Why are some nurses not grateful for my job?

[leogirl8]

I work as a patient safety attendant (patient sitter) per diem and every other weekend. I sit with fall risk patients, patients who are suicidal, confused, tend to take off their IVs/nasal cannula, who need my assistance walking to the bathroom, etc. I thought it was a good idea to get my foot in the door since I am a nursing student. I need to wait a couple of months until I can work as a nursing assistant. I also graduated with a BS in biology and work other days in a bio lab.

I was sitting with an older male today and I heard yesterday he was very agitated and almost hit/punched the nurse and the nursing assistant. Today, he was totally relaxed. He slept most of the time and I helped him in small ways. The patient's room is right in front of the nurse's station and he was in bed 1 so I can hear some of the conversations. The patient's nurse came in to give the patient the medication about 30 minutes before my shift ended. I hear another nurse ask him, "do you really need a sitter?" she asked him in a really sarcastic way. the patient's nurse went to the door and shrugged and said, seriously, no. The unit clerk laughed sarcastically and said, what's the point of having a sitter? Then the nurse who was outside says it's useless to have a sitter. They bickered and laughed while I'm listening to the whole thing.

I grew extremely angry. I understand that the patient today was very calm, but I was there to help their patients out. I was not there to just relax. I didn't have the tv on, I'm not allowed to read or look at my phone so I paid close attention to the patient especially since he was in a respiratory floor. why say they need sitters and say we are useless, but when they need us, they call us up. I just felt very hurt..

[mindlor]

I am sorry that you experienced this. Sadly, many nurses forget that other people have feelings too, besides nurses.....

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I 'm sorry you have experienced this. I am ALWAYS grateful that my patient has a sitter.

I appreciate you as part of the team. I always listen to your input and try very hard to let you know that.

[Wave Watcher]

I love sitters!! I find many of my patients really need them since family can not or will not stay. I can walk away from that patient who has a sitter and know if they go to get up or need something I will know about it.

[Baubo516, RN]

I wish we had sitters at our nursing home! We have some residents who are constantly trying to get up, and we put alarms on them and Fall Eze on the floor, but we still can't always get to them fast enough and some of them fall.

I have experienced hearing people talk about me at work, too, and it sucks. I do wish people would be more considerate of their coworkers. Just wanted you to know that I sympathize! Also, what you are doing is important!

[JulieCVICURN, BSN, RN]

Maybe you're taking it too personally. Perhaps the comment was in regard to that particular patient and not that a sitter isn't necessary ever. I've worked ICU, and believe me, when we have a patient who needs a sitter we are super grateful to get one. Based on what you posted, it seemed to me like the conversation was belittling the patient, not you. Either way it was inappropriate.

[silverbells_star]

My second job is as a sitter, it amazes me the comments I get from staff. Ask for a break to run to the restroom and I get eye rolls, forget asking for a lunch break, you'd think I asked for them to stand on their head. My favorite is when they come in and say "well it must be nice to get to sit all day" Most of the time I get ignored when I come on the floor and never get thanked. Oh well, try not to get too worked up about it, they'll miss you when you get off and they have to take care of him.

[LuckyinKY]

I work on an acute behavioral health unit and appreciate our sitters very much. They help keep our patients safe since we cannot watch them constantly. It depends on the sitter of course, but most have been very helpful. We do have some that have acted inappropriately (asking a detoxing patient where to buy drugs) or fallen asleep, and these sitters tend to give the position a bad name. The one thing I wish is that the agencies would screen their employees a little better, apparently they do not even drug test.

[merlee]

I have loved every sitter that ever was!!! An extra pair of eyes and sometimes hands are soooo wonderful, especially when we think the patient is asleep so nothing can go wrong!!!

I am truly sorry that there were insensitive people making ignorant remarks near you. Or is that ignorant people making insenstive remarks?? Either way, I do not think it was personally aimed at you.

Thank you for your work, and best wishes!!

[JulieCVICURN, BSN, RN]

I must have worked in an unusual unit, because I can honestly say I'm surprised to hear that anyone doesn't appreciate a patient sitter. We got them so rarely and needed them so often that we treated them like gold.

[LuckyinKY]

I must have worked in an unusual unit, because I can honestly say I'm surprised to hear that anyone doesn't appreciate a patient sitter. We got them so rarely and needed them so often that we treated them like gold.

Agree! I am always asking if they need a break or a blanket.

[blueheaven]

Unfortunately some of us have had sitters that we have had to watch closer than the patients that they are supposed to be watching!!! Having sitters who fall asleep (on dayshift) repeatedly is not safe. Had one sitter who allowed the patient to get out of bed, pull all his lines out and SAT there while he did it! She made no move to intervene or call out to the nurses station. I happened to go the room to check his monitor alarms that were going off and found him. There have been other incidences. When sitters are not doing their job, it's more work on me than NOT having one.

One the other hand, I have had the privilege of some WONDERFUL sitters who have really made my life and shift a lot easier.