nurses who are bad patients

[Mr. Murse]

So this is somewhat of a vent, but also a genuinely curious inquiry.

I've noticed over the years that when we have a patient who also happens to be a nurse in their "real life", they are usually either the best patients (i.e. calm, rational, patient, and understanding) or the most nightmarish patient (demanding, accusatory, rude, impatient, and whiny).

What do you think drives the latter? How can someone who is in this field, who has had the nightmare patients and suffered through those terrible shifts having to deal with their horrid behavior, become one of those people themselves?

Also, to all my fellow healthcare staffers reading this, please be the kind of patient you would like to take care of should you ever end up in that position.

[Emergent, RN]

I think the ones who are crummy patients are probably those who are judgmental, self-righteous coworkers.

Being ill is often a test of ones character. Some people believe it an excuse to become demanding, bottomless pits of need. They think their social obligations are suspended because of their suffering.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

I think it might also be taken into consideration that when a nurse is hospitalized/ill that he/she is still a regular old human.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I would (charitably) characterize it as loss of control. But, as above posters have pointed out- some people are just jerks.

Full disclosure: I was thinking 'bad patient' more like the time I had my completely clueless husband bring me a cheeseburger, in the recovery room after a c-section.

[Libby1987]

This is easy, anxiety and fear related to loss of control and privacy while knowing what goes on behind the curtain.

The answer is to drop your own defensiveness/self preservation (we all have it as soon as we hear our patient is a healthcare peep) and to acknowledge and validate the above.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

I am certain I have been labled the bad patient a few times. Once last December when I had an ORIF of my wrist. I was getting IV Vanco pre op and my scalp started itching horribly while the infusion was going. The ortho probably thought I was crazy. Then after being wheeled into the OR they were pulling me over to the table since my left arm was completely numbed (nerve block) anestheisa gave me something in my IV and it made my lips and tongue tingle. I started asking what it was. I was panicked. I remember just before I was put under anestheisa telling me it was supposed to do that. I still have no idea what medication that was.

I think that anesthesiologist thought I was crazy. I was panicked for sure before I was put under for the ORIF. Most of the time I try to be a good patient.

[Rexie]

Nurses are generally some of my best patients.

I'm sure that I've been a bad patient once or twice, not horrifically bad but whiney. I was sick and I was scared. Sometimes we know too much about all the things that can go wrong, even when the chances are slim. And anyone, even nurses, are not at their best when they're in pain and otherwise feeling lousy.

[caffeinatednurse, BSN, RN]

I guess I'm a terrible family member to have in the room (and a terrible patient), then. I absolutely speak up when I see something that I don't like. If that makes me a bad patient, then so be it. I have a lot of respect for this profession and for nurses who do their best to take care of their patients. Unfortunately, I've been on the other side, both as a patient and a loved one, and experienced the ugly side of nursing from that perspective, too. So I take it seriously when I see something happen that negatively affects the patient.

Fortunately, most of the nurses I've encountered have been great. But I have no regrets about saying something when I've encountered a bad apple, either.

Please note: my idea of a "bad apple" is pretty bad. Like, it wouldn't have been unreasonable to report them to the BON bad. (I didn't. I just asked to speak to their charge nurse and then they were reassigned.)

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

I usually try not to announce that I'm a nurse, but then my husband always spills the beans.

I'm not usually a good pt after gen. anesthesia and IV pain meds- my sats usually dump into the 85 range, and I get bradycardic. Sometimes low b/p. And the nausea, oh the nausea!!For some reason I seem to take a longer while for anesthesia to wear off.

That could be due to the anesthesiologists being kind and gassing me out right away, as I usually almost panic before going into the OR. This last sx, my anesthesiologist was awesome- gave me what I assume was versed before wheeling into the OR.

I sit back and think how stoic some of my pts are (esp. the elderly ones) and what a wuss I am being, and I'm sure my nurses know it. I'm sure that makes me a PITA.

I have had another nurse as a pt, and she was a nervous wreck like I tend to be . At least I could relate.

I know some of my younger coworkers aren't as compassionate.

[NurseCard, ADN]

I really don't think it matters one bit whether or not someone is a nurse. Their inner personality is what will drive how they behave when they are sick/in the hospital. Just my belief. Well, not their personality per se... just how they have grown accustomed to dealing with stress.

[Farawyn]

I suck in that I never go to the doctor. Ever. I'm waaaay overdue for my mammo.

When I actually do go? I'm awesome.

[GrumpyRN, NP]

Been a patient several times, always try to behave as I don't want the staff talking about me and thinking I'm a d**k.

Only had concerns twice, the first was a junior doctor who was trying to get blood from me and stuck the needle into my AC Fossa at 90 degrees - I complained to her about that and told her I could do better myself (in UK nurses don't routinely take bloods).

The other was when getting a vasectomy and lying on the table a nurse told me "I know your face", worrying as it was not my face she was looking at.

Last time I was kept over night I was taken from my department so was still in uniform (chest pain with a history of previous MI and CABG) and my wife was working a night shift in the unit next door so everyone knew who I was.