Ever had to take care of someone you knew and/or didn't like?

Right now, I'm a nursing student and I will soon be doing clinicals at the hospital near me. I know a lot of people and I think that I might come across someone that I know/are friends with OR someone that I DON'T like.

Has this ever happened to you guys and how do you deal with it?

**Can someone edit the title to "Ever had to take care of someone you KNEW or didn't like?" Darn typos! Last edit by Spikey9001 on Oct 8, '10 : Reason: Messed the title up.
You do your job and there will be no problems.

Or, you can request not to be assigned to care for a person that would cause problems for you.

If I have a patient assigned to me that I think might cause a conflict, I go to the charge before report is done and ask that this pt be switched off my assignment.Usually they are glad to do this, and in all actuality, I have never had to do it. (I have seen others ask this and it was never a problem.)Although I DO have a list in my head of people I would refuse to care for, mostly because I do not like them (and the feeling is mutual). Not because I don't think I could give them good care, I know I could, just afraid if they died under my care, their family might say, 'THAT nurse didn't like him/her!!!!' Only half kidding here.So far as knowing people, just act professionally, don't act embarrassed at seeing this person in less than full clothing and in their full social face, and treat them like anyone else. This will help them feel better, and will in turn, help you feel better about taking care of them.

Since you usually work in the community that you live in, you occasionally will see patients that are friends, acquaintances or even family. If you feel that emotional ties will interfere with doing your job, then you can request a change of assignment.As far as people you don't like . . . you just deal with it.Sometimes the patient will request a different nurse themselves . . . problem solved.

Quote from sunnycalifRNSince you usually work in the community that you live in, you occasionally will see patients that are friends, acquaintances or even family. If you feel that emotional ties will interfere with doing your job, then you can request a change of assignment.As far as people you don't like . . . you just deal with it.

What would you do if you were a server and someone you didn't like came in to have dinner? What if you were a mechanic and someone you didn't like brought their car in? What if you were a teacher and someone you didn't like was in your class?

Quote from dmoney8827What if it's mutual? Or what if it will have ramifications outside the work place... (these are just hypotheticals).

This may come up less often than you think -- I did most of my clinicals as a nursing student at the hospital 5 blocks from where I live, and then in my first nursing job, worked 1.5 years at a pediatric hospital 1 mile from where I live. I never once had a patient that I knew, or whose parents I knew. The closest I came to this was seeing a friend in the hospital cafeteria -- she was there for an MD appointment, and I was taking a break from my peds clinical. Anyway, I had already decided that if I was assigned to someone I knew, I would ask for the assignment to be switched. This included people I like as well as dislike -- although I feel capable of giving the same level of care, I would not want there to be even an appearance of me being influenced one way or another by a personal relationship with a patient or their parents.

Quote from One2gofstWhat would you do if you were a server and someone you didn't like came in to have dinner? What if you were a mechanic and someone you didn't like brought their car in? What if you were a teacher and someone you didn't like was in your class?

I was working in a psych hospital many many years ago. Imagine my surprise when I saw this new female psych patient. I recognized this woman who had stolen my boyfriend from high school so many years ago!!!!! I immediately felt anger when I recognized her. I do not believe that she recognized me. Anyway, I was upset but was able to calm myself down. I was able to treat her kindly and with respect.

Quote from dmoney8827I don't know. Because frankly, I just ignore people that I don't like completely... and if we happen to be in a situaiton where I HAVE to interact with them, I try to do so as little as possible. I'm not gonna pretend to like someone when I do not. You'll know if I like you or not based off how I interact with you.

You will ALWAYS come across... patients you don't like, families you don't like, managers you don't like, interdisciplinary team members you don't like, colleagues you don't like.We are professionals. Never lose sight of that. Suck it up, and do your job.