Patients & Pet Peeves

[SisterofMary]

I am a nurse of 2 years and a recent hire on a acute medical/surgical floor.

I'm learning so much, which is great. However, it also feels like a whirlwind.

Does anyone have any pet peeves - behaviors that patient's have that make you frustrated?

However, I so dislike when patient's who are A & O curse in conversation. Or if they openly belch when I am nearby them or speaking to them. Thankfully, these are only minor incidents. Of course I always mask my inner thoughts and treat the patient with all due respect.

Anyone have any pet peeves? How do you deal with the situations or do you just let it go?

[JBudd, MSN]

Bugs me when I go to do a temporal thermometer reading, and they scrunch up their forehead trying to see the thing approaching their face. I say ahead of time, "I'm going to touch your forehead and behind your ear", do you really need to wrinkle the skin enough I can't get good contact?

No, I really can't tell you how much longer it will be for you to be called to the back. As you see, the waiting room is full. Everyone here is in pain! No, I can't give grandma narcotics for her chronic pain while still in the waiting room. Yes, I know she's sick. I will get her into a room as soon as I can, and one is assigned. Yes, latecomers may go back before you. Some are going to fast track to see a PA. You need a doctor. You have to wait. or not, the nearest other ER is a 65 mile drive in another city, and their waiting time tends to be more than double ours. So take that hour's drive and end up at the bottom of the list all over again, no skin off my nose.

((I do feel badly for people who are hurting so badly, and "comfort measures" just aren't going to cut it..........))

[ComeTogether, LPN]

I get frustrated when I ask a pt if they are in any pain or if they need anything, to which they say no yet proceed to ring 20 minutes later.

[SafetyNurse1968, ADN, BSN, MSN, PhD]

Patients who want to video record their "hospital experience".

Families who write down every interaction. Then continue to question every thing that you've done. Even though you've explained everything to the fully alert adult in the bed who is their parent.

I am wondering why this bothers you? As a patient safety specialist, I encourage everyone I know to write down and if possible, record all their interactions when in the healthcare system. I feel like an actively engaged patient/family member is one that will be less likely to be harmed while in our care. I guess it might be annoying, but I try to honor it and recognize that folks are trying to protect themselves.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

Oh yeah!

Husbands from those tribal countries where women are not allowed to speak or ask questions ,everything has to go thru him.

Women in veils refusing to take off the gloves to wash their hands,yet carry the latest expensive cell phone,and wearing bright red fredericks of hollywood push up bras under that cloak.

Parents who shop for answers from everyone.

Patients that complain about the water pitcher,the mirror .

Patients who ask where are you from and expect you be an interpreter even though they speak perfect English.

Parents who scream when they see child is sporting a new IV site.

Inconsiderate selfish parents who wake a sick sleeping child and yell at you:it is my child and I can do whatever I want!"

Stinky women ,unwashed hair,bad breath even when they have private room and shower.

Visitors with pants hanging down exposing underwear and expect to sit on nurses chairs.

Doctors who do not wash or change from job to job

[Irish_Mist, BSN, RN]

I am wondering why this bothers you? As a patient safety specialist, I encourage everyone I know to write down and if possible, record all their interactions when in the healthcare system. I feel like an actively engaged patient/family member is one that will be less likely to be harmed while in our care. I guess it might be annoying, but I try to honor it and recognize that folks are trying to protect themselves.

I have the right to not be recorded without my consent at my place of employment. Patient's have an expectation of privacy and so do I. It's a two way street. It is totally possible for patients to advocate for evidenced based care without recording the nurse or writing down every single interaction. That's excessive and way over the top.

Recording every interaction with the staff smells of "I'm looking for a reason to sue". Encouraging people to record interactions almost translates to "you can't trust these people to do their job or do it well therefore you need to record in case you need proof against them."

[Irish_Mist, BSN, RN]

BlinkyPinky said:

Awwww- LOL. You just described me with one of our sons. Give us helicopter nurse/ moms a break

Is your son 55 and does he need you to be the one who talks to the doctor and not him?

Break has been given.

[balistic]

Kitiger said:

I had one memorable patient who never took a breath at the end of a sentence. He caught his breaths in the middle of the sentence. This meant that the only way I could get a word in edgewise was to interrupt and talk over him. (No, he didn't stop talking when I interrupted.)

I learned to tell him at the get-go that I only had 5 minutes to talk. At the 5 minute mark. I would point to my watch, smile, and wave good-by as I walked out!

Psych nurse here- it's called pressured speech. Usually a symptom of bipolar, schizoaffective, or some other psych issue. Fun fun!

[Julius Seizure]

2) people who try to bring babies or otherwise ridiculously, inappropriately young children into the ICU. Barring certain end of life situations, it's a pointless risk to a child's health.

I will do you one better: people who let said children crawl around on the floor. Eating food. That they inevitably drop on the floor, then pick up and put in their mouth. And playing with toys that they also inevitably drop on the floor, then pick up and put in their mouth.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

When a parent allows their non-toddler aged (aka old enough to know better) child to act out towards staff by hitting, punching, biting, using inappropriate language, etc. Even worse when they allow it when we are NOT performing an invasive procedure.

Being a peds nurse, I realize that 99% of my "Pet Peeves" revolve around the parents. I've always said pediatric nursing needs their own version of Casual Friday called Parent-Free Monday...sorry not sorry.

[NurseBlaq]

Julius Seizure said:

I will do you one better: people who let said children crawl around on the floor. Eating food. That they inevitably drop on the floor, then pick up and put in their mouth. And playing with toys that they also inevitably drop on the floor, then pick up and put in their mouth.

OMG

[EDNURSE20, BSN]

Easy. When pt come in and suddenly can't do anything, when they are perfectly able. They ring the bell for any little thing, like pass me that book that's half half a metre away from there bed. Or can you pull uo my sheets. Or do this or that. I even had a pt ask me to wipe her bottom because it was easier if I did it. She got up to the toilet alone, why would I do that????

Oh and pt that have like 30 family members visiting them crowding the place and getting in the way. Unless the pt is dying, it's not needed.

[missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN]

Irish_Mist said:

Is your son 55 and does he need you to be the one who talks to the doctor and not him?

Break has been given.

My son is 11, and he has been given a choice as to whether he wants me in his pediatricians room or not since the age of 9. If it's a well visit, he doesn't want me there. If he is sick, he wants me there. Also if he's going to get shots...he's such a baby about shots. You've got to give them room to grow!