Use your call light - Wisely

Dear patients,

Your call-light is like the magical lamp in the Disney movie Aladdin ....you only get three wishes. In this case you only get 3 times to use the call light per 12-hour nurse's shift. Please choose your times appropriately and for real serious issues only. In an effort to maintain the mental sanity of the nurse caring for you, your call light might need to be removed if you abuse the right of having one.

If only life could work like that, hehehehe!

I hate to rain on everyone's parade and yes call lights have frustrated me too.......and yes there are those patients that do abuse the light but, I have found that the overall majority have a deeper issue like fear......that has them ringing. Some patients feel frightened during shift change.....they fear no one will hear them when the nurses are in report. All patients day or night know when shift change has arrived due to the noise level of the on comming and off going shift. Hence the call light cue......I used to make last rounds, usually with an CNA, and ask if anyone needed, water, bedpan, pain med, blanket whatever....... and tell them where I was going and how long I would be gone. They seemed comforted.......they knew where I was if they needed anything and assured them that the CNA's knew we were in report and will hear them. I know the off going **** is trying to get the heck outta there and get work done, but remember those patients are frightened, alone, and in pain. Now, when that is not enough I set limits........I have told a patient that would put the call button on (on purpose) when you were still in the room because he needed something else.......I will come back every 15 min to check on you.......put your call light on only if you can breathe, have chest pain ect..........I understand you have needs and may be frightened but you are making it impossible to anything else to get done....if this is not enough we can provide your family with a list of private duty personel..........It stinks at first because it is a real pain in the a-- but eventually I lengthen the time between and when they know I am good to my word........you build their trust they seem to behave......worst case senario I have made the patinet a constant observation just to save everyone's sanity!

If you have never been a patient............be patient;)...........I have recently be come a professional patient due to polymyositis/dermatomyositis:crying2:............it is WAY different on the other side! I have a much deeper appreciation for the patients POV.