Nurses Reveal The 7 Rudest Phrases You Should Never Say To Them
Whether you’ve been to primary care recently doctor or if you’ve been to the emergency room, you’ve likely interacted with a person. nurse. Maybe they’re the ones responsible for taking your vitals or drawing your blood (and these are just the basics).
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Because they do so much at appointments, unfortunately this means they can be a target when patients are feeling unwell and want to see a doctor. This may result in patients making rude remarks, either intentionally or unintentionally.
“Patient rudeness often stems from frustration, stress and lack of information,” he said Katie Jetta family nurse practitioner and St. She is dean of the school of nursing at Ponce Health Sciences University in St. Louis. “Further efforts to inform the country about the role of nurses will help educate the public and build a more trusting relationship.”
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Ahead, we spoke to nurses about some of the rudest things people have said to them during appointments. (There are also some more respectful and polite alternatives you might consider trying.)
“You’re just a nurse.”
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Although it’s common for patients to say this, there is no such thing as “just” a nurse.
“This statement ignores years of training, clinical expertise and patient advocacy,” he said Jason DunneDoctor of nursing practice and chief academic officer at the Arizona College of Nursing. “Nurses are licensed professionals who evaluate, treat and advocate for their patients every day and are important members of patient care teams.”
“You’re doing this for the money.”
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Everyone works for money. But that doesn’t mean that people in high-paying jobs (especially those in the medical field) aren’t passionate or truly care about the profession or patients.
“People often say this out of anger, possibly projecting their own burnout onto someone who showed up with a purpose,” he said. Kiara DeWittcertified pediatric nurse and CEO of InjectCo. “This kind of comment erases years of training, free clinics, exposure to trauma, and physical exhaustion. I ignore it because anyone who does 14-hour shifts, mostly in compression stockings, will laugh at the idea that nursing is an enriching career.”
“Why didn’t you become a doctor?”
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Implying that people who are nurses are not as smart as doctors is a common trope that medical professionals are tired of hearing.
“This rudeness is to think that nurses are not a vital part of health care and that we are dependent on doctors rather than being highly educated and trained and critical health care providers,” he said Karen O’Donnell FountainFastaff Emergency Department nurse and director of clinical services. “Some people have the mistaken impression that doctors can do better things than nurses, when in fact nurses have a serious responsibility for patient care.”
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“When will the real doctor come?”
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The doctor will eventually come to see you if you have an appointment with them, so it would be rude and condescending to say this to a nurse.
“This question completely disrespects the autonomy and power of us nurses in our practice,” DeWitt said. “This also downplays the care a nurse provides as second best, when in fact many interventions are within the scope of nursing skill.”
A better way to phrase this question is to ask: “Can you explain to me how you fit into my care?”
“I don’t want a male nurse.”
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“I believe this is still being said out loud and that it shows a discomfort that is rooted in old-fashioned gender norms,” DeWitt said. “It suggests that male nurses are less nurturing or less suited to bedside care, which is ridiculous. I always remind people that nurses are trained professionals, regardless of their gender, and they all deserve the same trust.”
A more respectful way to express your preference might be: “I would feel more comfortable with a nurse I could talk to openly.”
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“Do you only work three days a week? That must be nice.”
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Yes, it is true that most nurses work three days a week; however, shifts are longer than the standard 9-to-5.
“These ‘three days’ are typically 12- to 14-hour shifts, and this statement ignores the long days and physically demanding nature of these shifts,” Dunne said. “Nurses also often face shifts on weekends, nights and holidays, which is undesirable for many.”
Many people do not understand the realities of a nurse’s schedule or the physical and emotional demands of these long shifts.
“I could never do your job.”
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Many people can’t really imagine dealing with the challenges of nursing (long hours, seeing patients in pain, demanding family members, etc.).
While this means admiration, according to Dunne, it can also convey a sense that the task is impossible or undesirable. “Nurses are leaders and caregivers who not only deal with bodily fluids, but must also have world-class decision-making skills and plenty of clinical expertise.”This article was first published on: HuffPost.
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