WOW! The public really doesn't like us, huh?

Published

I recently read a news article in relation to call bell systems and posted it here. (I'm not sure if it's spamming if I mention the name of the article, until clarification I will just leave the title of the thread off). Anyhow, I just took the time out to read the 127 comments and only 6 of them were positive. A large majority (maybe 98%) of the negative commenters blamed the nurses. Many of them called us lazy, some said our only job is to pass meds so why can't we answer call lights. One lady was mad because it took 5 mins for her call bell to be answered. Another issue I think is that many patients believe that nurses are the only people responsible for the call light system, when in reality all healthcare professionals present on the floor can answer a call light. Some of the comments say we just stare at the computer or our cellphones all day, often laughing and gossiping with eachother. Nursing shortage was brought up a few times and followed by, it's not the shortage it's the laziness. A commenter said we should be checking on patients every 15 minutes. Upon the 127 comments, many people were "liking" these negative comments. I wasn't really shocked in the beginning but as I kept reading I became more and more shocked with disbelief. So what happened to Nurses being one of the most trusted professionals out there? GEEZ! I am not sure that this poor image of us will be changed, but I bet the hospital CEOs are happy they aren't the ones wearing the blame. I just wanted to vent. Feel free to vent here as well :D

Ah please, some folks want blood out of a turnip. :uhoh3:

If you get your self-esteem from this job then you're in big trouble because there are many people who will NEVER be satisfied with the "service." Patients think that if you aren't attending them directly every minute of your shift then you're doing nothing. Even when they can see you doing something for someone else if it's not for them you're doing nothing.

I self assess when a patient or family member complains. Did I forget to get something I promised? Did I not come check on the patient as frequently as I should have? Etc. If the answer is yes I've been busy and forgetful then I will try to smooth things over and do a little bit better. If I know that I've been running my behind off and they are being manipulative then their complaints go in one ear and come right out of my rear!

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Specializes in Psychiatry, corrections, long-term care..

Haters gonna hate.

They should step into the shoes of a nurse for a day in any setting and see what it's like. I recommend LTC, personally.

Let the "public" try dealing with a needy patient, one that refuses all cares/meds, one that's dying, and one that just fell on the floor all while everyone else wants to go to bed, be toileted, or "have a pain pill". Oh shoot, did that dementia patient just exit through the emergency door? By the way, you have a call holding from the doctor you called three hours ago. (I can keep going...)

I mean, if the "public" feels so competent and thinks nurses should be doing the work of the CNAs at the same time, why don't they give it a try? We have all this time to text and web surf, so it can't be that hard.

Right?

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Ugh i was abused via facebook the other day (my posts were visible to friends of friends and this 'girl' was a friend of my partners, we have never met) i posted about starting my new staff nurse post and she started ranting on my status about how she had to wait 5 hours in a+e whilst 'incompetent, lazy and rude nurses sat around whilst people were in pain' and how nurses should be ashamed of how we treat people, that we are rude,etc.

I was kinda shocked that someone would post on a strangers facebook slagging off their profession. I explained that a+e is often busy behind the scenes and she went on and on about how we sit around drinking coffee and gossiping and eventually deleted/blocked my partner (her friend).

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Specializes in Mental Health, Medical Research, Periop.
Ugh i was abused via facebook the other day (my posts were visible to friends of friends and this 'girl' was a friend of my partners, we have never met) i posted about starting my new staff nurse post and she started ranting on my status about how she had to wait 5 hours in a+e whilst 'incompetent, lazy and rude nurses sat around whilst people were in pain' and how nurses should be ashamed of how we treat people, that we are rude,etc.

I was kinda shocked that someone would post on a strangers facebook slagging off their profession. I explained that a+e is often busy behind the scenes and she went on and on about how we sit around drinking coffee and gossiping and eventually deleted/blocked my partner (her friend).

Wow! She wouldve been blocked and deleted. Odd that she decided to call someone rude, when her behavior was rude. SMH!

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Yeah she was delightful, i think her best comment was that the screening process for nurses should be more vigorous to ensure that only compassionate and 'good' nurses are employed!

Apparently 3+ years of nursing school aren't enough :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Pediatrics/ Mother-Baby/ NICU.

i remember the day i couldn't wait to get a hospital job.... and when that day came... i wish i never left the outpatient side.... i've been working hospital for 3 years and lets say it still not my cup of tea.... but i do enjoy the compensation..... i really enjoy home health because it's more 1:1 care and there is really no reason for meds to be late or not answering their call light (LOL) unless your just lazy... working outpatient was cool... but yeah...

it sucks when someone that has no idea on what nursing on a hospital floor with 7 telemetry patients all needing insulin or cardiac meds.... now that sucks....

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people are so spoiled...

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Specializes in ICU.

You can't fix stupid...

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Specializes in ICU.
You can't fix stupid...

LOL! :p

Reminds me of this one: "Stupidity isn't a handicap. Find somewhere else to park!"

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Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.

Gosh ...so many seem upset with nurses having degrees.

What is their problem.

In class conscious Britain, does this mean some people think nurses have got uppity with a university education?

Risen above their 'station' ??

Must they stay working class .... plus never forget they are to spend the bulk of their time doing hygiene cares ? Oh and don't forget families are to never ever assist their relatives to walk to the bathroom or help feed them.

They can sit there and visit for a few hours but wont lift a finger to walk Grandma to the toilet or get her a drink ....and then that makes the nurses absolutely horrid because the care is so awful

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Specializes in Spinal Cord injuries, Emergency+EMS.
Pfft, nothing new there then. Think yourself lucky you don't have the shrill, nurse-hating Daily Mail (a UK national newspaper) to contend with.

Hardly a day goes by but we are not treated to articles branding nurses as lazy ***** too posh to wash patients and a deal too book-larned' to wipe a bottom.

and blaming 'modern' degree educated Nurses for all the ills of the NHS .... oddly enough i don't see (m)any Matrons or Directors of Nursing who are P2k or post P2k RNs ... no nursing management is still full of trained Nurses rather than Educated ones...

and despite the fact that pre-reg programmes in the Uk are required to have 2300 hours of clinical placements that ' student Nurses are not taught anything in practice and should be on the wards ... - funnily enough for probably 1800 of those 2300 i was on 'ward ' placements, the others being Community, psych, and A+E ...

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