Scripting Nurses?

[Cindylufus]

I am an RN on a telemetry unit where the ratio is 7:1 at all times. We are technically the step down unit also. We get all of the d/c's down from CCU and ICU. Last week in our staff meeting, we were told there are key phrases that we are being required to say to our patients....much like scripting that sales and telemarketers use... Things like "I have the time for you" each time you are in the room with every patient. Does anyone else think this is a joke? I told my manager I refuse to be scripted...I don't have the time for this and I think I provide the best care I can for my patients. But most days each nurse has 3-4 discharges, and gets 3-4 patients back, either direct admit from the MD's office or from the ER. Anyone else having this problem?

[Jackie01]

:smackingf I think I work at the same facility as Cindylufus. Oh my gosh! The saddest thing about it is that my manager has went a step further. We have been getting low satisfaction scores lately. So we were asked to tell patients on discharge that if anyone called them for a survey, rate our unit as excellent. LIKE I WOULD DARE! If you get good service then great but Im not gonna prompt you to lie for us if you didn't. When I saw the note, I just laughed. This profession is not what I thought it would be!

[EmerNurse, BSN, RN]

Too bad the patients don't have scripts.. you know, where they're compliant, listen to what you say, lay off the 150 visitors, quit using the call bell like a Nintendo controller for Super Mario, you get the idea.

Or we could script management. "Hello my name is Susie Manager, I'll be your manager today and I've overstaffed you by 3 nurses to cover unforseen emergencies and raised your pay by $2/hour. Is there anything else I can get for you? I have the time."

I love my job, I love my job, I love my job, I love my job....