I spent today running around like a mad woman, putting out fires and watching the shift escalate in intensity throughout the day. This one elderly man had a wife who strongly resembled Tammy Faye Baker. She had a clown-like amount of rouge on her cheeks, tons of mascara, and a pushy, saccharin, bubbly, demanding personality that rather gave me the creeps.
I spent half the shift apologizing about not getting back in the room as soon as they'd like. I don't know if this weird woman was trying to encourage me or what, but as I was walking by her in the room, she patted my butt! It was the kind of butt pat that pro football players might do, or you'd do for a little kid or something. Kind of like instead of patting me on the back, she patted me on the butt.
I probably would have just ignored it too. Seems like she was trying to give support and her hand slipped or she accidently crossed into your personal space
Hmmmmm, maybe he told her about it, she wasn't there at the time. I think her daughter was, she was bubbly, saccharin, pushy too, she must have been offended.
Regarding the pat on the butt, it was a very purposeful pat, no way it could have been an accident.
Hmmmmm, maybe he told her about it, she wasn't there at the time. I think her daughter was, she was bubbly, saccharin, pushy too, she must have been offended.
Regarding the pat on the butt, it was a very purposeful pat, no way it could have been an accident.
I'm kidding about the "offended" part.
Some "bubbly, saccharin, pushy" folks are also prone to cross the invisible line of others comfort zone. :icon_roll
You know what bothers me about this? I didn't feel free to tell this woman to stop it! I felt helpless because she held the power in the relationship because she was being demanding and faultfinding, even though I was slammed with several high need patients, including a cath lab patient who came back with an artline, and other high acuity situations.
It reminded me of me being a kid and her holding all the power.
casi, ASN, RN
2,063 Posts
I probably would have just ignored it too. Seems like she was trying to give support and her hand slipped or she accidently crossed into your personal space