Know-it-all nurses

[partlycloudy]

First off, yes, nurses do know more than I do. And 99% of the nurses I've dealt with are wonderful. Having said that......

I had to call to get another Zofran script today. My gastro doc's nurse is a bitch. I hate dealing with her. She proceeded to tell me I had to call my primary doc as nausea wasn't part of my Crohn's. Excuuuuse me? She then told me nausea had never been discussed with my gastro doc (it wasn't in the chart). I damn well know it has because he's the one who gave me my step-by-step instructions regarding Zofran and pain meds and when to give up on both and head to the ER. Nobody else would have talked to me about that.

And I think I know better what my doc and I discuss better than she does SINCE SHE'S NEVER IN THE ROOM.

She was all snotty but finally agreed to "mention" it to the doc and hung up on me. No good-bye or anything, just CLICK.

This ended in a satisfying way though as the doc called it in to the wrong drug store and the nurse had to apologize.

Mwahahahahahahaha!!!!

 

[Entchen]

Ha, Michele, I love that! You're my hero!

For me the problem was a pharmacy tech. She'd insist that I go through her to get to a pharmacist (which is ridiculous, and we both knew she wasn't legally permitted to answer my questions), she'd interrupt to lecture before she heard about / saw my evidence (Rx, for example), and she was -- I don't use this word lightly -- hostile. I've stopped using that pharmacy. I made the switch when I realised I was putting off going in to pick up my meds because I was concerned about her hostile behaviour. I'm not into jumping pharmacies / docs / etc. unless absolutely necessary, because I want to build good, long-term relationships with my care providers, but I couldn't keep on avoiding going to the pharmacy.

 

[Entchen]

Hiya Michele: I've thought long and hard about writing the pharmacy a letter. I haven't yet, because the pharmacy is part of my grocery store. It's practically across the street from me, and I've gotten to know quite a lot of people who work there. I do not want to risk damaging the relationships I've built up. Thing is, I have had carefully worded complaints backfire on me in the past.

For example, not too long ago I contacted a research team to let them know that one of their team was using coercive techniques in recruiting participants. I contacted the research team instead of going directly to the ethics board at our university, because I'm a nice Kelly and I didn't want to get their study in Major Trouble. They gave me a lecture about how my family doctor was sent a letter saying I might be asked to take part in research, so they could approach me if they wanted to. Huh? First, approaching someone about a research study is a VERY different matter from doing so in an unethical manner, as happened to me. And anyway, you don't talk to my family doctor about me taking part in research, thankyouverymuch. How paternalistic!!!! And this all got back to my GI, which I was very ticked off about, although he recognized that clearly some sort of misunderstanding was going on. Thankfully, his concern was that I was upset and not that his day was interrupted by this research team complaining about me.
So yeah. Sorry, long rant, but I am very hesitant about making complaints, even when they should be made. Some battles aren't worth fighting. The ethics thing was, even though it backfired.

 

[MADiMarc]

OMG! I remember what I had to go through as far as an ethics review for my master's thesis. Have they lost their minds?? I understand what you are saying especially in a small community. The university setting is so cut throat I would have backed off too. Hey, if you are more comfortable letting it go, great. Means you are more highly evolved then I am! The older I get the more crusty I get and my Irish comes out fighting!
Michele

 

[Entchen]

Nah, I still rage about it privately. I had a contract in that faculty once (last year, actually) and I might need to work there again sometime!

 

[MADiMarc]

Ugh. Yeah I work contract too. Thankfully I have a rep for telling it like it is and not playing nice if needed. Keeps those that are not serious away from me!

 

[partlycloudy]

MADiMarc, I am from the south actually and have considered that. I can conjure up my accent at will, hehe. My other technique is The Death Voice. It's my bitchiest voice and has been known to wilt plant life. No mere human can withstand it. However, I only have to deal with her about once a year so I haven't bothered with either technique. Yet.

Sitting in the couch with lots of time has it's advantages it seems.

I just laughed right out loud over this!

 

[Entchen]

Cloudy, bring out the Death Voice, pretty please! Then, of course, report back to us. You talk to her once a year? That gives you lots of time to plan!

 

[Mountaingem]

I've filed complaints with my HMO about specific doctors and nurses. My GI's nurse would intercept his messages and SHE would decide which ones he got. Now I know nurses do read messages and prioritize them, but she actually wouldn't pass some of them on to him. I confronted her about it, loudly, in the office. I told her I didn't pay my insurance premiums to get medical advice from a nurse. I also discussed the nurses' behavior with my GI-and he actually said, "Wow, now I know what's going on! I've had three patients transfer doctors in a month." He got rid of her.

 

[HeatherMN]

There should be a clinic manager or nursing supervisor to speak with about the GI's nurse--I work in healthcare and our MAJOR push this year was for improving customer service. We've been drilled and trained about giving as good customer service to our patients as we would expect our family members to get. People have lots of options about where to go for their care (although we are a family practice, not a specialty clinic, so I know options for specialities can be limited) and we try to let our patients know that would appreciate them to come back to us for their care!
I would make sure to contact a supervisor or manager at that clinic about that nurse's behavior. It's one thing to try to speak with the nurse herself or with her Dr., but going above her head with this issue should get something done. They are probably already aware of her issues, and this may be the thing that it takes to get rid of her or force her to change.
And Michele, isn't saying "bless your heart" about the same thing too?

 

[partlycloudy]

Kelly, one of these days I'm going to be in one of those moods and she'll meet The Death Voice, hehe. I'll report back immediately.

I notice all the suggestions to report her or others like her and I've seriously considered that. And agree. The only thing, and I think this is why a lot of people don't report this type of thing, is I'm concerned the doc won't do anything so I'm stuck being at the mercy of this now even angrier nurse who stands between me and my doc. However, she's not the one who schedules appointments so that's safe. She is the one in charge of his getting his messages though.

If I had to deal with her more often I'd definitely report her. If I ever leave because of her I'll tell my doc she's the reason. I really like my doc though so between that and not dealing with her very often I'll leave things as is.

But she really gripes my arse!

 

[Dexky]

Know-it-all-nurses....Hahahaha, yeah I know one of those!!! Hahahahahahahahaha.....Hi Dusty!!!

 

[DustyKat]

Whateva.............(with attitude)!

 

[Rebecca85]

Ah yes 'it's just a stomach bug'. Well since you ruled out appendicitis and gallbladder infection, obviously the only other possible reason for me being in hospital doped up on morphine is because I 'have a stomach ache'. 1 week later, back in the same hospital, same ward, same doctors and nurses, 'well we do actually think there's something wrong with you now'!

 

[Silvermoon]

I know ( or at least HOPE ) we are talking about only a few nurses out there, but being an RN I get really disgusted when I hear stories like this.... I guess there is always a "rotten apple" in the bunch, but still.....

On a little bit of a different topic (but related), I am not sure if this site would help anyone, but it may be someplace to start finding answers when you run across one of those nurses that REALLY needs to have her practice re-evaluated....
http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/FAQs.aspx

Not every nurse in the States is going to belong to this organization, but these guys might be able to point you in the right direction to find the answers you DO need.... Probably each State has a nursing association that would be the licencing body for every nurse in that State... search for the State you are in and "nursing association".....

In Canada - each province has an Association of RNs particular to that province that you guys can contact for information. These associations are the ones that decide whether or not we can be licenced to practice in those provinces.

These groups are advocates for nurses... but they are also groups YOU as patients can contact if you have issues with nurses you have encountered....

I know we were just "venting" but I thought I'd throw that information out there anyway... lol.... :redface:

 

[partlycloudy]

Silvermoon, thank you for that info. I only deal with my nurse-gone-bad occasionally so only wanted to vent but I appreciate knowing more about something I could do as I did have a very bad experience with a nurse in an ER years ago. I honestly to this day regret not reporting her to someone in authority.

And yes, only a few nurses. Most are great, especially here in the States with being overworked and the shortages and dealing with patients. I certainly couldn't do it!

 

[alohakim18]

Silvermoon It is really only a few out there that spoil it for all the nurses. I have had one that really was a challenge to deal with but other than that nurses are my lifeline! They take time to listen and help and just do tons of fabulous things! I just thank the universe for nurses every day!

Thank you for being one! Thanks to all the caregivers out there who really care! You make A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES!

Sincerely!
Kim