"VIP" Patients

Nurses Relations

Published

OK, I know I'm not the only nurse who has encountered the "VIP" patient. You know the story...you get report on the new admit coming to your unit and you are told to take extra special care of this patient. This infuriates me to no end. It implies that I'm going to treat my patients differently based on social status. I don't know about you guys, but I treat all of my patients like VIP's. Am I being silly or are there others out there who feel this way?

Just because a staff member issues an alert that "So-and-so" should be given VIP treatment, that doesn't mean that "So-and-so" knows that this is happening or feels the same way. Yes, there are some who feel they merit privileged status, but there are also many who would be mortified and unhappy to know they'd been singled out in this way. And, too, you can have a patient who is a pleasure to care for accompanied by family members or an entourage who are beastly in ways the patient doesn't see or isn't equipped to deal with. I try to give the VIP the same benefit of the doubt that I would give the average Jack or Jane and not hold them accountable for other people's bad behavior.

On the flip side, I do appreciate being given a heads-up on the "VIP" patients. Not so I can treat them better than the other folks but so I can prepare for the possibility of dealing with difficult people and extra demands.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I said to her straight out, 'well, all of my patients are vip's' Rediculous. I treat all my patients the same, I don't care if you're the queen of some country or a criminal. Who am I to judge.

I agree entirely! :up:

Nat.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, office.

A while ago we saw a patient who was a relative of a higher-up at our clinic. My manager commented to me that I should make sure to give her excellent care. My response: "I give all my patients excellent care."

I was offended; not only at the thought I should somehow bend over backward for this woman, but that I don't give my absolute best all the time.

:angryfire

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

when i first graduated from nursing school and was young, skinny and still naturally blonde, i was asked to work on the vip floor of the university hospital. it seems they were recruiting by looks. i passed up not only that particular floor, but the entire hospital -- i don't believe in "vip floors." since then, i've had ample opportunity to take care of vips, and i try to give them the same good care i give everyone else. even when they don't deserve it!

and i once hung up on the president of the us, calling to inquire on the condition of one of his cabinet members. i didn't believe it was the president! (later, when he was awake and extubated, the patient had a really good laugh over that one!) i still can't believe i did that!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Well, I appreciate a "heads up" that someone is considered a VIP. But the problem I have with this is the same problem I have with Press-Ganey. If I am really concerned with Press-Ganey scores, doesn't it follow that the "extra attention" (however much I can muster at the time) would go to someone who is alert and oriented, and not the confused person whose family seldom visits? Even if the confused person is much more needy? Because the Press-Ganey reflects only what surveys are returned.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.
Just because a staff member issues an alert that "So-and-so" should be given VIP treatment, that doesn't mean that "So-and-so" knows that this is happening or feels the same way. Yes, there are some who feel they merit privileged status, but there are also many who would be mortified and unhappy to know they'd been singled out in this way. And, too, you can have a patient who is a pleasure to care for accompanied by family members or an entourage who are beastly in ways the patient doesn't see or isn't equipped to deal with. I try to give the VIP the same benefit of the doubt that I would give the average Jack or Jane and not hold them accountable for other people's bad behavior.

On the flip side, I do appreciate being given a heads-up on the "VIP" patients. Not so I can treat them better than the other folks but so I can prepare for the possibility of dealing with difficult people and extra demands.

:yeahthat:

I ran into that over the weekend when I had a board member as one of my patients. He and his wife were fine. (He had a slight case of "hotel syndrome", but I think it had more to do with the fact that the last time he was in the hospital was 40 years ago. You got "extras" at the hospital back then.) It was the rest of the staff and docs that were in a tizzy. :rolleyes: He certainly didn't expect me to drop everything to get him fresh ice. The CRNP managing his care did though. :no: She's spastic to begin with. Boy, was I glad she had the weekend off. This would have been me-----> :selfbonk:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED.

I was just venting about this same issue to a co-worker the other day. Sometimes we will get a call that a "VIP" is coming into the ED and that we should give them special care. I had a "VIP" come in not too long ago and I determined his triage acuity as "non-urgent" as he waited accordingly. This pisses me off to no end as it violates every nursing rule and ethic that I learned in school. You really can't get in trouble for it either (if you have a contract or are unionized) because that would require them to admit on paper that they treat people of a higher social status better, which is not only unethical but could open the door to lawsuits.

We recently got an email from our manager wanting us to imform her when a "VIP" comes into the hospital. When they make that a written policy, I'll comply.

The only people who I don't mind treating a little differently are those who work in my unit. If time and space permits, I do think we should make a little bit of an effort to help our co-workers, but only to the extent that it doesn't comprimise the care of another patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We recently got an email from our manager wanting us to imform her when a "VIP" comes into the hospital. When they make that a written policy, I'll comply.

That might not be for reasons of giving extra-special care to the 'vip'. Remember what happened to Clooney? I'm wondering if the administration wants to track possible privacy violations for high-profile patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.

We recently got an email from our manager wanting us to imform her when a "VIP" comes into the hospital. When they make that a written policy, I'll comply.

I'd wonder if maybe since she's not involved in this patient's care, if calling to inform her might not skirt the edges of a HIPAA privacy violation. I might be tempted to send her an email back asking her to run the issue by the compliance people "just to be sure that I was staying properly within the regulations" (But then, I'm evil that way....)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

Since I have been a nurse, I have had several situations that were reported to me as "VIP". The mother of one of the MD's was hospitalized on our unit. We have had relatives of directors, etc, etc. I get report with the alert that this pt is so and so's relative, etc., and to make sure they get VIP treatment. I hate this because as several people have stated, it implies that my usual care is inferior. I do like to know that the pt is related to whoever, but I treat all my pts the same no matter who they are, and have not yet had a complaint.

On the other hand, if a pt is reported as a "VIP" for previous customer service issues or complaints with care, then I try to be more aware of how I treat them, and their family (often it is the family who has complaints, not the pt), in the hopes that I can help to recover the bad experience. Not to say that I go out of my way, just be conscious of what I do in their care. Often it is just a matter of taking the extra 5 minutes to explain whats going on, and showing them I care.

Those pts who think they are VIP's in their own minds are a different story. I will treat them as I treat all my pts, but I also will not put up with them being nasty, and treating me or other staff as their personal servants (I set boundaries, and am polite, but firm with them).

Amy

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

I remember one instance in which this happened. The baby in our NICU was the baby of one of the cardiac NPs in our hospital. Parents were extremely nice, no problem there. But this one day during rounds, one of our neos told the nurse that was taking care of the baby "Now make sure you watch that IV like a hawk, we definitely don't want an infiltrate!"

Um ok, like we ever want an infiltrate?

Everyone should be treated the same, VIP or not.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU, MICU, CCU, Rehab.
i was asked to work on the vip floor of the university hospital.

omg! are there really such things as vip floors? and do you get a major pay increase for working on them...lol. please tell me more, i'm curious! :rolleyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment