I am tired of seeing medical professionals, predominantly nurses, vilified for proper prioritization/time management. (I also see you, doctor friends of mine! But I am not one so I cannot make a lengthy post about it) In a shift at the hospital, and in the mind of a nurse, tasks are separated into categories: Emergent- codes, rapid responses, critical lab values/vitals, change in patient condition that requires immediate intervention, falls, chest pain, shortness of air Urgent- time sensitive medication (lots fall into this category,) acute wound care, abnormal labs that require time-sensitive intervention, abnormal vitals, suction/chest tube/trach care, pain management Important- general patient care like bathing, changing, other hygiene, ambulation, phone calls, routine consults, routine labs These are by no means exhaustive lists, but it gives you an idea of what the nurses/medical team are having to sift through with every single patient of theirs. Believe me, almost EVERY nurse I know (and I know a lot of us) would get every last thing on these lists done with complete proficiency at exactly the right time every shift…if we could. But we can’t. And I get it…I am a BIG proponent of recognizing that hospitalized individuals have heightened emotions secondary to the uncertainty and vulnerability that comes with a hospitalization. This is why I do my absolute best to treat with tenderness as I interact with every patient and cater my care to their needs. And I won’t disclose to my patient WHY I arrive to bathe them an hour and a half later than I had originally said…it is not their fault, or their problem, nor is disclosure appropriate. But unless they hear “Code Blue” announced overhead, I often get met with anger. They assume I could not have been doing anything emergent, though many emergent things that we do are not announced on the intercom. And, sorry to be harsh, but your bath fell to the bottom of my list when another nurse called out for help as her patient began to decline, or fell out of bed, or lost their IV access… (Please, spare me your stories as you try to tell me not every nurse is well-intentioned…“but but but I had an ACTUALLY bad nurse that…” Sure. Sure you did. And if he or she were actually “bad,” then they ARE NOT the subject of this post. And if they are genuinely neglectful/abusive, they will hopefully/likely lose licensure.) I am talking about the honest, diligent nurses… I am talking about the new nurse, who is learning prioritization and time management, but tasks take a little longer… I am talking about the nurse who would multiply him/herself if they could and be in every room at once… So, next time you are hospitalized, allow us to be human, and do YOUR best to realize that we are doing OUR best. We know you are sick. We know you are hurting. We want to help; we are doing our best. (And for the love of all that is holy, don’t get mad if we take a lunch break)
