Don't get me wrong. I love to be a nurse and I love to take care of people. I do approve of stricter guidlines to for nursing behavior. Nursing shortage and burnout can wear us to the bone. I teach, fetch, talk, encourage, and really care for people.
With that all being said and avoiding the gross things that I do, I feel I have an oppertunity to get something off my chest. I will give you something that is not a secret that the healthcare industry rally doesn't want attention brought to. Surveys. That's right surveys. How does all this fit together?
An insurance company pays for medical care on a pro-rated basis now. The happier the patient, the more money they give us. The insurance companies use you customer surveys, average a score, and post them to a website. The hospital is given a score, the score that is alloted determines the percentage total that the insurance company pays. While I beleive something needs to be sone to ensure good patient care and education I am not so sure this is it.
I have in the past year noticed ruder and more demanding patients. I understand that comfort is an issue, but I am hard pressed when someone chases me down the hall when I am trying to keep a different patient from declining to curse me (yes full out cursing that would make a sailor blush) because I can't readily take them a cup of coffee.
I also have great unease at the fact that I am continuously treated like a servant because someone feels they are "paying enough money to get waited on hand and foot". I do go above and beyond, I make lists and rund myself ragged for pillows, ice, and snacks. In no way am I above this. I would just like to point out that when you stay in the hospial with your family, it is for you to give them general care. Give them a drink of water, run the kitchen and get them a snack,, and by all means make sure they get their medicine and ask me thousands of questions. Just don't be mean to me or split my hairs because you didn't het a cup of coffee when I am in an emergency.
I can't make anyone happy all of the time and nursing is worse. I have to make you cough, deep breath, and roll over every couple of hours. I have to give you the shots in the belly theprevent blood clots, and yes I will get you a cup of coffee. A little patience is an order. Please understand that when I spend 30 minutes in your room answering questions, I spent 30 minutes in another room answering theirs as well. Nurses make rounds every other hour. When we ask if you need anyting, now is the time for a pain pill or that cup of coffee. Don't sit around wondering if you are getting better, ask about your lab results and grill you doctor with five thousand questions. Make a list and let them have it. They get paid big money to answer you when I can't.
All I am asking is for some courtesy. I know people get angry and feel lonley, tell us. Yelling runs us off. We are not super human (although I think it is a requisite), and we love to care for people. Just understand that in time we will pamper you and that sometimes we ask alot of you to better your outcome, aggresion and curse words get you nowhere.
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