Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

th think this is not the way that a nurse should speak to a patient

116 replies

moiner · 28/05/2013 18:19

My brother has had an operation on his kidneys and has been in hospital for the last 6 days. One of the nurses has told him that he?s the fittest boy they have had on the ward all year and whenever she speaks to him she calls him ?pretty boy? instead of his name. On top of this she?s told him that he is even cuter when he?s asleep. I think this is quite unprofessional behaviour towards a patient by a nurse but my DP thinks I?m being a grumpy old sod and that she is just tailoring her manner towards a 19yo boy. AIBU?

OP posts:
pigletmania · 29/05/2013 09:25

I think she will learn in time. She may do the same thing to another patient who will not take kindly to it and lodge a complaint against her. How do we know that op be other wasn't equally involved and that he dident start it!

pigletmania · 29/05/2013 09:25

Doh brother

diddl · 29/05/2013 10:10

Even if he started it-she shouldn't carry it on!

Longdistance · 29/05/2013 10:24

Well, having spent two weeks in hospital myself after breaking my leg, what a fucking miserable place it can be.
If your db is uncomfortable with it, let him complain. If not, I'm sure he could well be lapping it up and enjoying his stay, and the only person offended is you op.

NorthernLurker · 29/05/2013 10:32

I agree it's your brother's right to complain. It's nothing to do with you.

TonytheFish · 29/05/2013 10:39

Oh dear, reminds me of the time I once stood between the beds of two male patients and said "oh well, yours is bigger than his".......and they both burst out laughing....and I got an odd look from a passing doctor!

These were two men who had the same operation on the same day, and had a bit of friendly rivalry between them, and I was settling an issue. I had been talking about their bandages on their knees, and was only after when they burst out laughing I realised what I had said.

Some patients I would be more friendly with, a bit less professional (for want of a better way to say it) ie, it would not be a "how are we today Mr so and so" but in a "oh, you been playing the night staff up again" type of way, but I always took the lead from the patient. Some people prefer the less "professional" approach, like you to be a bit more friendly and less formal, others prefer the formal approach. As I said, I always took the lead from the patient.

pigletmania · 29/05/2013 10:48

I agree tony, there probably has been this short of banter going on between nurses and patients since nursing began

DownstairsMixUp · 29/05/2013 10:53

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Bibs123 · 29/05/2013 10:56

If he quite like it then leave it alone, she is joking and should be able to tell if he can take it or not.

hellonewworld · 29/05/2013 11:05

None of your business.

cory · 29/05/2013 11:06

The problem is that whatever you say on the ward is probably plainly audible to all the other patients too. And some patients may be very uncomfortable by the idea that this is considered acceptable banter- but unable to complain because it was not addressed to them.

jamdonut · 29/05/2013 11:17

Yes it is unprofessional...but which of you hasn't said something at some time, in their line of work, that they probably shouldn't have?

OP's brother doesn't sound as if he's harrassed,but OP could cause no end of trouble for this girl if she complains.

I'm not saying that harrassment and abuse shouldn't be weeded out,(especially in establishments where there needs to be a degree of mutual respect), but this is just banter. Hardly the crime of the century.

6 days is quite a long time in hospital these days, so one can only assume they have a bit of rapport going. It's better than having some humourless,unfriendly jobsworth of a nurse,isn't it?

TonytheFish · 29/05/2013 11:34

" And some patients may be very uncomfortable by the idea that this is considered acceptable banter- but unable to complain because it was not addressed to them."

Well maybe so, but not every patient is the same, and I did change my "style" quite often to suit the patient. As that is what they wanted/needed and what made their stay in hospital a bit better. If they wanted a more friendly jokey bantery type of conversation, that is what they got, if they wanted a more formal approach again that is what they got. Is all part of treating them as individuals and responding to how they want it to be.

Letitsnow9 · 29/05/2013 12:58

Unprofessional but some of the staff at the hospital I spend time in would sound unprofessional if I typed up conversations but in actual fact it lightens the mood and much better than just being the 'patient'

Original poster
moiner · 29/05/2013 19:06

I'm going again tomorrow but I don't think I'll say anything though I still feel its inappropriate and unprofessional.

OP posts:
LittleMissLucy · 29/05/2013 21:52

Maybe you can just scowl in her direction if she says anything while you're there.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page