So...you've had a bad day?

Altra, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2012

Feel better now?

anotherone, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2012

You are dealing with a demanding patient, family , doctor.. short staffed and no break.Look at it from the OTHER side of the bed. The patient and the family is in a life changing , crisis situation!They are experiencing chest pain... GI bleeding, difficulty breathing ...They woke up today feeling fine.... and are now dependent on your skills and empathy... to get them through their health crisis.It's not about us.. it's about the patient.

Bad staffing directly affects patient care. sometimes i can compensate many times i cant. if we are short and have an extra patient each and no aide ... well the 459lb patient who is incontinent, needs at least 3 to help turn and has cdiff is going to have to wait longer. that is not about me but sometimes still bothers me. working short than being mandated without a break can also affect patient care. You can only suck up your on health for so long. I always remember there are many worse off. That includes many worse off than some of the patients.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Sep 21, 2012

I know sometimes we lose sight of who it is really about on our worst of days. It is something we always need to remember. Not everyone copes with things the same way. What may seem like an annoying family full of questions may just be a family who is terrified and who is not ready to lose their loved one. A patient who is always on the call light may be lonely, scared, etc.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2012

You are dealing with a demanding patient, family , doctor.. short staffed and no break.
Look at it from the OTHER side of the bed.
The patient and the family is in a life changing , crisis situation!
They are experiencing chest pain... GI bleeding, difficulty breathing ...
They woke up today feeling fine.... and are now dependent on your skills and empathy... to get them through their health crisis.
It's not about us.. it's about the patient.

My bad days aren't the days packed with back to back sick patients, they're almost always the days packed with entitled, healthy patients with vomiting times 1 eating McDonald's and oh I need a cab voucher how do you expect me to get home. Days I run my butt off with super sick and busy patients are days I leave with a sense of accomplishment and feeling of purpose.

But either way, it's OK for me to have needs regarding the experience of my day, and to vent about them somewhere separate from work.

allnurses Guide · Sep 22, 2012

You are dealing with a demanding patient, family , doctor.. short staffed and no break.
Look at it from the OTHER side of the bed.
The patient and the family is in a life changing , crisis situation!
They are experiencing chest pain... GI bleeding, difficulty breathing ...
They woke up today feeling fine.... and are now dependent on your skills and empathy... to get them through their health crisis.
It's not about us.. it's about the patient.

I hear you and I mean this with no rudeness intended:

I could make it more about my patient if we weren't short-staffed with no breaks!

I agree that it's not about us-- but because it about the $$$$$ for the higher-ups, I can't make it about my patients as much as I really want to.

eatmysoxRN, ASN, RN · Sep 22, 2012

I don't think it is ever appropriate to discuss a lack of breaks or short staffing with a patient. It will make them feel that you can't provide adequate care. However, complaining in the break room where patients or families can't hear you or venting on a forum is productive in my opinion. I am able to empathize with most patients. It is different with patients who don't make any attempt to better their health and those who expect hotel service with maids in scrubs. I am respectful toward every patient and expect them to respect me, or atleast attempt to learn what I teach them.

And seriously, why can't nurses have a bad day once in a while? We are humans, despite what managers may believe. We have health issues and families with health issues. We have personal problems that may cause us to be less than cheery. It happens. We can't be perfect.

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2012

Eh, and I learned that my mother had died while I was working.

That was definitely a bad day.

wooh, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2012

But either way, it's OK for me to have needs regarding the experience of my day, and to vent about them somewhere separate from work.

Heck, it's ok to vent at work. In the patient's rooms, probably not a good idea. But nurses are PEOPLE too.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Sep 22, 2012

Isnt that the point of having an anonymous place to come and VENT? So that we can blow off some steam to our colleagues that we think(maybe mistakenly) will understand and can empathize? So that we can regroup, reboot and recharge and face those very families that suck the life right out of us and give them everything we have? Just my 0.02....

beeker · Sep 22, 2012

No, it is not about the patient. Maybe it used to be, but now it is all about the almighty buck. It's a machine and we are just the parts. When we wear out they will replace us. The patients are the product/cash cow. If you think it is still about the patient, and what is best for them, you might want to have a good long look around.

seanynjboy, BSN · Sep 22, 2012

You are dealing with a demanding patient, family , doctor.. short staffed and no break.
Look at it from the OTHER side of the bed.
The patient and the family is in a life changing , crisis situation!
They are experiencing chest pain... GI bleeding, difficulty breathing ...
They woke up today feeling fine.... and are now dependent on your skills and empathy... to get them through their health crisis.
It's not about us.. it's about the patient.

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree to some degree. It is about us in a small minute way. If we are not at our best, the patient will not be at their best. It is MORE about the patient though than it is about us. I'll go with that statement.