Those hard clinical days....

[I♥Scrubs]

Just a little encouragement for my peers out there. When you have a difficult patient or someone who doesn't seem to appreciate the work you are doing, try to put yourself in their shoes. Today I had clinical 0640-1440 and my patient had me wanting to leave for the day at about 0730 because of being so rude and yelling/cussing at me every single time I entered the room. (The nurse that gave report from overnight had stated this patient was very grumpy so I expected it) but to have such disrespect when you are trying so hard...it is disheartening. But once he was eating breakfast and I had a few minutes I went to recompose myself. And I really thought hard about it. My patient had some issues with his home-life, and his diagnosis list was long! He had things from HTN, to CA, to CHF and other issues! He is obviously in the hospital because he is sick! And I thought about it, and I really think he just didn't cope with his diagnosis list. When I asked him a question, every answer was "I don't care". Could you honestly imagine having all these problems? I would probably be a bit grumpy too. Add in the pain he was in and I could understand. But each time I went in to his room I thought on this and I put on a smile and asked how he was doing. And ya know what? He became nicer to me and more manageable as the day went on. No more cussing at me or throwing things. We were even able to talk about his family and his life at home. So don't give up! Just because things may be hard on those certain days at clinical, remember why you are there, and try to put yourself in their place. See it from their point of view, it helps!

[bellybean329]

I always remind myself that when a patient (or even a coworker) behaves like that, it's generally not something I did. They may be in pain or afraid or facing something else of which Im not aware. I just smile and ensure I do what I can to meet their needs. I reassure them it's ok to be angry but not to be abusive. It generally works and isn't perfect, but a smile and kind manner begets smile.

[futurenursekl]

It's not like I didn't try to stand up for myself. One time I went in I asked to see his IV site and he became disgruntled. He told me to go ahead and when I checked it he became even more rude. I then said to him that I asked to see his IV site, if he wanted me to wait a few minutes until he was done (doing whatever he was doing, I can't remember) that all he had to do is ask if I could come back in a few minutes and there was no need to be this way. He just sneered at me and ignored me. So it didn't help. That was when I took my mini break and decided to "kill him with kindness" as the saying goes. When I had to get his next set of vitals his daughter was there. I walked in and he said some rude comment and she even said to him "Dad they are just doing their jobs don't be mean to them, they are here to help you". He also yelled at my friend who is another student, my instructor and a surgeon who was trying to change his dressings on his legs. I actually felt bad for the surgeon. This guy was screaming at him and cussing at him and the surgeon didn't even say a word. In the end I think I did the right thing, and it turned out to be good because I was able to break through to him. :)[/quote']

I believe that you did indeed do a good thing. I believe that a GREAT nurse like yourself knows how to manage and control these situations by over coming the individual by maturity and self respect. Because you being "moved / angered or even retaliation would allow the client to have more reason to try and put you down and even have authorities go against you. And also control your emotions. What you did was control the situation and the individual allowing things to work out the way you wanted In the end after all you did good and you became one of my inspirations.