Hello everyone!!! I hope this New Year has been a kind one to you all thus far.
Well, here i go again on one of my rants about the ever so intriguing world of nursing. Here's my pet peeve of the day:
Is is just me, or does it seem to you all that everytime you go into a patient's room to pass meds, do procedures, or simply check on the patient, they always have to ask you to bring them something.
I know for me, it never fails. If I go in there to just look in on my patient they always will stop you before you get out of the door and say, "Oh, nurse, could you get me some coffee," or "May I have something for pain?" or "Turn the lights off, will you". And it drives me crazy.
Now don't get me wrong, I have no problem doing anything for my patients. But it seems that patients look at nurses as nothing more than handmaids to wait on their every beckon and call. For example, I had this man to ring his call bell just to tell me that he wanted to sit up on the side of the bed. I wanted so badly to tell him, "Well, what are you waiting for?". This is because I know that this man is very capable of moving himself because I've seen him do it when he has a male nurse caring for him. But whenever a female steps in, the patients all of sudden become invalids.
I feel that too much of my time is taken up running up and down the halls getting water and coffee. I mean, as much as family members like to stay all day in night in these patients rooms, it would seem that they would get up off of their lazy bums and get these patients something every now and then. It wouldn't hurt them to do this. Oh no, they won't do this. But they can tell you and I how to do our jobs, can't they? (LOL!!).
I have gotten to the point that I actually like being pulled to the critical care units in the hospital because we have telemetry there and you don't have to go into the rooms quite as much as you do on the medical floor because the telemetry is evident.
Do you all feel the same way? Do you all feel that patients are too darn demanding and don't respect us as care providers but see us as handmaids instead? Male nurses, do you feel that patients tend to not bother you as much as your female colleagues? I welcome all input.
Hmmmmm, seems to me that we get paid to make people feel better, and make them healthy. I agree that we're not maids, but making a pt comfortable IS in our job description. If you don't like bedside nursing, then get the hell out before the attitude shows to the pt and snowballs. I enjoy taking the time to make my pt's comfortable and provide for their needs, and as a "male nurse" (a term i HATE, i'm a nurse who happens to be a guy), i usually get asked to do the heavy things, like move the tv, lift the pt out of bed to the chair, etc. I can't believe this thread came from a nurse. My opinion is you should be ashamed of yourself. This IS part of our chosen profession!
We do not get paid to make people feel better, we get paid to follow the physicians orders and to be compassionate and professional while doing so.
We are not capable of making them healthy. If they have health issues related to their lifestyle then they have to decide if they want to be compliant or sick.
Making patients comfortable is definately in our job description but it doesn't mean we have to wait on them hand and foot and doesn't mean we are not allowed to vent when one seems to pushing our buttons. No one should feel ashamed for having feelings and for venting in a safe place. No one likes to be bashed for having an opinion.
I worked in the hospital for 30 years and I got so fed up with patients attitutes and patients families being so down right rude that I did get out. Most of us have the common sense to know when we need to get out without someone telling us we should get the hell out.
Hmmmmm, seems to me that we get paid to make people feel better, and make them healthy. I agree that we're not maids, but making a pt comfortable IS in our job description. If you don't like bedside nursing, then get the hell out before the attitude shows to the pt and snowballs. I enjoy taking the time to make my pt's comfortable and provide for their needs, and as a "male nurse" (a term i HATE, i'm a nurse who happens to be a guy), i usually get asked to do the heavy things, like move the tv, lift the pt out of bed to the chair, etc. I can't believe this thread came from a nurse. My opinion is you should be ashamed of yourself. This IS part of our chosen profession!
I can't get over the irony of people talking about how nursing should be, yet demonstrating in their replies to the OP the completed opposite of how nursing should be!
I can't get over the irony of people talking about how nursing should be, yet demonstrating in their replies to the OP the opposite of of how nursing should be!QUOTE]
I can't get over the irony of people talking about how nursing should be, yet demonstrating in their replies to the OP the completed opposite of how nursing should be!
Very well put Marie. I didn't know you were so tall. The air must be much better up there, you're thinking very clearly!
OMG-Yes! First off, let me say I work on an OB floor (healthy women having healthy babies) part of the time and the High Risk L&D the rest of the time. I get more call bells for the "healthy" moms than my HR patients-and they are sick. Our unit is massive and the number of times they ring, I do the "can I bring you anything" and get "no, just my nurse" but in that time they have thought of something and I have to walk all the way back (I'm not exagerating-when patients actually leave their domain for something, they comment on the vastness of the unit) to retrieve what they need. The best is when they, then walk out to have a smoke!
WE discussed this the other day-we feel like glorified, overpaid waitresses/babysitters/handmaidens most of the time on out PP unit. The worst being the dad's stay over to "help" and end up sleeping all night OR (worse) calling "our nurse" to bring the DAD water!!! I have to stop because my BP is rising.....
I am all for assessing and making my patient's comfortable, but there is a limit. Since our unit got rid of our LPN/RPN's we are struggling. They were our arms and legs and minds a lot of the time-and I made sure my teammate knew it!
We do not get paid to make people feel better, we get paid to follow the physicians orders and to be compassionate and professional while doing so.
YES WE DO,,,,, what do you think adjusting someone's pillow, or administering a prn pain med does? Frankly, if you don't like what you do, get out and find something you like. I stand by my opinion.
Making patients comfortable is definately in our job description but it doesn't mean we have to wait on them hand and foot and doesn't mean we are not allowed to vent when one seems to pushing our buttons.
I think you are saying the same thing, just in different ways........
The reason I stand behind my opinion here is the fact that I've seen and worked with nurses that in my opinion do NOT belong in the profession. It really burns me up when they make a big deal about how "mr so-and-so" in room 512 is taking up all of their valuable time, because he rings his bell every few minutes to ask for something. I DO agree that we're not maids, but try and understand the pt's feelings here. They're in a strange bed, sufferring from a health concern they may or may not be educated about, and might need a friend to talk to. I try and be that person. I also try to make them as comfortable as possible, because that's what I would want done for me if I was in that position.
Some nurses that constantly whine about having to do things I consider direct care would be better suited in administration. It shows to the pt when the nurse is upset at answering their bell, and the pt doesn't need that on top of everything else he or she may be going thru. If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen before you really hate your job and burn out and become like several of the nurses I've worked with, uneffective at the job, and bitching to anyone who will listen. We've all had bad days, but you just make the best of it and realize that you may have made a difference with the pt, and take that home with you at the end of the day.
Believe me, the status quo in the UK is exactly the same. Some shifts patients are unbelievably demanding and you kind of resign yourself to that, however my perspective on this is that there are some - granted, not all - but some people who come into hospital and totally hand themselves over, body and soul to Nursing and Medical staff, taking on the role of the 'SICK PERSON' whose every need will be met by their carer. My way of looking at it is that part of our job surely is to encourage a patient to do the things they can still do although they are unwell, so they are not completely handing over all power to their nurse. This theory is a part of our Diploma training. I think that this has got to aid their recovery too. The unfortunate thing is that some are more than reluctant to do ANY LITTLE THING that they are capable of still doing despite their condition!
Sometimes you have to bite your tongue not to tell people 'HEY, I'M A NURSE NOT A WAITRESS!'
Incidentally, those who have said that 'You're a Nurse - deal with it as part of the job' - I agree with you somewhat and answering call bells and peoples needs ARE a part of the job, but the fact is we are also human enough to be frustrated sometimes by this and I don't think it's a crime to complain sometimes. The problem with being a Nurse is public perception of you - PERPETUATED BY SOME OF THE HOLIER THAN THOU NURSES WHO'VE POSTED ON THIS THREAD - is that we are supposed to switch off and knuckle down like some robot. They wouldn't admit that they themselves feel like this at times.Like I say - it's not a crime. I don't believe it makes you less of a Nurse. I personally still love my job, try to do my best for patients, and still think the good days outweigh the bad.
Lots of Best Wishes to Everyone, and hang in there!
Let me share with you my experience- I'm working in the NICU, here I'm refering to the babies' parents. Very often these parents are very afraid of handling the babies cos they are very small and fragile, Yes I do feel for them but there are the ones where they are actually very stable - on room air just feeding and growing. We often encourage the parents to come and visit their babies and have more contact with them. Sad to say that some hardly turn up due to various reasons - got to look after other siblings, busy working to pay the bills etc, even if they come they are so afraid to touch the babies. A simple job - changing diaper or feeding they will call and tell the nurse - I think my baby just pooed you better change the diaper.
OMG this is your own baby! You must learn to do it but they won't accept such explaination because they feel that they are paying the hospital bills and this is the nurses' job! :angryfire
These scenarios also happen in the Paeds unit too - parents calling nurses to bathe their babies/ children, changing the diapers million times a day cos the child has GE, change the clothing after the child has vomitted etc. All the nitty gritty stuff. I wonder - we are nurses who are here to nurse their baby or child back to health but not maids/nannies.
When a child or baby's sick, I always believe that it's very important for the parent to be there because it is this person whom the child trusted most and depend on. This relationship and trust will help in the process towards recovery, we are just there to monitor and deliver the medical treatment.
I always tell my babies' parents - the baby will ultimately go back to your home but not mine. You have to build up this special bond in order to have a smooth transition from hospital to home. Sad to say that most don't seem to see the point they even lodge complaints against nurses that we are not approachable and helpful. ( They deserve such attention because they are paying the BILLS !):argue:
Part of good nursing care is to encourage wellness and return to ADLs. Encouraging and fostering a co-dependent relationship isn't in the best interest of the patients and their families.
OMG-Yes! First off, let me say I work on an OB floor (healthy women having healthy babies) part of the time and the High Risk L&D the rest of the time. I get more call bells for the "healthy" moms than my HR patients-and they are sick. Our unit is massive and the number of times they ring, I do the "can I bring you anything" and get "no, just my nurse" but in that time they have thought of something and I have to walk all the way back (I'm not exagerating-when patients actually leave their domain for something, they comment on the vastness of the unit) to retrieve what they need. The best is when they, then walk out to have a smoke!
DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN
3,932 Posts
We do not get paid to make people feel better, we get paid to follow the physicians orders and to be compassionate and professional while doing so.
We are not capable of making them healthy. If they have health issues related to their lifestyle then they have to decide if they want to be compliant or sick.
Making patients comfortable is definately in our job description but it doesn't mean we have to wait on them hand and foot and doesn't mean we are not allowed to vent when one seems to pushing our buttons. No one should feel ashamed for having feelings and for venting in a safe place. No one likes to be bashed for having an opinion.
I worked in the hospital for 30 years and I got so fed up with patients attitutes and patients families being so down right rude that I did get out. Most of us have the common sense to know when we need to get out without someone telling us we should get the hell out.