Patient Care Problem when Volunteering

[OttawaPremed88]

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So I do patient care at the hospital I volunteer at. Basically, I just try to talk to them, get them water, juice, etc. just try to be friendly in general. Today I entered a room where there were two patients. One was an older gentleman (65-70? Maybe older?) and one was a guy who seemed in his mid-20s. I first entered and introduced myself to the first bed, that of the young man's. He assured me he didn't need anything, and told me the other bed wasn't worth going to. He then told me that the person beside him was whacked out, would eat his own feces, etc. He said "you can look at him if you want". It was my duty to help these patients, and I want to help them, so I'm going to look and see what this older gentleman wants/needs, regardless of position or how they look. I look, and I see an older gentleman that I've seen from my time before at this same floor of the hospital. The young man in the other bed tells me he probably needs his nurse right now, and the older gentleman nods his head to agree as I look over at him. So, I leave and I call his nurse.

I have two issues. First, I really don't like the younger gentleman insulting the older gentleman like that. While the older man had problems with verbal communication, I don't doubt he understands most everything. I really wanted to tell this young kid to be respectful, but I'm just a lowly volunteer, and it wasn't my place to come into conflicts with the patients I'm there to help.

Second, the young man did tell me the older gentleman needed a nurse, and without him, I wouldn't have been able to know to call the older gentleman's nurse.

What should I have done? I felt bad, because I should have given this kid a piece of my mind, but should I have done it at the expense of putting my volunteering position in jeopardy? This hospital I work at is awesome, definitely the nicest people and the best volunteer staff there to aid me, and they are very flexible with everything, I don't want to put that at jeopardy. The young man in the end did help me aid the older gentleman. At the same time, I should have told this guy to lay off or ease up. A patient does not deserve to be embarrassed like that in front of anyone. What do you guys think? What would you have done?

 

[Handy388]

you are not there to judge the patients, you are there to help them.

 

[OttawaPremed88]

you are not there to judge the patients, you are there to help them.

Of course, and that's why I didn't say anything. I just don't think it's fair for a patient to embarrass another patient with their medical problems in front of me.

 

[ksmi117]

Of course, and that's why I didn't say anything. I just don't think it's fair for a patient to embarrass another patient with their medical problems in front of me.

Of course it's not fair, but it's not your place to say something to him. If you are really worried, mention the incident to a nurse or something. I'm sure they see this kind of stuff all the time and would know the best plan of action.

 

[dr zaius]

Of course it's not fair, but it's not your place to say something to him. If you are really worried, mention the incident to a nurse or something. I'm sure they see this kind of stuff all the time and would know the best plan of action.

I couldn't agree more. I volunteer at a hospital that deals primarily with the poorer population of the community, so subsequently we get a lot of uneducated people who do not know how to treat others with respect. I generally bite my lip and tell a nurse if it gets too bad.

 

[bellakk]

When stuff like that happens, dont be afraid to inform the nurse. I'm a CNA (so basically I get paid to do the same stuff!) and if we have patients that dont get along, I always tell the nurse and after the nurse gets a couple complaints from dif staff members, they usually try to switch patients rooms.

Even a nurse wouldnt really even be able to "tell off" a patient, although if it happens again, you could jokingly say "be nice" if you really wanted to. Sometimes people need reminding that just because someone can't talk doesnt mean their deaf.
I would just make sure to thank the young guy (perhaps thank him more than once) for letting you know the older gentlemen needed a nurse (positive reinforcement vs. negative reinforcement). Being sick sometimes brings out unfortunate traits in people and even the sweetest of people would probably get tired of sharing a room with someone who is senile after a couple days.

And dont think of yourself as a "lowly volunteer". You may not be saving lives right and left, but just you being there brought a couple smiles to faces that normally would have been frowning all day.