Ten Things A Nurse Doesn't Want to Hear

We've all heard them.............those hackneyed phrases and dopey questions people often direct at nurses because they truly do not understand what we do. Nurses General Nursing Article

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You are reading page 2 of Ten Things A Nurse Doesn't Want to Hear

pageygirl

54 Posts

love all those responses

i remember myself and the another nurse were in a room with the cardiologist and anestesiologist i know i mispelled that with a rapid that ended up being an in room cardioversion and the family was mad because the nurse wasnt available to answer why her mother wasnt bathed yet omg

nitenurse02

55 Posts

Specializes in med/surg.

The original list was pretty funny. I agree with most of those statements. However, I have seen the argument that being called an angel is degrading a little too much lately. While I will never wear white if I have any control over the matter, being called an angel sometimes is an honor. We as nurses don't claim that title for ourselves. The title of angel is typically bestowed upon us by our patients. And it can be for the little things. When you are in a stressful trying situation, and someone takes care of even a simple thing, they might seem angelic in your eyes. For example, when my father died a few years ago we were all around his bed. There were probably 10 or 15 people. His nurse simply stood there to turn the alarm off because it kept beeping. That simple act helped reduce stress at a very difficult time. I have always thought of her as an angel. She may not even know it and probably wouldn't remember the event seven years later. I fail to see how this is degrading. In fact I see this as an honor and a compliment more than any employee of the month or loyalty award could ever be. Not saying that being called an angel by one or twenty patients has a bearing on how good of a nurse you are. I don't believe that either, but I don't see any reason to be offended to hear that you in some small way improved the experience of your patient.

(getting off soapbox now, sorry)

JomoNurse

267 Posts

now these are TOO funny :nurse:

Jasoninpa

121 Posts

Great thread, very funny :)

SmilingBluEyes

20,964 Posts

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Mom to misbehaving child:

"IF YOU DON'T BE GOOD I WILL HAVE THAT NURSE GIVE YOU A SHOT!"

You BETTER BELIEVE I corrected that one post-haste! UGH way to make kids afraid of medical personnel and LIE while at it.

Bill E. Rubin

366 Posts

Specializes in Neuro, Cardiology, ICU, Med/Surg.
cotjockey said:
Excuse me? I do not use the computer I work! I do, however, have contests with my coworkers to see who can go the longest without answering lights...the annoying "ping, ping, ping" got to me, so I lost...and here I am. What do you want now?

LOL. It is always one of my favorites when a person who is looking for your assistance berates you for your delay in responding to the call bell. This really motivates me to be extra helpful..... NOT. Often times, the amount of time is grossly exaggerated, I.e. "I've been calling for over an hour..." when I was just in the patients room less than 15 minutes ago.

Thanet

126 Posts

Specializes in Mental Health.

12) Them: 'I could NEVER do your job'

Me : 'What do you do for a living?'

Them: 'I work in an Abattoir'

franciscangypsy

187 Posts

Specializes in ICU, MedSurg, Medical Telemetry.
SmilingBluEyes said:
Mom to misbehaving child:

"IF YOU DON'T BE GOOD I WILL HAVE THAT NURSE GIVE YOU A SHOT!"

You BETTER BELIEVE I corrected that one post-haste! UGH way to make kids afraid of medical personnel and LIE while at it.

I have had family members threaten that to their kids too! Kid eyed me for the rest of my shift, afraid I was going to come after him. He was only relieved when grandma was discharged and they were leaving! :D

oguesswhat

441 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg.
hope3456 said:
#11 Must be nice to be able to get a recession proof job anywhere with a sign on bonus -because there is such a HUGE nsg shortage.

While this may have been true a couple years ago it isn't so much now. Our 'job opporturnities' were very much overdramatized by the news media. And we are finding out nsg is NOT immune to the economic downturn.

Oh yes I HATE that one....yes well if there is a HUGE nursing shortage somewhere...it's not here! That is always the 2nd thing people say to me (...but there is a nursing shortage!) 1st thing...do you have a job yet?!? No I just love being a waitress so much I decided to stay 4 months (hopefully not longer ? ) after I graduated ha.

talaxandra

3,037 Posts

Specializes in Medical.

Here's the thing for me with angels, born and called nurses - they don't study, are always lovely and loving, forgiving, near-perfect, don't make mistakes, and what they do is effortless. In short, they don't have to be treated like human beings, the skills and knowledge they have is innate not earned, and what they do is natural not hard work.

I love my work, but it is work, sometimes hard and bloody and frustrating and emotional and did I mention hard? It took more than natural ability to get through my training, and I'm as good as I am in part because I enjoy it, in part because my skills and personality lend are compatable with the role requirements, and in large part because I work at it. Don't take that away from me by thinking that this all comes easily, effortlessly and without cost, and then impose on me an expectation

that I ought to take pleasure in adjusting your pillows for the eighth time this morning.

wishInew

10 Posts

Specializes in geriatric,director of recreation as well.

GOD BLESS YOU!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide

VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN

22 Articles; 9,987 Posts

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Well, there's one way to stop that complaint..........wear 'em. ;)