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.
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.
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!)
I get responses like this all the time, here in NY. People are really rude. I had this one guy, in his 40's, son of the patient I was taking care of ask me for a cup of gingerale. He must have asked for three refills within the hour, and finally I said to him, "Are you familiar with our cafeteria??" He replied, "Yes, but I don't have any money." Who's fault is that??? What do you think this is, a homeless shelter?? I felt like giving him a frigen dollar so he could go buy a gingerale and stop bugging me every five minutes...
I get responses like this all the time, here in NY. People are really rude. I had this one guy, in his 40's, son of the patient I was taking care of ask me for a cup of gingerale. He must have asked for three refills within the hour, and finally I said to him, "Are you familiar with our cafeteria??" He replied, "Yes, but I don't have any money." Who's fault is that??? What do you think this is, a homeless shelter?? I felt like giving him a frigen dollar so he could go buy a gingerale and stop bugging me every five minutes...
After all, the food/drink in our kitchen is for our patients, not for their scrub of a son to mooch off of.
I thought nursing used to include things like being responsible for cleaning the hospital and more CNA type responsibilities (back when you didn't need an education to be a nurse) and now it has evolved into including more responsibility and us doing things that Dr's used to be responsible for? I always assumed that's why the elderly especially thought of us as more as servants/waitresses instead of clinical professionals?
Older pts treat me with more respect than those who are younger. Only an older pt, 70s- 80s would say something like "I'm sorry, you don't do that" when requesting a bedpan or BSC. I'm relatively new to nursing, 18 years. It seems there were lines when I first started, what I HAD to do, and what I could delegate. Nurses of 30-40 years where I work remember a time when nurses were not expected to answer call lights, and could say without impunity "I'll get your aid for you".
I'm always amazed at what American hospitals provide. Here in Alberta, the only pop we have on the unit is ginger ale for post ops who are feeling queasy. Our unit kitchen has a sign that says "food is for patient use only".
I've made cups of tea or instant coffee for spouses when their family member is doing badly. Passed the popsicles to small children when they are visiting Granny.
But find a meal tray for a relative? (OK, there has been the odd sandwich for the spouse when you can just tell they are flat broke or homeless but they don't expect it) Not happening, we tell them where the food court is.
A couple of times a month, we have the odd family member bring us coffee and donuts.
But a friend who works Day Surgery tells horror stories. One patient asked for a Panini and a Latte. Her Charges actual respons was, "When you find one in this building you can bring one back for me too".
I guess us Canadians just wouldn't cut it down south.
I get responses like this all the time, here in NY. People are really rude. I had this one guy, in his 40's, son of the patient I was taking care of ask me for a cup of gingerale. He must have asked for three refills within the hour, and finally I said to him, "Are you familiar with our cafeteria??" He replied, "Yes, but I don't have any money." Who's fault is that??? What do you think this is, a homeless shelter?? I felt like giving him a frigen dollar so he could go buy a gingerale and stop bugging me every five minutes...
I recently had a son of a patient who wanted us to look up cheap hotels for him to compare prices while he was visiting his father. He also wanted free meals. Did I mention he was a lawyer who came in wearing expensive suits?
I recently had a son of a patient who wanted us to look up cheap hotels for him to compare prices while he was visiting his father. He also wanted free meals. Did I mention he was a lawyer who came in wearing expensive suits?
I think the key is to not get emotionally invested in the ridiculous stuff like this.
To this gentleman, I probably would have said something like, "I don't know, I don't live in the area" and "the cafeteria is on the 3rd floor and is open until 11pm". Period. This kind of limit setting, polite but without apology, works wonders.
I'm always amazed at what American hospitals provide. Here in Alberta, the only pop we have on the unit is ginger ale for post ops who are feeling queasy. Our unit kitchen has a sign that says "food is for patient use only".
I've made cups of tea or instant coffee for spouses when their family member is doing badly. Passed the popsicles to small children when they are visiting Granny.
But find a meal tray for a relative? (OK, there has been the odd sandwich for the spouse when you can just tell they are flat broke or homeless but they don't expect it) Not happening, we tell them where the food court is.
A couple of times a month, we have the odd family member bring us coffee and donuts.
But a friend who works Day Surgery tells horror stories. One patient asked for a Panini and a Latte. Her Charges actual respons was, "When you find one in this building you can bring one back for me too".
I guess us Canadians just wouldn't cut it down south.
I want a panini myself about now. He better bring back two.
If nurses keep running after visitors, when it's NOT their job, then visitors will expect it.
And Banora with the meal tray, we don't pick trays up in the hospitals I've worked at, cos there's nowhere to put them. We can't leave them on the floor (due to occ health & safety), and the catering staff have to report any cutlery etc missing (there's been a lot of thefts). If we leave trays in the break room or visitor tea room, we get told off. So I jsut say catering staff have to pick up the trays, we can't do it.
Also how do the other RNs get time to offer people toast & coffee with morning meds??
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
I'm never rude to families. I just don't think it's a good idea for them to have the expectation that I'm the family's snack lady. I guess if it's my job to make people comfortable, next they'll be asking me to run across the street and grab the latest issue of the Globe and a box of Red Hots for them, or to get a Cinna-Bon. Most hospitals don't carry Red Hots. And their cinnamon buns leave a lot to be desired.
If a nurse has extra time, even if it's somebody else's family member - I'd prefer he or she use that to do some of the extras we are trained to do but don't always have time to do.
sistasoul
724 Posts
That woman's response is disgusting.