Who is going to wait on me????

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In the room about to run an IV for a critical lab, assessed pt, documented, updated physician on care.

pt on phone to friend " I don't want to go home..I mean who will wait on me? I have nurses here to do that"

Nurses!!!

Do you sometimes wonder if it will EVER get better? I know that we are undervalued. but wow.. that statement stung!

Ah well.... I still think we are awesome!

Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
In the room about to run an IV for a critical lab, assessed pt, documented, updated physician on care.

pt on phone to friend " I don't want to go home..I mean who will wait on me? I have nurses here to do that"

Nurses!!!

Do you sometimes wonder if it will EVER get better? I know that we are undervalued. but wow.. that statement stung!

Ah well.... I still think we are awesome!

It's only going to get worse. Health care is like the Roman Empire.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
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.

They need to know you have other patients. I don't support feeding a patient's delusion.

If they want that sort of attention, they can get a private duty nurse who can give them 1:1 care. Sheesh...even the Hilton doesn't give that sort of service.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
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.

OK, I give up. What is "PWT?" People With Tails? People With Talent? Pretty Weird Too? Help me!

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Actually I have no problem with this. My dear old Ma was a waitress for many years and she worked long hard hours. They're a respectable bunch. Today I'm a nurse, sure, but it doesn't go to my head, meaning I know I'm here to help patients. And they are what they are; some are rude, some are nice, some demanding, some along with their families and descendants should be sealed up in a rubber room at the bottom of a deep dark hole. Some call me names, some think I'm a handmaiden, so what, it's part of the job. I'm not going to get into a ******* contest with someone in a sick bed. I'll put on whatever mask they need me to wear and do what I need to do.

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I'm sorry, did I make a swear?

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OK, I give up. What is "PWT?" People With Tails? People With Talent? Pretty Weird Too? Help me!

PWT = Poor White Trash.

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Specializes in SICU.
I'm sorry, did I make a swear?

hehe i think you used the colloquial term for "urinating"

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical / Palliative/ Hospice.

Sometimes I wonder why I am paying an ungodly amount towards student loans, when I could do the same job at Red Lobster. Some shifts I feel like all I do is fetch things for people.

No, seriously, though... "customer service" in health care has gotten completely out of hand. A patient's entire hospital stay will be ruined, and they will fill the survey out negatively, if they are not happy with their food. Even if their pain is well controlled, the surgery was a success, we found them a private room, they don't have cancer...etc (you get the point)... one bad meal will ruin it all.

With insurance companies publicly threatening not to reimburse based on poor client satisfaction... doesn't it feel like a hopeless fight?

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Specializes in Home Care.

During my son's recovery from a brain injury he referred to his nurses as "teachers".

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Specializes in LTC.

I had a patient ask me for a milkshake today. I had critical labs to deal with, an infitlrated IV and so much more. I have bigger fish to fry and sometimes "waiting" on my patients is not my priority.

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
Actually I have no problem with this. My dear old Ma was a waitress for many years and she worked long hard hours. They're a respectable bunch. Today I'm a nurse, sure, but it doesn't go to my head, meaning I know I'm here to help patients. And they are what they are; some are rude, some are nice, some demanding, some along with their families and descendants should be sealed up in a rubber room at the bottom of a deep dark hole. Some call me names, some think I'm a handmaiden, so what, it's part of the job. I'm not going to get into a ******* contest with someone in a sick bed. I'll put on whatever mask they need me to wear and do what I need to do.

I have absolutely no problem going extra 'non nursing' duteis for someone who is sick: getting a ginger ale/food (if not NPO of course :)), getting them a warm blanket, dialing a phone number for them.

My issue, in the ER specifically, is people who come in for a very nonemergent problem and then proceed to boss the nurses/techs around like we are waiting on them. For example, someone totally healthy who comes in with a "complaint" of "driver's license physcial" and then goes on with "I need a turkey sandwich...and also get me ginger ale. Oh, I need a bus pass home." (OK, so the last one was not exactly what they would ask a waiter/waitress for, but you get the idea).

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PWT = Poor White Trash.

Yep.

Interesting scenario.

Patient never worked a day in her >30 but

At an early age she chose to start squirting out kidlettes in rapid-fire succession like Al Capone with a Tommy Gun. She lives on welfare with the unemployed sperm donor to said kidlettes, under her mom's roof who, by the way exemplified co-dependency and enabling better than any Dr. Phil guest has ever graced his stage with.

Mommy never left her side and even held the tissue for her fully capable 30-something daughter to blow snot into.

They were given the red carpet treatment to the best of our abilities. The housekeeper even found a mint at the nurses' station, and put it on her pillow.

Mommy told me in confidence she was "worried" about filling out the patient satisfaction survey as it wouldn't look good.

I told her to please fill it out in full, delineating every last complaint she could recall, and to hold nothing back (knowing the outlier scores are tossed :) ).

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