1) I am a HUGE advocate for treating everyone alike, getting along with everyone, and for doing my best to refute stereotypes in the workplace.
2) I have worked in many hospitals (a dozen in several different states) and dealt with 100's of nurses... so my "opinion" isn't based off of 3 nurses in my hospital.
So here's my question. WHAT'S UP WITH THE EFFIN' ATTITUDE?
Do nurses really get treated THAT badly by everyone that they cannot muster a clean slate when they meet new people? Let me throw out a few scenarios here. All different nurses, mind you.
Scenario #1
Me: Hi Nurse 1. I'm Ella, part of Dr. X's team. Are you patient Y's nurse?
Nurse: Maybe. Depends on why you want to know.
Me: (smile... trying to break the ice) Ok, well when you have a chance he'd like to get his nicotine patch.
Nurse: Don't know why you bother. He's just going to rip it off later.
Me: Well, maybe, but he asked me... so I'd like to get him one while he's in the mood for trying.
Nurse: (Very snotty) Well, YOU'RE just going to have to wait.
Me: No prob. Like I said, whenever you get a chance.
Nurse: Well IF I get a chance I will.
Scenario #2
Me: Hi nurse 2. Dr. X is worried about patient Y and he'd like to get a glucose check right now.... I don't mean to rush you... but I think it's pretty important.
Nurse: JESUS CHRIST! Like I don't have anything else to do.
Scenario #3
Me: Hey is that patient Y's chart? Do you mind if I just sneak this note in there real quick?
Nurse: Is this your patient? Why has he been here so long? He needs to go!
Me: Well, he's got (really bad disease X). And he needs daily treatment.
Nurse: Well, I don't feel sorry for him. He does cocaine, right?
Me: Well, his tox screen was positive... but that's not related to the disease.
Nurse: Well, still. We shouldn't be putting so much effort into him.
Me: Well, that's what we do here. Help sick people.
Nurse: Hmpppfh.
Scenario #4
Me: (trying to get some blank progress notes which have been placed near a nurses desk... and I'm not even in the way or near any of her personal space/ things)...
Nurse: What do you need (attitude 10/10 on the bitchy scale)??
Me: Oh, hey, sorry I didn't realize this was your desk. I am just looking for the progress notes.
Nurse: Well this is MY desk.
Me: Oh. Ok. Well Dr. X said this is where they are kept.... but maybe he was confused. Is there some other place I should get them from?
Nurse: Nope.
Me: Well.... ok...
Nurse: Sigh. Well, go ahead.
Me: Big smile on the outside. Dagger of death on the inside.
Scenario #5
Me: Hi Nurse 5 (who is in charge of LTAC placement). I'm Ella. Dr. X was wondering if you know of any LTAC facilities that will do IV meds for 10 days.
Nurse: No.
Me: Well the problem is XYZ. Can you think of any way that we can deal with that?
Nurse: No.
Me: What about Facility X?
Nurse: No
Me: Facility Y?
Nurse: No
Me: I heard they will make special accommodations as long as the patient is ambulatory. Would you be willing to check?
Nurse: No.
And I can give 100 more scenarios like these....
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