What DO we do...really?

[DREAMSDOCOMETRUE0610]

I entered a patient room the other day, and found myself in the following situation:

As I entered a patient room, I introduced myself as the nurse, told the patient that I was going to perform a quick assessment on him, and began my full assessment. When I was done, I went to wash my hands and was about to leave the room when suddenly the patient asked me, "So, is that all you do?" I asked him what he meant by that and he said, "You know, just use that thing and listen to me. Is that all you do?" Needless to say, this question really took me aback and it took me a minute to recuperate before I told him that we also give medications, which I would be giving him shortly, and quickly left the room.

When I sat and thought about this question though, it really struck me and kind of got under my skin. In the patient's eyes, is that REALLY all that we do? I mean we as nurses do other things, but they are mostly either behind closed doors or things which patients either don't need to know or wouldn't understand. So from a patient's viewpoint, IS that all that we do?

[Jenni811, RN]

it's a good thought. I think thats what patient's think thats all we do. Is assessment and medications.

My fiance was in the hospital, broke his ankle snowboarding and needed surgery. So we are sitting in the room and after his nurse left he asks me "You went to school 5 years to learn how to listen to someone and pass medications?"

I tried explaining everything else we do, he didnt understand. Most of it i agree is behind closed doors and it's things patients arent aware of or just wouldnt understand. my fiance didnt even understand why we have to do assessments on someone like him, who is healthy. He was like "Why do they care if i passed gas or took a crap?"

his nurse asked him and he goes..."Isnt that a little personal?" his nurse even tried explaining why we ask those questions and what we are listening for he was like "Well how about i just tell you if i can't take a crap instead of telling you i took one?"

[thinkertdm]

He is an ass. You did what you thought was needed, not what he expected. You just didn't use that "thing", you were drawing on x number of years of experience and training to make sure he wasn't about to die.

So, that "all you do"- is to make sure he doesn't die. And he's lucky that he didn't see you do more- because when you go into action, he probably won't be sitting around making sarcastic remarks. And then he will be appreciative that you know how to use that "thing".

[Despareux]

I'm still a student and always in awe at how RN's can juggle 4-6 patients with confidence. Quite honestly, many years ago, before I ever considered going into nursing school, my impression of nursing was giving meds, bathing patients, and assessing vitals for no other reason but to report the numbers to the physician...seriously! I did not know that nurses had that much autonomy and were super intelligent.

Of course now I know and feel differently.

So yes, from someone who once had a layman's perspective, it could appear as if nurses don't do much.

[noahsmama]

Explain to him that you can also draw blood, start an IV, place an NG and place a Foley, and that, although he doesn't actually NEED any of those things right now and normally you wouldn't do those things to someone who doesn't need them, you're willing to make a special exception in his case, just to demonstrate how skilled you are.

[msjellybean]

I think patients that have generally been healthy their whole lives and who have never had a sick relative are unaware of all that we do. Because most of it does happen away from them, as well as in our heads.

When I've had friends who ask just what it is that I do, I pull out something I typed up several months ago, after a very long night; that showed just what my 12 hours was like. They're generally pretty surprised and realize that we do more than just listen to them & pass meds.

[neuroms]

I doubt most, or even many, patients feel this way towards nurses. Nursing has consistently for as long as I can remember been rated as one of the most respected and ethical professions in national polls. You just caught someone feeling snarky.

[Black Jade, BSN, RN]

From my previous experience, nurses have more knowledge, are able to multi-task and have more skills than some doctors.

[Bumashes, MSN, APRN, NP]

When I've had friends who ask just what it is that I do, I pull out something I typed up several months ago, after a very long night; that showed just what my 12 hours was like. They're generally pretty surprised and realize that we do more than just listen to them & pass meds.

I'd love to get a copy of that. I often have dreamed of sitting down and typing up something like that but never have the time.

[MurrR]

If it had been me I probably would've said, "Lucky for you that's all you needed."

[Caffeine_IV]

I've never encountered that attitude. Most people think nurses are the ones that do everything...we certainly hear every complaint from the floors being sticky to the doctor not rounding on them early enough.

[Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN]

I've never encountered that attitude. Most people think nurses are the ones that do everything...we certainly hear every complaint from the floors being sticky to the doctor not rounding on them early enough.

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