Last Name: Ratched
Dear Aunt Bossy,
My sister is in the hospital. She is in the ICU and will be for a while. Here is my problem. Most of the nurses and other people are wonderful, caring, and sweet. Unfortunately, there is one nurse who is a real rhymes with witch.
Her desk is right outside my sister’s door and she has a horrible voice that carries, and she also speaks very loudly. Today, I got up and shut the door. Two seconds later, she came over and opened it and told me it had to stay open. Then she stood RIGHT outside the door and talked to two people for at least fifteen minutes. I asked her to show me how to turn the lights down because I didn’t want to switch anything off that needed to be on. Her answer was, “We are about to come in there to do some things.” I asked her to please just turn the light down when she left. She didn’t.
Today when I came in to the ICU, she was walking into my sister’s room. She saw me and without a word or smile, closed the door practically in my face. There was some annoying music playing in my sister’s room and I couldn’t find its source. I asked the nurse about it, and she told me it was “probably coming from the bed.” She went on to say that she didn’t know how to work that sound system. I suggested that perhaps she could find someone who could.
I don’t want to complain because I don’t want it to affect how she treats my sis. What should I do?
Jackie
Dear Jackie,
Nurses, especially in the ICU, work very, very hard under very stressful conditions. That being said, there is no excuse for this woman’s behavior, especially if it is ongoing and not the result of a bad day. (Unforgiveable, but understandable.)
My oldest and best friend is a Nurse Practitioner. She spent 15 years in the emergency room and now works at an urgent care clinic. She hates people. It doesn’t show when she is at work. That’s what a professional does.
I would be sure to fill out an evaluation form AFTER your sister is out of the hospital. Be sure to get the names of all the people who helped, from the reception desk, to the cleaning people, as well as the other nurses and technicians, so you can rave about how fabulous they are.
When it comes to your unpleasant nurse, don’t go crazy, but suggest that her bedside manner needs a touch up. You don’t have to go into detail, but might want to say she doesn’t seem to enjoy her job and gets annoyed easily by the patients and their visitors. Hospitals take these things very seriously. In fact, you may be doing her a favor with the feedback. She might reassess herself, or decide the job is not for her. Feedback is a gift.
I hope your sister is in fine fettle now.
Best, Aunt Bossy
No Sense of Fashion
Dear Aunt Bossy,
I am nice looking, but am unable to figure out how to dress to make the most of it. I feel like I always look dowdy, especially compared to other girls my age. I’m in my early twenties. I love the sort of thrown together casual style I see, but can’t seem to get it right.
Any suggestions?
Diana
Dear Diana,
We each have our talents, and, luckily, where we are not talented, we can find professionals. Here is what you can do to look as together as you appear to be.
If you like to shop, go local, and get advice in the stores. Find the store where you think you might find the look you need and ask for help.
If you don’t like to shop, there are some great online services, like “Stitch” where you can complete a questionnaire about yourself and your goals and receive a box of clothing chosen just for you. Everything can be easily returned, and they have a sophisticated setup so the computer learns your taste and adjusts its choices to please you. You get to name your price range, too. They accessorize, and tell you what goes with what.
Fashion can be fun. Once you “get” the looks you like, you might find yourself able to choose them in person at our fine local stores, but, in the meantime, you truly have nothing to lose by joining an online fashion service.
Good luck.
P.S. Don’t wear those short shorts, no matter how good your legs. They either look dreadful or like an advertisement for attention you don’t need. Trust me.
