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.
Specializes in SNF, Home Health & Hospice, L&D, Peds.
> Please choose one family member to call and receive information regarding your condition, and note that said family member can update additional family members. When I have to field 1,000 phone calls from each and every single one of your close and extended family members, I cannot possibly place my attention on you, or give you the care you deserve.
> Please do not "adjust" your IV pump because "it's loud." If it's alarming, it's for a reason, and I need to come to your room to assess why. When you turn off the pump, or change the rate, you may be doing more harm to yourself than assisting me in solving the problem.
> As an addendum to my previous point, please do not attempt to operate or manipulate any of the tubes and lines coming from you, even if you feel you're "just moving it." That line is connected to some place invasive and moving it without my knowledge or assistance could really, really hurt you.
> Please understand that waking you up "q4hr" for vital signs is essential to monitoring your illness. It is neither fun nor amusing for the techs and/or nurses to wake you up every 4 hours, especially if it causes you to lash out at us, and we only do so because it is a physician's order and it allows us to monitor for acute changes.
> To that effect, your physician has ordered lab work because it is necessary in assisting to either a) diagnose you or b) monitor your response to therapies. I understand that venipuncture is uncomfortable, but it's only for a moment, and it's *why* you came to the hospital.
> Your physician has ordered a specialized diet for a reason. Please adhere to your dietary restrictions. You'll likely have a better outcome if you do.
> Please, DO feel free to ask me questions at any time about your care. Please DO NOT argue with me ad nauseam over a point that I can prove to you 7 different ways. It's a waste of both your breath and my time.
> Please understand my scope of practice. Yes, I know you want Morphine IV, but it isn't in my scope of practice to order that for you, nor is it in my scope to order you an MRI, CT ...
> Please understand that I am a HUMAN BEING first and foremost. Regardless of my profession, my oath to maintain a professional appearance at all times, my constant smile, and my cheerful tone of voice, I have bad days like everyone else. I expect (and deserve) to be spoken to as a human being, not someone less than.
(I figured I'd add some to your list there, Lev! )
As I pointed out to OP if you actually did explain things to patients/families in this way it might actually help in the long run. Prefacing your requests/information etc. with please also would go a long way toward compliance. Believe it or not being in the hospital is a very stressful time for most patients and families. The patients/families may not be in the best frame of mind and TBH they don't really need to be thinking about how our day has been or what would make us happy. Some people have no idea the rationale for medication, labs etc and yes sometimes they really need for the nurses caring for them to explain things to not just the patient but the family as well. For the most part they have no clue as to what is going on or why... Anyway Just a thought.
You assume that people like myself understand your life as a nurse. As a visitor I am ignorant of what to do but I have good intentions. Your attitude isn't very nice. I am not your enemy but it seems like you think so. ????
I work in home health and hospice and would like to add....
When you get home do not expect the nurse to hang up your laundry, empty the garbage or pick up your medications at the drug store. Donuts and hot dogs are not on your diabetic low salt diet. No matter what you heard, your insurance will not pay for the nuse to come 3 times a day to do your dressing. You or your family will have to learn to do it. Also the nurse will probably visit you at home for less than 2 months. Our goal is to teach you to take better care of yourself so you will not be rehospialized.
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).
Keep your arm straight if you don't want that machine to beep.
I've never got an IV in the antecubital but I've given my blood and that's the worst IV site possible. It's meant to bend! There are other veins,why not put it elsewhere,where it's less uncomfortable?? Especially if the IV is supposed to stay for a few days. I'd get crazy if I couldn't bend my arm for days.
It seems like putting every IV in the antecubital is the norm because it's easier and quicker. I understand if it's emergent because it's a matter of live or death but when it isn't,why not put it in another site or at least discontinue it and restart it elsewhere as soon as possible?
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
You assume that people like myself understand your life as a nurse. As a visitor I am ignorant of what to do but I have good intentions. Your attitude isn't very nice. I am not your enemy but it seems like you think so. ????
So, did you join just to drop and run with this post?
This is a thread for NURSES to vent. If you feel your care is sub-optimal, you have the means to report and improve it. You do not, however, just have the right to feel welcome by bashing us for venting. We do this so we can get it off our chest and go on to care for patients without having bad feelings affect their care.
Nurses are NOT saviors or angels at your whim. We are fallible human beings with feelings and troubles like anyone else. We have a very stressful job and many times, patients/families make that stress much harder with abuse and unrealistic demands on our time and resources..........it takes a toll.
The good news is: Most patients/family are not that hard to care for; some are a delight. If you are one of those who is a "delight", good for you. If you are realistic in your expectations and treat your caregivers with some respect and manners, things will go better.
And since you admit being "ignorant" of these things, then this thread must be an eye-opener for you. Maybe you will learn a thing or two.
You assume that people like myself understand your life as a nurse. As a visitor I am ignorant of what to do but I have good intentions. Your attitude isn't very nice. I am not your enemy but it seems like you think so. ????
This is a nursing forum, where nurses can come and vent, let off steam, point out the absurdities that occur on a daily basis, and generally be the cranky people we sometimes are.
Being Susie Sunshine "of COURSE I have the time to run to your your room every 5 minutes to attend to your (and your visitors') every whim, because if I don't, you can send back a critical Customer Service survey that has the potential to completely ruin my life, as well as my co-workers', and can impact reimbursement monies to the hospital" gets old sometimes.
As a civilian, of course you don't understand what we do, what we have spent years training for, and the time constraints we work under. This forum isn't meant to be an educational experience for you, nor should we be denied our time to unload frustrations simply because anyone and her sister can come here and tell us how awful we are.
As a patient or visitor, is it so difficult to remember the manners your parents (presumably) taught you? Yes, you all may be under stress, but saying please and thank you don't cost you a thing, know that the big "H" on the front of the building doesn't stand for "Hilton", and for the love of fuzzy puppies, if the phrase "I pay your salary" starts to escape your mouth, please choke it back.
Specializes in Med Surg, ICU, Infection, Home Health, and LTC.
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!
Absolutely hilarious. Loved it. I think nurses who cannot see the humor in nursing burnout the fastest of all. It is the humor that has kept me sane in the most insane of situations. Seeing this other side most nurses try to hide from the public is just the laugh I needed through these dreary holidays. Kudo's!!
Specializes in Med Surg, ICU, Infection, Home Health, and LTC.
Well I am neither indignate nor self righteous. You are projecting your irritation, that I had the audacity to state my own opinion that did not parallel yours on "your" thread (never mind this is a public site) onto me. Alrighty, got it, no one may have a differing of OP's opinion and be treated respectfully...good luck with that BTW to me it isn't "customer service expectations" it's called nursing and maybe if you did explain some of these things to the patients and families you could cut out some of these issues. That's what I mean about finding a solution rather than complaining about the issue, but to each their own and I'm out.
I just have to say this...."please don't let the door slap you in the butt on your way out". OP to me has a sense of humor and that humor has nothing to do with the quality of the care they deliver or the depth with which they care about their patients. I agree with OP that if that kind of humor is not your cup of tea hit the back button and go to another thread. No one twisted your arm to make you read it. Disagree and go on.
I've never got an IV in the antecubital but I've given my blood and that's the worst IV site possible. It's meant to bend! There are other veins,why not put it elsewhere,where it's less uncomfortable?? Especially if the IV is supposed to stay for a few days. I'd get crazy if I couldn't bend my arm for days.
It seems like putting every IV in the antecubital is the norm because it's easier and quicker. I understand if it's emergent because it's a matter of live or death but when it isn't,why not put it in another site or at least discontinue it and restart it elsewhere as soon as possible?
It isn't that simple. The A/C is a large vein and is most useful in specific situations where large volumes must be infused. On presentation to the ER, most people have an IV placed on arrival, and since there is minimal information usually known regarding a person's final diagnosis, it's typically the safest and most useful location.
Trust me, it isn't for the nurses' benefit. If you think I like hearing "line occluded" beep on the IV pump, you're sorely mistaken.
katfish67lpn
62 Posts
As I pointed out to OP if you actually did explain things to patients/families in this way it might actually help in the long run. Prefacing your requests/information etc. with please also would go a long way toward compliance. Believe it or not being in the hospital is a very stressful time for most patients and families. The patients/families may not be in the best frame of mind and TBH they don't really need to be thinking about how our day has been or what would make us happy. Some people have no idea the rationale for medication, labs etc and yes sometimes they really need for the nurses caring for them to explain things to not just the patient but the family as well. For the most part they have no clue as to what is going on or why... Anyway Just a thought.