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 Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Candace: it seems to me, you joined our forum just to stir up controversy and complain. That will ruffle feathers and like said before me, if I went to a teachers' forum and disrespected teachers from get-go without even reading their forum to try and understand where they are coming from, I would expect annoyance at the very least.
I am sorry your experiences with hospitals and nurses are not good. That needs to be taken up at those institutions, not general comments like "I wish caregivers were nicer". That won't get you anywhere and you will not get the redress you may seek here. Again, lodge a complaint at the hospital where your care was sub-par; don't attack us in OUR forum here. It just won't fly.
Definitely, save the righteous indignation, please. If you are here to understand, good. If you are here just to criticize us, you will get push-back.
Having worked on a med/surg floor I get what the writer is saying. I also challenge each and every person to re-evaluate the negative thoughts around these patients. If I took all your dignity away, called you a liar (not directly of course but with tone of voice, attitude, body language), treated you like a child (TELLING you what you should be doing/taking, etc)...what would YOU do? Don't start the 'well, patients ARE in the hospital for a reason and they should be doing what I/the MDs tell them' etc). If you studied psychology (NOT the diseases/disorders but NORMAL psychology) you would understand that these people are scared. They are doing everything in their power to feel normal, take control back (you DO take control of EVERYTHING while they are there!). Does it make sense and it is polite, etc? Nope. Is it a pain in you a&* that they behave this way? Yup. You can moan and groan all you want and it will NEVER change until YOU change. Yes, you heard me. When the patient I had threw his meds at me, I didn't complain. I also didn't do what many nurses do - storm out, give a nasty look (trust me, many do!). I came back when he was resting but very awake and asked him about his life, his family. Over a few days we developed a great relationship because I MADE THE EFFORT to gain his trust by giving him (or at least he THOUGHT I gave him) the power back. I gave him the respect he needed. Or how about the patient who told the surgeon (and everyone else, for that matter) to f-off and threw things at them?! It took me MAYBE 3 minutes (yes, true) to get him to be on my 'team' so we could work together to get him better. Yes, I work in psychiatry. I am a Psych NP now and love it. BTW - the family stuff...different kettle of fish LOL! But as far as the patients are concerned...it's easy to stop these behaviors with the right manner, words, etc.
If a line is patent and being used, then it needs to be left in. Placing another IV for a patient's comfort is often inappropriate as venipuncture is an invasive procedure that can expose the patient to infection. PIV's must be assessed each shift for appropriateness in addition to site appearance and functionality. If a line is no longer necessary, the nurse should notify the physician, and request it be discontinued.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Sigh..........
which is why AGAIN we have threads like this. So we can "vent" and go to work and be caring, polite and kind.
Having worked on a med/surg floor I get what the writer is saying. I also challenge each and every person to re-evaluate the negative thoughts around these patients. If I took all your dignity away, called you a liar (not directly of course but with tone of voice, attitude, body language), treated you like a child (TELLING you what you should be doing/taking, etc)...what would YOU do? Don't start the 'well, patients ARE in the hospital for a reason and they should be doing what I/the MDs tell them' etc). If you studied psychology (NOT the diseases/disorders but NORMAL psychology) you would understand that these people are scared. They are doing everything in their power to feel normal, take control back (you DO take control of EVERYTHING while they are there!). Does it make sense and it is polite, etc? Nope. Is it a pain in you a&* that they behave this way? Yup. You can moan and groan all you want and it will NEVER change until YOU change. Yes, you heard me. When the patient I had threw his meds at me, I didn't complain. I also didn't do what many nurses do - storm out, give a nasty look (trust me, many do!). I came back when he was resting but very awake and asked him about his life, his family. Over a few days we developed a great relationship because I MADE THE EFFORT to gain his trust by giving him (or at least he THOUGHT I gave him) the power back. I gave him the respect he needed. Or how about the patient who told the surgeon (and everyone else, for that matter) to f-off and threw things at them?! It took me MAYBE 3 minutes (yes, true) to get him to be on my 'team' so we could work together to get him better. Yes, I work in psychiatry. I am a Psych NP now and love it. BTW - the family stuff...different kettle of fish LOL! But as far as the patients are concerned...it's easy to stop these behaviors with the right manner, words, etc.
Having worked on a med/surg floor I get what the writer is saying. I also challenge each and every person to re-evaluate the negative thoughts around these patients. If I took all your dignity away, called you a liar (not directly of course but with tone of voice, attitude, body language), treated you like a child (TELLING you what you should be doing/taking, etc)...what would YOU do? Don't start the 'well, patients ARE in the hospital for a reason and they should be doing what I/the MDs tell them' etc). If you studied psychology (NOT the diseases/disorders but NORMAL psychology) you would understand that these people are scared. They are doing everything in their power to feel normal, take control back (you DO take control of EVERYTHING while they are there!). Does it make sense and it is polite, etc? Nope. Is it a pain in you a&* that they behave this way? Yup. You can moan and groan all you want and it will NEVER change until YOU change. Yes, you heard me. When the patient I had threw his meds at me, I didn't complain. I also didn't do what many nurses do - storm out, give a nasty look (trust me, many do!). I came back when he was resting but very awake and asked him about his life, his family. Over a few days we developed a great relationship because I MADE THE EFFORT to gain his trust by giving him (or at least he THOUGHT I gave him) the power back. I gave him the respect he needed. Or how about the patient who told the surgeon (and everyone else, for that matter) to f-off and threw things at them?! It took me MAYBE 3 minutes (yes, true) to get him to be on my 'team' so we could work together to get him better. Yes, I work in psychiatry. I am a Psych NP now and love it. BTW - the family stuff...different kettle of fish LOL! But as far as the patients are concerned...it's easy to stop these behaviors with the right manner, words, etc.
So you always know just what to say to get a patient on "your side", and everything goes smoothly when you're around.
Good for you. Except, I have a feeling that you make it clear to everyone around you that you are, indeed, the ultimate "patient whisperer". Because that's the vibe you just threw out there with this post.
Of course we know patients are scared, that they're out of their element while in the hospital, and sometimes fear shows itself as anger and acting-out behavior.
We come here to talk about it, commiserate with each other and walk away knowing **** happens to everyone and yes, we can handle it and take good care of our patients. That's why this is a NURSING forum.
Honestly, I'm not sure I would want someone like you on my team. A sense of humor (even the gallows humor that no one but another health care worker would understand or appreciate) is essential for keeping one sane and balanced. I get no feeling of that from you.
Yes it does matter. However, sometimes administering your medication or blood (the reason you're in the hospital?) trumps comfort.
If you can't tolerate a little discomfort in order to facilitate healing or...you know, save your life, maybe you shouldn't go to the hospital.
I've never intentionally hurt a patient for giggles or my convenience. I'm not sure where your attitudes come from... Oh wait, maybe I do. It's this new 'customer satisfaction ' bent to healthcare.
Yes it does matter. However, sometimes administering your medication or blood (the reason you're in the hospital?) trumps comfort.
If you can't tolerate a little discomfort in order to facilitate healing or...you know, save your life, maybe you shouldn't go to the hospital.
I've never intentionally hurt a patient for giggles or my convenience. I'm not sure where your attitudes come from... Oh wait, maybe I do. It's this new 'customer satisfaction ' bent to healthcare.
I wouldn't have made many of my choices if I couldn't tolerate "a little discomfort"and I don't think a permanent discomfort that lasts for days is just a "little discomfort"... I have already said I understood if it was a matter of life or death. My problem is when patients do need an IV but not necessilary on the antecubital and you won't restart it for reasons that are understandable but make you wonder what importance do you give to patients comfort if everything trumps it.
Some of these responses illustrate why I really wish AN would not post threads on their Facebook page. It's like a beacon for non-nurses when, although public, this site us primarily for nurses and nursing students. Please, AN, stop sharing our vents on Facebook!
I wouldn't have made many of my choices if I couldn't tolerate "a little discomfort"and I don't think a permanent discomfort that lasts for days is just a "little discomfort"... I have already said I understood if it was a matter of life or death. My problem is when patients do need an IV but not necessilary on the antecubital and you won't restart it for reasons that are understandable but make you wonder what importance do you give to patients comfort if everything trumps it.
Maude-
Relax. We are, for the most part, good people who care about both the safety and comfort of our patients. The comfort is easy for an untrained person to see, but sometimes understanding the safety takes a bit of knowledge.
If a pt needs an IV, AND that IV will have non-vessicants (things that could be bad in a small vein), AND there are other veins available, AND those veins are not adjacent another joint, AND they won't be needing a transfusion, AND they are unlikely to need certain immediate life sustaining medications, AND they don't need a particular type of CT, AND the need for rapid boluses is negligent, then another IV is generally placed.
But, the fact that there is an IV in an AC might indicate that it is the best place for it for any number of reasons.
Even if the nurse was not concerned with PT comfort, and most are, managing an AC IV on a pump is a PITA. Believe me, placing a new IV is easier than constantly dealing with an occluded pump. Look at it from my perspective. Start to finish pulling an old IV and stating a new one should take 5-10 minutes. Faster if all the supplies are where they should be, and the pt has reasonably good veins. Even if I was lazy and uncaring, I would invest the time, as it would save me time in the long run.
Since what you read here isn't really intended for lay people, it can be misleading. It's kind of like eavesdropping on a conversation in a language in which you aren't fluent: Even if you understand 90% of the words you can miss the entire point.
I wouldn't have made many of my choices if I couldn't tolerate "a little discomfort"and I don't think a permanent discomfort that lasts for days is just a "little discomfort"... I have already said I understood if it was a matter of life or death. My problem is when patients do need an IV but not necessilary on the antecubital and you won't restart it for reasons that are understandable but make you wonder what importance do you give to patients comfort if everything trumps it.
Sometimes, it's the only place to get an IV start. I have crappy veins even though I stay well hydrated. Its the only place that anything usable can be found. Uncomfortable, yes. But if necessary, such is life. Its about health (less infection risk d/t multiple sticks) not hotel comfort!
No, I wouldn't be miffed Jensmom7. I don't attack people. I don't believe in being negative. I joined this forum for HELP with my father since it was recommended to me by a nurse as a place to get honest answers. I may not know nurses but I know people. Here, like in the hospital, the negative people ruin it for the rest.
Relax. We are, for the most part, good people who care about both the safety and comfort of our patients. The comfort is easy for an untrained person to see, but sometimes understanding the safety takes a bit of knowledge.
If a pt needs an IV, AND that IV will have non-vessicants (things that could be bad in a small vein), AND there are other veins available, AND those veins are not adjacent another joint, AND they won't be needing a transfusion, AND they are unlikely to need certain immediate life sustaining medications, AND they don't need a particular type of CT, AND the need for rapid boluses is negligent, then another IV is generally placed.
But, the fact that there is an IV in an AC might indicate that it is the best place for it for any number of reasons.
Even if the nurse was not concerned with PT comfort, and most are, managing an AC IV on a pump is a PITA. Believe me, placing a new IV is easier than constantly dealing with an occluded pump. Look at it from my perspective. Start to finish pulling an old IV and stating a new one should take 5-10 minutes. Faster if all the supplies are where they should be, and the pt has reasonably good veins. Even if I was lazy and uncaring, I would invest the time, as it would save me time in the long run.
Since what you read here isn't really intended for lay people, it can be misleading. It's kind of like eavesdropping on a conversation in a language in which you aren't fluent: Even if you understand 90% of the words you can miss the entire point.
Thanks for your teaching and your patience,I understand your point. :)
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
Candace: it seems to me, you joined our forum just to stir up controversy and complain. That will ruffle feathers and like said before me, if I went to a teachers' forum and disrespected teachers from get-go without even reading their forum to try and understand where they are coming from, I would expect annoyance at the very least.
I am sorry your experiences with hospitals and nurses are not good. That needs to be taken up at those institutions, not general comments like "I wish caregivers were nicer". That won't get you anywhere and you will not get the redress you may seek here. Again, lodge a complaint at the hospital where your care was sub-par; don't attack us in OUR forum here. It just won't fly.
Definitely, save the righteous indignation, please. If you are here to understand, good. If you are here just to criticize us, you will get push-back.