Who is going to wait on me????

tokmom, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2012

I had a pt call me a waitress at one time. She needed more sugar for her coffee. As I was about to leave the room, she quickly got off the phone and said "Oh waitress! can you bring me another sugar packet?"

I stopped, looked around for the waitress (knowing full well whom she was talking too) and said to her "Oh you mean me, the nurse? Yes, I will be more than happy to get you a sugar, after I get your next IV fluid going." I didn't miss a beat and she never called me a waitress again.

ETA: That was about 10 yrs ago, so this is a very long standing problem, sad to say.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2012

I know a nurse who had a pt who was making all sorts of unreasonable demands. Get me a gingerale, get me a sandwich, get me a... (you get the idea). No 'pleases' or 'thank yous' thrown it. The nurse flat out told her "I am a nurse, not a waitress. I can get you these thing eventually, but for right now I have other patients to take care of."

I am all for making a patient feel like they are your only patient--i.e. don't tell them there are other pts and that you are too busy to help someone. But, sometimes it has to be done. It's unfortunate it got to this level--pts. thinking that their nurse a a watier/waitress to wait on them. If someone is going to come in with that level of entitlement, then they have to be politely but firmly reminded you are a nurse and this is a hospital, and, as such, their drink order takes lower priority than...well...just about everything. Sorry, that is how it goes.

Momfirstalways · Feb 11, 2012

The bad thing is now hospitals will be reimbursed for how satisfied the patient was with their care. Imagine the patient's survey who did not get what they wanted.

Guttercat, ASN, RN · Feb 11, 2012

Recently had one patient that commented to me about the "nurse" who was just in the room giving the other patient instructions. "Well, she has SOME nerve. She's a nurse!"

She was actually a physician, but that was beside the point. The perception in this patient's mind as to the nursing role, came through loud and clear.

Made me want to throw up.

Wave Watcher · Feb 11, 2012

When I worked on an Ortho/Neuro floor we ran it like the Hilton. I spent 75% of my time running for drinks, food, blankets, pillows, roll-away beds, extra chairs......all while there was 8 family members sitting on their orifice in the room.

I would say out of 75% of that time, 50% was spent tending to the family members if they were in the room. If one wants a drink it sets off a domino effect of everyone else giving me their "drink and food order".

Guttercat, ASN, RN · Feb 11, 2012

The bad thing is now hospitals will be reimbursed for how satisfied the patient was with their care. Imagine the patient's survey who did not get what they wanted.

Recently had the most twisted patient and family member I've ever dealt with in terms of "satisfaction" and entitlement.

You could've given them a golden goose that laid golden eggs and they would have complained that the goose was not delivered to them by means of a golden chariot. One of them would've broken down in tears of distress.

And these folks were PWT.

giveface · Feb 11, 2012

What gets me is the abuse we are "expected" to take and how little respect we get. I went into nursing at 27 years old to get away from that lack of respect feeling in my old customer service job, boy was I ever naive in that regard. Although patient rudeness can be ammusing at times however.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Feb 11, 2012

The "waitress image" has been around since the 1900s. Nurses also filled the coal scuttle and worked 61/2 days a week.

Nurses hawked CocaCola in the months Santa did not.

Zooooom with me to the 21st century. You are a Nurse. You teach, deliver life saving treatments, ACT professionally, and if your facility plays it smart they will have a cadre of VOLUNTEERS you will worship and include in your now I lay me down to sleeps.

Wait is what people of the 30s 40s and 50s were taught. They are getting old. You must respect the old. You must teach the old that you are a Nurse (always CAPITAL "N") and you will help them heal. You will gladly pass the request for the soft drink after your life sustaining duties to them are completed. Do not jump while saying how high.

Allow your discharge planners to make all going home plans and encourage your charges to listen carefully to what they say as you may not be in the room while the discussion goes on.

Then gird your loins, adjust your Super-Nurse cape (Mine's red, white and blue) and go to the next person in need.

DEAR Hearts if you were a waitress you would not have those precious letters behind your name and you would not know all that you and I know.

Go forth and N U R S E!

bookworm78910 · Feb 11, 2012

I think most of us as nurses are sensitive to people's needs and wants and don't mind complying with the requests we get when we have time. We also have much higher priorities than making sure a pt. or family member has enough ice in their water. I didn't suffer and toil through nursing school to be thought of as a waiter, but know that good waiters/waitresses are as or more underappreciated by the clods in our society than good nurses are and not nearly as well-paid or gratified.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2012

Here is where the myth began......

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/nurse-handing-you-673198.html

Caffeine_IV · Feb 11, 2012

I often feel like a maid or waitress anyway but yes those comments are still rude.