Sitting down to calm an upset patient is unprofessional?

Published

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.

i sit with pts all the time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We recently had an initiative where small, portable chairs were put in each room on our unit so ALL providers could sit and talk to the patient. Our patient satisfaction scores have gone way up.

I don't know where that supervisor got her information, but she was flat out wrong.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Therapuetic communication 101 - get down to the level of the patient. Do not tower over them.

Your supervisor has rocks in his/her head......:smokin:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in future OB/L&D nurse(I hope) or hospice.

Wow, your supervisor is a complete moron!!! I think I would be working that chain of command and reporting this person immediately. I realize that the "face" of nursing is and has been changing, but there is much to be learned by treating the body, MIND, and soul, as this is key to increasing those patient satisfaction scores. I agree with isabelle when she said your supervisor needs to go hybernate in an uninhabited cave, as I wouldn't even want to expose the bats to this person. Unbelievable.:banghead:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

this is what life really is all about. i hate going to hospitals for these reasons. i have severe anxiety and i know that nobody will give a crap about me. honestly,if people were not getting paid,they would never take care of strangers. and that is reality.:twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Geez, I hope I don't end up in a facility like this. As a student, helping the patient the way you did is what I'm looking forward to the most.

Kudos to you for being an awesome nurse. Your supervisor has some serious issues.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ok, nursing school hopeful here...but I had to add my two cents...

In the hospital for my third csection, it was the middle of the night and I didnt want to send the baby back to the nursery. My husband was convinced we needed sleep though (he gets a nasty attitude with lack of sleep). Long story short, had an argument and I sent him out :( Not exactly how I expected it to be the first night of the babys arrival!

It was time for the baby to eat, so I called for the nurse to please hand me the baby (fresh out of surgery, I was afraid to pick up the baby and try to get back in bed w/him in my arms by myself).

The nurse came in and I started bawling. She really just listened mostly, let me cry, nodded her head in understanding as she reassured me I was doing a good job and emotions running high were normal. It was like 2 minutes time, maybe, but that helped me regain my composure and get my emotions together and get back to caring for me and my baby.

Its these kinds of nurses that have made such a HUGE impact on me when I or my children have been treated. Understanding and compassion is what patients HOPE to receive from nurses, because doctors are often the ones on the run or possibly too intimidating, and its this understanding and compassion that is apart of helping the patient, mind and body. You are an awesome nurse, and I plan to be just this kind of nurse for my patients!

Kudos!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Did she miss the lecture regarding therapeutic communication? People sometimes need someone to just talk to. Sometimes the only medicine they need at the time is good old fashioned CARE. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
It depends.:cool: "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...:D

I don't understand the relevance of this post....???

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.

To the original Poster,

I think the supervisor was worried about incurring OT and getting chewed out. I would have done the same thing you did. I believe or want to believe that 99 percent of nurses would have spent the extra few minutes consoling that poor soul. The worst thing about being a nurse for me is not being able to spend as much time as I would like with my patients.

I get out late most evenings due to spending some time with my patients. I have been told that I am one of the first nurses who treated them as people and not as "cases". The art of nursing has gone the wayside of the bottom line. It is a shame because patient care is so rewarding.

If I was sick I would like someone like you taking care of me. Thanks for being a caring nurse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in tele, oncology.

Heck, I sit down with them even when they're not upset, just to chat for a few, if they come across as the kind of pt who will be receptive to that. Goes a great way towards establishing rapport.

Your manager needs an empathy transplant...wonder how she'd feel if she was in the pt's shoes and had a nurse who felt it was "unprofessional" to interact in a caring way. Pfffft on her.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I think the supervisor has a control issue.....as in too much. As a supervisor I don't micro-manage the staff......it I see something out of sync...I will investigate. I care about the patients being cared for in a caring manner and if at all possible....little to no OT. I congratulate you on taking the time to ease your patients fears. Sometimes the best way to defuse a volitile situation is to sit down and not appear to be confrontational. I have issues with sitting on the bed however because of MRSA and stuff (I have germ issues...LOL)....pull up a chair and sit next to the bed.

I think you should have a talk with your manager. Let her know what she said and ask your manager what her expectations are in regards to sitting with patients. Let the manager know the supervisor made you feel bad for spending time at the patients bedside.........and keep on being the nurse that cares.......:hug:...you did good.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion