Dealing with people's negative comments about nurses.

1 When I tell people that I am a nurse or because some people know I'm a nurse, why do they feel it is ok to launch
into a tirade about their or their parents/neighbor's/friends/friend of a friends negative experience with a nurse?
While I can understand the need to vent, all the negative comments are becoming, honestly tiresome and it puts
me in an akward position. I don't know the nurse personally they are complaining about. I don't know the policies
of the hospital they are complaining about.And I certainly wasn't there in person when the problem occured.
The last time this happened, I had had a week from hell at work. I finally snapped and lost my temper and launched into my own tirade about stupid patients and families. How do other nurses handle this problem?
I know poor nursing care exists but for crying out loud I can't control other people's actions. Should I just smile and
say,"I'm sorry you had a bad experience, but you really need to complain to the nurse involved or their immediate
supervisor because complaining to me will get you nowhere"?
Tell them "That reminds me of a story of this horrible experience......." and then fill in a story about a bad experience with someone from their profession. They will get the hint.

I just appear to be deep in thought and say, "Hey, I think that was me." It really doesn't help the situation, but it sure is fun.

Quote from Orange TreeI just appear to be deep in thought and say, "Hey, I think that was me." It really doesn't help the situation, but it sure is fun.

Quote from Orange TreeI just appear to be deep in thought and say, "Hey, I think that was me." It really doesn't help the situation, but it sure is fun.

I once had a new neighbor who was a city bus driver complain about everything. When she found out I was a nurse, she launched into this tirade at the school bus stop. Her mom had been in the hospital and had a difficult IV start. My neighbor told me how this 'stupid nurse' couldn't do something so simple as an IV. Maybe I had PMS that day, but it didn't sit well. I didn't like this new neighbor anyway, so figured I had nothing to lose, lol. I told her that when she could drive a city bus blindfolded in and out a tunnel unscathed, then she could *itch about a 'stupid nurse' not being able to start an IV because it's a blind poke into a vein. Needless to say she never spoke to me again.

Quote from EJMTell them "That reminds me of a story of this horrible experience......." and then fill in a story about a bad experience with someone from their profession. They will get the hint.

I once walked into the ER waiting room where a guy waiting was mouthing off to no one in particular. Upon seeing me he said "and everyone knows the male nurses here are all homo's and perverts" to which I replied "you're right, and it's so nice of you to come here to see us." Shut him up, and I think most of the others waiting were happier without his verbal poison.

Though the other responses sound like a heck of a lot of fun and are exceedingly cathartic, the poster's response sounds good.

Quote from JeneraterRNThough the other responses sound like a heck of a lot of fun and are exceedingly cathartic, the poster's response sounds good.

Kinda sounds like how "Black" people feel when we get bunched together.. for the actions of a few...

It's especially awkward when it's family. My father launched into a rant at our family gathering on Christmas day. He had gone to the ED for dental pain, and didn't like the way he had been treated, and was now ranting about it in a room full of people, including me, who he knows works in the same ED. I just clammed up and went into the other room, because I didn't want to make things any worse.

Quote from ledzepfanOh Orange Tree, you wicked, wicked nurse. I love it!