Not a waitress or barista

[noyesno]

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.

[NightOwl0624]

I don't mind the simple requests at all, but we also have a family pantry and food service that is happy to accomodate.

I just love getting requests from the confused people. Last night my little lady wanted coffee with 2 sugars, 3 teaspoons of sugar, 2 creams and 3 creams with 2 teaspoons of coffee. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I'm pretty sure that one didn't make much sense. (Good thing she was NPO anyway so I didn't have to deal with it!)

[netglow, ASN, RN]

When a lot of family descends, I'd introduce myself to them and also say something like, Oh, and if you find you are getting a little hungry/thirsty, don't forget to get something to eat for yourselves!!! We have a cafe downstairs and that's where the real coffee is, or if you just want a coke or chips there are a few machines down the hall and around the corner to the right. There is also a JimmyJohns out the main drive and 2 blocks to the left.

I acted like I was giving them some "insider info". Seemed to work when I remembered to do it right away and get 'em before they start making requests. I had started this before I became a nurse and worked private practice for family waiting on a procedure that was longer than they thought, or who brought every last kid... It also was a way I used to get rid of obnoxious family. I basically told them they needed to eat and where to go!!! LOL.

[redredrose]

I once answered a call light and walked in to find the patient asleep. The patients wife was sitting in the recliner reading a book. I asked if the patient needed something and she goes "I pushed the call light, actually. I would just love a hot cup of tea with sugar and warm blanket". The room was directly across from the kitchenette. Like literally 3 feet away. Ugh!

[DroogieRN]

Had a patient once whose young daughter was visiting, and when I went in to introduce myself as her nurse for the night, the daughter piped up, "Mommy! Do you have your very own maid?" And the mother replied, "Why yes, honey, I do!" Why yes, honey, your mommy has her very own maid, who can also keep re-calculating mommy's heparin gtt to keep that pesky old PE from killing her. How very convenient.

Some patients, I don't mind trying to lasso the moon for them and their families. Others, it irks me to no end to do even only what is required, simply because their attitudes are so bad and they are so unappreciative and demanding.

"That, that doesn't kill me, only makes me stronger." (~Dave Mustaine)

[Calabria, BSN, RN]

We had a doctor who told one of our patients (who was supposed to be on bedrest, until she began throwing a tantrum) that the nurses would be more than happy to wheel her downstairs to the in-house sandwich shop.

You can only imagine how well that sat with all of us. And how well it sat with the patient when we told her that, unfortunately, we didn't have the staff at that time to personally escort her in a wheelchair to get her some french fries, a soda, and a sandwich.

[JenniferSews]

In my personal nursing world (not necessarily reality, just my personal code) you can get anything you want if you are dying. All others are on their own. I like the idea of telling patients and families where THEY can get food and coffee. Maybe I'll even pitch the idea to management, as a part of the admission packet! They complain to me about the food already, like I can somehow fix that too.

[AgentBeast, BSN, RN]

That's nice. Now where is my coffee?

[Nursetastic]

My response is usually along the lines of "I'm sorry. I can't step away for that long. Patients in the ICU need constant monitoring, as your mother/father/child is receiving. There is a soda machine in the waiting room and food and coffee machines next to the main lobby. If you have no cash, those machines take credit and debit cards. Cafeteria hours for visitors are 6am-7pm."

[JustEnuff2BDangerous, BSN, RN]

I don't mind fulfilling simple, politely-worded-and-toned requests. Start treating me like I'm paid to take your order (and receive tips while doing it), or start acting like you automatically expect me to do such things for you, and that's where the ride ends. The sweet little old wife of one my patients who meekly asks me where the coffee machine is so she can get some to warm up? Guaranteed to hear me say, "It's out in the hallway, but tell me how you like it and I'll be glad to get it for you." I cater to niceness, not so much to those who act like I went to school for four years to fulfill their every desire.

I had a confused patient one time, and brought his meal tray into his room and sat it on his table and told him the aide would be here shortly to help him eat. After I left out of the room, he called out loudly, "Waitress!" I'm used to confused patients hollering "Nurse!", never had one yell out for the waitress. I had to laugh.

[David13, MSN, RN]

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

I see absolutely nothing wrong with showing family members the way to the cafeteria. Extenuating circumstances are one thing, but for the vast majority of family members, they should neither be provided with food/beverages nor have the expectation that nursing staff will provide it.

[EMT-newbie]

I like netglow's preemptive attack of giving visitors "inside info" on places to get food; that's brilliant and I never would have thought of that on my own.

And JenniferSews' idea to add dining rules and directions to a visitor info packet, when I get a hospital job someplace that's the first thing I'm going to make happen.

[NaKcl, BSN, RN]

"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."

LOL:lol2: I understand your furstration, but I couldn't stop laughing!

The father won the battle!