Who REALLY Runs Things on a Hospital Floor?
So there you are. Your being admitted to one of the finest hospitals around. Your doctor's name is on the lips of every hypochondriac from NY to New Mexico. He's done the Vice President's left hip, his prowess has opened many a clogged coronary vein, he's made the lame walk and those who could he helped walk faster. So there you are, being wheeled into a room and plunked onto a hospital bed. In walks a woman wearing scrubs and a stethoscope around her neck. She greats you "Hello Mrs. Simpson, I'm Trisha one of the nurses on the floor. I'll just need to ask you a few questions"
You, totally oblivious to what she says as you look around her for your savior, your doctor to enter with a bouquet of roses and a welcome sign.
"OK. Thanks your the nurse. listen I've had a bad day so far. Where is my doctor" you say tersely.
" Mam, your doctor will be here in a bit but there are some questions I have to ask you. I also need to take your blood pressure"
Listen", you respond, "they took my blood pressure downstairs,ok. Leave me alone and get me my doctor.NOW!!"
The nurse says nothing, just bows her head in acknowledgement and leaves the room. Twelve-thirteen hours later you start to get hungry. You ring the little bell on the TV remote to summon someone. Twelve hours later you've rang the bell so many times the television has blown out and you have open blisters on you thumb from pushing said button.What happened?
You broke the cardinal rule of admission. YOU DISSED THE NURSE!
You see it's not the doctor who runs things. Your lucky to see him for 5 mins every other day. But who will you be interacting with constantly? The people that really run a hospital ward and who will define your stay (and your loved ones access). That's right,the nurses. They are the ones who run 95% of your hospital stay, from the times you eat, to when you get your medications to how many visitors you can have in a room (policy shcmolicy. I've seen nurses close their eyes to extra visitors, those that stayed late). It all matters how they are treated by you and your next of kin. So it pays dividends to be nice to them. A box of donuts, a pizza pie dropped off a the nurses station could go a long way in garnering good will from these hardworking men and women and significantly increasing your chances of a more comfortable hospital stay.
You, totally oblivious to what she says as you look around her for your savior, your doctor to enter with a bouquet of roses and a welcome sign.
"OK. Thanks your the nurse. listen I've had a bad day so far. Where is my doctor" you say tersely.
" Mam, your doctor will be here in a bit but there are some questions I have to ask you. I also need to take your blood pressure"
Listen", you respond, "they took my blood pressure downstairs,ok. Leave me alone and get me my doctor.NOW!!"
The nurse says nothing, just bows her head in acknowledgement and leaves the room. Twelve-thirteen hours later you start to get hungry. You ring the little bell on the TV remote to summon someone. Twelve hours later you've rang the bell so many times the television has blown out and you have open blisters on you thumb from pushing said button.What happened?
You broke the cardinal rule of admission. YOU DISSED THE NURSE!
You see it's not the doctor who runs things. Your lucky to see him for 5 mins every other day. But who will you be interacting with constantly? The people that really run a hospital ward and who will define your stay (and your loved ones access). That's right,the nurses. They are the ones who run 95% of your hospital stay, from the times you eat, to when you get your medications to how many visitors you can have in a room (policy shcmolicy. I've seen nurses close their eyes to extra visitors, those that stayed late). It all matters how they are treated by you and your next of kin. So it pays dividends to be nice to them. A box of donuts, a pizza pie dropped off a the nurses station could go a long way in garnering good will from these hardworking men and women and significantly increasing your chances of a more comfortable hospital stay.
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