Tipped?

[Lunah]

This was too funny ... I had a patient on Saturday who was VERY high maintenance -- literally screaming (in my ear, ouch) in pain. Screaming. My charge nurse thought she was a psych patient! In any case, I took care of her pain, and her. After she was discharged, I took her by wheelchair and helped her into her husband's truck. Then her husband followed me back to the door, pulling out his wallet as he walked after me. He pulled out a $50 and tried to hand it to me, I couldn't believe it! LOL!! I've never had anyone try to tip me before. Of course, I didn't accept it. He kept trying to hand it to me, and I explained that we couldn't accept money, but that his offering it was nice in itself. (I shoulda told him to buy us all pizza with it, but I didn't think of that until later ... oh well!)

My husband is a tattoo artist, and he gets tips all the time ... but this was the first time someone tried to tip me!

[Aneroo, LPN]

Okay, I understand that - but I'm challenging you guys to think deeper than "just because I was told not to"....

With the recent emphasis on "evidence based" practice, we have called to scrutiny things that we were just "taught" to do unquestioningly. Now we are starting to look at the reasons and rationales.

So back to the question, yes, you may have been taught not to accept these things, but WHY???????

Any takers?

Because some nurses wouldn't treat all patients the same way, the same reason we have EMTALA. So someone with no job and torn clothes can come in and they should receive the same care as the rich dude (HA).

Similar to the waitress who tends to the well dressed proper family but doesn't spend an equal amount of time or energy with the family that appears to be poor.

[TheNewCuteNurse]

What if they try to sue you??? As i been taught, you can help someone but if you accept payments and the pt c/o something being wrong...they can sue you. Just thinking of the worst.

and congrats on ur 1st tip

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I've been offered tips as an RN, EMT and ski patroller. I just say "Thanks but I can't accept it. Please donate the money to your favorite charity".

[Knoodsen]

The hospital tells me that I cannot accept gifts that have any value, but I think they will take "donations". In fact, they seek them out. They have set a limit on the monetary value of snacks that I may accept. It's lower than the limit established for more important people, of course. My opinion? That's our culture. In many countries, the police augment their incomes with bribes. That is not acceptable here and yet those at the top may be bribed ad lib. They who lie, cheat, and steal are very concerned about my ethics.

[Riseupandnurse]

Our hospital started a program called "Thankful Patients". If a patient wants to tip, we are to direct them to this program, which funnels the money to the hospital. We are even to bring the program up if a patient says they liked their care. There are brochures in holders in the hallways. :uhoh21:

[nursel56]

Our hospital started a program called "Thankful Patients". If a patient wants to tip, we are to direct them to this program, which funnels the money to the hospital. We are even to bring the program up if a patient says they liked their care. There are brochures in holders in the hallways. :uhoh21:

I think I would have a really, really hard time bringing up the subject of money in the context of a conversation with a patient that was thanking me for their care. I don't think I could do it. If it was framed as a charitable donation, it would be easier, I guess. But still. . .my son worked as a cashier for a grocery store. They usually had a charity drive of some sort with the donation jar or the paper balloons with your name on it. He had a little memorized speech he had to say to every customer. Maybe hospitals are headed that way.:uhoh21:

:uhoh21: