Demanding Patients and Families

Sometimes patients and their families make you want to pull your hair out!  It really bothers me when you are doing everything you can for a patient and it never seems to be enough.  Mostly it is the family whom you can't seem to please.  Can you move mother's head? Can you fluff her pillow?  Father needs to be moved again. I think dad is in pain.  Can you get some ice water?  All of these questions come after you have just left the room is what makes it even worse.

 I could see if your family member wasn't being cared for but when the nurse is going over and beyond to make them comfortable you should back off a bit.  The continuous nagging and nit picking can seriously reduce the going over and beyond because apparently no matter how well you care for the patient it won't be enough. 

Then you have the patients who forget how to do anything for themselves when they come to the hospital.  If your legs and arms still work you can wipe your own butt!  The hospital isn't a place for you to be waited on, it is a place for you to get better and go home.

I'm sure you have a story to tell so let us hear it.  Maybe you were a demanding patient, if so tell us why.  Feel free to post your comments.