What do you think?

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A nurse on our floor was recently joking with a patient about how all the patient needed was a side of chopped beef soup to go with her meal. The next day the nurse brought in a side of chopped beef soup to go with this patient's last hospital meal before being discharged. The patient then mentioned in in her post-hospital stay survey. Our nurse manager then proceeded to recognize this nurse as going above and beyond to please this patient by making mention of it in staff meeting minutes and our board of exceptional behaviors.

I always thought you were not to discriminate, and that you were to treat all patients equally. I do not believe that this type of behavior should have been plastered across the unit like it was, calling it an "exceptional behavior." If you were to bring soup for one patient, you should bring soup for all patients.

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This is a tough one. The current trend towards customer service can conflict with "conventional wisdom". I would be concerned about liability issues. If the patient became ill on soup brought from the nurses home (or it could be construed the soup had any negative role) - that nurse is toast.

Arranging for the dietary service to provide it - not a problem, even if the nurse helps in obtaining it (i.e. obtains it from the store and has dietary prepare it). It would become even less of an issue if the nurse was reimbursed by the hospital for the cost.

Of course this should not be done blatantly so it appears to other patients that the nurse is favoring this one. There is nothing wrong with going out of your way for a patient when you can.

Like I said.... this is a tough issue. The easy answer - what does hospital policy say?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I disagree.

Allow her a moment in the spotlight. (I can just hear the haters on your unit gossiping.) Perhaps they enjoyed a special bond that she didn't enjoy with other patients, that you aren't privy to. I'm sure she gives all her patients good care, and not all of them asked for a side of beef.

Many of us have done special things for special patients, it doesn't mean we discriminate against our other patients. I brought in a book for a patient to read, that doesn't mean I discriminate against all of my patients does it?

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I think alot is being made out of nothing. I see no problem in what the nurse did , tho the manager might have gone alittle overboard in the recognition...like I said, no big deal with the soupl

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Specializes in ER, Infusion therapy, Oncology.

I agree, their is nothing wrong with what the nurse did. As for her manager recognizing it, give credit where credit is due. I would be concerned about why it bothered you so much.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.

I don't understand why people have to make such a big freakin' deal about nothing...

Our hospital gives out "WOW" awards on a monthly basis to both nurses and doctors who do things above and beyond the ordinary for pts. It's a very nice gift certificate to an excellent restaurant.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Hospice,IV Therapy.

I think that was a wonderful thing for her to do!!

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if this was not a dietary no-no then it would probably be ok

other patients probably never heard about it

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

I think it is fine as long as there are no health issues. I had a preceptor in our LTC portion who used to bake for one of the residents and the resident loved it. Management didn't make any issue of it one way or another. Although I think that LTC can be a different from the hospital, as sometimes nurses can get a bit attached to some residents over a long period of time.

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Specializes in LTC.

I think it was a sweet thing to do and bless the NM for seeing it as such and giving the nurse recognition for it. With all the problems and stresses involved in health care, it's refreshing to see such a nice morale-booster. We're talking a bowl of soup here, folks. :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Dialysis.
. We're talking a bowl of soup here, folks. :uhoh3:

lol. i agree! it was a nice thing to do. the end.

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i agree, a little bit of overkill in the recognition dept.

i can't count how many times i've brought things in for different pts.

truly, it's no biggie....except for the pt.

and i think that's why many of us do it.

but i would be mortified if anyone were ever to make a big deal about it.

leslie

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