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?

[SisterofMary]

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.

This has happened to me on mild levels and extreme levels. While it's happening, I don't realize it until afterwards and I am fuming - I feel so demeaned. I feel like patients see us less than professionals sometimes and as well-paid servants. I guess it's true in nursing school that you have to encourage a patient to maintain their own autonomy.

[Fiona59]

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.

My health service has a policy in place that prohibits video recording on units. If a family asks to record discharge instructions or teaching that's one thing. Randomly walking around the unit recording the goings on is another. Do we really need to have "Oh, look it's the meal wagon" recorded? I have the right to expect not to be recorded as does the patient and their family on the other side of the curtain.

Is it really necessary for an adult child of a 45 yo woman to tick off the interactions and medications on the paperwork provided about the procedure?

I have the right to protect myself. Recordings can and are interpreted in many different ways. I had a coworker who wound up in HR because of a patient recording their interaction with a different patient and a family. What the videographer didn't know was the interaction was at the request of the family, who wound up writing to HR to support the nurse at the UM request. The videographer was told in no uncertain terms to delete their film as it was done without the consent of all parties involved and that she had violated their privacy.

[trytounderstand]

As a patient or family member I have a right to document what has happened the same as doctors and nurses have their notes as to what care they have given or their opinion of the patient as far as being cooperative etc.

Most of the time as a patient/family member I would be making note of prognosis, treatment, how to take care of the patient once released, the person's name that gave me information so if I have questions I know who to contact, when I need to see the doctor again, etc. Most of the time it would not be looking for a way to sue but a way to be sure that under a stressful situation you had the facts straight and knew who to ask for if you have a question or concern. If the nurse or doctor has been wonderful I would make note of that so I could pass it on later and let me add in my lifetime I have met many, many amazing nurses, doctors and technicians. If they were rude, condescending or harassed the patient to do something against their will that was not medically necessary I would also make note of that interaction. The same as doctors and nurses make note in the patient's chart of any interaction or behavior that needs to be made note of in order to protect themselves later.

I do believe that if a patient requests such things as surgery, their care while under anesthesia, how they are prepared for surgery to be recorded or observed by a family member that should be honored. That having been said I want to state there may have to be restrictions such as observing from a distance because I am fully aware there may be times that the observer could be overwhelmed if an emergency arises. But if a patient wants an observer why not? You are all professionals and should act in a professional manner and treat each patient and situation professionally.

[trytounderstand]

My health service has a policy in place that prohibits video recording on units. If a family asks to record discharge instructions or teaching that's one thing. Randomly walking around the unit recording the goings on is another. Do we really need to have "Oh, look it's the meal wagon" recorded? I have the right to expect not to be recorded as does the patient and their family on the other side of the curtain.

Is it really necessary for an adult child of a 45 yo woman to tick off the interactions and medications on the paperwork provided about the procedure?

I have the right to protect myself. Recordings can and are interpreted in many different ways. I had a coworker who wound up in HR because of a patient recording their interaction with a different patient and a family. What the videographer didn't know was the interaction was at the request of the family, who wound up writing to HR to support the nurse at the UM request. The videographer was told in no uncertain terms to delete their film as it was done without the consent of all parties involved and that she had violated their privacy.

As a patient and family member I have absolutely no right to video tape another patient or to record what is going on in the room next to me. The world has become so concerned with recording everything with that little phone they carry in their hand. It is just mind boggling what some people think they have the right to share.

I know my spouse and I like to be together because what one forgets to ask the other remembers. Or there have been times that an important condition may have overlooked such as one forgetting to tell an anesthesiologist they have sleep apnea or think it not important to mention because "Oh well, I'm in the hospital, they'll take care of me." Sometimes the spouse or child will be the one responsible for making sure that adult follows doctors orders once they leave the hospital.

Now I will say this if someone confided to me that they or a family member had a concern about their care I would not hesitate to remind them to contact the patient advocate and that they always have a right to a second opinion about their care. I would even look up the phone number for them and help them make the call.

[riverlands]

Pet peeve...Patients who can eat a full meal with silverware, talk on the phone, walk unassisted, reposition in bed, operate their bed and remote control, but need staff to wash and examine their testicles and often have other inappropriate behaviors. Guess they are experiencing neuromuscular compromise and unable to use arms. If this continues, I will notify the physician, PT and the case manager, clearly the individual needs a SNF and if the team decides this is not the case, behavioral contract. Not afraid to notify the entire care team regarding this behavior when hospitalist is there. Nursing & ancillary is not an on-call genital massage service. NOPE.

[FloridaBeagle]

These stories make me so happy I'm not working acute care anymore. People are awful.

My pet peeve is people who talk to me when I have my stethoscope on them. Thanks for making me deaf!

[Kitiger, RN]

FloridaBeagle said:

These stories make me so happy I'm not working acute care anymore. People are awful.

My pet peeve is people who talk to me when I have my stethoscope on them. Thanks for making me deaf!

It's even more fun when they decide to clear their throat.

[Nunya, BSN]

Two minutes after the doctor leaves the room: "Will I be able to get a sleeping pill tonight?" Me: "If your doctor ordered it, sure." "I didn't think to ask him." My thought balloon: Well, that is a bummer, because he's the one with the prescriptive privileges.

Dear Allnurses, we need a "haha" button for posts such as this!

[Nunya, BSN]

As a patient or family member I have a right to document what has happened the same as doctors and nurses have their notes as to what care they have given or their opinion of the patient as far as being cooperative etc.

Most of the time as a patient/family member I would be making note of prognosis, treatment, how to take care of the patient once released, the person's name that gave me information so if I have questions I know who to contact, when I need to see the doctor again, etc. Most of the time it would not be looking for a way to sue but a way to be sure that under a stressful situation you had the facts straight and knew who to ask for if you have a question or concern. If the nurse or doctor has been wonderful I would make note of that so I could pass it on later and let me add in my lifetime I have met many, many amazing nurses, doctors and technicians. If they were rude, condescending or harassed the patient to do something against their will that was not medically necessary I would also make note of that interaction. The same as doctors and nurses make note in the patient's chart of any interaction or behavior that needs to be made note of in order to protect themselves later.

I do believe that if a patient requests such things as surgery, their care while under anesthesia, how they are prepared for surgery to be recorded or observed by a family member that should be honored. That having been said I want to state there may have to be restrictions such as observing from a distance because I am fully aware there may be times that the observer could be overwhelmed if an emergency arises. But if a patient wants an observer why not? You are all professionals and should act in a professional manner and treat each patient and situation professionally.

Are you a nurse?

[jaderook01, BSN, RN]

The patients that call the operator- who then puts them through to the nurses' station- just to ask for popsicles. On a step-down- that's our priority- popsicles for the fluid restriction people.

[Irish_Mist, BSN, RN]

As a patient or family member I have a right to document what has happened the same as doctors and nurses have their notes as to what care they have given or their opinion of the patient as far as being cooperative etc.

Most of the time as a patient/family member I would be making note of prognosis, treatment, how to take care of the patient once released, the person's name that gave me information so if I have questions I know who to contact, when I need to see the doctor again, etc. Most of the time it would not be looking for a way to sue but a way to be sure that under a stressful situation you had the facts straight and knew who to ask for if you have a question or concern. If the nurse or doctor has been wonderful I would make note of that so I could pass it on later and let me add in my lifetime I have met many, many amazing nurses, doctors and technicians. If they were rude, condescending or harassed the patient to do something against their will that was not medically necessary I would also make note of that interaction. The same as doctors and nurses make note in the patient's chart of any interaction or behavior that needs to be made note of in order to protect themselves later.

I do believe that if a patient requests such things as surgery, their care while under anesthesia, how they are prepared for surgery to be recorded or observed by a family member that should be honored. That having been said I want to state there may have to be restrictions such as observing from a distance because I am fully aware there may be times that the observer could be overwhelmed if an emergency arises. But if a patient wants an observer why not? You are all professionals and should act in a professional manner and treat each patient and situation professionally.

ETA: saw your recent response to Fiona and see where you're coming from. I'm glad to know you agree that it's wrong to film the staff without asking.

I personally don't see anything wrong with writing down interactions throughout the day or taking notes about the care/plan of care. But literally writing down times and what the nurse/ staff did in the room for the patient or said, that is excessive and tells me the family member is either incredibly distrustful of the staff or looking for a pay day via litigation. If you have that much trouble trusting the staff at your local hospital, perhaps it's time to go somewhere else for your/your family's medical care or pursue mental health services.

Again, as I stated before, I have the right to my privacy. The patient expects their privacy honored, so do I. I refuse to be recorded doing my job unless my permission was asked and approved by my me as well as my nurse manager and upper management in the hospital including (but not limited to) risk management, HR, nursing administration, etc. I have no problem with someone having me be recorded for wound care, wound vacs, or some sort of detailed procedure that a family member is going to be doing for my patient once discharged. However, I want to be ASKED. If I find out that I am being recorded without my knowledge or consent, I will get the charge nurse/house supervisor/nurse manager involved immediately.

As far as your last paragraph, you will be hard pressed to find a hospital that will allow their staff to "honor the requests" of patient who want to film their care in the OR, pre-op, etc. It's a major conflict of interest and sets everyone up for a hipaa violation. It's a potential state and federal legal issue. Not to mention, everyone these days wants to whip out their phone, hit record and the post on social media. I have no desire to have myself recorded and plastered on Facebook.

[Sour Lemon]

I am amused and horrified when a confused and helpless patient has an equally confused and helpless visitor stay with them. No, we cannot change your girlfriend's diaper or wheel her to the bus stop two blocks away. We can't change the dressing on her foot or give her anything for her headache, either. She is not a patient at this hospital.