Rn as a patient

NurseBanana · Oct 22, 2009

have you tried just acting un-interested in what she is saying? sometimes people get the hint that way. Or maybe you can just interrupt her (or talk at the same time as she is, if she won't shut-up) and say "I'll be back..."

fiveofpeep · Oct 22, 2009

you should "reminisce" with her about patients who talk too much and prevent you from finishing the rest of your duties :wink2:

blackpants22 · Oct 22, 2009

you should "reminisce" with her about patients who talk too much and prevent you from finishing the rest of your duties :wink2:

Love it! Yea I do try to act uninterested but doesn't phase her....I wish I had time to talk to all my residents more instead of being a pill pusher but thats the nature of my job...because I like to talk and listen to people too, but not so much people like her...just because we are both RN's doesnt mean we have everything in common or that I can relate to her....errrr I get so heated thinking about it, but thanks for reading and letting me vent. I dont think anything will make it better

azhiker96, BSN, RN · Oct 22, 2009

Maybe you could setup a time when you'd talk with her. Tell her that you'd like to spend some time chatting but with your caseload it will have to be scheduled otherwise you just can't get everything done for the other patients. Maybe at start of shift or end of shift.

I'm sure she'll still start talking away when you're passing meds but then you've set it up so you can interrupt with, "I'm sorry (her name) but I need to finish my med pass. I'll be back when I'm caught up on my duties." Then leave the room. If you tell her a certain time though be sure to stop in then because I'm sure she'll be watching the clock.

systoly · Oct 22, 2009

I believe this calls for an interdisciplinary approach. One staff member alone is not going to effectively address this. Consistency by all staff is a key factor. There are two issues to address. Is there an underlying medical or psychological

issue and how to deal with and provide care for this patient. Limit setting will only be effective if observed by all staff. In the meantime, it's ok to leave the room whether the patient has chosen to accept her medication or not. Word choice is very important. I do not appologize for having to leave, but rather say something like," I have to leave now, you are safe and your call button is ....(wherever it is)" I do not disclose why I have to leave or what I'm going to do. If the patient says,"I'm ready to take my medication now", as I'm leaving, I say,"I'm glad to hear that and I'll be back with them with a fresh, cold (if they like cold water)glass of water as soon as I can. I believe in limit setting, besides being firm when it comes to adhering to the limit, it is very important to show by actions that the limit setting is not a punishment or lack of caring. So fluffing a pillow or bringing a fresh glass of water are just a couple of little things to show that you really care. Goal setting is also very important as it is probably unrealistic to expect that the behavior will turn a 180, but there usually is some improvement.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Oct 23, 2009

Not enough hours in the day and a patient with a sense of entitlement. Here's the thing though. She was a nurse and did her share of wiping butts and taking care of other people probably for the majority of her life. Now it's her turn. She's the one in the bed. Who but another nurse can relate to a life spent caring for others? How sad for her that we are too busy to reward those many years with a little bit extra just because she deserves it. She apparently misses greatly the sense of reward her career gave her and hopes that there can be a special understanding that can only come from someone who has experienced similar circumstances. I understand her sense of entitlement. The only thing I see wrong with it is that there is truly just not enough time to practice that art of nursing that short staffing and corporate greed has robbed our profession of, our presence.

Maybe if you can tell her that you can make time for her, even 5 minutes, just to sit with her, She will let you do your work and wait. We do that in psych for needy patients. Sometimes it works.

scherie88 · Oct 23, 2009

you should "reminisce" with her about patients who talk too much and prevent you from finishing the rest of your duties :wink2:

lmao!

suanna · Oct 23, 2009

Sorry for your luck, but as nurses we are used to being the captain of our ship- esp us old battle-axes. In your patients position it must feel like she is giving up a big part of who she is and what makes her special. It must be gauling to have to take on the role of patient when you have spent your life as the nurse. I can't imagine accepting care from a nurse with 1/10 my experience and not trying to put my two cents in on EVERYTHING. It seems to me she is just trying to find a bit of self esteem and express some control over her own health management. My advise- turn this to your advantage as much as you can. Obviously she cannot assume the role of caregiver on your unit, but are there any tasks in the practice of nursing that she could help with?(without violating hippa). Make her day- find out what her area of clinical specialty was and ask her opinion about something. Once she sees she still has some control of her own health care, and you recognize her as a peer, I bet her verbal neediness diminishes.

mykrosphere · Oct 24, 2009

Sorry for your luck, but as nurses we are used to being the captain of our ship- esp us old battle-axes. In your patients position it must feel like she is giving up a big part of who she is and what makes her special. It must be gauling to have to take on the role of patient when you have spent your life as the nurse. I can't imagine accepting care from a nurse with 1/10 my experience and not trying to put my two cents in on EVERYTHING. It seems to me she is just trying to find a bit of self esteem and express some control over her own health management. My advise- turn this to your advantage as much as you can. Obviously she cannot assume the role of caregiver on your unit, but are there any tasks in the practice of nursing that she could help with?(without violating hippa). Make her day- find out what her area of clinical specialty was and ask her opinion about something. Once she sees she still has some control of her own health care, and you recognize her as a peer, I bet her verbal neediness diminishes.

i completely agree here!

i have taken care of nurses, and pts whos family members are nurses, and it really doesnt phase me too much.

they are usually nice and dont complain (the nurse/pts), and if there were one or two who had some "knowledge to share" i realize, in anyones case, its so hard to give up your independence!

they deserve respect, just as any one pt. with any sort of career.

there are people who as patients are cocky.

maybe she just makes you uncomfortable because you know she has knowledge of what youre doing?

i dont know.

most nurses seem to be of an independent nature, so its not really surprising that she would display any unfavorable behaviors once put in a situation where she has to depend on others.

i couldnt imagine it myself, although ill probably be there someday too.

it just sounds like maybe a personality conflict.

and i dont really see what the situation has to do with her being a nurse.

there are a lot of people who are like this.

and ive seen more non nurses than nurses behave this way.

maybe shes just lonely or something

DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN · Oct 24, 2009

Sorry for your luck, but as nurses we are used to being the captain of our ship- esp us old battle-axes. In your patients position it must feel like she is giving up a big part of who she is and what makes her special. It must be gauling to have to take on the role of patient when you have spent your life as the nurse. I can't imagine accepting care from a nurse with 1/10 my experience and not trying to put my two cents in on EVERYTHING. It seems to me she is just trying to find a bit of self esteem and express some control over her own health management. My advise- turn this to your advantage as much as you can. Obviously she cannot assume the role of caregiver on your unit, but are there any tasks in the practice of nursing that she could help with?(without violating hippa). Make her day- find out what her area of clinical specialty was and ask her opinion about something. Once she sees she still has some control of her own health care, and you recognize her as a peer, I bet her verbal neediness diminishes.

That is a seriously masterful approach!

CherryAmes_RN · Oct 24, 2009

ah i was beat to it... was also going to say maybe try to set aside a specific time to talk with her & be upfront with the limits to it. maybe shell back off a little if you seem interested & she feels like shes getting the attention she wants/needs. when youre talking to her you could ask her about her career- what was her favorite part of being a nurse, susannas suggestion about asking about her specialty, etc. may make her feel that it was worth asking about. im guessing shes talking incessantly about it because now shes the one being taken care of & could feel helpless & possibly a little worthless? and also as susanna said, out of control... im not gonna lie, id likely be annoyed too. just try to think of why shes doing this & that may lead you to how to get it under control without spending the whole shift in her room, or being mean.