It seems that none of your patients appreciate anything you do. All they can do is complain and be short and rude with you.
The family members are rude and condescending. The patients seem to put on the call lights only when they know you are busy. If they see you pass by the room, they'll find a reason to call you. As long as you are not seen, you are out of mind.
If you don't get there within 10 seconds of them putting on the call light, they get angry. When you apologize that you were with someone else and got there at the speed of light anyway, they don't care. I can't believe I spent 4 years of my life preparing to take care of such ungrateful, evil, sadistic people. That's why I like Alzheimer's patients. They become so innocent and are glad just to have you there. The other 90% of the population is hell-bent on making your shift miserable.
I've gotten to the point where I am not wanting to be around people on my off days. Because after dealing with them on the job, why deal with them when i don't have to? Don't get me wrong. Ten percent of the patients I've dealt with have been great. They appreciate what you do and they don't bother you for every little thing (like moving that remote control over to the other side of the bedside table). But the 90% other have put a bad taste in my mouth. I just can't understand why people have to behave so badly. And I don't want to hear that these people sometimes act this way because they are sick. That argument is tired and invalid. These are adults. It doesn't hurt them to treat us like human beings and not a fetching dog. And to think that when the doctor comes in, they're scared to say a word. They ought to be scared stiff. Serves 'em right for mistreating their overworked, underpaid, self-sacrificing nurse. No wonder there is shortage of willing nurses that do this anymore. :angryfire
Bedside nursing is miserable servitude, not 'compassion' or 'caring'.....
I am disappointed that bedside nursing, in some settings, has turned into a form of glorified waitressing. I spend a great deal of my working hours fetching coffee for my grumpy patients, running to the soda machine for family members, dealing with complaints about the food, hearing people gripe about the broken television in the lobby, listening to visitors whine that the computer keyboard does not work, and fulfilling requests that the apple juice be traded for orange juice...
Lately, when an ungrateful family members approaches the nurses station and asks for juice, soda, or ice, I simply give directions to the soda machine or kitchen so that they can get it themselves. I will readily fetch things for my patients, but I am not being paid to leave the floor to grab things for these disgusting family members.
I say we all gang up on whomever thought the call light would be a great idea...(j/k).
If I were you, I'd copy a map of the floor and highlight where the soda machines/snack machines are, and hand it out to whomever "wants a soda". I'd love to see the look on their faces; "Here's a map of where you can find the soda/snacks". I'm sure they'd give you a look which said "You mean you want me to walk down the hall?"
I've actually told patients that I cannot continue to help them with x,y,z. I had some lady ring the call light at change of shift (I'm in a busy ED). She wasn't my patient, but I stopped in to see what was up. "Can you fluff my pillow?"; "Can you dim the lights?". After one task, I told her "Ma'am, what can I do to help you right now...and I didn't come here to fluff your pillow - I see you are eating chips, so you are more than able to adjust your own pillow". Seriously, some people are ridiuculous. If you are ambulatory into the ED and are up for discharge, you can fluff your own pillow.
Oh I hear you. I work in a NICU and while my patients are the best possible patients, we have major problems with parents. A lot of our parents lately have had serious drug problems and get down right mean when our social workers get Child Protecive Services involved. I mean come on, does any sane person really want a baby going home to a house filled with drugs and abuse? But these druggie parents act all shocked and offended when you tell them that their baby has meconium positive for drugs or alcohol, "I have never taken drugs in my life". "You can't take my baby from me". Well no actually you took your baby from yourself by taking drugs all through your pregnancy. And then there are the parents who disregard everything we have to say about the health of their baby and having a low stimulation environment, sleep is important etc. Oh no, when they come in their 30 week baby better be awake and ready to play and if they arent then, like I witnessed last week, I will poke my baby in the ribs so he wakes up screaming and I have an excuse to hold him. These people are not at all concerned about what is best for their baby, they are concerned about what is best for themselves. I am talking about parents who have been educated multiple times but choose to disregard it. Yes I to get sick of stupid people, but hey if it wasnt for them we wouldnt be working as much.
It seems that none of your patients appreciate anything you do. All they can do is complain and be short and rude with you.
The family members are rude and condescending. The patients seem to put on the call lights only when they know you are busy. If they see you pass by the room, they'll find a reason to call you. As long as you are not seen, you are out of mind.
If you don't get there within 10 seconds of them putting on the call light, they get angry. When you apologize that you were with someone else and got there at the speed of light anyway, they don't care. I can't believe I spent 4 years of my life preparing to take care of such ungrateful, evil, sadistic people. That's why I like Alzheimer's patients. They become so innocent and are glad just to have you there. The other 90% of the population is hell-bent on making your shift miserable.
I've gotten to the point where I am not wanting to be around people on my off days. Because after dealing with them on the job, why deal with them when i don't have to? Don't get me wrong. Ten percent of the patients I've dealt with have been great. They appreciate what you do and they don't bother you for every little thing (like moving that remote control over to the other side of the bedside table). But the 90% other have put a bad taste in my mouth. I just can't understand why people have to behave so badly. And I don't want to hear that these people sometimes act this way because they are sick. That argument is tired and invalid. These are adults. It doesn't hurt them to treat us like human beings and not a fetching dog. And to think that when the doctor comes in, they're scared to say a word. They ought to be scared stiff. Serves 'em right for mistreating their overworked, underpaid, self-sacrificing nurse. No wonder there is shortage of willing nurses that do this anymore. :angryfire
Sorry you feel this way, I cant say that I feel the same.
Me I like being with people when Im not working. Golfers are very sociable I guess.
I see former patients and families all the time. They have picked up the tab for my wife and I at restaurants. They have picked up and paid my green fees. Bought me drinks from the Beer cart lady on the course. In appreciation. When I had my heart attack, one ex patient had heard about it. And he came down to check on me and mowed my overgrown lawn for me.
I have found that how patients and families respond is a reaction to how I present myself and the institution I work at.
It seems that none of your patients appreciate anything you do. All they can do is complain and be short and rude with you.
The family members are rude and condescending. The patients seem to put on the call lights only when they know you are busy. If they see you pass by the room, they'll find a reason to call you. As long as you are not seen, you are out of mind.
If you don't get there within 10 seconds of them putting on the call light, they get angry. When you apologize that you were with someone else and got there at the speed of light anyway, they don't care. I can't believe I spent 4 years of my life preparing to take care of such ungrateful, evil, sadistic people. That's why I like Alzheimer's patients. They become so innocent and are glad just to have you there. The other 90% of the population is hell-bent on making your shift miserable.
I've gotten to the point where I am not wanting to be around people on my off days. Because after dealing with them on the job, why deal with them when i don't have to? Don't get me wrong. Ten percent of the patients I've dealt with have been great. They appreciate what you do and they don't bother you for every little thing (like moving that remote control over to the other side of the bedside table). But the 90% other have put a bad taste in my mouth. I just can't understand why people have to behave so badly. And I don't want to hear that these people sometimes act this way because they are sick. That argument is tired and invalid. These are adults. It doesn't hurt them to treat us like human beings and not a fetching dog. And to think that when the doctor comes in, they're scared to say a word. They ought to be scared stiff. Serves 'em right for mistreating their overworked, underpaid, self-sacrificing nurse. No wonder there is shortage of willing nurses that do this anymore. :angryfire
I hear you!
My opinion is that the general public should be darn grateful that there are people that are willing to do this work.
Did you really leave the floor to get snacks and drinks for family members? You had time for that? I think that polite directions to the vending machine area is more than enough! Saying that you need to stay on the floor to take care of your patients, their family member included, should be enough to shame anyone into getting their own bag of chips and soda!
I had a patient a year or so ago who habitually called her caregivers as one would call a dog. (Kind of a kissing/hissing noise). She could talk, and after a day of politely reminding her to speak when he needed something, I finally told her that I was going to stay until she was comfortable and taken care of, and that could she please use words because the noise was rude. Well, what do you know? She stopped and used words. It was far more pleasant to answer that call light, knowing that I stood up for myself and coworkers and that she actually learned something. I have no idea if it carried over to the next shift, but still. It felt good.
This is why I like the ICU - the patients are too sick and the families are too shocked and grieving to treat the staff badly (most of the time, anyway).
Blee
I agree about ICU. A comatose patient is a happy patient!
I feel your pain. It's often not the patients; I do fine with (most all) patients... although there are a few who will get to me. It's the visitors and families. The behaviour and just plain gall of people is beyond me. And it isn't the stress of seeing their loved ones sick, either. I've been doing this for 24 years, and it just gets worse and worse. Sometimes it seems I have only one nerve left, and they proceed to stomp all over it.
I don't believe in telling patients and families that you are busy, short-handed, whatever. They don't need that kind of stress. However, when I get someone who is particularly demanding to the point it's ridiculous, I WILL mention that I was with another patient, or that I need to go to another patient. The look on their face is priceless when they realize that I'm not their private duty nurse. (and some still don't get it even then) I've actually had patients and visitors ask me, with a look of absolute surprise, "You mean I'm not your only patient? You have other patients too?"
Specializes in Infection Preventionist/ Occ Health.
I had a young man call me into the room the other night right when I got on shift. When I arrived in the room he said "Thank goodness you're finally here" and pointed to a tomato he had dropped on the floor. He was a bit anxious and stressed and probably just needed company. I talked to him for a minute and then told him that I would be tied up for the next 45 minutes passing meds and giving chemo, but that I would visit with him later. He did not ring his call bell for a whole hour. I think that the concept of anticipatory guidance (which I learned while working with preschoolers in a day care) can work well for adults as well. If they know that you will return within a specific period of time or that you will try to find time to chat later, they are less likely to be on the call bell all day and night.
I am sorry that you are being treated poorly by the patients and family members. I think that there is nothing wrong with setting polite but firm limits with them at the beginning of the shift as to when to use the call bell. This may cut down on the interruptions in your work flow.
I feel the same way. I don't understand why families think that brutalizing the staff will get their family member better care. I've cared for patients where I'd given their meds, cleared away their meal tray, given them a bath, gotten them fresh water and ice, made sure they were completely comfortable and smiling sweetly, only have a spouse or adult child come in demanding to know "has she had anything to eat? Did she get her meds? Has she had a bath yet?" It irks me when I've done everything I could for the patient, who is now completely content, fed, clean and pain free, only have the family member come in and try and push their weight around. Jeez, people, what do you want?
I plan to work in the OR where I only see the patient for a short time before they're unconscious.
Now, i don't want you to think I'm an evil person or anything just because I'm venting. Of course I treat my patients with the utmost dignity and respect. I bend over backwards. I do all that stuff, ya know: anticipating their needs, taking time to talk to them, even while passing meds, talking to their family, etc. But you know, it's deeper than that for most patients. I truly believe that they know what they're doing. And on top of it all, as nice a person as I am to everyone, they choose to be mean when they feel like it. On the other hand, the not so nice nurses don't have the problem with patient attitudes or constant call bell ringing.
So, in essence, what i'm saying is: Why not treat me with the same respect I'm giving them? Why test me? Why be mean to the ones that truly cares for you? Why complain when I've met your needs physically and emotionally? I just don't understand it. It has led me to believe that there are not many good people left on earth.
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Sisukas
94 Posts
Two helpful but probably unwelcome suggestions: hourly rounds for the first 6 hours of the shift at minimum; and an antidepressent for the OP.
Effexor makes me much less snippy when I'm feeling overwhelmed at the bedside.