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.
Hello, there. I totally reflect what you're saying. Why haven't I been on here to post in the last week? Because I have been worked to death the last 5 days in a row. And I must say, I am very proud of myself.
I am proud of myself because I have answered my own question as to how to deal with these whiners and complainers. I just say what's on my mind, point blank. If they have the nerve to whine and complain because I had a more urgent situation down the hall, I just tell them, "Tough cookie!! I will be with you as soon as I can. I'm dealing with a very situation right now. I don't care how long you waited in the ER, you just got here. I've basically come to tell you that I will be with you in a moment so that you wouldn't feel neglected." Then if they say, "Well, I can go home, I don't have to be here!!!" That's when I say, "Well, you can do what you want to, that's your decision. But, if you choose to stay, I respect your patience and I'll be with you in a moment. If that's not sufficient, then I'll ask that you sign a couple of forms and I'll let you go on your merry little way!!!" And you know what? I have no problem out of them the rest of the night. As a matter of fact, I get nothing but smiles and respect from them.
You know, that irks me. We were in report the other night, and the day shift nurses were still sitting out there finishing up. And our supervisor (of all people) came in and had some numbers on a paper. She said, "These are the patients that need...." We were like, why don't the nurses who are out there get whatever they need? We are taking report. That irks me. I, too, believe that that nurse was not in line by talking to the patient in that way, but I have started being firm with some of the patients because they are very disrespectful.
Thank you so much for understanding. I'm surely not a bad person. I really try very hard to be the best I can be while on the floor. But, I do get tired of leaving 5 hours after the time I was supposed to get off because I was never allowed the opportunity to sit down and get other parts of my job done. And I hate it when patients don't try to be reasonable and they have this attitude of "forget everybody else, what about me?" That's not fair. But, thank you very much for your understanding.
I've basically come to tell you that I will be with you in a moment so that you wouldn't feel neglected." Then if they say, "Well, I can go home, I don't have to be here!!!" That's when I say, "Well, you can do what you want to, that's your decision. But, if you choose to stay, I respect your patience and I'll be with you in a moment. If that's not sufficient, then I'll ask that you sign a couple of forms and I'll let you go on your merry little way!!!".
IF this is truly what you're saying to them, you could wind up in a lot of trouble.
I feel you all the way. Those patients are being very selfish when they say things like that. I have to walk away to keep from saying something to hurt their feelings. But, as I've told some other responder, I have started to be firm and look these patients in the eye to make them realize how they are coming off. And I am finding out that it works.
Well, of course all patients are considered fall risk until you know better. And I've never expected a patient to get out of bed on their own and I always let them know to call me for assistance to the bathroom. But my bone to pick is with patients wanting coffee, sodas, and such when you cannot stop to give them that at the time.
I was faced with a similar situation after my Dad had had a TURP years ago. He was only a few hours post-op and was on a Murphy Drip, and my Mom was freaking out because the feeder bag was rapidly running out and she couldn't get a nurse to change it. After I had changed it myself, she began ranting and raving about the "sorry care" my Dad was receiving. I had to admonish her, because Dad was in the same hospital in which I had done my RN training and they were ALWAYS understaffed. "They don't have enough help here", I hissed at her, "And as long as I am here with Daddy, I will take care of him myself. Lighten up". "But what would I have done, if you hadn't been here?", she asked, near tears.
It IS a very good question, isn't it?
The PROBLEM is, families don't understand that nurses aren't ignoring their family member.
Nurses want to take care of patients.
Families get frustrated - but instead of being proactive and carrying their legitimate complaints to the APPROPRIATE person (the administration), they flake out and go postal on the nurses.
I've seen it TIME AND TIME again - same thing with patients and doctors.
A doctor will come by and visit with a patient - with their family in the room.............you go in, 5 minutes after the Doctor has left and they are just BURSTING with questions about the plan of care..."why isn't he testing X,Y, or Z" - "why this or that -"
"Did you ask the doctor?"
And, more often than not, you get "uhhhhh....well...no...."
We're not only supposed to be maids, we're supposed to be mind-readers as well.
Families are intimidated by the hospital and medical hierarchy. If they have complaints or questions, they should take them to the appropriate persons.
Well, you go girl!!! You vent here, and know that I have your back. I totally feel where you are coming from and I empathize with you. It really frustrates me as well. Nurses don't deserve that disrespect we accept from patients.
I like your nerve telling me that I should find another job. No, you have some nerve. If it wasn't for me staying on my feet sometimes 15 hours at a time, then a lot of patients would be in trouble. I do care, but I have sense. And I have enough sense to know that we learned in nursing school that you have to prioritize. If you can't understand that, than whoa and behold and the patient that gets you as their nurse. Because they will be in big trouble. That's what we have nursing assistants for. We delegate simple tasks like that to them if possible. If not, we do it ourselves, but only after the essential things are taken care of.
You know, that irks me. We were in report the other night, and the day shift nurses were still sitting out there finishing up. And our supervisor (of all people) came in and had some numbers on a paper. She said, "These are the patients that need...." We were like, why don't the nurses who are out there get whatever they need? We are taking report. That irks me. I, too, believe that that nurse was not in line by talking to the patient in that way, but I have started being firm with some of the patients because they are very disrespectful.
What's wrong with your Supervisor? Does she not also have the title "RN" after her name and has to follow the same Standards of Care as prescribed by your state's BON? Did she stop being a nurse and become a Town Crier, simply because another title was added to the one she already has?? I don't THINK so!
Better yet, the next time Her Majesty interrupts your report which is supposed to be done to ensure CONTINUITY OF CARE, politely ask her to take her list that she so carefully created and put her money where her mouth is! I don't BELIEVE these people! :angryfire
OliveVinesRN
100 Posts
Hello, there. I totally reflect what you're saying. Why haven't I been on here to post in the last week? Because I have been worked to death the last 5 days in a row. And I must say, I am very proud of myself.
I am proud of myself because I have answered my own question as to how to deal with these whiners and complainers. I just say what's on my mind, point blank. If they have the nerve to whine and complain because I had a more urgent situation down the hall, I just tell them, "Tough cookie!! I will be with you as soon as I can. I'm dealing with a very situation right now. I don't care how long you waited in the ER, you just got here. I've basically come to tell you that I will be with you in a moment so that you wouldn't feel neglected." Then if they say, "Well, I can go home, I don't have to be here!!!" That's when I say, "Well, you can do what you want to, that's your decision. But, if you choose to stay, I respect your patience and I'll be with you in a moment. If that's not sufficient, then I'll ask that you sign a couple of forms and I'll let you go on your merry little way!!!" And you know what? I have no problem out of them the rest of the night. As a matter of fact, I get nothing but smiles and respect from them.