Ok class, if someone at work offers you a piece of the apple pie they brought, what is the best response if you don't want any?
a) *sneer* Oh, I can't stand apple pie, yuck!
b) *smile* No thank you.
The answer is B. A simple no thank you is the courteous way to refuse an offer of food.
I'm hoping that others here can politely offer some etiquette tips to help uplift our fellow nurses and improve our profession. I find that boorish behavior is far too prevalent amongst nurses, and in society as a whole
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
There's a lot I didn't do well as a parent, but teaching my kids manners was something I did right. And they're raising THEIR kids to be polite, because none of us want anyone to think they were raised by wolves. :)
In regards to the whole "don't tell me your whole life upon meeting", I find that this is also very much a geographical thing (with exceptions, of course). I grew up in the Southwest, where everyone was mostly polite and courteous but kept to themselves. I moved to the Midwest several years ago, and my family and I were completely befuddled by how a complete stranger in a grocery store would stop to tell you about their nasty divorce and hemorrhoid flare-up. This happened over and over and I simply couldn't believe the "rudeness." After awhile I learned that this was the norm for many people, they were raised that way and didn't know any different. I used to feel uncomfortable in these situations, but now I just smile and nod while a headache forms from gritting my teeth and my brain slowly exploding. I think manners have a different meaning to everyone.
I'm glad I'm a nurse now because I actually NEED to know about their bowel movement patterns
We have one nurse who uses zero verbal cues during report. You're talking away to absolute silence. Same thing when you tell her her patient needs something or the doctor is on the phone. Silence. It's....bizarre.
I do agree with you ... I even have older pts who never say please or thank you and I thought they would be the ones with the most manners .. I grew up with very strict manners my grandmothers were victorian and well educated and rich . I am grateful I was raised with manners .. Anyone else go to Emma Willard in Troy Ny ? I loved it there and was taught manners as a young child ..
I'm near Troy:) But grew up in Texas. Very different manners and social interactions, indeed.
It is nice to see good manners in action though. I recently took care of a young man who had been injured. I got lots of please, thank you, yes, ma'am, etc. He was in pain, feeling stressed and tired, yet still had wonderful manners- thanked me for all the care I gave. It sure made my shift more pleasant.
Ok, seeing how a lot of "sickness" can be transmitted via food and how it is prepared, I usually politely refuse if I question the food, plus I do have food allergies, so usually I can use that as an excuse. I have never been one who was eager to accept food gatherings at churchs, schools, group settings. I am tempted by anything sweet, but, I most likely just would have politely said, "no, thank you."
If I offend someone by saying that, it is their issue not mine. And, yes, our society's manners have taken a down turn since the rebellious times of the late 60's. Just opening a door for someone seems to be a huge issue. Saying "thank you" is not as common as it once was. I was raised in a family when my parents asked me to do something I was expected to do it right then, not when I felt like doing it, and thank you was never in the terminology. I do hesitate to thank people when they are doing what they should be doing, when someone goes a little out of their normal job to do something I do step up and let them know how much I appreciate it.
We have one nurse who uses zero verbal cues during report. You're talking away to absolute silence. Same thing when you tell her her patient needs something or the doctor is on the phone. Silence. It's....bizarre.
My husband does this same thing!!! We have been married for 25 years and to this day it makes my blood pressure go up! Or if you ask him a question there will be silence for a good 30 seconds.....then he will answer. Really? You can't just answer the question when asked or if you have to think about it or you are busy can you just say, "Give me just a minute." I have told him over and over that it is rude and it makes people think you are not listening or you just don't give a dang. *sigh*
My manners tip: it is never anyone's business to comment on another's food choice. Please don't tell me how awful GMOs are if I'm eating microwave popcorn. Please don't tell me how much better you feel eating raw/paleo/plant based/vegan. Please (specific to me personally) don't tell me I shouldn't eat something because I'm diabetic, unless someone spiked my donut with drano, my food choices only become your business if you are my dietician or my endocrinologist, otherwise you really don't know why I'm eating it, or if treats are included in my treatment plan, or if I just took my insulin because I wanted a donut.
RN403, BSN, RN
1 Article; 1,068 Posts
This right here. So sad, yet, so true.