To all the "Old School" Nurses

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2008

It's been pretty much the same the last 16 years I've been a nurse.

Back in a day though "good patients" and families were to be seen and not heard. With "Quiet" signs posted all over the place. It was the nurses who were perceived as rude back then.

I'm relatively sure the old school nurses are going to say that yes, people have gotten ruder over the years.

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Mar 26, 2008

I think patients and families have been told by the hospitals that they should expect a certain level of service and they are more demanding now. Their perception of what is good care often has nothing to do with what we consider good care. They want nicely decorated rooms, good food, attentive nurses who fluff pillows and have time to cater to every whim because that's what they have been told to expect. Nurses on the other hand are trying to keep them alive.

So yes, patients are ruder and more demanding but maybe only because they have been told to behave that way.

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 26, 2008

After 25 years, I guess I'm pretty "old school." My perception is that people are more demanding in general.

Keep in mind that I'm not a staff nurse in a hospital, but from what I see and hear and read, I do think that there might be a greater expectation that nurses do more things for patients that the patients could do for themselves. If true, then it is probably due to the whole "customer service" orientation that I don't remember from "back in the day." I was taught in school that it was important for patients to do as much for themselves as possible, to retain their functional ability. I get the impression that these days, management is more concerned with patient satisfaction surveys than with the level of actual patient care.

SchnauzersRock · Mar 26, 2008

I have been a nurse for 16 years, and I can definitely tell you that in that short period of time, I have seen the absolute worst in behavior. People are more entitlement-minded these days, confrontational, and demanding over the smallest of issues. Having said that, I remember when I got my tonsils taken out in 1969. Back in those days, it was unheard of for anyone to disrespect a person of authority, whether be they a doctor or a nurse. I have worked with some "old-school" nurses and doctors over the years, and they had my absolute respect, not only because of the years of experience they had, but also because they "took charge" when the need arose. Now, because of the health care environment we have today, the fields of nursing and medicine have become "fast-food" like in nature: Give the customer what they order when they order it, and don't ask any questions. The public doesn't have any respect for our profession, and sadly, we have allowed this to happen, because its all about collecting that almighty dollar and keeping the consumer happy.

Iconoclast · Mar 26, 2008

Going on 16 years, does that make me "old school?" I don't think people are ruder, but I am much less tolerant of rudeness.

When I was new, I could be intimidated by people. If some old lady snapped her fingers at me, I'd have hopped to. Now I let her know in no uncertain terms that I don't work for her, and she had better not do it again and expect the hoped for response. Make sexually innappropriate remarks, deliberately let me "catch" you masturbating, I will give you what for (both of those happened to me last week). You may not see anyone except the security guard for the rest of my shift, lol. 15 years ago I'd have giggled and run off, now I confront it. I do not put up with abuse form anyone. Innappropriate patient behavior is addressed immediately and professionally.

Families feel more empowered, ask more questions and they aren't always tactful. Some coworkers seem to feel threatened by that, but I think that is a good thing. I really believe it is their responsibiilty in fact, so I don't begredge them getting as much info as possible. It is rare that I am treated rudely by family members. It happens, but not frequently. If it is bad enough, I just walk away or have them escorted out of the bldg. Really irrational people aren't worth trying to deal with, so I don't pay them any mind.

elkpark · Mar 26, 2008

I agree with Tweety and luv (and I'm definitely "old school"!!) I would say that clients and families are a little pushier and ruder than they used to be, but no more so than people are in general, in all areas of life. I think people, in general, just have a much greater sense of entitlement, and much higher expectations, than we used to (remember when having a fourth TV network to watch was a big deal??)

Penny8611 · Mar 26, 2008

I remember when I got my tonsils taken out in 1969.

Totally off topic, but I got mine out that year, too. I was checked in to the hospital the day before! :chuckle

bagladyrn, RN · Mar 26, 2008

I think that people in general have become ruder and more demanding, displaying a feeling of entitlement. This is reflected in their behavior in the hospital as well as elsewhere. The same behavior is obvious in stores and restaurants - anywhere that people deal with employees who are constrained by their job from replying/reacting in kind. I think it's exacerbated by the "customer" mentality prevalent in many hospitals today.

Reminds me of a recurring theme in some of R.A. Heinlein's books that the loss of manners and polite behavior was a strong sign of the decline of a civilization - lately I'm inclined to agree with him.

sharlynn · Mar 26, 2008

I think that people in general have become ruder and more demanding, displaying a feeling of entitlement. This is reflected in their behavior in the hospital as well as elsewhere. The same behavior is obvious in stores and restaurants - anywhere that people deal with employees who are constrained by their job from replying/reacting in kind. I think it's exacerbated by the "customer" mentality prevalent in many hospitals today.
Reminds me of a recurring theme in some of R.A. Heinlein's books that the loss of manners and polite behavior was a strong sign of the decline of a civilization - lately I'm inclined to agree with him.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

My current pet peeve is commercials onTV- "It's my moneyand I want it NOW".

I'm seriously going to write to Burger King to tell them their commercial with people yelling "Shut up" to their growling stomach offends me!

nickola · Mar 26, 2008

I couldn't have said it better myself.
My current pet peeve is commercials onTV- "It's my moneyand I want it NOW".
I'm seriously going to write to Burger King to tell them their commercial with people yelling "Shut up" to their growling stomach offends me!

I have to agree. I remember a time when patients & families were grateful, and eager to do whatever they could to get well & go home. Now they argue & complain about every minor thing as if they're in a 5 star hotel. I think the lawsuit happy climate that we live in has contributed to this as well. Patients & families seem genuinely surprised when they have a positive hospital experience. Thank goodness there are still those who express their appreciation & make the difficult ones easier to take!

ASSEDO · Mar 26, 2008

yes, without a doubt, patients and their families have become more obnoxious, mean, and disrespectful. i started working as a rn in 1971. patients and their families were much more respectful to medical personnel. somewhere, in the 1990’s i noticed a change to disrespect. by the years 2000-present, it’s somewhat frightening as to the abuse the patient and their families express to the medical profession.

i remember when a rn (we wore white caps that identified us by the black strap) walked into a room, the families would rise from their chair and stand, or walk outside the room what patient care was given. now the families sit around and block your path to the patient while asking you to bring them coffee with cream and two sugars.

i might add that i blame the “new and improved management” that became twisted in the 1990’s. management became concern with competition and went from quality patient care to customer service. i also blame a society that has been given social freebies until they believe the world has released them from showing respect.

as of last week, i set up a room for a new cabg patient that was on their way back from the or. as the patient arrived, i went back into to room to find a family member sleeping in the newly made surgery bed with their work-boots on the clean sheets. post-op infection alert!! that would have never happened in the 1970 or 1980’s. a rn would have had the authority run the entire family out into the street, but not anymore.

i feel pity for the nurse that must tolerate abusive patient and abusive families in the future. if hospital administrators don't rethink their goals and give floor nurses back the authority to call the shots on their unit, it will become impossible to work in the medical environment. patient care should be number one, not let’s make the patient and patient family think they are on a freaking sea cruise.