I call my patients by their name. I also call them "sir" "maam" "honey" or "friend" especially since all of them are in critical condition. This message is for the nurse who told me not to call her patients "honey" and was nasty about it:
Be grateful I am providing good, solid care for your patients and don't sweat the small stuff. Your license(which took at least two years to earn) is on the line when it comes to the care they receive from both of us. I call everyone "honey". I have lived in the South and in Texas and it is what has been ingrained in me. I am not putting anyone down so just chill. Believe me, I have better things to do. Oh, and by the way, you might have noticed that I was quite busy helping other RNs during the last shift we shared and you wiped your patient's backside most of the night. Keep up the snide comments and you will get more of the same.....
Am I missing something????? when did she say that she would not help the patient to get back at the nurse? where does it say???? I thought that it was about a nurse being nasty to her for calling patients "sweeties" and all. Here you are people - going off on an aide you don't know! You don't know what type of patient care she provides and for sure you can't tell from her post. It is sad how the story gets tweested with each post, but this is a big part of the reason some places are a hell to work in, because people jump to conclusion before thinking about the situation. Read her post again!
If the nurse doesn't like you calling people sugary names, then just don't do it. I understand how much it sucks to get a talking to about something, but still... even if you don't mind, she does. Why would you intentionally keep doing something that annoys someone? I always adapt my behavior to what my coworkers want. If I know a nurse like her vitals early, I do them early. If she focuses more on the supplement drinks, I do that first. If a CNA wants to toilet people in a certain order, I do it their way. Less needless conflict for everyone.
I know your "sweetie" habit is well-intentioned, but I bet a lot of your patients aren't comfortable with it. I'm not from the South and I HATE being called "honey" or "sweetie." It doesn't bother me when the residents call me that because they're old enough to be my grandparents (or great-grandparents), but it gets on my nerves when another CNA does it to me. I know it'll bug me when I'm old to have someone calling me that.
Where did you get the idea that I called her patients "honey" after she rudely told me not to?
Am I missing something????? when did she say that she would not help the patient to get back at the nurse? where does it say???? I thought that it was about a nurse being nasty to her for calling patients "sweeties" and all. Here you are people - going off on an aide you don't know! You don't know what type of patient care she provides and for sure you can't tell from her post. It is sad how the story gets tweested with each post, but this is a big part of the reason some places are a hell to work in, because people jump to conclusion before thinking about the situation. Read her post again!
Thank you. I realize I came off as b*tchy in the OP and,yes, I was annoyed. I work my tail off every shift and I do it for the patients and the RNs. I want to be an RN someday and I try to put myself in their shoes. All I am trying to say is this: Treat me and all LNAs with respect and you will get the same back tenfold:)
2. Again, it is about perception. I don't perceive the term "honey" to be bad and you do. Different strokes for different folks. If it is that much of an issue, make a policy and stick it in the employee handbook.
What you seem to be missing is the point that your perception and that of the other workers is irrelevant in this consumer driven healthcare culture. The only opinion that matters is that of the patient which since some are unable to communicate we have to set a blanket rule for every one. Do you realize how thick the handbook would be if EVERY conceivable policy was created.....I can hear forests being felled as I type.
...Oh, and by the way, you might have noticed that I was quite busy helping other RNs during the last shift we shared and you wiped your patient's backside most of the night. Keep up the snide comments and you will get more of the same.....
Love,
Your LNA;)
I think this is the part that is confusing people. What does this mean, exactly?
Hold up a sec here...I never said that I would refuse to help anyone with a patient or deny a patient of respect and care. Believe me, I will do anything throughout my shift to bring comfort and care to anyone at anytime. I am on my feet instantly when those call lights go off, so just relax:)
I was actually stunned to hear the nurse's critcism(By the way it was the first time anyone said anything to me about it at anytime). We are not talking about calling someone a racial slur; we are talking about a term of endearment, one that is used alongside Mr. Smith or Bob. Honestly, if someone were to write me up for something like that, I would probably give my notice. Here I am, giving the best care I can(and,again, I would have helped the nurse in question had she asked for it) and you are going to get upset over this? Please.
Thank you for clarifying this. It is very hard to know someone's emotional intent on an Internet forum so I think your comments came off in a way that made it sound like you were taking out your frustrations on the patients who had nothing to do with the problems with the nurse.
I get the feeling that what bothers you is not necessarily what the nurse said to you but the way in which she said it. It sounds like she may have been a tad rude or condescending, which is inappropriate and unfair and makes people angry. I think this nurse put you down and belittled you and that is, understandably, enough to make anyone upset.
There are ways to deliver criticism without devastating the recipient. My guess is that this nurse hasn't figured that out quite yet. Unfortunately, some people don't learn and continue to treat others in disrespectful ways.
I'm confused then...you say you wouldn't deny care to a patient to "punish" the nurse, and yet you say in your original post that you noticed that nurse repeatedly cleaning a patient and yet you *chose* to be unavailable to help her and that you would continue to ignore her need for help in future shifts! I just don't see how those two go together.
I'm confused then...you say you wouldn't deny care to a patient to "punish" the nurse, and yet you say in your original post that you noticed that nurse repeatedly cleaning a patient and yet you *chose* to be unavailable to help her and that you would continue to ignore her need for help in future shifts! I just don't see how those two go together.
Give it a break, you are disecting and microanalizing the post, you are confusing!
I didn't say you did. I was just surprised that you said "the OP didn't do anything wrong," and then I pointed out what I thought the OP did that was wrong. I know denying wrongdoing isn't the same as claiming what was done is right, which is why I didn't accuse you of saying what the OP did was right. I asked you if you did or did not think it was wrong.
I'm sure all of us have been put in situations in which we could've dealt with it in a better way in hindsight.
And that's the problem. Posting on the internet *IS* hindsight. The OP has had time to think about the event and formulate and rearrange their thoughts. And it still comes off as unprofessional and irresponsible. The OP shows no indication that she would deal with it another way now, in fact, she SAYS she will continue to act in an unprofessional manner when she shares a shift with that nurse again!
I'm not trying to be mean or say I'm better than anyone else. What I'm saying is that I'm apalled by the actions and potental future actions involved in this situation, because I think excellent patient care (every patient, every time) is more important than hurt feelings/anger/dislike of coworkers/etc. And believe me, I know it can be hard to be told you're doing something wrong, even when it seems trivial (whether that means it's trivial or just trivial to you is another matter). Sure, I've acted in immature ways before. But I have *never, ever* let it affect my job performance, and I pray I never will.
While I agree that the attitude may be a little out of line, this is a vent. Let's allow the OP to have their moment. In regards to calling a patient "honey", you'd be lucky to make it through a stay at any hospital in my area without someone using a term such as that. This is the south...it's how most of us were raised. Most of the time, I don't even realize that I'm saying it! And I have never, in all my years in the service industry, and now in the medical field, had anyone get upset with me for using terms such as "honey".
I have an idea--go to the patient and ask them what they'd like to be called--honey, sweetie, Mr./Mrs. ______, etc.
In an environment where they have so little control over their lives--i.e., when they eat, what they eat, when they shower, where they travel to, who they interact with on a day-to-day basis, what they get to wear, etc. afford them this one thing--a bit of control--that might be the greatest thing you can do for them in their opinion, and really it is (or at least should be) about what they prefer, not what the nurse or the LNA prefers
lucylu 777
67 Posts
Am I missing something????? when did she say that she would not help the patient to get back at the nurse? where does it say???? I thought that it was about a nurse being nasty to her for calling patients "sweeties" and all. Here you are people - going off on an aide you don't know! You don't know what type of patient care she provides and for sure you can't tell from her post. It is sad how the story gets tweested with each post, but this is a big part of the reason some places are a hell to work in, because people jump to conclusion before thinking about the situation. Read her post again!