Customer service
As evidenced by our latest P-G surveys, patients' families are not altogether pleased with our services.
Besides the usual "pillows were hard/flat/lumpy", "unit was too cold/hot/dreary", and "food could be better", we did get some valued feedback that pointed to actual issues that needed addressed. And that is another post for another day. Let us focus on my bellyache for now, 'k?
As with any business, a well-timed smile and weighted sincerity can go a long, long way.
It is not enough to display clinical competence and take the very best care of the patient - our number one priority.
We must appease the sons and daughters and sisters-in-law in a way that makes them feel valued and justified.
Seeing as how the family members are most often the ones to complete and return these surveys, one must pander to the offspring and siblings as though they are every bit your responsibility as well.
Staying well over an hour past posted visiting hours? Offer them a beverage.
Alerting you the very moment mom's foley drained 100cc into an empty bag? Give her a complete bed bath.
Complaining that dad's parkinsonian tremors are due, in fact, to the temperature on the unit? Put mittens on him. This is helpful to staff as well, when he digs in his diaper and then claws at you when you try to change him.
It says on the activity board that there was a group for coping skills earlier. Why didn't mom attend?
Wrong answer: Your mother is confused, disoriented, and spells the colors of the numbers that are floating by. That group was not appropriate for her needs.
Right answer: Oh my goodness! That was an oversight on my part, and I'm deeply sorry for the inconvenience. We will be having another session on self-care activities starting very soon. Would you like be the first in, to find a good seat? I could assist you if you'd like. (insert warm smile here)
There are the family members who are an obvious asset to have around. These are the ones who have a clue. Perhaps their loved one has battled bipolar for decades. They are used to the behavioral issues and abilities the patient can, will, or did possess. They are patient, kind, and understanding. They applaud your efforts, steel will, and patience. They are often grateful to have this bit of respite.
The ones that are red-flagged are the supposed "new onset dementia" patients' families. New onset dementia is a bit of an oxymoron. This patient has been exhibiting a steady decline, and the family has been in denial. Push comes to shove, and they just can't deal with it any more. Possibly the physical demands have become too much. There is also the factor of incidental depression and anxiety for the family member. This tends to weigh heavily on their own behavior. The son or daughter tends to expect or demand results far beyond their own capabilities, and transfer their guilt and frustrations onto the staff. Sometimes, we are left with the feeling that if you think you can do it any better, then please, take her back home. Instead, we grin and bear it.
I think, because we are often frustrated, we tend to avoid the family. This is w-r-o-n-g. The family wants - needs - to be involved, to know we're there for them. Sure, this burdens us with another patient, if you look at, but if we don't tend to the family's needs, we appear to be unavailable, uncaring, and possibly even incompetent. That nurse never stopped in to check on mom the whole time I was here. What if she needed something? I bet she is ignored all day long.
Currently we have a patient whose daughter is perplexed beyond all reasonable doubt about her mom's abrupt change in mental status. We received the patient after a lengthy stay on the medical floor. This woman was put through every diagnostic test one could think of, without a cause found. She does not exhibit the typical symptoms of dementia of any type. Depression, maybe. Psychosis, maybe. Basically she just sits there, mute, no eye contact, no response except to neuro stimuli. According to the daughter, she was driving her car, shopping, playing pinochle, and cleaning her house up to a week before she ended up like this. No CVA, no seizure activity on the EEG, no indication to what might be wrong. Unfortunately, the daughter is a wee bit on the manic side at this time. This poses a challenge to us, because she is more needy than the patient. She has submitted bulleted memos to the physician and social worker about what her mother needs, what she wants, and how these feats are to be accomplished.
A couple of days ago, she rushed up to me to ask what was going on with mom. She had heard the doctor prescribed her THREE new medications! Does that mean he has a diagnosis?? Because I was involved in about a gazillion other more important tasks, I told her I wasn't sure without reading her progress note, but I would do that soon, and get back to her. I never did. She left without further inquiry, and I forgot about it. During a rare moment of solitude, whilst enjoying a cup of very bad coffee, it dawned on me that I had neglected to complete a task. I hate loose ends. And I felt a little guilty. As aggravating as these family members can be, I really do try to put myself into their shoes and pretend it was myself worrying about my loved one. And, as every good nurse does, you visualize your own parent/spouse/sibling in that bed, and treat the patient accordingly.
So, I called her. The doctor had placed her mother on aricept, haldol, and celexa. She wanted to know what each pill was for, and what the diagnoses meant. I summarized the information she requested. I explained that sometimes medications are started not because of an assumed diagnosis, per se, but to treat specific symptoms. In short, her mood should brighten and her thoughts become more clear. Since the daughter displays a strong inclination for research, I offered to print her out the med-teach sheets on each drug, and told her they would be attached to the front of her mother's chart for her when she comes in. And then I did just that. Mission accomplished. Took less than 10 minutes start to finish. The bad coffee got colder but the warm feel-goodliness of my attempt gave me a boost.
She mentioned me during treatment team, stating I was an asset to this unit, because I offered her information and hope. And a moment of my time.
Besides the usual "pillows were hard/flat/lumpy", "unit was too cold/hot/dreary", and "food could be better", we did get some valued feedback that pointed to actual issues that needed addressed. And that is another post for another day. Let us focus on my bellyache for now, 'k?
As with any business, a well-timed smile and weighted sincerity can go a long, long way.
It is not enough to display clinical competence and take the very best care of the patient - our number one priority.
We must appease the sons and daughters and sisters-in-law in a way that makes them feel valued and justified.
Seeing as how the family members are most often the ones to complete and return these surveys, one must pander to the offspring and siblings as though they are every bit your responsibility as well.
Staying well over an hour past posted visiting hours? Offer them a beverage.
Alerting you the very moment mom's foley drained 100cc into an empty bag? Give her a complete bed bath.
Complaining that dad's parkinsonian tremors are due, in fact, to the temperature on the unit? Put mittens on him. This is helpful to staff as well, when he digs in his diaper and then claws at you when you try to change him.
It says on the activity board that there was a group for coping skills earlier. Why didn't mom attend?
Wrong answer: Your mother is confused, disoriented, and spells the colors of the numbers that are floating by. That group was not appropriate for her needs.
Right answer: Oh my goodness! That was an oversight on my part, and I'm deeply sorry for the inconvenience. We will be having another session on self-care activities starting very soon. Would you like be the first in, to find a good seat? I could assist you if you'd like. (insert warm smile here)
There are the family members who are an obvious asset to have around. These are the ones who have a clue. Perhaps their loved one has battled bipolar for decades. They are used to the behavioral issues and abilities the patient can, will, or did possess. They are patient, kind, and understanding. They applaud your efforts, steel will, and patience. They are often grateful to have this bit of respite.
The ones that are red-flagged are the supposed "new onset dementia" patients' families. New onset dementia is a bit of an oxymoron. This patient has been exhibiting a steady decline, and the family has been in denial. Push comes to shove, and they just can't deal with it any more. Possibly the physical demands have become too much. There is also the factor of incidental depression and anxiety for the family member. This tends to weigh heavily on their own behavior. The son or daughter tends to expect or demand results far beyond their own capabilities, and transfer their guilt and frustrations onto the staff. Sometimes, we are left with the feeling that if you think you can do it any better, then please, take her back home. Instead, we grin and bear it.
I think, because we are often frustrated, we tend to avoid the family. This is w-r-o-n-g. The family wants - needs - to be involved, to know we're there for them. Sure, this burdens us with another patient, if you look at, but if we don't tend to the family's needs, we appear to be unavailable, uncaring, and possibly even incompetent. That nurse never stopped in to check on mom the whole time I was here. What if she needed something? I bet she is ignored all day long.
Currently we have a patient whose daughter is perplexed beyond all reasonable doubt about her mom's abrupt change in mental status. We received the patient after a lengthy stay on the medical floor. This woman was put through every diagnostic test one could think of, without a cause found. She does not exhibit the typical symptoms of dementia of any type. Depression, maybe. Psychosis, maybe. Basically she just sits there, mute, no eye contact, no response except to neuro stimuli. According to the daughter, she was driving her car, shopping, playing pinochle, and cleaning her house up to a week before she ended up like this. No CVA, no seizure activity on the EEG, no indication to what might be wrong. Unfortunately, the daughter is a wee bit on the manic side at this time. This poses a challenge to us, because she is more needy than the patient. She has submitted bulleted memos to the physician and social worker about what her mother needs, what she wants, and how these feats are to be accomplished.
A couple of days ago, she rushed up to me to ask what was going on with mom. She had heard the doctor prescribed her THREE new medications! Does that mean he has a diagnosis?? Because I was involved in about a gazillion other more important tasks, I told her I wasn't sure without reading her progress note, but I would do that soon, and get back to her. I never did. She left without further inquiry, and I forgot about it. During a rare moment of solitude, whilst enjoying a cup of very bad coffee, it dawned on me that I had neglected to complete a task. I hate loose ends. And I felt a little guilty. As aggravating as these family members can be, I really do try to put myself into their shoes and pretend it was myself worrying about my loved one. And, as every good nurse does, you visualize your own parent/spouse/sibling in that bed, and treat the patient accordingly.
So, I called her. The doctor had placed her mother on aricept, haldol, and celexa. She wanted to know what each pill was for, and what the diagnoses meant. I summarized the information she requested. I explained that sometimes medications are started not because of an assumed diagnosis, per se, but to treat specific symptoms. In short, her mood should brighten and her thoughts become more clear. Since the daughter displays a strong inclination for research, I offered to print her out the med-teach sheets on each drug, and told her they would be attached to the front of her mother's chart for her when she comes in. And then I did just that. Mission accomplished. Took less than 10 minutes start to finish. The bad coffee got colder but the warm feel-goodliness of my attempt gave me a boost.
She mentioned me during treatment team, stating I was an asset to this unit, because I offered her information and hope. And a moment of my time.
posted by Julie, RN at 1/24/2007 08:54:00 AM
3 Comments:
The type of family members who bother me the most are the ones who are estranged from the patient who suffers from a chronic illness. Then the patient gets sick and is hospitalized, and maybe dying. Out of nowhere the estranged family member appears, makes all sorts of demands on behalf of the patient, and sometimes even prolonging the pain and suffering of the dying patient.
Hello Julie RN, came here through your comment on my blog. :-) No your comment wasn't lost. I loved reading through parts of your blog. You have a tough job and unfortunately no appreciation at times for all you do for the patients. I think there should be a sign in the hospital that says, "Attention all visitors: This is NOT a hotel" !
I love your post. May I add it to Change of Shift. Please let me know. Thanks.
MJ
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