Rule #1 Don't hit on the Nurses or their assistants especially after we've told you repeatedly that we are married and NOT interested. Rule #2 Don't act as if you are the only sick person in the place and ring the bell for stupid things like fluffing your pillow when your hands work and were not the problem at hand. (We are here for your comfort but when blood transfusions are being done on patients and we have patients in pain and with breathing problems some things take PRIORITY!)
Rule #3 When we enter the room and ask you How may we help you or what is it that you need please have a list ready b/c no one wants to go back and forth 20times while caring for other patients. EX: Nurse I'd like pain medicine and do you think I could get some ice and water with a sandwhich while your getting my pain meds. (This is good! :~)
Ex of BAD: Nurse I need pain medicine. The nurse walks down the long hall to get it and returns with it. Oh I don't like to take it like that can you PLEASE crush it? The nurse crushes the medicine and returns to the patient. Oh wait could you fill this up with ice and water. This is not fair to other patients as you are monopolizing the Nurses time and as the bells go off she is running back and forth to you and getting quite angry while doing so.
Rule #4 If you are able to walk around and you are placed on ISOLATION please take this SERIOUSLY. Stay in your room as this is for your saftey as well as for the saftey of others. ISO means you have something that others can't catch or that you might be at risk for catching something not healthy for you. Don't touch the iso cart either as this contains materials or supplies that keep visitors and staff safe from whatever it is that you have or keeps you safe from what we have.
Rule#5 Respect the staff that is caring for you as we are only HUMAN. Respect the rules of the hospital as we have RULES FOR A REASON! Ex: If we tell you that your family is not suppose to be on your bed then don't have them on your bed. If test results come back the next day and we have to isolate you then you've just placed your family member at risk. And if we say they can't spend the night especially in a two person room their is a reason for that. You MUST RESPECT the person next to you as they are ILL and need their rest which means no distractions. Even the most quietest person is a distraction.
Rule#6 Make sure your expectations are realistic and appropriate in terms of the staff and the care you receive. Some things are beyond our control. Ex: I heard a patient complain that she was left on a stretcher after being TOLD that she was going for a test and that we were waiting on transport to come and get her. She complained no one talked to her while she sat on the stretcher for a 1/2hr. That people continued to do their work. Which after things were explained to her is suppose to happen as noone is their to babysit but it is appropriate to check on the patient.
Rule#7 Don't ASSUME! If your needs are not being met or you want something JUST ASK or SPEAK UP! There goes that HUMAN thing again I told you about in rule #5. How can we address something if you we don't know?
Rule #8 Don't tell people what their job is as you would not like anyone to tell you how to do yours unless you find the person to be totally incompetant(and i've seen this) inwhich case you ask for a supervisor. You would do this in any other setting, this one is appropriate also.
Ex:Nurse: Ms. So can you walk? Patient:What does my chart say?
(Some times things are not in your chart so if we ask you just answer the question as people's status change especially with illness.)
Rule #9 PLEASE DISCLOSE ALL MEDICAL INFORMATION as this is IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF YOUR TREATMENT. That means all medicine and drugs taken,pregnancy,etc.,. Ex: 16teen yr old comes to the floor for a surgery and mother discloses that they just found out about a pregnancy in the E/R. 16yrold doesn't want anyone to know. This is important so that you are not given certain medications.
Ex: patient comes in with own meds and there is no order for ambien. Depending on what you are bring given in the hospital you might not want to take that ambien you have with you unless you want palpatations or to become a code. Be SMART! This is not only OUR JOBS but this is YOUR HEALTH! Cooperate!
I'm not saying it isn't o.k. to be sick. I'm just saying that reason and sense shouldn't go out the door when it occurs.
