What is the silliest complaint someone has ever made aboutyou?

rnmommy23 · Dec 21, 2006

Ok, I've got 2

first I got talked to because I was "mean" to a CNA because I asked her to get vitals on a pt that had fallen out of bed. Her comment was when did we start getting vitals on people that didn't fall all the way to the ground? After arguing with me about it because she was only on her knees next to the bed, I finally said why don't you just get vitals when the nurse asks you to?

And this one had me cracking up. Older lady asked me what my name was. I said Kristi. She says oh, it's not Christine or Christina? I say no, just Kristi. About a minute later she says hmm, so it's just Kristi, not Christina? I say right, just Kristi. Not Christine? No, just Kristi. She looks right at me and says well that's a stupid name. I just said, well thanks, I'll be sure to tell my mom what you think.

This isn't a complaint, but he had me laughing. My name tag says Kristi, RN. My pt looks at his son and says this is my nurse Kristi, she must be asian because her last name is RN (he said it like urn) :lol2:

ccyrrus · Dec 21, 2006

I work in a LTCF. This happened to me a couple of years ago, at the start of my shift. A little old lady called me into her room, concerned because she had missed her favorite television show, which was on the night before. She told me that I should have reminded her about it, especially since she had given ME specific intructions, to do so. I laughed, and politely informed her, that she must have me mistaken for someone else. I had been on vacation for two weeks, in another state--visiting relatives, and had just gotten home the night before. I also reminded her that I work days, and the incident that she was talking about happened on the night shift. She left me speechless when she replied: "And you think that's a good excuse?!" :icon_rolleyes:

scrmblr · Dec 21, 2006

I was wondering the same.

The guy is literally DYING IN FRONT OF HER.

My bet is they were getting IV's started. Thinking about intubating this guy-pushing lasix-and giving him WATER (with CHF) is probably the last thing on this nurses mind.

I think you are imagining a nice little scene. Old guy dying gracefully in bed surounded by loved ones wearing his favorite jammies, just trying to fade gently away into the night...Mean nurse won't hand him the glass of water that is sitting on his very organized clean tray table...

bluesky, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2006

I once transferred a patient from the ICU to the floor. The accepting nurse wrote me up and complained to her manager that I didn't give IV potassium to the patient who a) had a K+ of 3.9 and B) had a creatinine of 4.9.

Dumb, dumb, dumb. Silly.... dumb. :trout:

penguin2 · Dec 21, 2006

I was a brand-new RN on a 50 bed surgical floor. My DON complained that I refused to take medication orders over the phone from an office nurse. I had taken all the other admitting orders, and when she started on the list of meds, I said, "um...I really need to get med orders from the doctor." The doc had complained to the DON who had a "chat" w/me. Apparently the doc wanted me to know that "orders from my nurse are just as good as orders from me"! Finally my DON admitted that they don't USUALLY give med orders via a nurse. Ya THINK?!

JohnBearPA · Dec 21, 2006

I got written up for asking a CNA to retake vitals, when she handed me a paper with 9 names and VS, and they were all 98.6, 80, 20, 140/80. Also, said CNA was seen by myself writing down the whole list in the hallway right behind the nurses station (those round bubble mirrors come in handy sometimes.).

Yeah, it could probably happen, but 9 pts with the same exact VS? I also offerred to show the CNA how to properly take a BP, and even offerred to let her use me for practice because my BP is really easy to hear, and she accused me of treating her as if I felt she was unprofessional, and untrained. I took the CNA into the med room privately and asked her to retake the VS, not in the hallway to be overheard by anyone else.

I might add that I'm the only nurse that gave the CNA's report prior to them beginning work, am always willing to lend a hand and answer c/b's, and always invite the aides to see a cool tx or procedure if they want to. Also, I was a CNA for quite a few years before moving up to LPN, so I totally understand what they do and what their job is like.

LOL, anyway, the write up was challenged by me, and dropped. NM suggested that next time, I just let the aides slide with VS and take them myself if they don't look right. DON stood behind me and suggested the NM retake the VS for me, because I was the only nurse that actually got done the majority of my work before shift change, and maybe the NM had more time than I did, because I was doing most of her chart reviews for her. NM hated me after that, but I don't work there anymore, so no biggie. LOL

Insurance RN · Dec 21, 2006

When I worked in MICU, a nurse from the ED complained that I asked too many questions during her report to me, guess I did not need to know VS, IV access, heart rhythm, etc.

banditrn · Dec 21, 2006

I don't know what made me remember this but I had a coworker once with whom I had developed(I thought) something of a rapport. Well one day we were in the nurses' station and I jokingly made a comment about her not working hard. I forget my exact words but it was something along the lines of are you hardly working or working hard. You know that lame joke, well not that lame but it was harmless like that. Well a few days later, guess what I got invited to a meeting with her and the charge nurse to discuss my attempt to slander her! She said that she felt like I had a low opinion of her as a nurse and my comments left it open for people to believe that she was not a hard worker. And I was attempting to destroy her reputation as a nurse. As broadsided as I was, I apologized profusely for my faux-pas but she wasn't in a forgiving mood. So *shrug* what could I do? Obviously we weren't as good of friends as I thought or she might have given me the benefit of the doubt. Also she must have had a massively low self-esteem or insecurities if she was that bothered by my little joke. I just moved on. I can remember being quite annoyed at first but it's funny now.

Sometimes I make impromtu remarks like that - one day I told another nurse that she had a smile that 'lit up the room' - she did, she had a lovely smile and all I wanted to do was compliment her on it.

The next day, we ended up in the supervisors office - she said that I made that comment, but that she knew I didn't really mean it. I told her I wasn't in the habit of lying to people about things, but that she didn't need to worry - I'd never say anything nice to her again. Felt like I was in the Twilight Zone!

The supervisor told me I had to have more 'respect' for my co-workers. :uhoh3:

allnurses Guide · Dec 21, 2006

When I worked in MICU, a nurse from the ED complained that I asked too many questions during her report to me, guess I did not need to know VS, IV access, heart rhythm, etc.

I don't know the exact circumstances of your experience but the nurse I mentioned, who accused me of not liking her because I didn't look at her during report (we are all facing a wall, not each other) ALSO interrupts during report and that drives everyone crazy. Let me finish, then ask questions. It throws me off to be interrupted all the time.

steph

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 21, 2006

Sometimes I make impromtu remarks like that - one day I told another nurse that she had a smile that 'lit up the room' - she did, she had a lovely smile and all I wanted to do was compliment her on it.
The next day, we ended up in the supervisors office - she said that I made that comment, but that she knew I didn't really mean it. I told her I wasn't in the habit of lying to people about things, but that she didn't need to worry - I'd never say anything nice to her again. Felt like I was in the Twilight Zone!
The supervisor told me I had to have more 'respect' for my co-workers.

That was a lovely compliment you gave her.

Some people are just so bizarre!

What on earth was disrespectful about that??? :confused:

lyceeboo · Dec 21, 2006

For our annual evals co-workers were chosen to submit peer comments. The peer comment was: " She doesn't spend any time socializing with co-workers." The manager told me this in all seriousness. I told her " I thought I was here to perform a job, if they want to socialize invite me after hours, and while they are socializing at an extended 90 minute lunch, I'm working by myself." Not working there anymore.

I don't think I've ever received a formal complaint in my previous incarnation in administration. I did once, however, receive a puzzling comment in the "needs improvement" section of my annual performance review. My manager wrote that I wasn't social enough and that I needed to participate more in the chit-chat that goes on in the office. I asked her if I was rude; she said no. I asked her if my work was not being done; she said no. I asked her if my completed work was of poor quality; she said no. I asked her if someone complained; she said no. She said there wasn't anything wrong with my work, but that I just didn't seem to be anyone's friend. I told her then that I wasn't paid to be anybody's friend, and I was refusing to sign the evaluation until she changed that comment. She finally did, but not until several months later. I had a raise coming!

That's funny. We do annual peer evals too and the comments about my nursing and pt care were very positive. The only complaints I got were "she's too serious." And "she needs to be part of the crowd and socialize more."

Geee sorry if I'm not Jackie Chan. Some nurses can do it all and others have to focus to get everything done on time. Hey I'd try to chit-chat & socialize more but then I might be accused of being one of those nurses with a "fake smile." hehehe

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 21, 2006

It's interesting that several people have posted about getting negative comments about not being social enough, and so forth.

I think it's important to have a cordial relationship with my co-workers, and do sometimes make real friends with them. However, I have friends outside work (and outside the profession, for the most part). That's a part of my survival strategy. Having outside friends and interests helps keep me sane. Also, for the most part I choose to keep my private life private and don't discuss it at work.

I've worked with some people who would tell everybody everything and I don't enjoy having to hear someone's personal details ad nauseum.

I have to wonder if these "you're not social enough" people have outside lives and friends? I just don't understand where they're coming from!