I work in LTC. Family member calls in today and says "Dad has a cold and I demand an antibiotic". I get just a few words out about an antibiotic not treating a cold but she interrupted me every time I tried to speak. Never even got to the point that Dad has no fever, lungs are clear, I never heard him cough - nor did other staff today, chest X-ray in the hospital a few days ago is completely negative.
After a couple of minutes of trying to get in a few words in she yells "I am the customer and I demand an antibiotic. I pay your salary and I get to get what I want. You'd better get the next **** Dr. that walks in the door to order an antibiotic or you'll hear from me tomorrow". She then promptly hangs up on me. At some point she also informed me she planned to sue the hospital for discharging him without the antibiotic that she demanded that they start.
Needless to say, I did not even attempt to get an antibiotic order, although I did inform the Dr. of this tirade.
No advice needed. Just needed to vent frustration about the general public.
I had a family member just absolutely screaming at me for this exact reason. Mom had a bit of a cough and sneeze, no complications.
"HOW DARE YOU ARGUE WITH ME?! YOU CALL THAT DOCTOR RIGHT NOW AND LET ME CUSS HIM OUT AND TELL HIM HOW P--- POOR YOU ARE!"
I was sick of her at this point, and she had gotten me so far behind in my medpass, that I thought this was an excellent idea. I dialed our notoriously crotchety, short tempered doc, explained the situation, and handed her the phone.
You should have seen the color drain from her face. It was excellent.
I'm going to start running entitled snots down with my med cart.
I LOVE when people complain to the doctors about their nurses, their room, their roommates, etc.... basically things that the doctors don't give 2 sh*ts about.
I'm going to start running entitled snots down with my med cart.
Ha ha, the family didn't have pneumonia or bronchitis...just a case of the entitled snots! *snicker*
Same thing happens all the time at the doctor's office, too.
We just keep going over the same "drink lots of fluids, get plenty of rest...there is no antibiotic for the virus that causes colds...etc..." if you say it enough times, with enough authority in your voice, people eventually believe it. Which is good, because it's true.
how bout this for pt/family education: Since you are too stupid to realize that antibiotics won't fix a cold, I'd love to show you some examples of what has happened from overprescribed antibiotics : Mrsa, MDRO, cdiff, etc.
ahhh stupid me- what makes me think they'd hear anything I said- they know it all, and the customer is always right.
My kid's pediatrician has pamphlets all over the office about antibiotic stewardship for educating parents who demand antibiotics for their kid's viral symptoms. Reminding these family members that an antibiotic not only won't help, but may help them cultivate a resistant organism that could cause far worse trouble down the road. If they really get snotty ask them why the insist on trying to kill their dad?
to Nurse Leigh - forget about being allowed in public...some people shouldn't be allowed to breed! PERIOD! There's a not too old country song that goes "God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy". Ain't this the truth?!?!
One of my good friends was always asking for (note, not DEMANDING) and RECEIVING antibiotics for her kids' every viral infection. Her pediatrician always accommodated her request; I believe he just didn't want to deal with her. So, I wonder sometimes who is at fault here. The ignorant patients and/or families-or the health care team who knows better but won't educate them or stand up to their demands?
I know the OP can't do this in her practice environment, but I dismiss patients from my practice who behave that way. I kicked two out last week. None today, but it was a slow day.
I know the OP can't do this in her practice environment, but I dismiss patients from my practice who behave that way. I kicked two out last week. None today, but it was a slow day.
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KelRN215, BSN, RN
1 Article; 7,349 Posts
I LOVE when people complain to the doctors about their nurses, their room, their roommates, etc.... basically things that the doctors don't give 2 sh*ts about.