitcher, I wanted to say, how many times do I have to say I'm NOT the nurse for your mother? They even called me by my name! Their nurse was at the desk looking at a magazine. She said she even asked if they needed help, but not recognizing them, she thought they were with my patient since they said no & they were looking for me. I had heard her offer to help before med room door shut, and I did hear her say please don't hit the med room door for someone, and she got up to stop them, when I opened the door.
My theory on this is that they don't care who is her nurse....they want action and they want it NOW! lol
Specializes in Huntingtons, LTC, Ortho, Acute Care.
I work nights... I love when families call at 8pm and want to know what the patient ate that day, how they did in PT, and what did the doctors say...
I always tell them, especially in patients that at A+O "I can transfer the phone call to them and they can tell you" then they give the ever predictable "I don't want to bother them response"...
What I want to say "so you want to bother me at the beginning of my shift over non emergent info I do not even have readily available to me?" What I actually say "well sir/ma'am my shift starts at 7PM I honestly have no idea all the details of what happened during the day shift, if you want to know, in the future I suggest calling around 5 or 6pm so you can get a good re-cap of the day from the nurse that was actually there, or you can ask your mom/dad about the day. Unfortunately while I get a detailed report its more geared toward more important matters relating to their immediate state of health."
Another favorite "when will PT work with mom or dad? What time does the doctor round?" Again what I say, "I'm really sorry but I work the night shift, I know for certain they will not be here at all tonight, but you would have to call during day shift. Most of the time PT has a list and just work with whoever is ready when they are rounding from my understanding. As far as the doctors go it's highly variable and depends on their schedules, they have office hours, surgeries to perform, and multiple facilities to visit" What I'd love to say "I don't babysit PT and the doctors, I have a lot on my plate without worrying about learning their schedules too"
for the WebMD scholar patients that know the doctors/nurses jobs better than the actually credentialed people I always want to say "Is that so? Where did you get your medical/nursing degree? Ohhhh you're a school teacher, police officer, cashier, etc...? YOUR EXPERTISE ISNT NEEDED, PLEASE LET ME DO MY JOB"
For the patients that constantly ring for snacks drinks pain meds etc... While I know pain is real, and so is hunger and thirst... You can't ask me for it all at once?! Come on people! Would love to tell them "You do realize RN does not stand for refreshments and narcotics right?!"
some days I really wished I could just say what I feel I bet that's why I grind my teeth in my sleep.
Specializes in Huntingtons, LTC, Ortho, Acute Care.
I always fake concern and say "oh my gosh is the call bell broken?! I am so sorry you needed to come out here!" When they admit they never pressed it I use that as my opportunity to say "please use the call bell, there is protected health information in my nursing station that you're not priveledged to view or overhear. You wouldn't want the family next door to hear about how your family members fracture happened from a fall when drinking with an extremely high alcohol level. I know I may appear unbusy sitting at a computer but I am actually charting, and planning my care for ALL of my patients, interrupting my train of thought could be dangerous"
Patient came back from aneurysm repair and there are 20 family members in the room, plus a dog that looks like an ewok. The family member tells me that the patient is comforted by their presence in the room. #1 I have to keep her BP in certain parameters and you are stimulating her by your presence. I did let 2 of the family members in the room, but the Ewok dog had to leave. #2 The patient needs a quiet environment, answer your cell phone out in the waiting room. #3 when the patient has a severe headache, I don't think she cares as much about how your day went. #4 Do NOT turn on the TV as loud as it will go -I asked that family member to wait in the waiting room.
sevensonnets
975 Posts
And then there are families who come by the desk at lunchtime to ask "How did Mom sleep last night?" I want to say "How the heck do you think I would know? I was asleep myself! Mom's alert and oriented. Why don't you ASK HER if you want to want to know?