r/nursing • u/NursingManChristDude BSN, RN, FoC, CRRN, CBIS, PCCN • Sep 16 '24

Nursing Hacks Just....walk out of the room

Here's a PSA for my fellow nurses, in case anyone hasn't realized they can do this:

If a patient is being rude to you, just walk out of the room. If necessary, don't even say anything beforehand. When you return, at the time of your choosing, simply ask them "Are you ready to be more respectful?"

I haven't had to do this often, because I am aware of he misogynistic attitude patients have in treating me, a male, with more respect than my fellow female employees.

But, it's like having a secret weapon in your back pocket at all times, and you should never feel disrespected/mistreated/abused by your patients. They need you, not the other way around. This certainly falls under the category of "nursing hack".

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u/Specialist-Most-7152 Sep 16 '24

I'd done it. It can go both ways. Either they respect you more and are pretty nice after (rare) or they complain to their family or patient relations and you get pulled into the office asking what you could had done differently. Honestly there is no winning that situation.

355

u/Jerking_From_Home RN, BSN, EMT-P, RSTLNE, ADHD, KNOWN FARTER, DEI SPECTRUM HIRE Sep 16 '24

That’s why right after you leave the room you put a note in their chart and let your charge or manager know.

It’s not about who’s right, but who complains first. The first person to say something puts the other person on automatic defense in the eyes of the unit manager/patient relations. Let someone know there’s a problem before they complain.

49

u/Economy_Confusion221 RN, BSN, CCRN, candy bowl bandit Sep 16 '24

This. Newer manager here, you Have no idea how difficult it is to keep a pulse on what’s going on the floor. We have a huge sign on our fooor saying this is our workplace and disrespect to staff will not be tolerated. Tell me right away and I’ll have you 10000%. It’s hard to handle from my side when I hear about it from patient relations first, a couple weeks after it happened. You did good!

12

u/outofrange19 RN - ER 🍕 Sep 16 '24

I did charge in a trauma center ED for a year (technically I probably will do it again but I am taking a step back in a chiller role for a while) and I had to tell staff this constantly. I cannot reasonably know everything happening with 40-100 patients and (if I'm very lucky) a dozen staff members unless I am informed. If it's something really egregious, write an email. Immediately. Or if you don't have the time to sit and type it... use your words and tell me so I can fix it.