the more i think about this the more p!ssed i get (vent)

balihaigirl

I took L to the pediatrican on Friday because he wasn't feeling well and i was worried he might have chicken pox (his sitter just found out she has shingles and he had a bunch of bumps -- fortunately it was something else and not chic pox...). anyway, while in the room, the nurse came in to put the thermometer under his armpit to read his temp.  L was really scared and started to cry and the nurse started to fake cry and was making fun of him.  i ignored her.  anyway, L got really upset by her making fun of him so he reached out to hit her and she grabbed his hand and started fake hitting him back.  i kind of just stood there shocked and really just tried to comfort L because hello, he wasn't feeling well and i just didn't know how to respond to this b*** of a nurse.

anyway, his dr wasn't there (or i may have said something) and i can't say i have good things to say about the dr who saw him as well.  so on my way home, the more i thought about what had happened, the more pissed i have gotten.

do you think i should call to complain?  and if so, who should i call?  should i call L's pediatrician?  

i'm so angry about this, i almost feel like switching dr offices.  

thanks for letting me vent.

thethomps

I would definitely complain to your son's pedi.  Totally not acceptable behavior.  I would think a nurse in a pediatrician's office would understand that kids freak out about being at the doctor.  Her behavior would really chap my hide, too.  

rssnlvr

OMG, I am appalled. Totally unacceptable behavior. I would be calling to complain in a heart beat and unless you are in LOVE with your pedi, I would absolutely switch.

2H2L

thethomps:

I would definitely complain to your son's pedi.  Totally not acceptable behavior.  I would think a nurse in a pediatrician's office would understand that kids freak out about being at the doctor.  Her behavior would really chap my hide, too.  

Ditto

libbyann

Um, YES. That is completely unacceptable. A nurse of any kind, but especially one that works with kids, should have more compassion than that. I'd probably make a big stink about it and seriously consider changing pediatrician offices.

FeistyFille

Wow.  Is she the regular nurse?  You'd think someone who works in a pedi office would be more compassionate and less of an asshat.  I don't know of many parents who would be okay with a nurse treating their LOs like that.  I'd def complain.  At the very least, the pedi needs to let her know how upsetting this is to parents and the poor kiddos and that it's not ok.  Boo. 

Abrooks

FeistyFille:

Wow.  Is she the regular nurse?  You'd think someone who works in a pedi office would be more compassionate and less of an asshat.  I don't know of many parents who would be okay with a nurse treating their LOs like that.  I'd def complain.  At the very least, the pedi needs to let her know how upsetting this is to parents and the poor kiddos and that it's not ok.  Boo. 

 

That's what I was thinking.  Surely a regular pedi nurse would be accustomed to dealing with sick kids.  That is not only inappropriate but also very immature.  I'd complain.   

balihaigirl

FeistyFille:

Wow.  Is she the regular nurse?  You'd think someone who works in a pedi office would be more compassionate and less of an asshat.  I don't know of many parents who would be okay with a nurse treating their LOs like that.  I'd def complain.  At the very least, the pedi needs to let her know how upsetting this is to parents and the poor kiddos and that it's not ok.  Boo. 

i had never seen her before ... but i also don't usually take L to his appts (it's usually my DH).  my DH assures me that the nurses he's been in contact with have never been like this so i don't know if she was filling in for someone or maybe it's because i was there in the afternoon (as opposed to the mornings when DH usually takes L).  needless to say, i've never been entirely impressed with the clinic (i just liked the convenience of it and their late hours/weekends which was great for my schedule) so i'm pretty sure i'll be switching pedis.

thanks for the advice.  i honestly can't believe that a pedi's nurse would treat a two-year-old like that either.  

fjaril

does your pedi have his own nurse? our office was like that, so i'd only see a different set of nurses if i saw a different doctor.

If she isn't likely to be see by you again, I probably wouldn't switch, but you bet your booty i'd call and complain at her. 

 

Taytee

I would complain and expect specific action to be taken. I would not give up an awesome Pedi because of a bad experience with a nurse. Not all nurses are naturally good with kids or may not know better. That may be how they interact with their own children, who knows. But it's highly inappropriate and needs to be addressed in some fashion. Now for a "so so" pedi, it may be the last straw. I'm pretty sure my DH doesn't even know our kids pediatricians name OR location BTW!!

Taytee

PS- who the hell still uses an armpit temp anymore except maybe a school nurse or daycare!?! No medical professional should use it in any diagnostic capacity!

balihaigirl

Taytee:

PS- who the hell still uses an armpit temp anymore except maybe a school nurse or daycare!?! No medical professional should use it in any diagnostic capacity!

i was wondering this too.  i'm definitely done with this office.  i just called to complain to the head nurse & she said she'd talk to the nurse in question about it.  and i'm going to be switching to a new pedi.  i've always just been "okay" with our pedi and now i pretty much loathe the entire office.

ditzydi_2000

I'd totally be angry if I were you.  She's an adult that works with many children and you would think she would know that's not the way to get a child to open up or cooperate.  I think I would have made a snide comment about who the child was in the room because her taunting him was not appropriate and just makes her look immature.  If she feels the need to taunt her patients then she is in the wrong field of work and needs to re-evaluate her career path.  I'd definitely call your pedi's office and complain about her.

BubbleToes

balihaigirl:

Taytee:

PS- who the hell still uses an armpit temp anymore except maybe a school nurse or daycare!?! No medical professional should use it in any diagnostic capacity!

i was wondering this too.  i'm definitely done with this office.  i just called to complain to the head nurse & she said she'd talk to the nurse in question about it.  and i'm going to be switching to a new pedi.  i've always just been "okay" with our pedi and now i pretty much loathe the entire office.

Eek! I'm pretty sure we go to the same office (c@pit@l ped, right?). Do you mind sharing which doctor/nurse you saw? You can email if you'd rather - cnapierk at aol. We're pretty blah about them recently. Thanks!

balihaigirl

bubbletoes, yep it's the same place.  

 

mlf625

That is RIDICULOUS.  I saw your post saying you're going to leave.  When you do so, I'd absolutely write a letter to your pediatrician explaining what happened today (naming names).  IMO, she should lose her job for behaving that way toward a pediatric patient.

dNoodle

mlf625:

That is RIDICULOUS.  I saw your post saying you're going to leave.  When you do so, I'd absolutely write a letter to your pediatrician explaining what happened today (naming names).  IMO, she should lose her job for behaving that way toward a pediatric patient.

I agree with you totally. Patients of any age should be treated with compassion and respect, especially a sick little guy who honestly doesn't really even understand what's happening. She should, at the very least, be suspended without pay. Who makes fun of a sick baby??