New grad dealing with angry/yelling patients

Nurses Relations

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Hi all,

I am a new grad of 4 months working on a busy Ortho/Trauma floor. It has gotten to be an almost daily occurence that I come home crying because a patient/family has decided to take out their frustration on me. When I was in school, I always had the idealized dream that I would get out and help people, and they would be appreciative. At least once in a while, I would get a "thank you". That has yet to happen. The patients/families who I've had problems with are patients who all the nurses have problems with - so I know it's not me. However, this doesn't help me from taking criticism personally. I hate just gritting my teeth and standing there while someone chews me out because it took me 20 minutes to bring in an extra pillow. Sometimes I can understand where they're are coming from - it's a teaching hospital and it can be frustrating trying to deal with the many different interns. But most of the time, these patients are just generally rude, or crazy, people to begin with. If the floor wasn't so busy, I would be able to talk to my colleagues to find out how they're able to deal with these patients. But we rarely get to eat lunch as it is.

Can anyone give me some advice on how to handle them? How can I not take this so personally? Is there some mental trick I can play in my mind so I'm not thinking "I don't get paid enough for you to yell at me, you crazy old bastard"? Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated.

:crying2:

The nut job was back today, he tried to get me to accept a donation for the March of Dimes. I told him the hosp. fund raiser was over but I'm sure that he could independently donate on his own. Today he was wearing a headband that was really the waist band he cut off a pair of white Fruit of the Loom briefs (well, techically the undies were once white) like a demented and aged Rambo.Actually, he behaved alright today, just really obnoxious.

LMAO at the visual - sounds like quite a character

ICU is a blessing..we can toss them out after a minute if they get obnoxious.

I totally agree - that was my favorite aspect of working in adult ICU. It wasn't enough to make me want to work with adults again, but it sure was nice. We are not afforded such luxury in NICU or PICU. They can stay as long as they want, except during shift changes. If they get out of hand, we can (and do) call security. We have also had to call them to break up fights in the hallway. Security has to break up more fights than you would ever think would take place in a children's hospital - It's like a bad episode of Jerry Springer sometimes.

Why do nurses have to bring in ice pack, extra pillow to a patient's room? Can't a central station be made where family of patients can pick up those things if they need it so nurses can concentrate on their jobs? Just curious.

Why do nurses have to bring in ice pack, extra pillow to a patient's room? Can't a central station be made where family of patients can pick up those things if they need it so nurses can concentrate on their jobs? Just curious.

If they HAD to have someone get it for them, it seems like a "localized" pink lady (or male volunteer, don't want to be sexist) could get this kind of crap for them. What burns me up is when they put on the call light and tell the secretary "I need my nurse" - secretary does not ask them what, in particular they need, just sends nurse to room.

Oh, can you show me how to work the TV?

Can you get me a straw?

Can you get me a Kleenex?

Can you get my son a blanket, he's spending the night.

Can you have a tray sent up for my nephew?

What time is it?

My food is too salty!

Where is my doctor?

Does it really take a nurse to handle this crap?

Problem is, most people think that everyone that works in the hospital is a nurse. That, or they think the nurses are there to serve them, rather than help them to recover.

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