Patient made me feel like low life

Published

So the another night I taking care of a pt in the ed where I work. She noticed the tats on my wrist and went on a tangent. Why would you do that. Theyare so ugly. They are five small stars with my families birth stones and it says thanks be to God in Latin. She then said how does the hosp feel about them. I said very nicely as long as I take great care of my pts it doesn't matter. Some ppl just really are terrible. Bad enough I was being treated like her slave, all the while I smiled. Her son was like we don't mean any disrespect, I said that was rude, but evryone is entitled to their own opinion

Specializes in Operating Room.
People are rude & make comments to nurses all the time. You just have to let it roll right off you. I make direct eye connect and ask why they would want to know that & go on with my job. They usually have nothing to say after that.

Agreed that you have to let it roll off of you..it can actually get amusing after a point. You would not believe the stuff people have called me or said to me as they were waking up from anesthesia..you haven't lived until you've had a 90 pound, 89 year old little old lady take a swing at you and call you a c*******er. :lol2:

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

Tattoos are a form of art to many who enjoy them. Like most art forms, they are a personal thing. I have no problem if someone doesn't like them, but the patient's behavior was very rude. Some people are poorly mannered and think everyone is entitled to their opinions. Unfortunately, you met one. Like any other form of adornment (clothing, hairstyle, cosmetics) people are entitled to consider whether they find it attractive or not; however, the line is crossed in offering an unsolicited opinion in a nasty manner.

What I want to say when I encounter these types is "Oh, I'm so glad we're sharing! I was just about to tell you how ugly I think your outfit is!"

What I actually do is turn it back on the patient and ask "It's interesting that you felt the need to say that to me. Why do you think that might be?"

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
=TDCHIM;4382834]@nursel56: Yes, it's actually pretty fun to visualize a snotty comment bouncing off the comment membrane while responding to the person who said it. ;) Not only has it helped me stop taking everybody's comments to heart all the time, more than once it's also provided enough comic relief inside my head to keep me from going off on someone.

It made me laugh, too because one of my (many) quirks is the amount of entertainment value I get out of cell biology-- ever since high school -- and older biology texts had some really quaint descriptions for things they didn't know how to accurately describe at the time.

abbaking- your experience with the woman spouting off about the crucifix sort of ties in to the way I see tattoos now, and how often a tattoo these days is done in remembrance of a lost child, a wedding or other very meaningful event. I wonder if some of these outspoken critics would have their attitudes softened if they heard the story behind it. Obviously we are under no obligation to share, and probably wouldn't have the time anyway, but it would at least have the effect of causing them to think twice before making unwarranted assumptions based on outdated and erroneous interpretations of jewelry and body art.

SquirrelRN71[/b];4383676]Agreed that you have to let it roll off of you..it can actually get amusing after a point. You would not believe the stuff people have called me or said to me as they were waking up from anesthesia..you haven't lived until you've had a 90 pound, 89 year old little old lady take a swing at you and call you a c*******er. :lol2:

c*******er ? I'd like to buy a vowel, Pat! No really, what is that? Can someone PM me that bad word? :lol2:

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

"c*******er ? I'd like to buy a vowel, Pat! No really, what is that? Can someone PM me that bad word? :lol2:"

LOL I'll help you out. c*cks*cker. Now you only have to buy two vowels :lol2:

I had a confused pt once that every time I went in her room went on a tirade about me being the antichrist. Everyone found it hilarious as I'm one of the most compassionate people at work and was going in to help when she wasn't even my patient.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
"c*******er ? I'd like to buy a vowel, Pat! No really, what is that? Can someone PM me that bad word? :lol2:"

LOL I'll help you out. c*cks*cker. Now you only have to buy two vowels :lol2:

I had a confused pt once that every time I went in her room went on a tirade about me being the antichrist. Everyone found it hilarious as I'm one of the most compassionate people at work and was going in to help when she wasn't even my patient.

Oh, :lol2:---thanks!-----and as I mentioned to pers- my Carlin Seven Dirty Words skills could use some review!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i think your tattoos are just fine. they symbolize something greater than what they are.

it doesn't matter what you -- or i or anyone else -- thinks of the op's ink. it's not our business. nor was it that patient's business. that, i think is the whole point.

and if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. a patient's ridicule of my breast size didn't make me run out and get a reduction; a patient's (or co-worker's or anyone else's) opinion about the op's tats shouldn't make one iota of difference.

the issue is that the patient was rude and totally out of bounds.

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