Cheers to Katherine Smith Lockler, a Damn Good Nurse by Pat Conrad MD
This has been a notable flu season. It has been more evident than usual who the freeloaders and whiners are who come to the ER on someone else’s dime for the sniffles, and I resent them even more than usual. Hospitals throughout our region are all full, and non-emergent patients are sucking up our last free moments and reserves of energy for bullshit. And every mom who didn’t want to wait in the pediatrician’s office is just coming to the ER, if only for a school note (hellooo, Medicaid). Everyone is tired, and all of U.S. health care could really use 2 weeks off for extra vitamin C, chicken soup, hot toddies, hotter baths, and sleep. Ain’t happening.
So God bless this nurse for calling it like it is. WATCH THIS CLIP! Her clip went viral and I really hope some cowardly CEO or jerk government inspector doesn’t cause her grief for it. Apparently, someone is already lodging a complaint with the Florida Board of Nursing. We are being nibbled to death by rats.
The interweb called this a rant, but it’s not. It’s a PSA, and I applaud this lady, and if you don’t, I hope you get a really bad case of the flu.
Would be nice if Code of Ethics and Conduct applied to the strict deciplinary bullies of nursing. One of the reasons so many nurses are leaving the profession is the pile on nurses who are human. If the hardasses had their way we would all have to wear suit and tie so we look professional as we walk through the 100 million dollar cascade. If you read Richard Clark’s Warnings it is the Cassandra’s who often rub the status quo the wrong way. Consequently, their wisdom is not heeded and disaster issues. I will take these sometimes gruff messengers over hypocrites and bullies any day.
Should read facade not cascade. Hospitals spend tens of millions on appearances. While I’m at it this includes the “awards” and rankings hat are gamed.
She may have called it like it is, but she could’ve done it without her animated jester. Good message wrong delivery.
Oh, before I get criticized on her rant, I do understand where she is coming from. Unfortunately, we live in a country that practices free will/ choices, so keep in mind what your job entails.
Noticed, mostly those that have higher education are rooting her on and feel her delivery ” was no big deal” .
Can’t force people to do what is best for their health and those around them.
It’s okay to vent, but not to the public, the way she did.
Okay, if her video is appropriate, then I want you Dr. Conrad to do exactly what she did on her video, rant to your patience.
I also want every nurse to demonstrait a sarcastic performance in the ED, MED-Surge, ICU, POST-OP, IMCU, and all areas of the hospitals , where sick, scared, angry, stressed out patients / vistors are. Go, do it now.
I see that Dr. Conrad, also kept his support for his friend/co-worker on a low profile blog site. How many people in the non medical profession will search this site? Not as much as you all think.
This was meant for tired and stressed out healthcare persons, not for patients and general public.
FYI, this is not about feelings getting hurt. This is about our code of ethics as caregivers. SMH
Jennifer, why is it not okay for her to vent? She did not identify any patient, her employer, or her place of business. Those offended by her tone – apparently yourself – don’t like a nurse telling someone not to bring their bullshit to the ER. Everyone wants to be welcomed all the time for the silliest, non-emergent garbage, and they raise hell when they have to wait too long. Not sure what friend/co-worker you are referring to, as I do not know this nurse. Jennifer one thing you have shown is that the last thing YOU want is honestly from your doctors and nurses. If ever you see a doctor or nurse saying what they truly think on the job, you will know it is there last day before the blessed retirement that most of us will never see.
So bottom line, Jennifer, exactly what mythical code of ethics did this cool nurse violate? Be careful not to get hurt falling off your high horse, lest you some ER staff laughs their asses off at you.
Well said, Pat.
This whole recent “customer service” push from the corporate overlords of modern medicine has been so thoroughly accepted and incorporated by the inexperienced and weak minded that they believe it derives from “medical ethics,” rather than from the way that airlines and Disneyland force their employees to smile like idiots. The art of medicine may include diplomacy, but it also relies on honesty, which means that when it would be helpful to your patients, it is okay for you to tell them they’re being assholes and idiots.
You can be honest without being a dick.
Perhaps ONE can be honest without being a dick, but after several decades of experience trying, I can tell you that *I* can’t.
Wrong! Lol, Pat, being forthright and an asshole is very different. Still didn’t answer me. What, you can’t handle people like me calling you out?
Are you burned out and bitter? Do you need a hug? It’s okay, unleash the venom, I don’t mind. Poor you.
Never said its not okay to vent. I said not to vent to the public and YOU agreed—–>” If ever you see a doctor or nurse saying what they truly think on the job, you will know it is there last day before the blessed retirement.”
So, if what she did was so cool, why don’t you do it at your practice?
As a nurse, I say YAY!!! of course, she will be screwed.
This is old, but also still so true
https://www.craigslist.org/about/best/sfo/301345524.html
Awesome nurse. A truth teller. Her video should be required viewing by all patients entering the ER or my office during flu season. She should be hired by the CDC to do PSA’s. Imagine her talk on how to not get STD’s or why smoking makes your COPD worse.
But I see it every day, family members bringing in a family member with the flu (or flu like illness) and most of them don’t take the mask. They don’t wash their hands either, and always ask for an antibiotic (Virumax anyone?) even though I explain in detail that we’re talking about a VIRUS here. And why is the flu a reason to have a family reunion at the ER at three in the morning?
Every year I have a few patients who decline the flu vaccine and return with the flu. Usually when I ask if they’ll take the flu vaccine next time, their nod to the affirmative is barely perceptible between the shakes and rigors of the illness.
Over the last quarter century of my involvement with patients, there has been significant spinal atrophy in patient’s dealing with routine illness, and a dearth of common sense of how one actually takes care of themselves. If there was only an app for that. Naaahh, the patient is too busy playing Candy Crush or borrowing a friends phone (another vector for transmission) to call more friends to come on down the the ER and get them some flu too.
Shared as a PSA. Thanks for posting.
“Went viral” hahahahah!
I love her message. It’s too bad we live in times where everyone gets butthurt. People have nothing better to than report an overworked and over stressed nurse looking for an outlet for her frustrations. Some people need to get a freaking life and keep scrolling. People who know her have how amazing she is as a Nurse. Now those ignorant people might cost this amazing nurse job.
People like Zdogg can post sarcastic messages about healthcare and patients and it’s great but a nurse does it and her job is on the line. Nurses are the fall guy for everything. I appreciate you as an MD supporting her. I know so many of us nurses have her back too.
If you know her, please show her this and convey my respect and support.
She’s hosed.
Nahhhh, Perfectly appropriate G rated with a touch of sarcasm. Very good.
I don’t think anyone will trouble her. If they do, I’m sure an M.D./J.D. would step up
pro bono and put a stop to it.