your very own personal crusade

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2005

:uhoh21: I've done this before, but I won't any more...okay?:)

I really get irritated when health care folks talk to the patients and tack, "Okay?" onto the end of whatever they're saying. "I need to check your blood pressure, okay?" "We're going to start you on a new med, okay?"
You hear this especially with kids and older people, but it's far too common at all age levels.
What really adds fuel to my fire is when it's said in a little voice that ends up sounding like the speaker is talking to a baby. On some of the medical shows on Discovery or TLC, you hear this over and over and over.
One of my objections is that tacking on, "Okay?" implies a choice that often doesn't really exist. What are you going to do if you say, "Okay?" and the patient says, "No." This happens to my grandson who has spina bifida all the time. We've asked the nurses to simply tell him what needs to be done and leave it at that.
"Okay?" has become a reflex for some people, short hand for, "Did you understand what I just said? Are you okay with it. Are you going to resist?" etc. But when you hear it at the end of sentence after sentence, it starts to sound patronizing.
I wish health care people would just say what's what and make an actual inquiry now and then instead of the running okays.
"I would like to listen to your heart and lungs and then I'll help you turn on your side. How does that sound?"

DenaInWyo · Sep 19, 2005

My pet peeve is following after a nurse who passed meds and leaves the med on the patient table for the patient to take, walks away and charts it as given. Lo and behold, I come on and the med is still sitting on the table. Bad, very bad.

UGH! I hate this too, and it seems to be chronic where I work. I know I am a student and will learn more about how "the real world" works once I am out there, but it still seems to me that this is a no-brainer. Our nurses will set residents' med cups down by their plate during meal times and then just mosey off. The problem is, we have several 'hoarders' who like to sneak back in after meals and collect leftovers..whether the leftovers are cookies or pills. I've even found a used, uncapped syringe sitting next to a resident with some pretty serious dementia..wouldn't trust her with a butterknife, let alone something like that. Most of these nurses graduated from the same school I am attending and I KNOW they know better. And nope, a bug in the ear of the DON hasn't done a bit of good.

Deana

stidget99 · Sep 19, 2005

Not as a patient, but I am a bit older than most of my coworker and I have been called baby, miss priss and others, but I alway felt these were terms of endearment, and they always came from the sweetest people. It may be a cultural thing, cause I think it was said with the kindest intentions.

After moving from the north to the south, I have seen a huge cultural difference re: how to address other people. I once had a pt complain about me for being rude and "overly professional/abrupt". They complained that I never used the "terms of endearment" like honey, sweetie, etc and always referred to them as "Mr". I hail from the midwest and was taught that you always address someone as "Mr" or "Ms" until given permission to do otherwise by the patient. This particular pt never gave me express permission to call him by his first name. I have now started calling pts by those terms of endearment simply because it is an expectation down here in the south.

I also was mildly offended when I first moved down here by being called honey and sweetie and dear. It took me a while to realize that no disrespect is intended. It is a way of the south.

DusktilDawn · Sep 19, 2005

And another one,,, WHY is it that when people are in the hospital bathtimes arent guided by patients habits at home?
If i hear someone complain one more time because not ALL the baths werent done on DAYs im gonna scream. Face it,, some people sleep better if they bath before bedtime, some like to bath in the AM. As far as im concerned that should be part of the admission interview,, When do you prefer your bath while here? or,, Do you bath regularly in the morning or before bedtime when at home? Then follow the patients lead!!!! If they dont have a problem that warrents bathing frequently, why not let the patient decide?

I actually had one person tell me the reason they worked 3-11 was so they WOULND'T have to pt baths :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

AMARTIN1 · Sep 20, 2005

I actually had one person tell me the reason they worked 3-11 was so they WOULND'T have to pt baths :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

That's so ridiculous!!! Baths can't always be done during the day, especially if you work on a primary nursing intermediate/tele floor. It should be done within a 24 hour shift by any RN,LVN or CNA. I can't stand finding a patient I had the previous day, lying in a filthy bed with dried stains all over their gown!

DusktilDawn · Sep 20, 2005

That's so ridiculous!!! Baths can't always be done during the day, especially if you work on a primary nursing intermediate/tele floor. It should be done within a 24 hour shift by any RN,LVN or CNA. I can't stand finding a patient I had the previous day, lying in a filthy bed with dried stains all over their gown!

I agree it's ridiculous, but unfortunately there are too many with exactly the attitude that baths should be done on days.

Luv2BAnurse · Sep 20, 2005

After moving from the north to the south, I have seen a huge cultural difference re: how to address other people. I once had a pt complain about me for being rude and "overly professional/abrupt". They complained that I never used the "terms of endearment" like honey, sweetie, etc and always referred to them as "Mr". I hail from the midwest and was taught that you always address someone as "Mr" or "Ms" until given permission to do otherwise by the patient. This particular pt never gave me express permission to call him by his first name. I have now started calling pts by those terms of endearment simply because it is an expectation down here in the south.
I also was mildly offended when I first moved down here by being called honey and sweetie and dear. It took me a while to realize that no disrespect is intended. It is a way of the south.

Being from the South too, I LIKE being called those. Gives me a sense (however false it may be) that someone cares. I also USE those endearments on occasion. More so at LTC than in M/S.

lady_jezebel · Sep 20, 2005

I had a clinical instructor that called them a pt's "special pads", which sounds just as silly & belittling to me.

I agree with using the word "pad", though "diaper" sometimes comes out of my mouth in order to differentiate them from "chucks".

lady_jezebel · Sep 20, 2005

I actually had one person tell me the reason they worked 3-11 was so they WOULND'T have to pt baths :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

I'm all for pt's being clean & bathed, but I honestly don't like to do them either. I enjoy the intellectual aspects of nursing, but not the personal grooming, giving meals, or toileting. I do them b/c I have to, but would love to work a shift where baths weren't my responsibility. A person can still inspect skin for breakdown without doing a bath.

In fact, I hate some of these aspects of nursing. I'm still a compassionate person & a good nurse. When I'm emptying garbage or pushing a bed or cleaning a room or even giving a bath to a patient, sometimes I think "I went to school for this???". These are my true feelings, so please don't flame me (or anyone else) for being honest.

lady_jezebel · Sep 20, 2005

Quote: "I really get irritated when health care folks talk to the patients and tack, "Okay?" onto the end of whatever they're saying. "I need to check your blood pressure, okay?" "We're going to start you on a new med, okay?"

I do this, but not b/c I'm feeling submissive. I want patients to know that they have a choice in any procedure, even the small ones. Patients can feel so powerless in a hospital, so even little choices (or perceived choices) can make them feel more empowered & respected.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Sep 20, 2005

I actually had one person tell me the reason they worked 3-11 was so they WOULND'T have to pt baths :angryfire :angryfire :angryfire

They would have hated one facilty i worked at. We did some evening baths and showers.:)

Wise Woman RN · Sep 20, 2005

i think everyone has a personal little cause - that little thing that's really not a big deal, but is a huge deal to you - and i want to know what yours is.
mine's pads. pads, not nappies.
only babies wear nappies, and i think that saying an adult wears a nappy takes away so much dignity! it's not that hard to just call it a pad and let the person have that one little bit of dignity. i mean, heaven knows if you're in hospital in need of a great big pad, you probably don't feel that dignified, without being popped into a nappy like a little baby!
i used to work in disabilities, where i helped out in a group home with some profoundly disabled teenagers. they basically needed full assistance for all care, but it was so important that we were support workers, not carers, and they wore pads, NOT NAPPIES!! it just makes sense to me. i mean, you play down stuff all the time to save people's feelings - the lady hurling up her guts is 'feeling a bit off', the man covered in poo is 'in a mess' and just needs 'help to clean up', people who die slow painful deaths miraculously 'pass on gently' when their family ask if they suffered. i don't care if the person in front of me needs a big-mama super absorbant nappy-type creation, i'll still say 'i'll just grab you a pad' every time.
see - smallest thing to everyone else, huge deal for me! what's yours?

It bugs me, too... I call them disposable underwear...