5 Responses to “Nurses And Other Hospital Staff: How Do You Handle People Crying?”

1. danner Says:
   July 14th, 2009 at 10:06 pm

   you just harden yourself. Not that you dont care but you just say im sorry and do whatever your job is at the moment with that patient and then you leave. Its not our job to ask why. Youll be miserable if youask every patient their problems. You have to basically suck it up and move on. I dont like to see them cry but I just do what i can to make their health bettr and rest easy in the fact that I help.

2. Vera Gabriele Says:
   July 15th, 2009 at 2:25 am

   Well first of all I would do the obvious.. sit them down.. keep at eye level with them when speaking to them and ask them ”what’s wrong, you are crying .. what happened… Can I help.. will you tell me what happened and maybe together we can find a solution.. ? Most of the time they will calm down.. and it shows you have empathy and you have compassion and you care about their wellbeing.. most of the time they will tell you and if it’s a simple matter, you can come up with alternative suggestions for them.. what might be a good solution and if something realy bad happend such as.. a nurse was verbally abusive.. which can happen or the son or daughter-in-law came to visit and they used emotional abuse.. then you need to report this to the superior.. the RN in charge. the Registered Nurse i would think… she has to know about a serious reason for someone crying.. and write a report…..and deal with the situation as she sees fit.. it has to be reported to her if it is a matter of verbal, physical abuse or neglect by hospital staff..but if she just feels lonely and says she feels sad that her daughter has not yet visited today.. you can say.. she is probably working Mr or Mrs. S.. I am sure she will come to see you as soon as she has the time.. that will reassure her…
   I totally disagree with Danner.. her attitude sucks .. someone a nurse… has to care and ask a person when they are weeping it could be serious.. she is a shame to the medical profession if she is a nurse.. there are the RN’s and the normal nurses.. one of the regular nurses is obliged to find out what is wrong when someone is in obvious distress.

3. barbara Says:
   July 15th, 2009 at 6:13 am

   I find it most helpful to ask if they would like to talk. Clergy is available at all times in many facilities. Sometimes just a sympathetic ear is enough.
   At the risk of sounding shallow, even if it is a patient and family I have become fond of their sorrow doesn’t necessarily make me sad. I feel bad for them, but it’s not my dad or grandmother that’s ill. I have my own worries and troubles, I can’t take on the whole world’s.
   But I can be there to listen, to get any kind of help they need or even for a hug if that will help.

4. fashion g Says:
   July 15th, 2009 at 7:24 am

   first find why they cry and you need solve out problem..in hospital there’s always upset people around. Some might be very hard to comfort them but at least we try. We be getting upset more or less cause we are human but don’t cry along haha…we need to cheer them, encourage them…this is the least we can do…

5. ? Says:
   July 15th, 2009 at 2:04 pm

   pass the buck… thats what social workers and counsellors are 4…

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