"Your job is to make me happy"

[Nurse216]

I was taking care of a patient today who told me... "your job is to make me happy".

I was taken aback, but responded "my job is to make you healthy... healthy and happy, but healthy first"

I feel a bit guilty, and I feel that I shouldn't. I'm amazed that a patient would tell me that my job is to make them happy. Has anyone had an experience like this or offer any words of advice?

[Medic2BSN13, BSN, RN]

My response...

"I'm sorry, but this is an emergency department. If you want my attention then you must be bleeding."

[rachel100639]

Well, the majority of the public do believe that nurses are concierges, babysitters, nanny's, house cleaners, etc. And unfortunately, many times they do agree to take on these roles.

[MaxAttack, BSN, RN]

"Patients can be very satisfied and be dead an hour later."

The Problem With Satisfied Patients - The Atlantic

Great article on HCAHPS. This is unfortunately the attitude that the government is fostering until they wise up and change reimbursements to reflect what the actual purpose of a hospital is.

[PsychNurse82]

I was told by a pt last night that my job is to cater to him. Um, no, dude. My job is to keep you safe and facilitate your recovery. I work in a mental health facility, not a spa.

[djh123]

Good Gawd - thanks for the link (I love the Atlantic), but I couldn't keep reading the article ... just skimming the first 1/4th or so made me sick. Sometimes I think the whole world is going utterly mad.

[gann, MSN/ANP-BC]

after 26 years of nursing I do NOT allow patients/families to talk to me disrespectful. at all. first they get a warning, if it continues, I will discharge them and they can find another provider to abuse. if I was still staff nursing, I would simply tell them "your rudeness will not be tolerated".

[AnonBoston]

"Professional patient" here, sigh... and I totally support you nurses on this one. That sounds like a pretty entitled jerk. If I were a nurse, I'd have asked them if I was supposed to perform showtunes after the delivery of pain meds. Sheesh.

[eCCU]

Here is my therapeutic touch

" oh sure no worries I will be more than happy to request psychiatry and chaplain consult services, am sure they will be able to guide us on any psychological treatments needed"

😂 😂 😂 nobody bugs me after that!

[fishin mama]

Remind the patient that the big "H" on the Building stands for "Hospital" not "Hilton" we did not go to school to become Hotel workers or maids or servants at your beckon call. we completed Nursing school to get you back on your own feet so you can get back your own environment. and We have more than

One patient who needs our expert skills so they can get back to their lives. that's what I would say!

[Healerforlife]

What a statement that is unfortunately true.. coming from how we are paid based on "patient satisfaction" It is sad that even though this guy was an idiot, as it should be obvious ones' health comes first. This is how Hospitals are now being reimbursed, based on HCAP scores. I remember scripts " Is there anything else I can do?" "Because I HAVE THE TIME" we were supposed to say. Tell the patients repeatedly we are ROUNDING on them, so they remember it for their survey! Forget that political BS, we just want to give the best care, best we can.

[Nurse3000]

Weird comment. Bit off by pt. I think you responded poerfcectly.

[bgxyrnf, MSN, RN]

Yep, just watched a news segment on it. A lady got 1,000 off her bill because her dinner was 45 minutes late.

Tells you how freaking overpriced the system is if they whack a thousand bucks off the bill without blinking an eye.

Kind of like a store promoting a big sale when all they do is cut their overpriced goods to a reasonable rate and just rotate the "Take 20% off" signs every week.