Welcome To The Hospital - From Your Nurse

suga_junkie, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2015

I have friends who are nurses and I have loved ones who have been in the hospital.
Reading this story made me sad. When I'm with someone I love in the hospital, the last thing I want to think about is if I'm bothering the nurse. This makes me think of those jaded policemen who treats everybody rude. If you dislike what you're doing find a different line of work...oh wait..you'll encounter all kinds of people in every field.
Elevate your field don't drag it down with petty complaints aimed at vulnerable scared people.

Are you a nurse or a nursing student? If not, then why are you on the allNURSES forum? This is a place for nurses to discuss issues and vent in a safe, (fairly) anonymous arena. This allows us to blow off steam so we can provide excellent, unbiased care for you/your family/friends/society in general, even if they happen to be rude, obnoxious or just all round nasty people. Your advice as a non-nurse is neither helpful nor solicited.

katfish67lpn · Dec 20, 2015

Welcome to the hospital. From your nurse.
This is not your home. It is the place where your doctors, nurses, and therapists will get you better to return home.
Hi new patient's family. Can you please refrain from speaking so I can ask your family member some pertinent questions?
Since this is not your home, do not expects the comforts of home, such as a luxury bed.
Those hospital beds are not the greatest. However, they are designed to help prevent your skin from breaking. You're welcome.
When was the last time someone cooked a whole meal for you? If you don't like it, bring something from home, but don't complain.
Missing your personal slave? Didn't think so. Hi! I'm your nurse and I have 4 other people to take care of in addition to you.
RN. Refreshments and Narcotics. Huh?
Your pain is at a 10/10? Really? So as somebody is cutting your leg off with a saw you make personal phone calls and laugh at a Facebook post?
Actually you do need an IV. And I don't just put them in people because I'm a sicko who likes sticking sharp objects into people. (I do like getting them in though).
If you think you can dictate which order I give your medications (which tend to include Benadryl, Dilaudid, and Zofran), you don't belong in this hospital.
I feed my patients. Not their visitors. Unless I feel bad for them.
You will be woken up. Multiple times. While you're sleeping.
Don't think you can threaten me by refusing to take your medications. Less work for me!
I asked a simple question. When did you last move your bowels? I don't need the extended edition.
Keep your arm straight if you don't want that machine to beep.
Those bubbles in the IV tubing won't kill you.
Wouldn't a family reunion be so much more peaceful in your own home, at a park, or somewhere spacious.
If you don't want to deal with me and my expectations, there's a hotel down the street.
See you next month!

Honestly after reading this I thought to myself "Wow the OP has been a nurse 3 years (from your profile info) and you already have this much contempt for patients and/or their families, that's sad." I have been a nurse for 26 years and I don't have the same outlook. Sure sometimes a situation/person can be aggravating but I like to be positive and helpful instead of thinking of snide things I can respond with. My 2 cents...

Guest219794 · Dec 20, 2015

Well, after reading the first page, I was going to congratulate the OP on going that long without invoking any righteous indignation.

Rats. Too late.

Anyway, thanks for this post. I expect it to get amusing.

AlphaM · Dec 20, 2015

Let's all remember that those patients hold power over us in the form of satisfaction scores, bad scores means less money for the hospital, less money for the hospital means potential for us nurses to get laid off = no job. The OP came across jaded, that's not the type of nurse I am and not the nurse I want at my bedside sorry.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 20, 2015

Let's all remember that those patients hold power over us in the form of satisfaction scores, bad scores means less money for the hospital, less money for the hospital means potential for us nurses to get laid off = no job. The OP came across jaded, that's not the type of nurse I am and not the nurse I want at my bedside sorry.

I don't allow patient satisfaction scores to get in the way of the care I provide and I'm the type of nurse I would want at my bedside.

Alpha Male - do you allow your patient in DKA to have all the packages of crackers she wants?

Do you let your patients leave the unit to smoke?

Do you skip things on the admission assessment because your patient's family doesnt stop talking or do you *gasp* tell them to leave?

Do you give all your AM meds at 1230 since one of your patient's wanted to talk?

Do you not tell Dr. Noeyes about a patient's low K because then he'll order IV potassium and that's going to hurt?

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 20, 2015

Honestly after reading this I thought to myself "Wow the OP has been a nurse 3 years (from your profile info) and you already have this much contempt for patients and/or their families, that's sad." I have been a nurse for 26 years and I don't have the same outlook. Sure sometimes a situation/person can be aggravating but I like to be positive and helpful instead of thinking of snide things I can respond with. My 2 cents...

Your patience or ability to ignore problems is admirable.

This post is meant to be humorous. Most people (you are in the small minority) see it as such.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 20, 2015

It's odd that this person just joined and her first post is so insulting and controversial. I have my suspicions where it originated. Not taking the bait.

Libbyliberal - where do you think it originated?

AlphaM · Dec 20, 2015

[quote=Lev

All those extremes examples are just that, extreme examples. Still the fact is that satisfaction scores affect our jobs, because of this fact we all must do our part to ensure we do all we can to help that situation. I'm not going to engage in extremes because it's counterproductive. Of course there's things that can't be helped that may cause pt dissatisfaction but there's also many things we CAN do to enhance the pt experience positively :)

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 21, 2015

All those extremes examples are just that, extreme examples. Still the fact is that satisfaction scores affect our jobs, because of this fact we all must do our part to ensure we do all we can to help that situation. I'm not going to engage in extremes because it's counterproductive. Of course there's things that can't be helped that may cause pt dissatisfaction but there's also many things we CAN do to enhance the pt experience positively :)

Yes, there is a way to have satisifed patients without bending backwards. Some of it has to do with setting realistic expectations up front. There are many people who will never be happy.

AlphaM · Dec 21, 2015

[quote=Lev

I can stand behind that statement :)

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Dec 21, 2015

Welcome to the hospital. From your nurse.
This is not your home. It is the place where your doctors, nurses, and therapists will get you better to return home.
Hi new patient's family. Can you please refrain from speaking so I can ask your family member some pertinent questions?
Since this is not your home, do not expects the comforts of home, such as a luxury bed.
Those hospital beds are not the greatest. However, they are designed to help prevent your skin from breaking. You're welcome.
When was the last time someone cooked a whole meal for you? If you don't like it, bring something from home, but don't complain.
Missing your personal slave? Didn't think so. Hi! I'm your nurse and I have 4 other people to take care of in addition to you.
RN. Refreshments and Narcotics. Huh?
Your pain is at a 10/10? Really? So as somebody is cutting your leg off with a saw you make personal phone calls and laugh at a Facebook post?
Actually you do need an IV. And I don't just put them in people because I'm a sicko who likes sticking sharp objects into people. (I do like getting them in though).
If you think you can dictate which order I give your medications (which tend to include Benadryl, Dilaudid, and Zofran), you don't belong in this hospital.
I feed my patients. Not their visitors. Unless I feel bad for them.
You will be woken up. Multiple times. While you're sleeping.
Don't think you can threaten me by refusing to take your medications. Less work for me!
I asked a simple question. When did you last move your bowels? I don't need the extended edition.
Keep your arm straight if you don't want that machine to beep.
Those bubbles in the IV tubing won't kill you.
Wouldn't a family reunion be so much more peaceful in your own home, at a park, or somewhere spacious.
If you don't want to deal with me and my expectations, there's a hotel down the street.
See you next month!

Hey, Lev, you are not following the script. If you would, that would be delightful.......

katfish67lpn · Dec 21, 2015

Your patience or ability to ignore problems is admirable.
This post is meant to be humorous. Most people (you are in the small minority) see it as such.

Well just to clarify, I do not in any way ignore problems. I am able to focus on the bigger picture and just don't let the little things irritate me at that level. When you post here not everyone is going to be in agreement and I was only being honest in my immediate reaction to reading your post. I think, if you let these little things get to you now at only 3 years in, you will be heading for an early burn out and that is a real problem in nursing. I am not trying to be catty or condescending. AN is a forum for our nursing profession to vent and seek advice however, as I said you can't expect to only receive feedback you agree with.