If u were the patient,what type of nurse would you like to have?

[ahmadfaiz1992]

I'm just trying to find out ways nurses and nursing students are able to do to provide even better patient care(:

None of us is perfect, but we have to improve ourselves and not allowing our ability to remain stagnant . Share with others what would be your ideal type of nurse. Just imagine yourself as a patient who knows little or nothing of what nurses learn.Put yourself in the patients shoes and also tell me what qualities you wish your nurses taking care of you should or should not possess.

Thank you,

Ahmad.:wink2:

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I want a nurse that knows what they are doing, and will at least tell me, the pt, the basics of what's going on.

I want a nurse that isn't afraid to speak up when something isn't right, and can advocate for my health if necessary

I want a nurse that is more worried about saving my life than they are about being my new best friend.

[Butterfliesnroses]

I had my gallbladder removed yesterday...There were 2 nurses. One was very compassionate and cared about me, which I liked...but the other one, she was getting things done..she's wasn't very compassionate. If I'd have to choose I'd choose the second one. But ideally I'd want a nurse who was caring and got things done, and was very knowledgable about what she/he was doing.

[Hunny320]

If I were a patient I would want a nurse that is kind, gentle, respectful, funny, but most of all doesnt act like she doesnt have time for me. I try my hardest to give my patients the best care and even dont mind doing the things that are called dirty jobs like cleaning up the blood the MD's leave behind when they do bedside procedures or cleaning the patients with soap and water rather than those new bath clothes they have out. I mean I understand the concept behind them that they are good for the skin but they do not help the patients with smell.

[Dinsey]

Obviously I want someone who is skilled, intelligent, creative, etc.

But I think I'd also prefer a nurse (female OR male) who is at least 40. At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter, but I'd prefer someone older than me so it's more like a parent seeing me naked, potentially wiping my butt, etc than someone I'd feel to be in my peer group. Obviously if I were ever to require medical care and someone younger were assigned to me, I would deeply appreciate their care. But I would feel more embarrassed.

It's not meant to be ageist, and I'm 22 so I'm not knocking the competency or skill of young nurses. It has everything to do with who I'd feel most comfortable showing my booty.

[Ivanna_Nurse, BSN, RN]

I want a nurse who explains what is happening, not only to me, but to my family. Just because Ive watched you do this procedure or whatnot, that doesnt mean that my husband has.

I want that nurse to be friendly and humorous, but can switch gears and be all business when its called for.

I want someone who is knowlegeable. "I dont have the answer for you, but I will find out and get back to you" earns just as much respect from me.

I would like someone who is honest. Sometimes it is very hard to answer questions for pts when the answers just suck. Honesty goes along way.

I want someone who is comfortable in her/his "Big Nurse Shoes". There are plenty of nurses out there that are awesome at what they do, and they dont see it. That doesnt do much for the patients or the nurse.

I guess thats about it... :) Cheers, Ivanna

[AlabamaBelle]

I use two of my daughter's nurses as my role models. Julie was compassionate, caring, and an expert in her field. She taught us as teachable moments came up (there were many) and most of all, taught us to advocate for our daughter. Sue is an expert in her field, not with the same amount of caring, but you'd better believe that if something didn't look "just right", she was on the phone with the MDs in the blink of eye. After getting used to the lesser amount of "caring", we really appreciated Sue's vigilance in our daughter's care, but loved the extra measure we got from Julie.

My particular area does require us to be non-judgemental. This can be extremely difficult when we have children who come in with injuries inflicted on them by their parent(s) or who ever is caring for them.

Part of the skill set needed for nursing is listening, as Tweety said. In listening and observing, I can find out what "kind" of nurse that family needs. It's learning to get on their level and teaching and advocating for them, and adjusting your delivery of care to what the patient & family need at that moment. Listening is a highly underrated skill.

Overall, I try for knowledge, skill, hard work on delivering the best care possible, teamwork, compassion, teaching opportunities, a good sense of humor and the humility to admit what I don't know and the sense to know where to find what I don't know.

[olli975]

knowledgeable/skilled/professional/nice attitude and a sense of humor

[Cindy-san]

It's always great to get an expert, but that doesn't mean someone who isn't wouldn't take great care of me. Even the experts started somewhere.

For me, I just want someone who is competent, will advocate for me and will not give me, or my family (or other pts for that matter), a nasty attitude. I understand a need to be firm, but I don't understand (or like) the bad attitudes some of my colleagues give others.

[DeepFriedRN]

Definitely knowledge and skill would be first. I appreciate that there are people who'd rather have a hand holder though. (I guess it's fairly obvious I'm not really one myself, LOL) I wouldn't want to be babied(that's what my husband hangs out for), what I need is what the problem is and what my options are. I think for me that would include nursing care for a terminal illness. I tend to obsess about a problem if I don't define it and take what steps I can, whatever they might be. This is a really interesting question...

[diane227, LPN, RN]

Someone with a sense of humor who I felt comfortable communicating with.

[so alive LPN]

I would want a nurse who is calm, I can have brief, polite conversation with(b/c i know they would be super busy), has a personality, is laid back but neurotic when need be, and can and will take the time to sufficiently answer any questions I should have.

[coolpeach]

I was a patient many times prior to nursing school when I knew nothing of what a real nurse was supposed to do. In RN school we are being taught so many things I never experienced as a patient. for example:

Bed baths (I was in the hospital for a week unable to get out of bed, and was never offered so much as a warm wash cloth for my face).

Mouth care (I mouth felt so nasty and horrible, and I kept asking relatives to bring my toothbrush, and they kept forgetting. The nurse was right there, and never even offered me a toothbrush or mouthwash. I had no idea that hospitals keep these items in a supply closet in bulk.)

Assessments (In all of my life I have never had a nurse do a physical assessment while I was in the hospital.) Even more surprising when I did them during clinical the patients had no idea what I was doing and said no other nurse had done that since they had been admitted. Some patients had been there for 2 and 3 weeks.

Massages, relaxation, meditation - I have never had a nurse offer to rub my back, or teach me to meditate.

Advocate - I had no idea a nurse was supposed to advocate for the patient. I always thought they were there to support the Dr, and hospital. I remember having a nurse argue with me because I didn't want to take a sleeping pill stating the DR. said I should take it. I am being taught to explain to the patient the need for the med, listen to the patient, and then advocate for patient.

So I guess I would like the kind of nurse I am being taught to be. I hope I can be that nurse when I graduate.