Patient Complaints In Spite of Good Care

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello all! Recently a patient complained to his aunt that his night nurse "didn't care about me". This was a confused patient, admitted for flu-like symptoms, fever, etc. I noticed the patient was very angry by the morning, but did not feel as though he had been neglected by any means, he had been fluffed and puffed, brought anything he requested in the way of drinks, etc., and auntie had been taken care of as well, by given free access to the patient outside of regular visiting hours, offered drinks and snacks, pillow and blankets etc. I informed the supervisor that he had complained, and thought no more of it. Long story short, my director called me in and suspended me for "not taking care of the patient." In report, I was told a different story about the patient than what was reflected, but I documented everything I had been told regarding the plan of care for the patient, and documented everything that was done. I felt my suspension displayed a true lack of support for nursing staff, and I resigned. I have always had excellent reviews from my patients, peers and supervisors wherever I have worked. I felt hurt and humilated that this happened, and that any patient can wreak havoc on an unsuspecting nurse. However, I am happy to be "out" from under this particular manager, who, of course has a string of credentials, but no heart for her staff. I am only one of a stream of nurses to resign since she came on board a year ago. If any one has been through this and has advice for me, I would love to hear a word of encouragement. I also would like to stop having feelings of anger toward the director. After all, perhaps she did me a favor.

vivere:crying2:

Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

A confused patient once told me they wanted to shoot me in the face. I didn't call the police and charge him with verbal threats.

Why would a manager take the word of a confused patient over careful documentation of her nurse?

I agree with Batman, you ex-manager was a moron.

Tait

Specializes in ICU.

I just want to say thank you to all who took a minute to support me, or just to comment about a similar situation. It crushed me a little to have this happen, because I am very proud of my nursing care, and have always received good responses from families and co-workers as well as from patients. Perhaps I just need to develop a tougher skin, but I was so incredibly insulted by the suspension, that felt I had no choice but to leave. I think it was time for me to leave, the hospital broke out in scandal after I left, and perhaps it would have been even MORE stressful, so God took care of me by allowing this to happen. I now have much more understanding of how a patient complaint will adversely affect the staff, as well as how devastating it can be to have management that does not support the nurse. I still believe that nurses should ALSO have respect and cooperation....no one should feel that they can curse at a nurse, or yell at him or her, or in any way abuse the nurse, and the nurse should not feel her job is in jeopardy if she is the target of a patient complaint. Yes, I could have appealed, but at the time, my hot head took over...and I quit. It's all water under the bridge now. I feel physically better, I am sleeping better, and I am not stressed out on the way to work any more.

vivere

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