Me... Me... Me: A Sense of Entitlement

Nurses Rock Toon

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We've all seen this type of patient. They start out in the ER insisting that they be seen first because no one else could be in as much need of medical attention as them. This behavior carries over to the floor once they've been admitted. They want it, and they want it NOW. What are some experiences you've had with such privileged characters?

Specializes in None yet..
TheCommuter said:
Many moons ago I had a little old lady who was fairly independent: ambulated without any assistance, fed herself, and was able to perform all self-care and ADLs. She was simply there to receive teaching regarding her new colostomy before discharging home.

However, this woman was one of the most entitled wenches I've ever met. She'd always whine, "I'm a sick lady and the people here are to serve me."

I'd always retort, "No! You're a well lady who needs teaching on how to manage your colostomy so you can take care of yourself when you go home!"

You, dear Commuter, are a nurse of INTEGRITY!

Way to model declining the offer of a load of [appropriate word deleted one step ahead of the TOS team]!

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Specializes in None yet..
That Guy said:
Funny you should say that. Same night. Different person. Regular, we all know him. He asked how long the wait was. Told him 3 hours. He told me he would just call an ambulance. I told him if he did that I would have him ticketed for abuse of the EMS system and that he would be put in triage and he would be started at the back of the line all over again. He sat there patiently.

I :redbeathe you, That Guy!

In fact, I :redbeathe ALL you folks who are showing me skillful ways to deal with these ego monsters. I've dealt with a couple of them and smiling politely is wearing a bit thin. Truly appreciate reading about assertive responses to this form of problem person. I'm guessing they aren't going away...

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Quote
ThatGuy said:
Regular we all know him.[/quote']

Another one of my ♪♫ in my ♥-isms... same patient, different face.

Of course, the corollary to this is, "Even turkeys get sick."

We've all had that FF who presents with the same complaints over and over and over and over.... who's a hypochondriac who simply refuses to believe that there's nothing wrong with him/her... who one day turns out to have a massive PE or some such dire condition.

What's the worst, though, is when such a person comes through the other side of their emergency situation, they're simply insufferable because now they've actually got a serious history.

Triage sucks.

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

Got a MiL who is always convinced she's having an allergic reaction to something, or a heart problem, or that she "can't breathe".

I don't think she feels entitled, exactly, but she is always disappointed and mad when the ER or the hosp.staff tell her that all her tests are negative and she is very healthy for a woman her age (83).

She's been depressed for a long time, but doesn't believe THAT, and "can't" take whatever med they give to help her because it gives her a "reaction". Now she's getting forgetful a lot and she denies THAT!

You can't explain anything to her about a true allergic reaction, or mild side-effects that will pass as time goes on. What worries me is that the Little MiL Who Cries Wolf will one day REALLY experience something life altering. It will be on her grave, like that old joke, "I TOLD you I was sick!"

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Not to interrupt the pity party

But how many nurses are there with the same attitude in the OP

Talking about how horrible and tough their job is, and how they have to care for all these damn sick people.

All the while their patients usually have it 1000 times worse than they do.

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Specializes in Medical Oncology, Alzheimer/dementia.

This weekend I had a patient tell the PCA that she paid her salary. The PCA (a mature woman) held it together without flinching, even told her "no wonder I haven't seen a raise, I've been talking to the wrong people."

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Specializes in Maternity.
mhy12784 said:
Not to interrupt the pity party

But how many nurses are there with the same attitude in the OP

Talking about how horrible and tough their job is, and how they have to care for all these damn sick people.

All the while their patients usually have it 1000 times worse than they do.

I would not call this a pity party! Nurses deal with difficult situations everyday. This is one way we vent and blow off steam. Don't judge us for being human. Once your a nurse, you will understand and if you think your going to be different more power to you. However, dealing with the public is very difficult especially sick people takes a toll. We often take abuse from the public and even administration. We do our outmost to keep on trucking with a smile on our faces. I like to call this a "Healthcare Huddle", where we support each other, make each other laugh and continue to go back tomorrow and do it again.

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
mhy12784 said:
Not to interrupt the pity party

But how many nurses are there with the same attitude in the OP

Talking about how horrible and tough their job is, and how they have to care for all these damn sick people.

All the while their patients usually have it 1000 times worse than they do.

Yeah, how dare we jokingly complain/vent about our jobs to like minded folks!! We should all immediately surrender our nursing licenses!!!!

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RNIBCLC said:
I would not call this a pity party! Nurses deal with difficult situations everyday. This is one way we vent and blow off steam. Don't judge us for being human. Once your a nurse, you will understand and if you think your going to be different more power to you. However, dealing with the public is very difficult especially sick people takes a toll. We often take abuse from the public and even administration. We do our outmost to keep on trucking with a smile on our faces. I like to call this a "Healthcare Huddle", where we support each other, make each other laugh and continue to go back tomorrow and do it again.

Of course they do, im not judging (well ok I totally am, but more so people ive seen in the real world than this actual thread)

Im more so talking about some of the things I see at work (yes im very well aware that everyone/every hospital is different)

Ive seen nurses get upset when they dont get their first break till 10/1030 am !! And the complaining about management seems to be universal in healthcare (far worse than I ever saw in the business world, and that I see just as much here as elsewhere)

(I do work as a nurse, but only for about a year, so im very much still a sunshiner. And I realize that)

Its just tough entering a field and being optimistic/making the most of it, when there are so many burnt out people around you complaining VERY frequently.

How can you make a culture more positive, when it thrives on negativity?

I wouldnt be surprised if the negatives of nursing get talked about by nurses at LEAST 10x more than the positives. I know that all jobs get that, but that doesnt make it good

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Trauma ICU.
mhy12784 said:
Of course they do, im not judging (well ok I totally am, but more so people ive seen in the real world than this actual thread)

Im more so talking about some of the things I see at work (yes im very well aware that everyone/every hospital is different)

Ive seen nurses get upset when they dont get their first break till 10/1030 am !! And the complaining about management seems to be universal in healthcare (far worse than I ever saw in the business world, and that I see just as much here as elsewhere)

(I do work as a nurse, but only for about a year, so im very much still a sunshiner. And I realize that)

Its just tough entering a field and being optimistic/making the most of it, when there are so many burnt out people around you complaining VERY frequently.

How can you make a culture more positive, when it thrives on negativity?

I wouldnt be surprised if the negatives of nursing get talked about by nurses at LEAST 10x more than the positives. I know that all jobs get that, but that doesnt make it good

Then you're more than welcome to make a thread complaining about people complaining if you like. Every field has issues that people complain about, it's universal. I just don't think it's fair of you to come on a vent thread and give people a hard time for venting. If this was a "I love nursing" thread and people were complaining, that would be a different story.

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SionainnRN said:
Then you're more than welcome to make a thread complaining about people complaining if you like. Every field has issues that people complain about, it's universal. I just don't think it's fair of you to come on a vent thread and give people a hard time for venting. If this was a "I love nursing" thread and people were complaining, that would be a different story.

I really didnt give anyone a hard time at all.

I simply said there are plenty of nurses who act just as entitled as some patients.

Which is what this thread is about

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Specializes in Maternity.
mhy12784 said:
Of course they do, im not judging (well ok I totally am, but more so people ive seen in the real world than this actual thread)

Im more so talking about some of the things I see at work (yes im very well aware that everyone/every hospital is different)

Ive seen nurses get upset when they dont get their first break till 10/1030 am !! And the complaining about management seems to be universal in healthcare (far worse than I ever saw in the business world, and that I see just as much here as elsewhere)

(I do work as a nurse, but only for about a year, so im very much still a sunshiner. And I realize that)

Its just tough entering a field and being optimistic/making the most of it, when there are so many burnt out people around you complaining VERY frequently.

How can you make a culture more positive, when it thrives on negativity?

I wouldnt be surprised if the negatives of nursing get talked about by nurses at LEAST 10x more than the positives. I know that all jobs get that, but that doesnt make it good

You are still missing the point. This is a vent thread...and a vent only. If you don't like it, take your rose colored glasses and look for threads about unicorns and rainbows. Don't judge us for practicing some self preservation by venting about things that you may find minor or unimportant. Call it therapy and call it a day.

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