For the most part, I am described by others as being extremely patient and kind. But my fuse is wearing thin! with the increasing number of entitled, demanding patients, as well as verbally and sometimes threatened physically abusive nature. ( Everyone I am describing is alert and oriented. I can handle the person with brain injury or the mentally ill that have less control of their behavior and words. It's the perfectly with-it adults who should know better). I am so sick of demanding patients that my attitude towards them has changed- I go in and do my minimum assessment and work, get them what they need, and remind them that verbal abuse is not tolerated. I have gone to managers. I work in a float pool so thankfully I rarely have the same person twice. What makes a person think they can call us stupid idiots? When they have little clue about what is policy and procedure, and expecially if other nurses have given in and done what they wanted or how they wanted it. Sometimes joking around can help dissolve some situations- I have seen nurses fire back insults at the patient in a joking manner (that is not my way) and I've seen others give in to whatever they want (giving shots in unapproved sites), or getting them their coke while they are cussing. Excuse me, if you want your coke you are going to ask for it nicely, and no I am not neglecting you or refusing your care. Your immediate need of a carbonated beverage is not essential to your health and healing. I just want to say "put on your big girl panties and behave." The attitudes of patients seems to be getting worse lately, and it is stressing me out. I would like to begin a program at my hospital system based on mutual respect, with some sort of measure to curtail the verbal abuse by patients on staff. Or family members to staff. I, and many of my colleagues, are highly trained nurses with the interest of excellent care for the patient. We did not get our license out of a cracker jack box, and even if we did, no one deserves to be spoken to that way. I don't care if that's how they are raised, or just their way- they need to be accountable for their words and actions. We are not doormats. This, along with the stress of med-surg, is running me out of bedside nursing.
If your hospital or facility has any program or action plan in place, would you please share? Does it work?
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
So the end result for the pt with Condition H was that she got her milkshake, huh? So let's see...test results were not available to the surgeon, he kept the pt NPO because she was admitted for abd pain and wanted to keep surgery an option in case the test results were concerning. Pt had a milkshake, so surgery is not an option for another 6-8 hours. AND THIS IS CONSIDERED SAFE AND EFFECTIVE PATIENT CARE????!??!? Wow. So in essence, administration is prioritizing the 'happiness' of a patient FIRST before the safety of a patient. SMH.
Yeah, I'm with you guys. Had a wonderful patient with a pushy son. He tried to verbally attack me because he thought I stuck her twice within ten minutes for a blood sugar. I let him vent for a minute, but he's the kind that just gets madder the longer you listen. I excused myself and left in the middle of his diatribe. I refuse to deal with that crap.
He apologized and brought me some gum later. Go figure.
Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
Most of these folks don't have a pot to **** in or or a window to throw it outta. Suffered fifteen years in acute care trying to reason with cretins. No more. Hospice nursing is a dream. I fix the problem, the family is usually happy i showed up, and then i get out of dodge. I have no time for stupid, ungrateful people.
So the end result for the pt with Condition H was that she got her milkshake, huh? So let's see...test results were not available to the surgeon, he kept the pt NPO because she was admitted for abd pain and wanted to keep surgery an option in case the test results were concerning. Pt had a milkshake, so surgery is not an option for another 6-8 hours. AND THIS IS CONSIDERED SAFE AND EFFECTIVE PATIENT CARE????!??!? Wow. So in essence, administration is prioritizing the 'happiness' of a patient FIRST before the safety of a patient. SMH.
It pretty much sums up all the is wrong with our system in so many hospitals. They wouldn't have gotten the milkshake in mine. The surgeons would have said they can sign out AMA and have their milkshake or stay and be treated. Period. We are a much more united front where patient safety is at play. This is how it should be everywhere.
Imagine if this patient needed surgery and died because they got a milkshake. A lawyer would have a field day and the hospital would be screwed to the tunes of millions. The idiocy is astounding.
Call a RRT for a milkshake at our hospital and expect a nice big bill and a well deserved verbal thrashing to boot. Hope another patient wasn't in dire and real need at the time. I honestly can't believe they would give in to it. Ours would have chewed them up and spit them out in the nicest most professional way of course. lol
Just the other day, I was verbally assaulted by a long term care patient. This guy is Hitler in a nutshell. Worst patient i have ever cared for in my entire career It was a BAD one too - Very loud, telling me to go reproduce myself, attempting to punch me, disrupting the unit, saying every 4-letter word and hate filled slur you could imagine being directed at me.
Adrenaline rush kicks in. I have the advantage of being a 6'3" 250lb guy. Cut the crap sir.
I was overjoyed:hhmth: when i came back from a weekend off to learn that this patient went to the CCU.
Does that make me a bad person? No, I just means I am happy to see karma in action.
He had told me on numerous occasions to go to hell. Now that he is in CCU, he is one step closer to the lake of fire than i am.
I feel like champagne:ancong!: - its a beautiful day!
Welcome to the not-so-wonderful world of customer service.
However, nurses are expected to suck it up and take it because our 'customers' are sick and not feeling at their best. This mentality is not right. I feel that abusive patients and demanding visitors need to be held accountable for their behaviors and actions.
I wish I could hit the "kudos" button more than once for your post, Commuter!!
Hate to break it to y'all but even under universal healthcare this still happens. Every Canadian has access to medical care whether or not they have paid their premiums. Their sense of entitlement has quadrupled my nursing career.
They elders feel their are special "because I built this country". The young because "I pay taxes".
I've been told the ice water isn't cold enough. We'd never give any patient a milkshake or a pop because the system doesn't supply these items. You want that you pay for it yourself.
The strange thing is if you have to use one of the old four bed ward units in my hospital the patients are better behaved than when they are in semis or privates. It's like they don't want to appear to be the "jerk" in the room infront of their peers.
We've had complaints because the Code team was taking too long. Uhm, this isn't TV and we don't save a life in four minutes like on "House". We've had complaints that they will go to another hospital, the answer is fine, try it, unless you can find a Dr. with admitting priviliges there, there isn't going to be a bed for you.
Verbal abuse is mental cruelty. If they spoke to their child or spouse the way they spoke to us, someone would call Social Services.
Anyone who has ever said "sticks and stone may break your bones but names will never hurt you" has never worked with the public.
Excuse me, if you want your coke you are going to ask for it nicely, and no I am not neglecting you or refusing your care. Your immediate need of a carbonated beverage is not essential to your health and healing. I just want to say "put on your big girl panties and behave." The attitudes of patients seems to be getting worse lately, and it is stressing me out. I would like to begin a program at my hospital system based on mutual respect, with some sort of measure to curtail the verbal abuse by patients on staff. Or family members to staff. I, and many of my colleagues, are highly trained nurses with the interest of excellent care for the patient. We did not get our license out of a cracker jack box, and even if we did, no one deserves to be spoken to that way. I don't care if that's how they are raised, or just their way- they need to be accountable for their words and actions. We are not doormats. This, along with the stress of med-surg, is running me out of bedside nursing. 
:tku:
that the patient even got the milkshake from calling a condition h is rediculous. bet the surgeon wasn't impressed by that.
Mulan
2,228 Posts
It sounds like what most hospitals call a rapid response team.
Still doesn't explain how an NPO patient was able to get a milkshake.