Pt/Family RAGE

[sawbuck]

Any of you experience verbal, mental, and or physical abuse from the patients or family you take care of? The frequency of this has noticibly arisen in the past 5 or so years.

We see immeadiate acting crisis teams to provide support and care to the family and patient when their issues begin. Our nurses and aides seem to have none of this support. We go through episodes of inner anger and strife without assistance of how to channel it out of our systems. We go home with these problems and asorb it all, possibly improperly, or maybe not even asorbing it. Thus, not wanting to return to work or to take on the same patient/family, which drops out the consistancy factor of care.

Any ideas or report of teams supporting US for a change?

Randy

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

Why does a patient's family believe that we are to be in the room 24/7? If I could I certainly would, but we all know in the hospital setting that kind of care just can't happen and probably won't. I had a situation occur, and I was assured by the more experienced nurses that I handled the situation correctly, and did what was required, but I still am very upset...so upset I questioned whether I chose the right career (yes I am a new nurse..just shy of 3 months). I am sick and still crying over the way the family spoke and made me feel incompetent. I know there is no right answer and thank you for letting me vent, maybe by doing so I can and will have a better day today.

a pts family believes that we are to be in their room 24/7 every hour of the day cause that is what the hosptals are telling them what will happen- the Customer is ALWAYS right, someone will be in to see pt every hour on the hour, there are no restrictions as to visitors in room, etc. customer service- not hosptal. it is for tis reason i WILL be looking into a new career of some sort very soon.too bad im still paying on my wasted nursing education. if i am going to be treated as a waitress, i might as well be one- at least i wont get sued and lose my license:angryfire

[vivibonita]

Hi, thanks for the wonderful experience input. I am working with my administrators, house psychologist, and others to pursue a new and needed team for support, council, and react to us in the immeadiate situation (not 2-3 days later). Any ideas ot thoughts that might be in focus?

There are times when I'm like : ok we have to understand the relatives position... but there are times when I;m not going to put up with the abuse, you try to be helpful and get the back of the hand instead. It is important that when something like this happens we get support from the people we work with and for. We can't stand alone on this, but remember that the first step starts when we take it ourselves. Just one thing... when you feel like you are being abused, don't respond the same way you are being treated, you attrack more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Peace

[vivibonita]

Why does a patient's family believe that we are to be in the room 24/7?

Because that's what stereotypes have done to the profession for many many years, create expectations that realistically can't be met.

[Katie82, RN]

It would be nice if people knew how to be civil. I blame their parents for not teaching them proper behavior. The parent is now the patient and the children are just rude and selfish.

Unfortunatly, civility has become comprimized since we have all become too busy to acknowledge the feelings of others. I think part of the problem with tolerating anger from family is that we are putting ourselves on the same plane as the patient and their families. I don't allow this kind of abuse to bother me anymore - it really did at one time. I just consider the source and try to analyze the conduct. I am a professional, and am doing a good job - they are probably less educated and traveled than I am, and are stressed because they or their family are ill. Not everyone copes well with adversity, most feel a loss of control when they are not healthy. I have a good friend who works as in Patient Affairs. Her job is to diffuse the situation and divert attention from the conflict. She attempts to do this without making anyone look guilty. I had to do the same thing when I was a Practice Manager. What many fail to do after the situation is diffused is to find the staff involved and pass on a Warm Fuzzy like "I know that was a difficult situation, you did a good job". This shouldn't be about taking sides, and as professionals we need to learn to rise above such abuse. I don't take it personally, it's part of the job. The only people I treat in kind are those who should know better, like peer professionals.