I'm on a rant!! Add to my list if you feel so inclined!
A book/pamphlet/note card in the style of "What to Expect When You're Expecting" needs to be written and given to anyone who is going to be in the hospital for any length of time. It can be written collaboratively by nurses, doctors and ancillary staff.
THE TRUTH MUST BE TOLD:
The H sign on the side of the road doesn't stand for Hotel.
Your _____ is broken or your _____ was just cut into. You will be in pain. 0/10 at this juncture is not really expected but we will do everything within reason to keep you as comfortable as possible.
Your family being demanding, aggressive, passive-aggressive, haughty and demeaning to those taking care of you and you thinking they are protecting you so that you'll get better care in the form of more attention is usually dead wrong. We stay away from patients like that unless it's absolutely necessary to go in. If three call lights are going off, yours will be answered last since it is absolute torture to deal with you and/or your family.
It's 7:00 am and yes, I know where your surgeon is, She's performing surgery just like she was doing on you at this same time yesterday!
We have to prioritize and re prioritize our care constantly. That may mean that I have to take someone to the restroom and give another pain medication before I can refill your ice water. I will get to you as quick as I can but know if I am "late" that it is because I am with a patient who needs me more.
THIS.
Also, since I'm in the ED...
No, it's not like on TV...no one is going to swoop in and carry you back to the trauma room...unless absolutely necessary-if you are one of the lucky ones, you have to wait, and can breathe and still eat, then chances are you are doing well enough to wait, or go to the primary care doctor.
We're really not trying to ignore you...and we see the most severe pts-and that may be the person that comes in after you-they may not look that sick, but again, you have neither the qualifications to make hat determination because of HIPPA and all that jazz.
And we are going to take people regardless of insurance-whether you like it or not as you opt to bill your co-pay instead of pay it, since you have that wonderful, shiny "insurance"...
All this and MORE-with a smile, with a pinch of AIDET sprinkled in always does the trick!
In all the hospitals I've worked in, the policy was not to treat non-patients unless they were coding. For anything less than that, send a staff member to escort them to the ED. No blood pressures, no glucose checks, nada. If a visitor went unresponsive, a rapid response was usually called, then they would go to wherever there was an appropriate bed and get admitted.
That being said, I love a good rant.
I had a particularly needy patient with daughter today that took 3/4 of my time. Yes, 3/4 for one patient with one family member. That were discharged to self care. I'm surprised I don't have a permanent hole in my tongue or a bald spot.
There are days I just want to clone myself, or record myself saying my stock phrases, "I'll be happy to get that for you. I will take care of that and get back to you soon. Give me a few minutes to take care of some pressing business and I will be back," so I can play them as I am walking out the door.
I'm not trying to be mean to you when I encourage you to be independent in self-cares. If we thought you were a fall risk/unsafe to do so, we would not encourage it. We are also trying to assess your ability to do so, and determine if you need follow up care at home, or a SNF.
Also, you are a grown adult who lived at home prior to this. You are going home alone. Your CHF, HTN, or chest pain has been resolved/adequatley treated- Who will do these things for you when you go home? None of those diagnoses suddenly make you incapable of taking care of yourself
Okay, once again I see a thread on AN when someone posts something that is a vent and then people jump down the OP's throat with this "Perfect Nursing/politically correct" sentiments.
I do not think that the OP was looking for constructive ways of dealing with difficult families. I also do not think that the sentiment of the post was malicious more than it was frustrated. Have you guys seen that statement, "I'm your nurse. I'm here to save your A**, not kiss it." I felt like the OP's original post was along the same lines.
anyway, back to the OP: I totally know what you mean! And while frequent rounding, a 10-15 minute stay in a difficult patient/family room can help and empathy are tools that we use there are some people that you simply cannot please. There are some family members and patients that have unrealistic expectations of what goes on in the hospital.
I'm not trying to be mean to you when I encourage you to be independent in self-cares. If we thought you were a fall risk/unsafe to do so, we would not encourage it. We are also trying to assess your ability to do so, and determine if you need follow up care at home, or a SNF.
Also, you are a grown adult who lived at home prior to this. You are going home alone. Your CHF, HTN, or chest pain has been resolved/adequatley treated- Who will do these things for you when you go home? None of those diagnoses suddenly make you incapable of taking care of yourself
So true. Once your illness is stable then it's time to get back to performing ADL's and getting back to max function, especially if you were independent before and discharging home alone. Patients always perceive it as mean or a power struggle. Most of the time it takes more effort and time for me to assist a patient to do it themselves, it would be easier for me to just do whatever task it is. But that's not good nursing or helping the patient any. If they can't lift a cup to their lips for themselves in the hospital how will they be able to go home and fix a meal?
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I am so tired of posts from licensed nurses (your post history says you have been a nurse since 2014) berating patients and their family members/visitors on a public web site. I find it very unprofessional.
You are new, and you have a lot to learn.
With your attitude, I would not want you taking care of my family. Yes, some patients/family members can be difficult, for which there are many reasons. I suggest doing a search on AN for tips from nurses who have found constructive ways to deal with these kinds of situations; very often they include patience, kindness, genuinely listening and trying to understand the patient/family member's concerns, and trying to put oneself in the place of the patient/family member. You are seeing a snapshot of your patient and their family's lives and you have no idea of the difficulties they are experiencing.
Also, I suggest checking the quality of care you are providing. When a family member of mine is hospitalized I pay close attention to the care the nurse is providing. It is possible that the patient/their family member are not confident in the care you are providing, and thus are behaving in a way that indicates lack of confidence in you.
I haven't read YOUR profile, but clearly YOU have a lot to learn. The original post was not offensive; yours is. Those of us who have had to deal with demanding, aggressive, passive-agressive, demeaning or offensive familes sometimes need to vent. This is a safe place for that. You are rude to step on a vent thread. You're also probably dead wrong about the quality of care provided, but you know what? Neither of us knows what kind of care Graduatenurse provides. So for you to say you don't want her taking care of your family is uninformed and rude. I suggest you put yourself in the place of a nurse who has just had a very trying shift and try to show a little compassion.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Well, regarding blood pressures and blood sugars for family members, I would do it if I have time and/or the person in question is symptomatic. I do not want visitor coding in my room and if they hypoglycemic because they simply forget to eat, one cup of OJ won't kill anyone if given in time and followed by trip down to cafeteria. Otherwise, it is crying to be made as nice gleaming booklet and handed down to every new admit. Read it, sign here for me, questions, sir?
Bad idea. Most institutions have a policy prohibiting treating visitors. Once you take that blood pressure, you've established a caring relationship with that visitor. I can walk you to the ER, put you in a wheelchair and wheel you to the ER or let you go home and call your PCP, but I will not be taking a blood pressure, checking a blood sugar, getting an orange juice or bandaging your booboo.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Karou,
In our meters, it is possible to scan operator badge twice, then call and say what happened. At the worst, you always can scan the patient and explain later.
There were multiple topics here about nurses' obligations toward people who just happened to be around and suddenly got very sick. I was very much surprised that there were participants in discussions who allegedly refused to give a victim of anaphylaxis an Epipen shot or even start chest compressions just because "something might happen" later. Sorry, but my policies-kissing has certain limits and in situation with visitor complaining on chest pain I will check blood pressure and even start AHA algorithm if situation demands it, and let the chips fly and fall. Better that than a code.
I've done chest compressions on a visitor. Anything short of that gets referred to the ER. I've wheeled them down there if necessary, but short of CPR, treating visitors can get you into a whole heap of trouble.
I haven't read YOUR profile, but clearly YOU have a lot to learn. The original post was not offensive; yours is. Those of us who have had to deal with demanding, aggressive, passive-agressive, demeaning or offensive familes sometimes need to vent. This is a safe place for that. You are rude to step on a vent thread.
RubyVee, since you were good enough to address me, I have something to say to you in return. I recall a thread you started titled: "The Worst Family Member Ever." You seem to think "venting" about patients and their family members/visitors on the internet is an innocuous pastime. I am addressing my comment directly to you when I say that what you appear to consider harmless "venting" is actually often mockery of patients and their family members/visitors behavior (and, just to be very clear, I am not referring to the original poster's posts in my conversation with you; the OP has nothing to do with what I am saying to you). Of course some patients/family members/visitors are difficult, but as a nurse, one has other places to express negative thoughts about one's patients/family members/visitors, and to let off steam, etc. The nurse-patient/family relationship is based on trust. The general public can and do read what is posted on AN.
RubyVee, since you were good enough to address me, I have something to say to you in return. I recall a thread you started titled: "The Worst Family Member Ever." You seem to think "venting" about patients and their family members/visitors on the internet is an innocuous pastime. I am addressing my comment directly to you when I say that what you appear to consider harmless "venting" is actually often mockery of patients and their family members/visitors behavior (and, just to be very clear, I am not referring to the original poster's posts in my conversation with you; the OP has nothing to do with what I am saying to you). Of course some patients/family members/visitors are difficult, but as a nurse, one has other places to express negative thoughts about one's patients/family members/visitors, and to let off steam, etc. The nurse-patient/family relationship is based on trust. The general public can and do read what is posted on AN.
I'm having a hard time undertsanding your logic
I looked up the thread in question and I saw no personal identifiers about the people described
Had there been anything inappropriate, one of the admins would have taken the appropriate actions in accordance with the TOS
the general public may read AN, but this does not mean we can use it as a space to vent
Finally, many of the people described on thread sounded pretty awful- they deserve some public shaming IF on the very small chance they do read it and recognize themselves
I looked up the thread in question and I saw no personal identifiers about the people described
Had there been anything inappropriate, one of the admins would have taken the appropriate actions in accordance with the TOS
the general public may read AN, but this does not mean we can use it as a space to vent
Finally, many of the people described on thread sounded pretty awful- they deserve some public shaming IF on the very small chance they do read it and recognize themselves
Does the Nurses' Code of Ethics mean anything to you?
The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to preserve integrity and safety, to maintain competence, and to continue personal and professional growth.
I'm not sure if I'm righteous enough to discuss this with you
LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN
8,429 Posts
THIS.
Also, since I'm in the ED...
No, it's not like on TV...no one is going to swoop in and carry you back to the trauma room...unless absolutely necessary-if you are one of the lucky ones, you have to wait, and can breathe and still eat, then chances are you are doing well enough to wait, or go to the primary care doctor.
We're really not trying to ignore you...and we see the most severe pts-and that may be the person that comes in after you-they may not look that sick, but again, you have neither the qualifications to make hat determination because of HIPPA and all that jazz.
And we are going to take people regardless of insurance-whether you like it or not as you opt to bill your co-pay instead of pay it, since you have that wonderful, shiny "insurance"...
All this and MORE-with a smile, with a pinch of AIDET sprinkled in always does the trick!