Is it ok to say . . .

[ArtsyCraftsy]

Hi,

I am a new nurse, have been at my job a couple of months.

When I first started out, I was pretty nervous and was not that comfortable talking with the patients. Now that I've been there a while I am really comfortable and relaxed with talking to them. I want to make sure that I am professional in everything I say, and don't get "too relaxed."

The thing is, I really enjoy all my patients, and when I discharge them I am hoping that things will go well for them. I'm not sure if I should express that or not.

So I need your guidance and feedback on the following:

1) Is it ok (When discharging) to say something like "I hope everything goes well for you" or "Best wishes to you" ? I'm expressing what I feel, but I don't know if it's professional to say that or not.

2) Is it ok to say something like "I enjoyed working with you" . I guess I have the urge to say it because I really do enjoy working with all my patients, even the angry ones, because it seems you can always see the good in them and understand they have a reason to be angry. But again, I don't want to say it if it's unprofessional.

So what do you all think? Thanks in advance.

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

I often say things like "best wishes", "take good care of yourself", "it was nice meeting you", "I hope to see you again, but not here!"

I don't think there is anything unprofessional about these things at all. On the contrary, I think it is only polite =)

[Perpetual Student]

YES! It is absolutely OK and a good thing to do!

I tell every single patient I have (even those who supposedly can't understand me) something positive upon discharging or transferring them. For most patients it's something like "I hope you heal up fast" or "I've really enjoyed meeting you, too bad it was because you had surgery."

Professional does not mean robotic.

[MomRN0913]

I usually say, "take care of yourself" "it's been a pleasure" or "I better not see you back here" in a joking manor of course, because I worked ICU.

Whatever your comfortable with.

[Babs0512]

I agree with the other posters, everything you expressed is perfectly professional and polite - go for it!

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I prefer to say to people, "See you when you're readmitted next week!" when I discharge someone.

I kid, I kid.

I think both of those things are very professional and nice things to say. I always struggle with what to say when someone is all, "It was nice having you as my nurse."

[Sparrowhawk]

Why wouldn't it be ok?

[NurseCard, ADN]

I work in a state psychiatric hospital, and to most of my patients I say "Bye, see you in about a month!".

I'm kidding of course; I work nights and don't do any discharges.

Anyway though, yes it's fine and wonderful to say any of those things to your patients! =)

[nightengalegoddess]

I usually say something like, "It has been my privlidge to care for you. I hope to see you again....IN THE GROCERY STORE". I think it is nice to leave people with a smiling, caring memory of their stay. There have even been patients I feel such strong honor for, I have been known to bow a little bit to them while expressing my sincere feeling of privlige for having met them. If they have given me some pearls of wisdom, I make it a point to reiterate what they have given me. They don't always know that they have given us much more than we can ever give to them.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

I am really puzzled as to why this would not be okay to say.

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

I always struggle with what to say when someone is all, "It was nice having you as my nurse."

I say something like "Thank you, that is very nice to hear", or simply "thank you".

Its OK to accept a compliment graciously - took me a long time to learn that.

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

I can understand the OP's cunundrum, especially as a new nurse.

We are providing the most intimate of care to the most vulnerable. It is an immediate and intense relationship of trust, delicate bounderies, and people having to put their lives and well-being into a stranger's hands.

And then, as we discharge them, the cord is abruptly cut. On an interpesonal level, it can seem incongruous to just say, "See you, have a nice day."

I think, "thank you for allowing me to care for you" is the best send-off. It shows your gratitude for their trust, and at the least reaffirms you respect their humanity, even if their feelings were not mutual.