I love some of the patients' guests. They are sitting by their loved one, and you make a move toward the patient, and they will say "let me get out of your way", then they move somewhere else in the room. The minute you move a little in their direction, once again the visitor says "oh, let me get out of your way". They will do this multiple times, and end up totally under foot the whole time! :chuckle
I started just reassuring them, "oh, just stay where you are, you're fine, don't move!".
Yes, I'll take those families over the ones that won't move an inch despite seeing you struggle to get to the patient with your hands full of meds, IVs, etc.
I'll never forget having a patient in ICU who was vomiting and six family members were hanging over the bed and would NOT move....yet insisting I DO something! (Yes we had visiting hours and other restrictions but you know there's no bite behind that bark.)
Heh heh, it's funny when you take a syringe into a room along with the IV med you plan to give. You have one of those 18 gauge needles that you use to draw up meds. You can see their eyes widening, thinking that you're going to give them an injection with that needle!
I'll reassure them, no that needle is just to draw up the medicine, not to worry...:chuckle
I once told a pt (who told me he was scared of needles) that I was scared of needles too. If he closed his eyes and looked to the left, I'd close mine and look to the right, we'd be done in no time. He was so shocked at the thought that I completed the shot before he realized I had started!
Just yesterday I had one of those folks, and I pointed to a chair opposite the bed, looked at the Helpful Offender, and said "SIT!" :) You have to know your audience, though
Usually, in my experience, the ones who try to get out of your way tend to be very considerate and nice. They are trying to do the right thing but are unsure of how to do it. Even if they get in the way, in the process of getting OUT of the way, I am won over by their attempt at courtesy in the first place.
It's the ones that are too stupid or rude to move that bother me.
Or the ones who refuse to leave during a procedure they just don't need to be there for.
I'll take the clumsy, but considerate ones any day.
Zee_RN, BSN, RN
951 Posts
Yes, I'll take those families over the ones that won't move an inch despite seeing you struggle to get to the patient with your hands full of meds, IVs, etc.
I'll never forget having a patient in ICU who was vomiting and six family members were hanging over the bed and would NOT move....yet insisting I DO something! (Yes we had visiting hours and other restrictions but you know there's no bite behind that bark.)