1. A patient was about 2 seconds from leaving AMA so I paged the MD because that’s the quickest way to get in touch. “First of all let me just say that I don’t like to be paged.” Like, the patient could have been coding, you don’t know why I paged yet so why start off like that instead of ensuring that the patient is OK?
2. Coworker helping me change ostomy which I don’t have much experience with. I was hesitating to stick on the pouch because I knew it had to go on a certain way but wasn’t sure how. “Just stick it on!” So I stick it on. “OMG be careful, it has to go on a certain way!!”
3. Walking out of the nurses' station to go give med. call light phone is dinging. Coworker sitting at desk charting says “Do you ever answer the call light?!”
4. Taking report. Go to one patient's room who says “??? she doesn’t have my medicine in her hand!” So I say “I’m sorry, I just got here. I’ll go and get your pain medicine.” Even though I still had one more nurse to get report from. As I’m in this patient’s room giving the pain meds, the nurse who I still need to get report from comes in the room and says “What are you doing? I’m ready to give report”
I’m just over it. It’s tough times right now so please let’s just all be kind.
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
On 12/31/2020 at 11:31 PM, missnursingstudent19 said:
2. coworker helping me change ostomy which I don’t have much experience with. I was hesitating to stick on the pouch because I knew it had to go on a certain way but wasn’t sure how. “Just stick it on!” So I stick it on. “OMG be careful, it has to go on a certain way!!”
Back in the '90's I supervised a methadone clinic and would work a shift every other Saturday so the regular nurse could have two full weekends off a month. The clinic was closed on Sundays.
One Saturday, I was dosing a client who was also diagnosed with a personality disorder. "I need my methadone crushed. I can't swallow the tablets whole. And not in orange juice. Orange juice makes me sick!"
Then she added, "I'm not trying to be a pain".
"Oh- you don't have to try", I responded. "You're a natural!"
walking out of the nurses station to go give med. call light phone is dinging. Coworker sitting at desk charting says “do you every answer the call light?!”
Had a staff nurse complain to the nurse manager that a nursing student did not make a move to answer a call light that rang for 20 minutes (and it was not the student's patient). The nurse manager passed the complaint to me (I was the instructor) . I went to the patient's staff nurse and asked how she knew it rang for 20 minutes. She said "I was sitting right next to the student and watched the clock."
Had a staff nurse complain to the nurse manager that a nursing student did not make a move to answer a call light that rang for 20 minutes (and it was not the student's patient). The nurse manager passed the complaint to me (I was the instructor) . I went to the patient's staff nurse and asked how she knew it rang for 20 minutes. She said "I was sitting right next to the student and watched the clock."
Probably but I had also taught that staff nurse years ago and she was never known to be a go-getter! I think her motto might have been 'let someone else do it!'
Probably but I had also taught that staff nurse years ago and she was never known to be a go-getter! I think her motto might have been 'let someone else do it!'
I have had at least two coworkers whose motto was 'let someone else do it! and I don't give a .... if it gets done at all!' Working with one of those now. Such a pleasure.
1. A patient was about 2 seconds from leaving AMA so I paged the MD because that’s the quickest way to get in touch. “First of all let me just say that I don’t like to be paged.” Like, the patient could have been coding, you don’t know why I paged yet so why start off like that instead of ensuring that the patient is OK?
2. coworker helping me change ostomy which I don’t have much experience with. I was hesitating to stick on the pouch because I knew it had to go on a certain way but wasn’t sure how. “Just stick it on!” So I stick it on. “OMG be careful, it has to go on a certain way!!”
3. walking out of the nurses station to go give med. call light phone is dinging. Coworker sitting at desk charting says “do you every answer the call light?!”
4. taking report. Go to one patients room who says “??? she doesn’t have my medicine in her hand!” So I say “I’m sorry, I just got here. I’ll go and get your pain medicine.” Even though I still had one more nurse to get report from. As I’m in this patient’s room giving the pain meds, the nurse who I still need to get report from comes in the room and says “what are you doing? I’m ready to give report”
I’m just over it. It’s tough times right now so please let’s just all be kind.
1. I'd be okay with asking what method the provider preferred. That was direct, but not necessarily rude. I also wouldn't stress myself hurrying over an AMA patient ...unless I was hurrying to grab the AMA form. It's their thing to make you "jump" when they tell you to. Don't fall for it.
4. I can't fault this person 100%, especially if they'd been waiting a while and it was close to the required "go the heck home time". I think it would have been courteous to ask if they were able to wait a few minutes ...or at least apologize for the delay and let them know that you'd be "right there in three minutes" when they showed up in the doorway.
If the off-going nurse promised the patient something and then just left, that's the nurse who was rude.
2. I have no opinion. First time ever.
3. I would have answered "Absolutely not. No. Never."
I have found that the best response to rudeness from coworkers should be done in the moment. You can calmly and gently request that they rephrase that. You can say that you don't like to be talked to like that. Don't react emotionally, just state the facts.
This.
Let them think about how they are treating you, each and every time, and perhaps they will get the message you're not to be treated rudely. Most often you will get an apology and an explanation. Like "I'm sorry, it's just that I had a rough day and I need to stop at the grocery store and pick up the kids". I also find that we get what we give. Kindness begets kindness. My coworkers are a kind and friendly bunch, and very supportive to the team, it's the norm and the expectation and just feeds on itself.
When kindness doesn't beget kindness deal with it in the present if it's worth it. Choose your battles.
On 1/1/2021 at 12:31 AM, missnursingstudent19 said:
1. A patient was about 2 seconds from leaving AMA so I paged the MD because that’s the quickest way to get in touch. “First of all let me just say that I don’t like to be paged.” Like, the patient could have been coding, you don’t know why I paged yet so why start off like that instead of ensuring that the patient is OK?
2. coworker helping me change ostomy which I don’t have much experience with. I was hesitating to stick on the pouch because I knew it had to go on a certain way but wasn’t sure how. “Just stick it on!” So I stick it on. “OMG be careful, it has to go on a certain way!!”
3. walking out of the nurses station to go give med. call light phone is dinging. Coworker sitting at desk charting says “do you every answer the call light?!”
4. taking report. Go to one patients room who says “??? she doesn’t have my medicine in her hand!” So I say “I’m sorry, I just got here. I’ll go and get your pain medicine.” Even though I still had one more nurse to get report from. As I’m in this patient’s room giving the pain meds, the nurse who I still need to get report from comes in the room and says “what are you doing? I’m ready to give report”
I’m just over it. It’s tough times right now so please let’s just all be kind.
1. “Understood. How would you prefer I contact you in the future with my concern over our mutual patients?”
2. This one should be dealt with away from the patient. “I am new. When I ask a question, please consider this in the way you phrase your responses to me. Thank you “
3. Assuming you DO indeed answer your call lights, and coworker is not irritated because you don’t.... “I certainly do. I am going to give a med at this time. Would you mind getting it? Thank you.”
4. This one sounds like the patient had been waiting some time for her medication and perhaps the nurse reporting off passed the buck. “Oh I am so sorry you have had to wait. I am on top of that for you now.” And when the nurse pops off about why you are late in getting report you can let them know you had to take care of a mutual patient. Just remember though, pain never killed anyone. So if the situation was just that the patient was being a turkey butt, you could also respond with “I understand you would like your medication. I have to get report on one more patient and I will tend to you promptly.”
Whether it is a patient, a doctor, or a coworker, you have to teach people how to treat you.
Just because someone is sitting at a computer doesn't mean they aren't working. In order to SURVIVE, I let call bells ring when I need to get some documentation done. In my hospital it takes a good 30-45 minutes to document that first assessment and click all the boxes that the desk jockey nurses decide bedside nurses have to check. Five patients x45 minutes=you do the math. Do I enjoy charting? I do not, but documentation is part of the job. Let me be clear, I don't have a problem toileting patients and bringing them water. I work my tail off. But at some point I have to clinically prioritize. I will say that I rarely get a sip of water in the first 3 hours of my shift (whereas many of the CNAs I work with get a set of vitals on their patients, and then go get a breakfast burrito... every. single. shift). If I kept answering call bells, I'd have to stay hours late. I did that for a while. Have I ever seen a CNA stay one second past the end of their shift? Nope, never.
Davey Do
10,666 Posts
Back in the '90's I supervised a methadone clinic and would work a shift every other Saturday so the regular nurse could have two full weekends off a month. The clinic was closed on Sundays.
One Saturday, I was dosing a client who was also diagnosed with a personality disorder. "I need my methadone crushed. I can't swallow the tablets whole. And not in orange juice. Orange juice makes me sick!"
Then she added, "I'm not trying to be a pain".
"Oh- you don't have to try", I responded. "You're a natural!"