Sitting down to calm an upset patient is unprofessional?

[kristandrews]

I got reprimanded by a supervisor at work last night for pulling up a chair and sitting down to talk to a patient who was upset. I was told that it's UNPROFESSIONAL for a nurse to ever sit at bedside and talk with a patient, and that a nurse should get in and out of a room as quickly as possible. Nevermind the fact that it was 2am, all of my other patients were ok, and I only had to take 2 or 3 minutes away from charting to get this patient calmed down. She went from bawling to smiling, and when I walked by a little while later she was back asleep. How can sitting down to talk to a patient be considered unprofessional? It just doesn't make sense to me.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Uh, if my patients needed someone to sit for a few minutes, and I could do it, I did. During the mid 80s when AIDS was a big deal, most of the guys (had few women) were ditched by their families, so a few of them wanted the nurses to take quick breaks in their rooms (back when smoking in rooms was allowed), and we did.....grabbed a Coke, and cigarette, and kicked back with them for a few minutes.

If someone is upset, I'm not leaving them as long as nobody else is hanging upside down somewhere....

[ssalulu]

I always thought that one of the main things that nurses do is "care" for the patient. It's not all about procedures. Nursing is holistic. Maybe your supervisor doesn't know that or needs to be reminded.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Your supervisor is an idiot. Seriously.

Perhaps you could pull up some literature on nursing and how a function of a good nurse is to provide emotional support. Copy it and give it to your supervisor.

[interleukin]

"It just doesn't make sense to me."

And because it did not make sense to your supervisor he/she should be flipping burgers not working in a field that requires rational thought and compassion(I apologize to thoughtful burger flippers).

[lfriese]

I am glad you took care of your patients emotional needs, not just pill pushing. I agree with the other posts. I think she needs a reminder. your simple act may have prevented an escalated situation. this is the real word and you are a real nurse.... go talk to the director, and if she was the director, go above her. Just my thought...

[lfriese]

*world

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Back in Nursing Schoool, I was taught the exact opposite about sitting. We were told that constantly standing hovering above the patient puts the nurse in more of a position of power and can be intimidating. It is better to sit when you are talking to a patient, for instance when taking a history. In this case, it was absolutely appropriate and professional to sit and comfort the patient. Good work!

[Rob72, ASN, RN]

It depends. "Getting out", offers the appearance of incompetence and lack of concern, unless there is potential for violence. I would suggest that you never sit in the presence of an angry, fully ambulatory, male.

Some good reading:

http://www.amazon.com/Rage-Random-Actor-Dan-Korem/dp/0963910353/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314368839&sr=8-1

Rage is geared more towards recognizing social integration/interaction patterns, and identifying the potential for violence. The Art of Profiling is equally beneficial, though more generalized.

http://www.amazon.com/Predictably-Irrational-Revised-Expanded-Decisions/dp/0061353248/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314369031&sr=8-1

Ariely deals with the psychology of economics, but his writing is so engaging and generalizable that his observations are readily applied to any personal interaction. His studies offer a framework for you to evaluate things you may be doing intuitively, and to focus and refine your personal interactions. Many people don't like to, or have time to, read. This book isn't terribly long, and was just plain fun.

In turn, that will lead you into the psychology of critical decision-making...

[Isabelle49]

"It just doesn't make sense to me."

And because it did not make sense to your supervisor he/she should be flipping burgers not working in a field that requires rational thought and compassion(I apologize to thoughtful burger flippers).

I don't think I would give the supervisor that much credit to be flipping hamburgers. I would seriously doubt that the supervisor would have any respect for the animal from which the meat came. A better place for the supervisor would be an uninhabited cave on an isolated island.

What she said was just plain stupid. It's all about the bottom line, $$$.

[StrwbryblndRN]

We were told recently to sit. Because perception of care was what the hospital wanted. I think it even had something to do with reimbursement.

[PaperPencil]

Back in Nursing Schoool, I was taught the exact opposite about sitting. We were told that constantly standing hovering above the patient puts the nurse in more of a position of power and can be intimidating. It is better to sit when you are talking to a patient, for instance when taking a history. In this case, it was absolutely appropriate and professional to sit and comfort the patient. Good work!

This is what I am currently being taught.