Not a waitress or barista

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Specializes in Family Medicine.

Annoyed at the growing number of patients/patient family members who think nurses double as waitresses and/or baristas.

This week, I got asked:

"What's the soup of the day?"

"Can I have some tea? Two bags please and the hot water from the coffee maker is not hot enough so heat it up in the microwave for two minutes. The tea cannot seep in warm water it must be hot." Another family member shouts out, "while you're at it, can I have a glass of ice water? Extra ice please."

Anyone else getting these kinds of requests? I don't mind it occasionally but it seems like everyone wants something and the time I spend fulfilling these requests really adds up.

If they want to treat us like waitresses, we should AT LEAST get tips.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Oh yeah, get these all the time. if I'm not busy, I really dont mind. If I am busy i usually tell them I'll be happy to get it for them but it may be awhile and make sure they know where the cafeteria/vending machine is especially for family members.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Barista I don't mind.

It's when they want me to be TV repairman or sex surrogate that I find annoying.

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I work at a surgery center and a lot of times when a pt is stable recovering from the anesthesia, we become the waiters/baristas. Some patients are so frustratingly picky......which is fine. It is good to know what you want. Just be gratefuland say thank you!!

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Specializes in NICU, Peds.

"I'm sorry, I'm busy right now, though I can show your wife where the kitchen is and she can make the tea for you, and for herself while she's at it".

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Neuro/Oncology floor nursing..

Oh absolutely. I don't mind if the patients ask for gingerale, juice or water. That's easy enough to get from the fridge. But it's the family members that are the WORST. Always asking me to make them coffee or tea. "Hey nurse can I have a cup of coffee, cream with 3 sugars"? "Can I have an ice cream"?

This happened last week: Patients Father: "Can you please heat up this wonton soup I brought from home? By the way my daughter is in pain can you give her some morphine?" Me: "Sorry sir there are no orders for that medication she can have some percocet in an hour." Patients Father: "Oh no the doctor came by and promised her some morphine since the pills aren't helping her pain." Me: "Sir, she is three days post op and scheduled to go home tomorrow, The first two days after her surgery she got 5mgs of Morphine in her IV every two hours around the clock. She is now on 1-2 percocet every four hours..I just accessed your daughter and she said her pain is a 3 on the pain scale and the pain is well controlled with the percocet...like I just said she will get two percocets in an hour." Patients Father: Okay well can you heat this up(and hands me a soup container) and while your at it My daughter needs her morphine." Me: I will heat this up for you...NO MORE MORPHINE."

I gave the soup to the patient care associate and called the house doctor to talk to this man...I was thinking he was the one that needed the brain surgery. He just couldn't comprehend that his daughters morphine was stopped....How the hell did it go from me being waitress to having a conversation about opiates? I just walked away and let the house doctor deal with this pushy father.

I wasn't hired to heat up wonton soup...I wasn't hired to fetch beverages or snacks...and I don't have the authority to change patients orders. I am a registered nurse...not the market cafe worker.

When I was hospitalized for my brain surgery or other reasons my mom would NEVER even dream of asking any staff member for coffee. She would get up and go to the cafe in the hospital for her coffee or anything she wanted.

Some people....

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Are there any good techniques to deflect those kind of waitressy requests and steer visitors to the cafeteria?

I'm afraid my first reaction is to say "Yes sir, if you'll follow me..." out into the hallway and then point at the lines on the floor and say "follow the blue line on the floor that leads to all our food services."

I'm pretty sure that won't generate high scores on the surveys :lol2:

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Barista I don't mind.

It's when they want me to be TV repairman or sex surrogate that I find annoying.

A-MEN. I really don't mind getting you your tea or Diet Coke or even warming up your milk the way you like it (ew) but when I am asked to fix a TV, phone, or be a living breathing TV Guide(I don't know what channel Family Feud is on in the town I don't live in-SORRY CHARLIE) I get a little perturbed.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

Playing devils advocate, while totally agreeing with you! ...

I work in LTC and an elderly dementia resident actually put up his finger at dinner and said "excuse me waitress?"

At first I was insulted, then remembering where I was had to laugh and accommodate. Then consider this, we are, or should be very concerned with nutrition as being as important if not not more so than medicine. I'm sure Florence Nightingale served plenty of cups of tea in her day, and think how special you feel when someone takes care of you when you're sick. Just sayin... :)

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Specializes in ICU/CCU.

A few days ago, a patient's wife was irate with me because I hadn't brought HER any breakfast. "You didn't even bring me a coffee!" she shouted. I explained to her that I am not allowed to provide food or beverages to anyone who is not my patient. I told her that there was a cafeteria downstairs. "But then I will have to PAY for it!" was her response.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

That's why I love psych nursing: they ask for a cup of coffee and I can tell them, "the decanter, cups and stuff are in the patient lounge. Help yourself." :)

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Pressing the Ganey! ;)

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