I tried posting this earlier, but it got eaten somehow, so I'm trying again. Excuse me if the other post shows up from cyberspace, lol.
At any rate ... I am laughing now about the whole thing, but it wasn't so funny when the whole thing was taking place last night!
At 0300 this morning, I had a 14 yo present to L&D c/o pain rated 9/10 in her lower abd. She was laughing with her best friend and mother and demanding that I get her a tray because the was hungry. I told her that I couldn't feed her until I knew what was going on with her and she became very upset with me ... almost throwing a tantrum. I proceeded to place her on the monitor and start my assessment. 1cm, very thick, very posterior. She had some mild contractions that were irregular - 20 minutes apart at one point. Her UA came back clear. Since she was 39+ weeks. I waited an hour, checked her again - no change. So I called the MD. He gave orders for a hydrocodone and to send her home with labor precautions.
When I went into her room to D/C her, her mother blew up like a rocket! WHAT! WITH HER CONTRACTING AND HURTING LIKE THIS! (The pt was asleep when I came into the room.) The mother then proceeded to ask why in the H--- the Dr hadn't even bothered to check on her. HER Dr came in to check on HER when SHE was in labor!
I told the mother that, had her daughter BEEN in labor, which she wasn't, the Dr WOULD have been there at some point to check in on her.
Then the mother informed me that she wasn't comfortable at ALL with some NURSE assessing her child and judging whether or not to send her home and that she was NOT leaving until they saw he DR! (The mother was also a nurse - or so she said.)
I called the MD back and he told me to just leave her there until he made rounds this AM, but to tell her that this didn't mean that he would be keeping her.
Like I said, I am laughing now, but I was so angry last night that I had to call the PP nurse to sit at my station while I went outside to cool off! :angryfire
Specializes in postpartum, nursery, high risk L&D.
You're not taking care of her for free, you are being paid by your hospital, and your hospital is being paid by Medicaid. While I find entitlement attitudes as distasteful as anyone else, I also find blanket statements such as 'this type of behavior is very common with the indigent population' even more distressing, because we aren't supposed to be judging the people for whom we care. I don't fault the OP for venting at this particular patient's attitude, but we start down a slippery slope when we start judging our patients on the basis of who pays for their care.
I have to say when I started my first RN job I was shocked at how prevalent this sort of judgemental attitude is among nurses! I have been on the flip side of the coin as well; when I was in nursing school my family was on BadgerCare (MA in wisconsin) for a year, and we were treated like crap by the Peds nurses when my son was admitted for RSV. That experience affects how I treat my patients every day!
Back to the OP's vent, though, what a very frustrating situation indeed! all too common where I work too, and I totally agree w/the comments Deb had. very well put
Specializes in postpartum, nursery, high risk L&D.
WOW! This generalization certainly confirms my decision to work in Community Health Nursing when I graduate. There are millions of un/underinsured people that are appreciative of 1-the "free" care they receive and 2-the fact that there are professional and compassionate care providers that don't stereotype them based on their socioeconomic status and other trivial factors.
It's not fair to say this is limited to the poor/indigent. I see plenty of self-entitled behavior among many people of all backgrounds. It's a societal ill that makes me want to scream.
This is so true. There are gum-cracking, phone-yakking teens who have to be distracted from their cartoons at three in the freaking morning to feed their babies, as well as color-coordinated soccer moms who bring in their own sheets and nightgowns and food because nothing we offer is quite up to their standards.
Then again, there are teen moms who work hard to learn how to breastfeed because that's something special they can do for their babies and suburban moms who are happy to walk out to the kitchenette to get juice for themselves because they don't want to bother us.
Slimy entitlement and shining decency are determined far more by character and wisdom than economics or education.
color-coordinated soccer moms who bring in their own sheets and nightgowns and food because nothing we offer is quite up to their standards.
:chair: Oops! lol
I didn't bring sheets, but my husband brought us (and the nurses, a few times) snacks and take-out. Hospital foot was indeed bland.
I always buy myself a new gown and robe to wear (that's pretty as it can be, while still being practical), and advise my friends and relatives to do the same. :uhoh21: Just seems to make ya feel less like a "sick" person, ya know? Good for the spirit.
We kind of had a party atmosphere, but I got the impression most of the nurses and my doc liked it. They kept me 3 days, anyway. :balloons:
I completely agree that obnoxiousness comes from alll classes. Although, if I were to generalize, it seemed my favorite pts were rural types. :)
Back on topic, I also noticed too many of my soccer mom friends who were eager to go for early inductions or c-sections. I also find children having children to be tragic, and hope the dr vocally supported the nurse's decision to the pt before he agreed to finally induce her.
I didn't bring sheets, but my husband brought us (and the nurses, a few times) snacks and take-out. Hospital foot was indeed bland.
I always buy myself a new gown and robe to wear (that's pretty as it can be, while still being practical), and advise my friends and relatives to do the same. :uhoh21: Just seems to make ya feel less like a "sick" person, ya know? Good for the spirit.
We kind of had a party atmosphere, but I got the impression most of the nurses and my doc liked it. They kept me 3 days, anyway. :balloons:
I completely agree that obnoxiousness comes from alll classes. Although, if I were to generalize, it seemed my favorite pts were rural types. :)
Back on topic, I also noticed too many of my soccer mom friends who were eager to go for early inductions or c-sections. I also find children having children to be tragic, and hope the dr vocally supported the nurse's decision to the pt before he agreed to finally induce her.
You would have been all right on our floor. Heck, if you would have brought us snacks, we would have adopted you.
I've experienced quite the opposite. If i hear "I have insurance, it pays your all's wage" one more time, i'll have bald spots.
Yes, then there is that "VIP" population. "I have insurance/know Dr.X/whatever...so when I say "jump" you better ask "How high?" or I'll have your job. "
Specializes in CCU stepdown, PACU, labor and delivery.
I called back to check just now and he did induce her. Thank GOODNESS it's over! :balloons:
LOL, what is sad is this pt and mom are probably thinking "see she was in labor." Seems every time I encounter this scenario I end up having to explain that we had to "put" her in labor.
:nono:
"I have insurance/know Dr.X/whatever...so when I say "jump" you better ask "How high?" or I'll have your job. " 
Mrs.S
129 Posts
I have to say when I started my first RN job I was shocked at how prevalent this sort of judgemental attitude is among nurses! I have been on the flip side of the coin as well; when I was in nursing school my family was on BadgerCare (MA in wisconsin) for a year, and we were treated like crap by the Peds nurses when my son was admitted for RSV. That experience affects how I treat my patients every day!
Back to the OP's vent, though, what a very frustrating situation indeed! all too common where I work too, and I totally agree w/the comments Deb had. very well put