Invaluable lesson in being the patient advocate.

[kgekg]

I'm a brand new nurse in my 5th week with my preceptor. I love what I do so far. Every day after work I go home and reflect upon the events of the day and the lessons that they've taught me. I just have to vent because my head was spinning today at how incredibly rude these other professionals were to me today.

Patients with kind and positive attitudes are a breath of fresh air when it seems like everything is working to delay their care. From the doctor who writes confusing orders and passes the buck, that gets passed again and again, to the EXTREMELY rude secretary (or whoever it was who answered the phone) at the physician's office who I was trying to contact to clarify the orders. To the dialysis nurse who had to finish her personal call first before arguing with me about the orders in front of the patient. Really? Why do you work in healthcare? I'm not the one who's bad at my job, I'm just trying to do it the best I can.

Unbelievable.

That is all.

Cheers, everyone!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Just want you to know that you are heard. We have all experienced the same type of issues.

Keep in mind that those negative reactions weren't about you - or even about the patient in question. Negative/rude responses are all about the person who makes them. Maybe they are reacting to other things going on in their lives. Maybe they just hate their jobs. Maybe their personal life is falling apart.... but it is all on THEM. It has nothing to do with you. You didn't cause it. You can't cure it.

What you can do is decide whether or not it is worthwhile to provide feedback - letting them know how you feel about their behavior. Sometimes it just isn't worth it. If a patient is affected - caught in the crossfire - you HAVE to take action, but otherwise, it may be a waste of energy and time.