Visiting nurse

[jessiern, BSN, RN]

Maybe I am being petty, but I had an experience today that upsets me the more I think about it.

We have a patient at our facility that is a long term care patient (basically, instead of going to a nursing home, her family pays for her to stay in a program at the hospital). She has hospice, and the nurse visits once a month to monitor for changes and document status. Today, I went into her room to clean and turn her, and I heard a knock on the door. I said, just a minute and cont on. A few minutes later, one of my coworkers stepped in to inform me the hospice nurse was here to see the patient-and I told her to let her know what I was doing, and would be finished in just a minute.

When I was finished, I step out, and looked in the hall. Didn't see anyone. Went back to the nurses station, and starting charting. A few minutes later a lady that I had never seen before says "excuse me, are you finished with Mrs. SO&SO". I said yes, and asked if she was the hospice nurse. Now, I would like for you to keep in mind that she is a visitor to the facility I work in, and all my coworkers were at the desk working, within hearing distance.

She never said if she was the hospice nurse, my co-worker that saw her earlier verified that for me. She glared at me and said "Well thank you so much for having the decency to let me know you were finished" and stormed into the room.

I was floored. My co-workers were flabbergasted. I just can't believe she would go into an unfamiliar facility, with nurses she doesn't know, and be so boldly rude. I was speakless, which is not my nature. I'm considering letting my manager know about the situation, but I'm not sure if that the best thing. Maybe I should just let it go....

[aloevera]

oh, if it is someone that you will see again I might let her know that you did not see anyone when you came out and did not know who she was....that will allow you to forget the whole thing...

or just let it go and "consider the source", maybe she is just a rude woman...I know, things are said all the time in our environment and you never know whether to "let them slide" or make a deal of it...