In hospital

[bakingbernie]

AIBU
I am in hospital, in my own room. Here for two weeks. Lung bug. Not Covid
The difference that is made by good and poor nursing staff can make or break my day.
Here is something I wrote an hour ago to illustrate this. Should I complain or am I expecting too much.
_
The difference a nurse makes_
She comes in, you sigh with relief, you can see her smiling eyes. She introduces herself. All protocols are followed, she does not rush. Slowly, methodically she goes through your drug administration, she explains, you feel confident. Your day starts well.

The door opens without warning, someone barks a question. He comes in, no gloves, no apron - he does not wash his hands. I do not know his name - he does my observations in an uncaring manner - I feel I have upset him - but I have never met him - he asks me about pain - he is the pain. He leaves as quickly as he came - the screen is left beeping - the blood pressure cuff inflates itself. My day is ruined - he is here for 12 hours.

My safety is compromised, we are in a pandemic. Who can I tell? I am an old moaning patient - - -.

Ask if you can have a visit from someone from PALS. They will have an office at the hospital you are at.

I can see how the attitude of them can really affect your mood having spent time in hospital however I'm not sure what you mean your safety is compromised? It sounds like second staff member did do you obs even if he wasn't friendly,

I think I would try and remember that they can be under a lot of pressure and might just have come from seeing something horrific like a child die etc and their mood is nothing to do with you, that's how I thought of it as an inpatient.

Also don't be of the mindset where one slightly snippy staff member has your day 'ruined'
Pick up a book, contact a family member, watch tv and put it out of your mind and try to relax, you're in the best place to get better

If I missed something though and you actually were put in danger then yes pals!

From someone who spent decades working with patients in hospitals you can complain but you need to be specific, not as you wrote above. No one could possibly take that seriously.

What exactly are your complaints?
You had a nurse who did not wear required PPE and observe proper infection control procedures - that is valid and should be addressed.

You also tend to indicate they didn’t follow protocols. What protocols did they not follow? You need to be specific in your complaint.

I’m guessing you were unhappy with your drug administration with the second nurse? What aspect was incorrect, you need to be specific in your complaint. Saying ‘I didn’t feel confident’ adds nothing, what required procedure was not followed? All of this needs to be detailed as opposed to you didn’t like them or they appeared to be multi-tasking.

Agree with the comment above. Nhs staff are under an immense amount of pressure and he is probably having an awful day.

Like the PP said though don't let it ruin your day. I know you must be desperately fed up and just want to be at home but just try to let it go over your head.

Give him a huge smile next time he comes in and ask how his day is going?

I'm not sure what you mean your safety is compromised?

I’m guessing it was the lack of PPE. If it is more than that then it needs to be detailed. A complaint saying ‘my safety was compromised’ will achieve nothing without relevant detail behind it.

I hear you OP. I think not being a dick should come with most job descriptions, especially when there is vulnerability. Shitty attitudes perpetuate more shiftiness so YNBU

Please don’t write anything else in that style, are you practicing for a short essay comp?
Remember they are doing their job, do you do yours every day with warm smiles and bursting with personality and concern?
Read a book, do a puzzle and stop the dramatics.

Did you mean to have the good nurse as a woman and the bad one as a man?

I agree that what you’ve written isn’t helpful in making a complaint if that’s the route you choose to go down. You need to document what you’re unhappy about in simple, factual language that doesn’t sound like you personally dislike the member of staff.

You could ask to speak to the ward sister about not feeling you were treated well. Think first about what “taking observations in an unkind manner” actually meant. I don’t know. Also “he is the pain”. How?

Staff are often in a rush for good reason. That’s not saying it’s acceptable to be brusque but you don’t know if they’re short staffed on the day he was in and out quickly. You can’t always spend the time you want to with each patient.

In the gentlest possible way letting your day be ruined by this encounter is ridiculous.

I'm sorry to hear this OP, how come you know how long you'll be?

(If you're up for it at any point, I'd love for you to do an AMA).

@nellly

I can see how the attitude of them can really affect your mood having spent time in hospital however I'm not sure what you mean your safety is compromised? It sounds like second staff member did do you obs even if he wasn't friendly,

I think I would try and remember that they can be under a lot of pressure and might just have come from seeing something horrific like a child die etc and their mood is nothing to do with you, that's how I thought of it as an inpatient.

Also don't be of the mindset where one slightly snippy staff member has your day 'ruined'
Pick up a book, contact a family member, watch tv and put it out of your mind and try to relax, you're in the best place to get better

If I missed something though and you actually were put in danger then yes pals!

The lack of PPE - that does comprise safety. Nothing to do with male or female, that is just how it happened. Male nurses are equally competent and have been great , it was all about attitude. After twelve hours it wore me down. Today is another day, everything has been perfect. I take on board your comments, but I do smile, I do ask about their day.

The writing style feels indulgent and probably isn't helping you to get a handle on this without being dramatic. You can complain about the factual stuff - if he's meant to wear PPE and isn't then you can raise that. But mood-wise, of course it's nice when it's done with warmth but we have to take some responsibility for managing our own feelings and not give others the power to 'make or break' our day.

I can't understand why you don't challenge somebody who isn't following the correct protocol at the moment. Why don't you say to the nice nurse that the other one doesn't wear PPE?

I’m a nurse, 15 years trained. Yes it’s busy but you don’t treat patients like they are an inconvenience. Drug rounds are very important you have protected time to do them and should be thorough and careful. Paeds nurses so drug rounds in pairs so better when it comes to checking. New Ppe should be worn for each patient so he is putting your safety at risk. Being busy isn’t an excuse and a court would not accept that for a reason not to follow infection control procedures, even if op is fine the next patient may not be depending on what this guy is spreading around by not washing his hands.

I’d speak to the ward sister. Explain what you’ve said and be kind that they are busy etc but you’re worried about infection control.

I do go to work and try to be as nice and friendly as possible. It’s not a job where you can stomp about in a bad mood when there are patients who are scared and vulnerable watching and worrying about their health. You leave your shit at the door and if you can’t then you need to speak to someone. I work with kids, and no way can you be self absorbed and bad tempered whilst dealing with frightened kids and worried parents. I do get a lot of abuse from parents but they are worried and tired, usually once they’ve had a vent and we listen to their worries they apologise and settle down (not all) but we are there to care for all not just the kids but their families too.

If you make a complaint it needs to be way less emotive and dramatic. I know hospitals and illnesses are stressful but it's no time for amateur dramatics. You have the power to decide whether your day is ruined or not. Don't dwell on the negatives.

OP, why not have a polite word with the ward charge nurse, and express your concerns to her about her staff? If she doesn’t know, she can’t remedy the situation.
I’m a retired hospital doctor, and can say the vast majority of my nursing colleagues were very caring of patients, under difficult circumstances and while underpaid and overworked. The odd bad apple needs dealt with by re-education or transfer to a non patient facing role, but this can’t happen until their line manager is made aware of the problem.

crappyfridays7

Thank you for your positive post. You have expressed exactly how I would hope all nurses feel. Perhaps the difference between a vocation and a job.
I was wrong to post something in that way, too emotional, but that's how I felt!
A better day, a different outlook and as long as he hasn't infected me I will put it behind me

Full PPE is no longer a requirement when doing routine treatment of patients on low risk pathways. Only if covid+, risk of bodily fluids or aerosol generating procedures are a potential hazard. This is info from public health England. Only face masks are a permanent requirement. If you would like the nursing staff to wear gloves and aprons when treating you, you can request it.

I work in the NHS so totally get where you are coming from with the attitude of some staff, they can be very rude and challenging. But you sound like you're writing short stories for the DM with your dramatic framing of the situation.

@bakingbernie

crappyfridays7

Thank you for your positive post. You have expressed exactly how I would hope all nurses feel. Perhaps the difference between a vocation and a job.
I was wrong to post something in that way, too emotional, but that's how I felt!
A better day, a different outlook and as long as he hasn't infected me I will put it behind me

Am sorry OP, what do you mean 'as long as he hasn't infected me?' Is this just covid related? Has everyone you've had any contact with in the last 16 or so months been fully ppe'd up? Did he not have a face mask on or do you just mean that he didn't have gloves/apron on?

My DH was in hospital last year having a triple heart bypass operation and experienced similar care. My DH is a very caring, friendly person and easy to get along with and most of the care he received was excellent, apart from 2 occasions.

@KnottedFern

Full PPE is no longer a requirement when doing routine treatment of patients on low risk pathways. Only if covid+, risk of bodily fluids or aerosol generating procedures are a potential hazard. This is info from public health England. Only face masks are a permanent requirement. If you would like the nursing staff to wear gloves and aprons when treating you, you can request it.

I work in the NHS so totally get where you are coming from with the attitude of some staff, they can be very rude and challenging. But you sound like you're writing short stories for the DM with your dramatic framing of the situation.

I am immunocompromised, so the requirements are apron mask and gloves.

OP he needs reporting. You are spot on about how your interaction with staff can make or break your day in these situations. The NHS is great but there’s a few rotten eggs who work for it and in my view do more harm than good.

I am immunocompromised, so the requirements are apron mask and gloves.

If he wasn’t wearing apron, mask and gloves then that’s your complaint. His personality or the fact he didn’t have time to talk about the state of the world with you has nothing to do with it.

MichelleScarn
"Am sorry OP, what do you mean 'as long as he hasn't infected me?'

I have been shielding since the start, unfortunately needed to come in to hospital because of infection and needing antibiotics to clear it. I mean exactly what I said - I am fully vaccinated so Covid is perhaps not a worry - but I am susceptible to infection and feel concerned. Totally my fault really I should have the balls to ask him to use correct procedures.

Are you being reverse barrier nursed? If so there should be a sign up to warn staff. If there is and thats been ignored, that's your complaint.