What's Rude?

[Ruby Vee]

We all have our pet peeves, something that we are SURE is rude whether it bothers others or not. So I'm wondering -- what bothers you?

Things that bother me:

In a nurse's station with four or five unused computers, why does anyone have to sit down at the one I'm using, clearly marked with my scut sheet, my pen, my drink and my charting all pulled up and not finished? They take my spot, log me off (so I have to start over with any charting I didn't sign before the arrhythmia alarm jolted me out of my seat) and log in over me. Then when I return, they tell me "I didn't see your name on it." Why not just use the computer with the screensaver up and no ones stuff there?

People who put their feet up on the chairs in the nurse's station. Not only does it look totally unprofessional to anyone who visits the station, including families, but the C. Diff that that they' we picked up on their shoes is now transferred to the impossible-to-clean fabric chairs in the nurse's station.

Saying "no prob" in response to a thank you.

Taking the nurse's chair. Our rooms has a sofa and two chairs for visitors, a recliner for the patient and a chair at the computer station for the nurse to use when charting. So why do the visitors always have to take the nurse's chair? Clearly, the nurse can't chart from the sofa.

After you've taken the nurse's chair, why give me attitude when I ask you NOT to sit in front of my computer, but to sit in one of the five spots provided for visitors?

Visitors using the patient bathroom.

Staff who let patients use the staff bathroom. I've never been able to figure that one out.

I'm cranky today, I have lots more. What's yours?

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

Apparently I'm rude because I told the patient she needed to wait because I had to see other patients (she was a boarder and was stable, other guy was not). She also didn't like the fact that the provider said no to her ambien. Eventually he gave in. Patient did not like that I gave her non-controlled substances for a sleep aid when she had asked for klonopin, ativan, or xanax (think benadryl). She also did not like that we could view her charts and could verify her info. She did not like that the doctor said no for her pain meds she wants every six hours. I also told her multiple times that is not how the medications were ordered in the ER because that "one doctor said she could have it every six hours."

I also was apparently rude when I told the patient she was leaving AMA. She later claimed to be a nurse and she went to school for four years and then two more years. I did ask if she graduated and she said yes. I asked if she was licensed and she said yes. Turns out she was not (failed the LVN test x 2). She wanted to argue about whether refusing care was AMA.

[icare2]

There are three main pet peeves that I just feel should be common knowledge:

1) Interrupting a conversation without introduction or saying "excuse me".

2) Forgetting or intentionally not saying thank you when someone does a favor or comes through on a project or fills in for your night shift, and, most importantly,

3) Coworker who fart publicly and around patients. One doesn't just let rip, though. She makes very obnoxious noises with her butt. It's absolutely inconsiderate and rude!

But whatever some people just do what they want. Sometimes I think it's rude to call people out on this behavior, you know we are all human and there may be a reason behind some of these behaviors...still annoying, though.

[smf0903]

I think we've worked together! I once worked at an institution from noon to half past midnight. We had to "break" the day nurses so they got their 30 minute lunch and 2 -15 minute breaks. They never gave breakes to the evening or swing nurses. We would work from noon to 10p before we'd get a break.Yes, management gives in to the day shift because the day shift if there to whinge all day at them. Meanwhile, I work the night shift because: I'm awake anyway; I like the lack of politics; I like the lack of gossip; I get to spend more time with the patients that need care.I hate managers who got promoted to management because they don't like patient care and/or they are lazy and/or they are beloved by management because they will insist nurses follow guidelines that are not in the best interest of the patient (but do swell the bottom line).I don't like managers who don't have high professional expectations of their staff and who don't support their staff when under pressure. I have seen good nurses thrown uder the bus by by managers over and over again. Especially in positions with the state. I hate administrators who don't question low staff morale or high turnover and continue rewarding managers who don't support their people. I once worked at a hospital where an entire three shifts of workers demanded a transfer from a unit after a particular nurse was made the supervisor of that unit. That's almost 30 people who refused to work with a new supervisor because she was so abusive! No one said a thing in upper management and I saw that woman drive good nurses out and harm patient care. I don't like healthcare providers who don't hold themselves to the highest professional standards. Don't divulge confidential patient information. Don't mislead or misinform or outright lie to your patients and their families. Don't tell people you will call them back and then ignore them. If you don't like patient care, change professions. Don't inflict emotional or physical pain on the helpless in your passive aggressive pettiness.Respect isn't earned, it is due. It is due to every other person we meet. When we are in positions that give us power over how comfortable, healthy, and functional our patients are, we have an even greater responsibility to respect our patient's rights to autonomy, self determination, informed consent, and appropriate levels of care. It harms patient confidence and morale when we are disrespectful to them or others, including fellow staff. I hate the profit driven industry that comprises healthcare. Early medical researchers didn't get filthy rich, nor did they expect to, when they discovered penicllin, smallpox vaccines, etc. I hate that we don't have enough nurses, aides, housekeepers, dietary,etc., to have a more patient focused environment in our hospitals and SNFs. Instead of understaffed facilities funneling money to investors why not pay caregivers more and increase staffing levels? I have been a nurse 20+ years, it's been my second career and I have loved it. I am looking at a third career. Any suggestions?

I wish I could "like" this about 5,000 times!

Spot. On.

[Slipping CMA]

I hope it's ok for me to join in even though I'm not a nurse. Warning this is also a little ranty

The person who found out my password for the EMR and was writing out Dr lab orders with my name on the top and signed by the Dr. I haven't had a chance to talk to this Dr but I wouldn't put it past him he is the type. My saving grace was they did it minutes after I left work, I'm not a magician and can't be at 2 places at one time. I was the closing CMA and only Dr's have home computers.

Someone who claims to want to have a conversation with me but won't let me talk or get out my side of the story. Go talk into your voice recorder if you like hearing yourself talk, because I don't.

People who who don't come and talk to me 1st about something and go straight to the owners with something they think I did wrong. Hey, it was just 2 days ago you called in an Rx without a Dr's order and you ended up giving the patient double what the Dr wanted to give. Now I wish I would have gone straight to the owners with you real mistake. If you would have come to me 1st you would have seen it couldn't have been me.

[caffeinatednurse, BSN, RN]

Coworkers who use the bathroom right next to the nursing station to go number 2.

Coworkers who refuse to wear deodorant and smell like straight up BO. Or even worse, they douse themselves in perfume or cologne to cover up the BO.

When I have the narc drawer open, I'm going through my 3 checks and someone interrupts me for something that really could have waited until I passed the narc.

When the CNA knows that a certain resident has to get their insulin before eating, but they go ahead and take them to dinner without checking with me first.

When a staff member takes one of my residents to activity, promises that they'll come back to their room before dinner, but then takes them straight to dinner after the activity.

When I discover new orders that were written on the previous shift, after they've already left. (Once or twice is fine, but when it becomes a pattern, it really bugs me.)

When I open the med cart and it's a total mess...seriously, how hard is it to put PRNs at the back (so they're easily visible and can be pulled quickly) and to put meds back under the right resident name??

[Delia37, MSN]

Mine is when people steal other's food from the refrigerator.

At my work place the situation is really out of control!!