Ugly behaviour from patients and their families

[Jman888]

hospital is a place where many people will lost control of their temper, not only to the healthcare staff but also their own family members...

 

but i hope the hospital has rules to throw out those inconsiderate people

 

Abuse of health-care workers on the rise - Nurses bear brunt of ugly behaviour from patients and their families

Published on Apr 06, 2013

By Salma Khalik Senior Health Correspondent

 

SEVERAL times a day, every day, a health-care worker at a public hospital here is scolded, abused with vulgarities, or even physically threatened by a patient, his family or friends.

 

Although hospitals do not track every incident, only the more uncontrolled and violent ones, they told The Straits Times they are seeing more cases of abuse.

 

"SGH (Singapore General Hospital) has almost one million patient encounters a year," said Ms Isabel Yong, who is in charge of service quality at the hospital. "And we have seen an increasing trend in the number of demanding or abusive patients or next of kin."

 

Although other health-care staff experience their share of demanding patients, nurses often bear the brunt of ugly behaviour.

 

 

 

Tempers and unreasonable demands

 

Singapore General Hospital

 

A patient wanted bananas every day. When he did not get them, he turned abusive and threatened to storm the hospital kitchens.

Unhappy with a 10-minute wait at the laboratory, another patient demanded a written apology. When this was given, he was not happy with the wording and wanted another apology.

 

National University Hospital

 

A patient who was on a therapeutic diet insisted on having mutton rendang. When he did not get his way, he swept the entire tray of food off the table. He then went to the hospital's foodcourt to buy his own meal.

 

Staff nurse Jonelyn Tanalgo recalled being verbally abused by a patient, who was supposed to be undergoing a procedure ordered by the doctor but wanted to leave to smoke. When she told him that the hospital was a smoke-free zone, matters got worse.

 

Changi General Hospital

 

Some patients and their visitors treat nurses like maids, asking them to pick up tissue paper they had thrown on the floor, a spokesman said. They would also order nurses to pick up delivery food such as pizzas, and become upset when they get "no" for an answer.

 

Khoo Teck Puat Hospital

 

A patient had her blouse buttoned up wrongly. Her son was so furious that he not only scolded the nurses in abusive language but also wrote in to complain.

 

A family of 10 arrived after visiting hours, rang the bell incessantly and banged on the doors till they were admitted. Meanwhile, their children ran around the ward helping themselves to masks and gloves and opening the cupboards of other patients - leading to complaints.

 

SALMA KHALIK

[Donut]

hospital is a place where many people will lost control of their temper, not only to the healthcare staff but also their own family members...

 

but i hope the hospital has rules to throw out those inconsiderate people

 

Abuse of health-care workers on the rise - Nurses bear brunt of ugly behaviour from patients and their families

Published on Apr 06, 2013

By Salma Khalik Senior Health Correspondent

 

SEVERAL times a day, every day, a health-care worker at a public hospital here is scolded, abused with vulgarities, or even physically threatened by a patient, his family or friends.

 

Although hospitals do not track every incident, only the more uncontrolled and violent ones, they told The Straits Times they are seeing more cases of abuse.

 

"SGH (Singapore General Hospital) has almost one million patient encounters a year," said Ms Isabel Yong, who is in charge of service quality at the hospital. "And we have seen an increasing trend in the number of demanding or abusive patients or next of kin."

 

Although other health-care staff experience their share of demanding patients, nurses often bear the brunt of ugly behaviour.

 

 

 

Tempers and unreasonable demands

 

Singapore General Hospital

 

A patient wanted bananas every day. When he did not get them, he turned abusive and threatened to storm the hospital kitchens.

Unhappy with a 10-minute wait at the laboratory, another patient demanded a written apology. When this was given, he was not happy with the wording and wanted another apology.

 

National University Hospital

 

A patient who was on a therapeutic diet insisted on having mutton rendang. When he did not get his way, he swept the entire tray of food off the table. He then went to the hospital's foodcourt to buy his own meal.

 

Staff nurse Jonelyn Tanalgo recalled being verbally abused by a patient, who was supposed to be undergoing a procedure ordered by the doctor but wanted to leave to smoke. When she told him that the hospital was a smoke-free zone, matters got worse.

 

Changi General Hospital

 

Some patients and their visitors treat nurses like maids, asking them to pick up tissue paper they had thrown on the floor, a spokesman said. They would also order nurses to pick up delivery food such as pizzas, and become upset when they get "no" for an answer.

 

Khoo Teck Puat Hospital

 

A patient had her blouse buttoned up wrongly. Her son was so furious that he not only scolded the nurses in abusive language but also wrote in to complain.

 

A family of 10 arrived after visiting hours, rang the bell incessantly and banged on the doors till they were admitted. Meanwhile, their children ran around the ward helping themselves to masks and gloves and opening the cupboards of other patients - leading to complaints.

 

SALMA KHALIK

 

That's why locals dont wan to be nurses....... it's a dirty job with miserable pay

 

I have opportunities to speak to some nurses in ICU and normal wards.

 

Those ICU nurses say they prefer to be in ICU than normal wards coz of the above incidents happening in normal wards. ICU wards are out of bounds or restricted access to visitors. ICU patients are usually sedated or in coma, so no need to serve food. Nurses no need to meet ugly family members and they get to be more specialised trained in managing ICU patients than normal wards nurses. So when comes to career progression, it's better for ICU nurses.

 

 

 

[Tjkbeluga]

By comparison, Radx has the best job in the world....

[Mustank]

That's why locals dont wan to be nurses....... it's a dirty job with miserable pay

 

I have opportunities to speak to some nurses in ICU and normal wards.

 

Those ICU nurses say they prefer to be in ICU than normal wards coz of the above incidents happening in normal wards. ICU wards are out of bounds or restricted access to visitors. ICU patients are usually sedated or in coma, so no need to serve food. Nurses no need to meet ugly family members and they get to be more specialised trained in managing ICU patients than normal wards nurses. So when comes to career progression, it's better for ICU nurses.

 

i love nurses

 

 

Edited April 8, 2013 by Mustank

[Tjkbeluga]

My wife, who used to work in Alexandria Hospital, diabetes department told me a few instances

1) Former police, went to podiatrist, asked for 10 pairs of insole for each available sizes.

2) Not sure the same family as 1) or not but this fella, bring the whole family to the clinic, tapao all the apples and biscuits from the self-helf pantry.

 

Personally, I've seen an instance. Some hospital talk, this fella attend just for the sake of the food. Really eat like eou ji. Come to Q&A time, go up to ask some really trivial and bo liao question, as if want to contribute.

[Donut]

By comparison, Radx has the best job in the world....

 

yeah, the patients have no opportunities to abuse him.

[Jman888]

i love nurses

 

 

we dun need such picture in here please

[Jman888]

ICU at least is warded in a secured area, and both patients and relatives dare not do something stupid, for those in the A&E recovery or normal ward, the behavior can be quite unreasonable.

 

That's why locals dont wan to be nurses....... it's a dirty job with miserable pay

 

I have opportunities to speak to some nurses in ICU and normal wards.

 

Those ICU nurses say they prefer to be in ICU than normal wards coz of the above incidents happening in normal wards. ICU wards are out of bounds or restricted access to visitors. ICU patients are usually sedated or in coma, so no need to serve food. Nurses no need to meet ugly family members and they get to be more specialised trained in managing ICU patients than normal wards nurses. So when comes to career progression, it's better for ICU nurses.

 

[Elmo]

i love nurses

Think I will blow an artery if this nurse takes my blood pressure.

[ChickenMob]

See a few incident at the specialist too at the changi hospital. Come in zhun zhun for his appt at 3.00pm wait for 10 mins Kpkb saying they wasting his time

to come at 3pm when he was not immediately seen by the doctor, his father and him KP all the way asking to see the supervisor bla bla bla.

 

In the end only make themselves more sia sway. zzzzzzzz

[Mustank]

we dun need such picture in here please

 

ok lah, for you only

[Jman888]

ok lah, for you only

 

 

Thanks!

[Ben5266]

i love nurses

If she takes the BP.... every guys will have high blood pressure!

[Elmo]

It is with this kind of news that reminds me we are a 'first world country' with '3rd world mentality'.

Buffet hoarders, litterbugs, rich free-textbook grabbers, parking idiots on lots for disabled, HP users in theaters, late-comers at weddings, motorists in general.....the list goes on.

[Donut]

If she takes the BP.... every guys will have high blood pressure!

 

 

She shouldnt work in Heart Centres...........

[Jman888]

you can find posters reminding people to RESPECT the healthcare personnel, and STOP ABUSING them.

[Jtb]

I always salute to our local nurses in all hospitals as they are the ones working hard for the sake of the sick.

Please dont abuse them, if not, we will run out of locals

[Ender]

Some old patient with mental problem can be very abusive or uncontrollable that they have to tie them to the bed for fear of them falling over.