Can you remember the last time when someone didn't say thank you or acknowledge something you had done for them? How did it make you feel? I'm not turning this into a blame fest or complain page, but one of our modern vices is the fact that we simply forget to say thanks. If you don't believe me there are now books out teaching us on modern etiquette and how to have good manners. How long is too long before you say thanks for a gift for example? Should you send a card, an sms or call? Is it not so much the medium but the thought? One of the things I find really irritating and up there in the rude pile is people who don't rsvp to an event but then turn up expecting to be catered for. How do you rate in modern manners? And what do you find totally unacceptable in today's busy world?

Great points Bella!
While we were touring the USA last year we picked up a book on "Manners and Civility" by George Washington. It was a great book that outlined just how important the forms of manners were for a time of great tension around the American civil war and they should be even more important now. We reminds me....I think I'd better have another read of the book

Something I have had to learn to handle effectively is rude
children, teenagers and parents on the ward. Being a nurse
certainly has its tough points. You would not believe how
many young children (4 & 5 years old) have mouths like
suers and are not diciplined, they rule the roost. I find
this really difficult to understand how kids are allowed to
get away with this behaviour. Sometimes dealing with other
medical staff is challenging too and they can be very rude
and think nothing of it. I am far from perfect but I treat
people with respect and how I would like to be treated, even
if they are horrible back and there is a nurses prayer that
has in it about overcoming every temporal weakness, believe
me that gets prayed before every shift.

Rubyleeangel.

How do you deal with the young kids?

We deal with them the best we can. There are many ways to
engage a difficult child in order to treat them medically.
We use play and Skipper our puppet. The problem comes when
the child plays on the parent and knows he/she can get away
with certain behaviours, this is where, when appropriate, we
intervene with some sound strategies to educate the parents
as to what is happening between them and their child. Its a
re-education process. Sometimes there is nothing you can do
because the family is unreceptive to sound strategy, all you
can do is your best. Sometimes we have to ask parents to
leave in order for the child to be receptive and co-operative.
Every situation is different, but I tell you , we encounter
all types of situations and have to find the best way to
deal with each one individually.

Rubyleeangel.

I'm certainly glad that there are nurses like you Ruby