tweetieRN

Hi bunky - one of the areas of dissatisfaction on a recent survey was the IV stick. They hurt! Well, duh. No kidding.

Occasionally, I've wanted to go in with a restaurant order pad and say"May I take your order, please."

I replyed in this vein in the 'whats the fuss about customer service'. Our hospital has open visiting and has recently installed futons in all rooms - even ICU. I understand what all of you are saying, and when management doesn't care, it makes it doubly hard. I want to take care of my patient - and help his husband/wife/children as much as I can. Often they're so stressed and appreciate a little kindness and education. But I'd like to kick the rest of them out. I heard one patient mention to a visitor that he needed his hair washed and the visitor says"Well, just tell that nurse. Thats what they're here for." As tho that was the only thing we do. I've found that most people have little idea what we do because most of it is hidden from their view. I hate it when the patient says 'oh, I'm not going to give you any problems' then keep me busy for an hour doing this and that. I wonder sometimes what they do at home when they want a drink or their blankets pulled up - call the neighbor?

The funniest ER story I ever heard came from a friend. On a slow nite this older gentleman came in - he was kind of fidgeting around. His story was "My hemmorhoids were acting up, and I was out of Preparation H. Didn't know what to do until I saw the jar of Vicks. Maam, if I was a dog, I'd be dragging my 'backside' on the floor." I still laugh about that one. Vicks is such a cure-all, esp. with the 'olders' and they're always so amazed that we don't have it in the formulary.