Nurses not responding fast enough-VENT

Chaya, ASN, RN · Dec 14, 2007

I don't blame my patients for buying into the image Admin wants to project but I refuse to support it. I am usually able to tell them I'll send the next available helper in, or grab something quick for them, or tell them to see if they can find the item and I'll help when I'm able...then there was this loo the other nite who rang asking for her WAITRESS to take away her nebulizer...don't know if she was confused but REALLY rubbed me the wrong way!

EmmaG, RN · Dec 14, 2007

I don't blame my patients for buying into the image Admin wants to project but I refuse to support it. I am usually able to tell them I'll send the next available helper in, or grab something quick for them, or tell them to see if they can find the item and I'll help when I'm able...then there was this loo the other nite who rang asking for her WAITRESS to take away her nebulizer...don't know if she was confused but REALLY rubbed me the wrong way!

I worked with a male nurse who was at times referred to as the 'bellhop' --- never let him live that one down :lol2:

Weeping Willow · Dec 14, 2007

This is truly a VENT. A VENT about my own family-specifically my AUNT.
It all started last week when my aunt said she would have to spend the night with my grandma(her mom) because the nurses would probably not be there enough to help grandma after surgery. Went on to remind everyone how my grandpa suffered during his death 30+years ago with cancer and that the nurses wouldn't give him anything for pain. OK how they treated cancer patients in that era IS so different now-told her that. Also said nurses don't prescribe medicine they administer it so it's not up to us. She still kept flapping her mouth. I just ignored her and went on-no use in arguing with someone who already has her mind set up anyway.
Grandma had back surgery yesterday..23 observation pt. Did great. My mom stayed the entire day and I worked until 7pm so I went to see her and stayed for about 30 minutes after work and made sure she had what she needed. No one stayed with her--grandma said she would be fine and she was. My aunt called a few minutes ago said grandma was home, did fine BUT IT WAS A GOOD THING SHE GOT THERE WHEN SHE DID--GRANDMA HAD RANG THE NURSE TWICE FOR ASSISTANCE TO THE BATHROOM. I said maybe the nurse was helping someone else to the bathroom? Or giving a pain med, etc. She was like "told you nurses don't come fast enough." I am so mad I can hardly stand it.
Do patients and families really think we are just sitting around watching TV??:angryfire

As someone who has been around a while, I have to say that I certainly understand both sides - the nurses' side and the patient/family's side. I know that nurses are extremely busy and that they have way more than one patient and must prioritize. Having been a patient, though, and the family member with my beloved parents and child when they were operated and hospitalized, I can tell you that the only patient I cared about was my loved one. Sonds harsh, I'm sure,but think about it. Wouldn't you lay down your very life for your kids? But not necessarily for someone else. Be honest.

When your loved one is incapacitated, weak, dependent, when you are not in control, don't you feel terrified, however subliminally? Add exhaustion and add other emotions (frustration and anger if the patient hasn't been taking care of himself and now YOU are having to miss your bed and alter your routine and face possibly losing your loved one or getting him back as a vegetable).

Having to request help is inherent in that role, too. After all, they are in our house, not in their own home. Dont' you hate having to ask for every little thing? You hate floating probably because you feel out of your element. That is how they feel.

We have the keys, we have the meds, the charts, the towel, the water, everything. I think a lot of "demands" should be interpreted more as fear, not as selfishness or anything else negative. Walk a mile in my moccasins. Read between the lines. The patient is in pain, out of his element, at someone else's mercy, terrified, infantilized - and, if anything like the treatment I saw last week, not believed; viewed as being manipulative, a baby, a whiner, a complainer, a wimp, and demanding. Don't take it personally. See it through their eyes and your heart will understand.

NurseNature · Dec 14, 2007

My mom made the "just sitting on the computer all day" remark when referencing the nurses while her dad was in the hospital. I explained what they were doing and why. It still does suck that we have to do that during our shift instead of actual patient care. Even if their needs seem small to us... they don't seem small to the pt and family and we probably should be helping them- even though documenting eats up so much time. I am still a student so I can't comment from personal experience.

sharona97, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2007

When I worked bedside and had an angry/beligerent family member or sarcastic patient complaining I wasn't fast enough, I'd ask one question.

If I were helping you and one of my other patients just rang for me, would you like it if I left you to take care of them?

Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

ktwlpn, LPN · Dec 14, 2007

This is truly a VENT. A VENT about my own family-specifically my AUNT. ..
It all started last week when my aunt said she would have to spend the night with my grandma(her mom) because the nurses would probably not be there enough to help grandma after surgery. My aunt called a few minutes ago said grandma was home, did fine BUT IT WAS A GOOD THING SHE GOT THERE WHEN SHE DID--GRANDMA HAD RANG THE NURSE TWICE FOR ASSISTANCE TO THE BATHROOM. I said maybe the nurse was helping someone else to the bathroom? Or giving a pain med, etc. She was like "told you nurses don't come fast enough." I am so mad I can hardly stand it.
Do patients and families really think we are just sitting around watching TV??:angryfire

It sounds like your aunt likes to play the martyr.No -one can do anything as well as she can so she'll crawl out of her own sick bed to attend to others and remind you all the time of your own shortcomings because that makes her life worth living.....I work with some of those.Never take a sick day-just crawl in to work spreading contagion throughout and checking their temps q 15 mins just to remind you that they are sick...I have a few in my family also-have to host the big holiday get -togethers and refuse any offers of assistance because they want total control-then when you sit down together all you hear is how busy they were and how tired...

allnurses Guide · Dec 14, 2007

Yep, I canoodle in the linen closet a lot. I sit on my butt and eat bon bons too. No TV at the nurse's station, so I have to listen to the radio spitting out never ending and nauseating Christmas songs. And the best part... I get paid the big bucks to do all this and eat ice cream too. "
Dang, I knew there was something wrong with ournew ER, no linen closets! Just carts around the halls.

Satori77, ADN · Dec 14, 2007

The last time I was in the hospital was for the birth of my second son. The nurses kept checking on me, asking me if I needed anything, every couple of hours. They were so surprised how "good" of a patient I was and said in a round about way how the other mothers were more demanding. It sounded like they were downplaying it when I asked about it. But honestly I was fine most of the time. I wasn't sick, felt pretty good (just tired) and I had my husband there with me, plus both of my parents checking in on me. Why bother the nurses with something I could do myself. I felt bad for them, they were all very sweet and helpful, and it was nice to lessen their load a bit if I could.

janettalinda · Dec 14, 2007

I just love it (NOT!) when my hands are full an a family member picks up cups, diry linen, whatever, and shoves it at me. How do they think I will carry it? On my head? Some people think we're not doing enuf even when they can SEE us working like crazy. I was also taught never to say I'm "busy", but I do let pt's and family know how many other pt's I have. They deserve to know the truth. If the truth bothers the mangement, too bad.

Don't mourn (or whine), organize. Joe Hill, 1915

nyapa, RN · Dec 14, 2007

This is truly a VENT. A VENT about my own family-specifically my AUNT.
My aunt called a few minutes ago said grandma was home, did fine BUT IT WAS A GOOD THING SHE GOT THERE WHEN SHE DID--GRANDMA HAD RANG THE NURSE TWICE FOR ASSISTANCE TO THE BATHROOM. I said maybe the nurse was helping someone else to the bathroom? Or giving a pain med, etc. She was like "told you nurses don't come fast enough." I am so mad I can hardly stand it.

I guess what must have hurt the most was that she was so personal in her attack. She has lumped you in the same group with ppl whom she disapproved of. You were not even there! Whether her opinion towards nurses was right or wrong, that was really cruel to treat you like that...

One wonders if she treats ppl like that in other situations...

MarySunshine · Dec 14, 2007

I would want to stay with any family member of mine who was in the hospital (as much as possible). I would agree with anyone who told me that the nurse took too long to answer a call light (if it was more than 10 minutes) but I would DEFINITELY not blame the nurse. It's a crappy, understaffed system. Welcome to it. Crabbing at the nurses is like beating up a fellow victim.

KeyMaster · Dec 14, 2007

"I attended a nauseating in-service about how the nurses had to repeat the word "excellent" when talking to a "customer" (i.e., the patient), as in, "I hope you received EXCELLENT care", and to repeat that word like a mantra." Quoted from Marie-Francoise

We have a mandatory "Skills Fair" to attend every year. Last year one of the stations was learning to say "It's my pleasure!" to any request made to you - be it from patients, MD, housekeeping, etc. As in "Nurse, get me that chart" or "Nurse get me some pain medicine". Instead of "OK" or "in a moment" our responce was to be *smile* "It's my pleasure!" Mind you we had to be signed off on this mandatory skills station.

Where did this brilliant initiative come from? A member of Senior Leadership got that from the guy taking his order at the Chick Fil-A! :uhoh3: