Why am I responsible for the dirty blanket???

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Why am I responsible for : the dirty blanket, missing shirt, unavailbale meds, dirty floors, OT and PT not having the patient back, the beauty shop running late, Dr's appts. being cancelled, the crappy food, the uncomfortable briefs, not enough activities, too boring of activities and generally everything else that goes on.

Oh my gosh! One of the things I am getting used to with geriatric nursing, is being responsible for everything!!!! :confused:

I mean, at what point does dietary, housekeeping, pharmacy, OT, PT, and every other department step up to the plate?

Nursing is responsible for everything. Sometimes I think I should have gone to clown school to learn juggling, not nursing school to be a nurse. (I might have been better prepared.) Oh well, that's enough of my ranting and raving. I just felt so overwhelmed with everything and everyones' families today. I couldn't make anyone happy.

Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

Nursing is responsible for everything. Sometimes I think I should have gone to clown school to learn juggling, not nursing school to be a nurse.

Well, I just couldn't help picking that one out. Too easy. :clown: :clown: :clown:

Nurses are responsible for everything - I sure hope someone shared that secret with you before now. ;)

Actually - the biggest benefit from the CLOWN option is not the juggling (useful, yes - but will have to be benefit#2) - the biggest benefit from the clown career circus academy? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

You can paint your smile on and that would so rock!

Sorry you are frustrated - I, too, am in KY and regardless of what folks tell you - it is a population of extremes and difficult to provide professional nursing care in many situations. Although I'm back in school (read: not nursing), I am finishing 2 "trade" books and 2 "story" books - before I hit law school. Glad to help via PM if you need a sympathetic (virtual) "ear".

Good Luck!

Practice SAFE!

;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My boss keeps shorting us on supplies, and angry patients keep yelling at me. I have told them to call our main office number and speak to my boss.....I have no control over the boss's lack of planning for supply needs......so far none of them have taken me up on that, but it does make them drop it for a while.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I go through the same thing... I think it's because we're the ones the patients see all the time. the dietary people are in an invisible area wherever the kitchen is, the same with the linen people, etc... it sucks, but i guess it's something we'll have to deal with forever. lol

I'm not an RN yet, so if my suggestion/question sounds ignorant please forgive me....But in reality, couldn't we have a list of numbers immediately available to present to the family should they have a complaint with dietary. housekeeping, etc? It seems completely rational (and maybe that's where/why I'm sounding crazy) to be the go between or the advocate, as opposed to the "do it all" person....

Scenario: family starts to complain to me about Mom's food. My response, "Yes, that does seem to be a legitimate concern," then "Mrs. So n so, here is the number to dietary. Please give them a call and discuss your concerns and I am positive they would be willing to work with you on any dietary issues you might have."

And should the department that the family contacted not be able to meet their needs and the family comes back to you, I would then give them the admin's info for contact, etc.

As a person that has worked in community/human services and as a special ed teacher, I have learned how to facilitate communication and problem solving amongst the people that should be communicating and I am wondering if this is a good idea and/or will work in a nursing atmosphere? I think this type of approach would also help to elevate the professional role of a nurse....What do you (and anyone else) think??

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mostly LTC, some acute and some ER,.
You know, I think some of it is just how us nurses are. We take on that responsibility like a sponge. If someone comes up to you with the dirty blanket, what do you do? Do you take it, apologize, and bring them a new clean one. Or do you hand them the phone and let them talk directly to the linen people? The coffee is cold...do you take it apologize, warm it up and bring it back. Or do you give them a complaint form to fill out to give to dietary or the kitchen? As nurses we tend to want to sooth and diffuse the situation. Take the problem in our own hands. As a group, we don't point fingers. And that makes us just dig away at our insides a little each day. I mean really, do you want to say to the family--Oh, this is Joan, she is the housekeeper that filled the linen cart today and put that dirty blanket on the shelf. Please talk to her about your issues.... Or is it easier to just take it, say I'm so sorry about that, and get them a new one.

:idntdt:

LOL Or sometimes after a day like that. . . its just more fun to pass the buck. (Sarcasm intended)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.
I'm not an RN yet, so if my suggestion/question sounds ignorant please forgive me....But in reality, couldn't we have a list of numbers immediately available to present to the family should they have a complaint with dietary. housekeeping, etc?

That is freaking brilliant! But not done because 1)it makes sense, and 2) nurses have a certain amount of people skills that help defuse situations. If we gave patients the number for housekeeping here they might end up talking with someone who is not skilled at taking cmoplaints and the whole PR schmooze. Also nurses are around 24/7, and heads of departments like dietary and housekeeping are only 9-5. A dietary AIDE would probably not respond appropriately to an irate pt.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That is freaking brilliant! But not done because 1)it makes sense, and 2) nurses have a certain amount of people skills that help defuse situations. If we gave patients the number for housekeeping here they might end up talking with someone who is not skilled at taking cmoplaints and the whole PR schmooze. Also nurses are around 24/7, and heads of departments like dietary and housekeeping are only 9-5. A dietary AIDE would probably not respond appropriately to an irate pt.

Now see these are definitely things I would not know unless I were in the environment/atmosphere on a regular basis! Thanks for the reply.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That is freaking brilliant! But not done because 1)it makes sense, and 2) nurses have a certain amount of people skills that help defuse situations. If we gave patients the number for housekeeping here they might end up talking with someone who is not skilled at taking cmoplaints and the whole PR schmooze. Also nurses are around 24/7, and heads of departments like dietary and housekeeping are only 9-5. A dietary AIDE would probably not respond appropriately to an irate pt.

They'd probably be referred back to the NURSE:banghead:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment