Nurses not responding fast enough-VENT

[pirap]

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

[Ms Kylee]

Have one on my side of the floor now... family complains because the doc ordered IV meds discontinued and now given PO. Son told sister "They're trying to rush her out of here, which isn't right, she's sick". Yes, she's sick, but there's not much more we can do since patient is in chronic liver failure due to drugs and alcohol abuse. They even had the nerve to put up a note of their demands.

Yesterday, the nurse was in about twice an hour, I was in every hour to round, and they're still complaining that we're not paying enough attention to her.

Hello? Can you say Private Duty?

[banditrn]

and my all time favorite is the family members who pick up the water pitcher and stand outside trauma 1 during a code while im on top of a patient doing CPR and ask why i didnt bring grandpa his drink. hes dying of thirst you know. my sincerest apologies. this patient is already dead.

I handled this, as long as my patient was able to drink, by smiling and telling the family member that I'd be happy to get it and "why don't you come with me so that I can show you where the water and ice machine is - then next time you won't have to wait for me." Always worked for me.

[jbp0529]

Why not have a reality type show in which a nurse is followed on a med surg unit, especially in a crummy hospital that is known for understaffing. Or maybe those hospital/ doctor/ nurse dramas could feature a story of the day in the life of an overworked nurse, show the greedy hospital owners cutting the budget and chuckling while counting their yearly profits, pan back to the med surg unit and the frazzeled nurses running amok......

LOL... I bet that show would be hilarious and entertaining!

[jbp0529]

I saw a sign in a patient's room the other day--- it said "Very good isn't good enough! We will provide you with EXCELLENT care!" (emphasis theirs)

Only one I've seen; I suspect the others had already been torn down

I'd love to make a sign for the frequent-flyer ER and ICU pts that looked like a fuel gauge almost on empty, called "the sympathy meter".

[bigredrn57]

Why is it the suits who come up with these inane slogans never provide direct patient care? They always say ''we are a team.'' Where are they? I remember one drug seeker who threatened me with calling the CEO because I would not take him down to smoke. Here is his phone number. :barf01: As far as the '' dramas'' go, I can't stand them. It gives patients, (not customers,this is not Burger KIng), false expectations. Many times having it their way played a large part in why they're patients.

[annelvn2004]

Your comment took me back to my Navy days as a corpsman. We would have fleet sailors come into the clinic for some minor complaint and make comments about how cushy HM duty was, not knowing that minutes before his grand entrance we just finished with a patient from an MVA. Too bad you can't see the mess on the nurses'/corpsman's shoes when they are sitting down for the first time in 8-10 hours.

[lafingeyes]

Now I know I made the right choice to go to nursing school. Not only is it what I want to do with my life but I get a bonus of bonbons.:smiletea2:

[callmekipling]

We have virtual sticky notes (cos we've got virtual charts! hooray!) at my hospital.

One pt I had a few nights ago had one attached, that said -- PT called 911 from ED waiting room three times to "make you people see me faster".

Remember you're on the front lines, and while HR/management/pressgainey is what's hobbling you, all a pt or family will see is the whole hospital's problems through you with your hands full.

Oh. That and, you're around to be complained to. I don't think I've ever seen a CEO out on rounds.

Sometimes all it takes is to let your pts know that you called in the eval and the attending hasn't faxed you the order yet, or pharmacy is bringing up the meds asap.. or CPR takes top slot over such grand maladies as a decrease in available coffee supplies:trout:

[Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN]

this is why I retired/ quit. I hate families and patients any more. Our staffing doubled our patient load we went from 2 pts in ICU to 3-4. our one on ones went to 2on 1 and the visitors and familes went from irritating to down right vicious. I remember one family video taping our every move! And then told us every time we went into the room they were going to sue. We had not done anything wrong. They sued and lost. But we had to do depositions and all the crap that goes with it. It has become so sad that people are like that now.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

it used to be that the unpleasant, entitled patient and/or family were the exception rather than the rule. now i'm thrilled when i get a patient or family that is grateful, pleasant or otherwise not unpleasant.