Just a random vent

[himilayaneyes]

FYI, this is just a random vent guys. I went to work last night ready to start another hectic night and I was informed that there were family members of a confused patient that had been given the staff hell for the past two hours. Of course, the man's daughter is a nurse. For some reason, it seems that as nurses we either leave the staff alone or bug them to death and nothing in between. Then of course, she starts coming to the nurses station every 5 minutes to complain about absolutely everything from someone not smiling to why is she clamping the foley to get a specimen, etc. Please keep in mind that this man gave us hell the previous night. He was very confused, agitated, has c-diff, and fell as well b/c he won't stay in bed. She complained that nobody cleaned him...although the staff attends to him so much that you can't take care of your other patients. Then we decided we wanted to order our for lunch...somehow she heard...so she took our restaurant menu into the c-diff infected room and decided to order something. If I hadn't already read the menu and known what I wanted, I wouldn't have ordered anything. I mean come on, you take the staff's menu into the poop room. She was also very loud when speaking to her father...she could be heard down the hall..and the patient isn't hard of hearing. I mean what happened to just common courtesy...especially if she's a nurse...you'd think she would understand, but apparently not. Thanks for reading my random vent. Tell me if you've had similar situations...good to know I'm not alone.

[Fribblet]

I find that often people who act obnoxiously to staff and claim they are a nurse, really aren't nurses.

That's not to say that there aren't nurses who have behaved badly like this, but frequently, if you start asking questions, you'll find they're CNAs, MA's, an unlicensed caregiver of some sort, or even someone who does office work in a healthcare setting.

People use and abuse the title nurse.

[lmillerrn]

That really burns my biscuit; when people as stated above abuse the word nurse... there is a whole huge difference between someone who took medical terminology and a true stripes earned nurse. Amen.

[cecilsgirl]

I have a feeling she was not a "real" nurse , when my Mom was dying in a LTC facility, I was the oppisite of this women, I wanted to be kind to the staff, the nurses, I knew how hard their job can be, My Mom had a special CNA who she adored, she was expecting, we gave her a gift certificate after our mother passed , to show how much she meant to us and our Mother, when the state surveyors where there once during my Mom's 5 month stay, I even made a point to talk to them and compliment the staff and the home. I know it can be sooo hard! but this women,- if she is a nurse, is the kind I don't want to work with, or have take care of my loved ones either. I may get "everyone acts different" but you know, there is no excuse for rudeness!! never.

[sunnycalifRN]

I think you're right about this. I've had a phlebotomist family member call herself "nurse". After chatting with her a little, it became clear that she was not a nurse, however.

On the other hand, I cared for a patient who's wife was an ICU nurse and it was great. She helped stuff pillows on turns, helped with oral care and could be trusted to watch his hands with restraints off.

[diligent-trooper]

I have no idea why people act so hostile and have such an obvious disrespect for the Nursing staff. It seems to me little trivial events set these individuals off, and it is down hill from there. I understand the family can be stressed out, I mean yes it most certainly sucks! These individual could have a mental illness, such as bipolar. In that case, if the family is aware, they should share this with the staff. In this way, nursing intervention could be instituted to deal with the family member's behavior.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

SHe probably isn't a nurse.......when I have a family member claiming they are nurses I smile sweetly and ask where they went to school and what year did they graduate....they are either a CNA,EMT,or student nurse...

[Zookeeper3]

I would have informed the "nurse" that the order would be placed with hers, but infection control policy prohibited her from eating in the patient room.

Then i would ascertain her credentials... and use her nursing exp. to help care for this difficult pt. with turning, oral care, bed pan and linnn changes. You're here, you help. enough said.

Stay the night so we may consider dc'ing the restraints... stay awake and watch those busy hands, call me if you need help.

It's that simple... you're a nurse... be one if you want to be bedside.

[newwavegirl89]

"its always the squeaky wheel that gets the grease" the family members that complain the loudest always get the best customer service because we as nurses are told thats what we have to do. our facility calls it "service recovery". Its a shame because that takes away the attention and TLC that the other patients that also need our time also deserve.You think the nursing staff have been giving mom or dad crappy care? well why dont we make it better by giving you a free meal ticket for our cafe and a gift card to our gift shop! when i have a family member in hospital the last thing i want to do is get the nurses on my bad side.It sounds cliche but u really can catch more flies with honey than vinegar!

[donsterRN, ASN, BSN]

It's been my experience with family members who identify as "nurse" that those who behave as in the OP's example are not nurses. Those that are nurses couldn't be more kind and helpful, often rolling up their sleeves and actually assisting with care. Of course there are exceptions, but real nurses are usually very identifiable.

[nyrn5125]

I have on many occasions had family members demand to see charts or get info about the patient by saying "I'm a doctor" So I politely say oh your a doctor, then you know what a HIPPA violation that is?

or you find out after they throw in your face that they are a doctor it's a phd in psych or they're an orthodontist

Always do what is right for the pt

[noctanol]

tell them to get out of the room while you are perfoming your duties as a nurse, if they refuse, call the DON or superviser and explain your situation. Also, document every thing just in case the inevitable happens and they sue the facility and come after your licence. If they are such an annoyance, ask them to leave the facility (if deemed possible), if that fails, call the cops and they will recieve a 500$ DTP (disturbing the peace) ticket, at least thats what happens in houston, tx.