Patients who are too lazy to open their own splenda packets

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Good grief, some patients want to revert back to being 9 month old infants!!! They also like to ask requests one at a time. Then, after you wait on them hand and foot all shift with the patience of a saint, they turn on you in an instant when their latest trivial request is not immediately granted due to the fact that there is someone circling the drain in the room next door. :rolleyes:

how about the patients who, when you go to hand them their water for their pill, they jut their chins forward, pursing their lips, so you can hold the water to their lips,but they definetly can do it them selves? I feel this is an indication some nurses do enable them.I tell them, as I put thecup in their hands ,laughingly," I'm not going to take away your ability to help your self!"

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Sometimes I wonder if people realize that we DO have to go to school to become nurses and that we DO have to be licensed to call ourselves RNs. I think a big part of the problem is that while we see ourselves as professionals, our patients/customers/guests see us as just another part of the service industry. :trout:

As a pharmacist, I have been referred to as a "clerk" or even a trained monkey. Some people assume that just because someone stands behind a counter, they're ripe for abuse.

A woman I know used to be an assistant manager at Steak & Shake and she once asked me, "How do you know so much about fast food? I thought your were a pharmacist." I replied, "I am, but I haven't always been, and the jobs are not as different as some people might think." The public is the public, and no matter what that person behind the counter does, they deserve to be treated with respect.

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unbelievable that anyone would treat a pharmacist rudely! I have tremendous respect for pharmacists, assumed everyone does! You educate people everyday,not to mention your yrs in school! your responsibility is heavy as well!

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You know, I think a lot of this happens because the mass media have encouraged people to question absolutely EVERYTHING medical personnel do. Even Reader's Digest frequently publishes articles urging patients not to accept their caregivers' word on policies and procedures; these "hit pieces" also urge consumers to remind staff to wash their hands and bring family members with them to the hospital so they can advocate for the patient and keep a watchful eye on the staff.

Now, I'm all about explaining things, but I don't need anyone yapping at me while I'm trying to concentrate on pouring medications, or badgering me to fetch a Coke when the patient's roomate is crashing (both of which happened when I was working med/surg). No nurse needs this; but it will continue as long as the public is led to believe that we make mistakes because we are careless, when it is really due to being overworked, rushed, micromanaged, undervalued, and exposed to danger.

And that's all I have to say about THAT.

You got that right. I am thinking we are overlooked and ignored. I am beginning to wonder if it is even a respectful job. I don't think I will admit I'm a nurse any more. (I actually quit bragging years ago - found too many men thought it would be a good catch).

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As a pharmacist, I have been referred to as a "clerk" or even a trained monkey. Some people assume that just because someone stands behind a counter, they're ripe for abuse.

A woman I know used to be an assistant manager at Steak & Shake and she once asked me, "How do you know so much about fast food? I thought your were a pharmacist." I replied, "I am, but I haven't always been, and the jobs are not as different as some people might think." The public is the public, and no matter what that person behind the counter does, they deserve to be treated with respect.

I'm wondering if it is because you have been hit by corporate america too.

I noticed that the big chains keep the pharmacists overworked. Whenever someone is overworked "customers" seem to think those people are lazy or stupid. I have even overheard over 90% of the nurses I worked around continuously refer to pharmacy negatively when meds are late. I always say....."Maybe they are busy like us." No, of course not, you are sitting over in your little cubies laughing at us because we call up cranky looking for meds and that just makes your day. I have found that most people think that when things aren't getting done it's because someone is doing something wrong.....not busy.

I also think that most people don't find picking up scripts a fun thing....going to the doc's and being in the hospital......so we are prone to abuse.

I always assume first that the person is busy - until I see that is not the case.

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That kind of stuff really upsets me when a pt calls or a family member comes looking for you to help the pt when the family present could help out in the first place. And when I say 'help the pt', I mean like a small task or something very simple (like say opening something up, etc...). It's alright for the family to come and visit, but they can't help their own father/brother/sister/mother....? But I gladly go in there and make sure the pt gets what they need.

Another exactly.

I have been convinced that when people walk through the entrance of the hospital they lose all common sense.

Another thing I would like to say when I have to deal with families so clueless......

"People actually let you leave your home without supervision?"

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Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.

Reading this thread just reinforces what I have been doing lately: Any time family members come in and visit or stay the night (our floor allows and even encourages an overnight visitor), I always always always thank them for their help. Some of them are very helpful while others do tend to get in the way or ask a million questions, but so far I've been lucky to have some nice people who are actually willing to lend a hand.

But I can also see how my personality may lead to "enabling" the kind of dependent behaviors if I'm not careful. I'm the type of person to just do things myself if its quicker than the patient doing it, for example, holding the cup of water if they are a bit slow moving and I'm in a hurry. Reading this thread will help me to remember that I need to encourage and allow people to do more for themselves so I don't encourage them calling me for every little thing. Thanks for the reality check guys :)

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Specializes in neuro, ICU/CCU, tropical medicine.
Any time family members come in and visit or stay the night (our floor allows and even encourages an overnight visitor), I always always always thank them for their help.

I started as a nurse tech in rehab. Ultimately the patient goes home with thier family, so the family needs to know how to take care of the patient. I also don't believe in doing something for a patient that she/he can do for her-/himself because of my (remote) rehab experience. I'll tell people that too, "I'm only going to help you as much as you need help."

Beside that, I believe that one of the things that make family members problematic is their perceived lack of control over the situation. I've found that if I give them something to do, something they can be in control of, they will usually become my ally rather than my opponant.

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I am 'justavolunteer' who sees pts. like this often enough. I get people who tell me when I walk in, 'raise the bed, I can't reach the button'. (The button is on the bed rail, next to the call light, which they are able to reach early & often.) Often, it's people like this who end up waiting longer between hitting call lights & seeing someone. The staff (and me) figure out pretty quickly who needs help & who is having a 'let's make the nurse run' contest. Luckily, I'm able to dodge most of the outright abuse by being 'justavolunteer'.

I see stuff like this & I don't wonder that there's a nursing shortage. The real wonder is that people are dedicated enough to put up with the abuse.

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Specializes in Tele m/s, new to ED.

After two years of ER practice I still consider myself new. I always find myself amazed at the lack of humility the patients present with. Granted they have no idea what we are doing in the next room or even on the other side of the curtain but, even after a simple explaination you can get the "i don't care" vibe. The complaints and responses to delays... a patient will put the blame back on (the nurse) for everything; it is never the patinets concern and they never will accept responsibility for their actions or comments. Behind the scenes i will say that nurses can be the most understanding professionals I have ever met. I beleive WE have all been there and when it's time to vent WE listen to each other. But, man...one of these days...

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Specializes in floor to ICU.
Haven't you ever heard of SAS?

Short arm syndrome.

"Oh nurse, could you hand me that, I can't reach it."

Better known as Tyrannosaurus Rex syndrome

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.
I hate those family members. Scribble, scribble, scribble. Hope their hand falls off.....opps..did i just say that? Yep, sure did.

I start off by very slowly spelling my last name, showing the family member my name tag. Then I say tell them everything that I am doing, ensuring that they write every little thing down. "Got it all? Good..":yawn: I am so over being intimated by the passive-aggressive note pad.

I am throrough in my documentation - to a fault. So if the family wants to take notes, whatever - my notes are legal documents, not the feverishly scribbled notes by a family member.

I do wish I had the guts to wear a button that says "YES, I wash my hands once a day. Whether they need it or not." :chuckle

Blee

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