Damn I hate drug reps who come to our centers. RANT TIME

[Epoman]

Damn it, I really think it's dumb to have drug reps come to our center, like they really care about us. They are just there to get us to want to use their drug, to ask the doctor if it's OK to try it. Like today these two reps come to our center with special "RENAL" diet cakes WTF? If you want to make us happy by bringing us cake give us high phosphorus cakes. You can stick your "renal" cakes right next to the URINAL cakes in the bathrooms as far as I'm concerned.

Why don't dialysis drug companies have dialysis patients working for them (Those who are able) I would respect the reps more since they would be actual people who have used the drug, not just some peddler with a stupid grin.

The reps I have seen are all up beat and happy it makes me sick. They bring balloons and streamers like we are children I guess they think they are spreading cheer but all they do is make me see what I am missing. I wish I was a productive member of the workforce like they are but I am not I am just another patient sitting in a chair having drug reps offer me "renal diet" cakes. 

[LifeOnHold]

"And here is a renal knuckle sandwich for YOU!"   

[Rerun]

I haven't seen any in the unit yet, but am damn sick of them cutting in on me at a Doctor visit.  Like you say they are all bright and happy...never sick a day in their life and bribe the Doctors to try their drugs.  They bring him food and toys and pens and sports tickets.  Why don't they give that stuff to me..... I'm the one buying the drugs!  Oh, yeah, they all look like Barbie or Ken!  Darla~

[Epoman]

I haven't seen any in the unit yet, but am damn sick of them cutting in on me at a Doctor visit.  Like you say they are all bright and happy...never sick a day in their life and bribe the Doctors to try their drugs.  They bring him food and toys and pens and sports tickets.  Why don't they give that stuff to me..... I'm the one buying the drugs!  Oh, yeah, they all look like Barbie or Ken!  Darla~

It's true the doctors get "kickbacks" to push the drugs on to us. How about taking my ass to lunch or giving me sport tickets etc. etc. I can't stand it. Oh and yeah most of them are beautiful people, but of course the drug companies are not dumb they hire big breasted blonds to see the male doctors and they hire the 6ft tall studs for the female doctors. I really hate every aspect of the medical field. It's just wrong to get rich off of peoples illnesses.

Oh and you know what! most of the reps don't even bother to say HI! to us and we are the freakin' reason they are at the center in the first place. Don't get me wrong I don't want them to say hi to me in fact I usually give them a dirty look. One time a rep was passing out pens to the techs and when they came to give my tech a pen I said "HEY what about my pen, I will be the one taking the drug" The rep said "oh you don't need a pen." OMGWTF???

[LifeOnHold]

I would have said, "Hey, I guess i don't need your drug, either!"   How rude can you get?

[Wizard]

yes they bribe the doctors they cut in front of me when i am waiting at the doctors office too.  ever notice most of them look like a hot piece of ass or a stewardess? never a man in his 40's or woman going through menopause.  And never go to a doctors office around Christmas time.  Jesus and Mother Mary these people are out in droves, with their suitcases it looks like i made a wrong turn and wound up at O'Hare. Next time i'm going to ask one of these L'Oreal model wannabees "what's in the bag"? Can I have some?"

[LifeOnHold]

Our unit has the Ken Doll reps... I guess they struck out with the Barbie Doll reps as our unit is almost entirely female!


I love to stare at them as they stand at the reception window in the waiting room-- they blush and get all nervous and look anywhere but back at me.  I guess looking at the real 'result' of their meds is too much for them.

[Epoman]

yes they bribe the doctors they cut in front of me when i am waiting at the doctors office too.  ever notice most of them look like a hot piece of ass or a stewardess? never a man in his 40's or woman going through menopause.  And never go to a doctors office around Christmas time.  Jesus and Mother Mary these people are out in droves, with their suitcases it looks like i made a wrong turn and wound up at O'Hare. Next time i'm going to ask one of these L'Oreal model wannabees "what's in the bag"? Can I have some?"

 

[Iowagirl]

The pigeon hole of seeing us as just "patients" by staff and doc's has alway made me furious!  Because that attitude can start i infect us.  I am a PERSON who happens to have to dialize.  But I have to be ever big and ugly to keep that in my minds eye as well as the boneheads at my unit.  I am Carroll- I am sooo much more than that f@##ing chair.  And so are all of us!

[BlackJack]

At the center, you are a patient and it has to be that way.  As a nurse, the minute you guys start to become my friends, my buddies, someone I worry about when I'm off the clock.......I'm done.   You're not worried about those nurses and techs as people, why is the opposite necessary?  Because they are being paid?  Our job is to give you the best and most effective dialysis possible within the constraints of the system, period.  Some of us are better than others.  The drug reps are productive members of society, working for a living, and trying to put food on their table.  It's legal and no one elses approval is necessary.  Perks and tickets have been part of the sales game for as long as there has been salesmen.

[Epoman]

At the center, you are a patient and it has to be that way.  As a nurse, the minute you guys start to become my friends, my buddies, someone I worry about when I'm off the clock.......I'm done.   You're not worried about those nurses and techs as people, why is the opposite necessary?  Because they are being paid?  Our job is to give you the best and most effective dialysis possible within the constraints of the system, period.  Some of us are better than others.  The drug reps are productive members of society, working for a living, and trying to put food on their table.  It's legal and no one elses approval is necessary.  Perks and tickets have been part of the sales game for as long as there has been salesmen.

Hey "Blackjack" glad to see you came back You are right, you're there to do a job not be our friend. However I do care about most of the techs and nurses as people and I truly like some of them. Some of them share their problems with me or have a question about something other than dialysis that I gladly answer. I believe in order to get respect you need to give/earn it. Maybe the reason I get along good with the workers at my center is because I am pretty much the same age as most of them and we have things in common.

About the drug reps, yes you are right they are just doing their job and yes perks is a big part of all sales jobs. I know I was in sales  but I can still dislike them  Is it part jealously? yeah maybe.  I see them doing what I miss...........being a productive member of society.

I think what "Iowagirl" is trying to point out is that we are regular people just like you except we have to have our blood cleaned by a machine. At first some techs and/or nurses I meet are shocked to realize all the places I go, the things I do and my knowledge about different subjects. They had to remember that my life just doesn't consist of dialysis. 

Also I really am glad you are here to show us the "other" side of the coin. I hope you continue to post and help rile things up. 

[BlackJack]

Excellent points Epoman.  Again, the voice of reason.  Absolutely, I do have a difficult time imagining the patients doing anything else besides sitting in those chairs.  Obviously, I didn't consider that perspective.  It's a protective mechanism to think as patients as "chairs".  I know you are painfully aware that any longtime chronic dialysis nurse or patient has seen the chairs turn over many times throughout a career. 
BTW, I read Iowagirls story a few weeks back and was quite fascinated and moved by the part about her mother doing the treatments in the beginning.  Not to blow smoke up anyones ass, but I am continually amazed by the courage of patients.  Thanks. 

[Epoman]

Excellent points Epoman.  Again, the voice of reason.  Absolutely, I do have a difficult time imagining the patients doing anything else besides sitting in those chairs.  Obviously, I didn't consider that perspective.  It's a protective mechanism to think as patients as "chairs".  I know you are painfully aware that any longtime chronic dialysis nurse or patient has seen the chairs turn over many times throughout a career. 
BTW, I read Iowagirls story a few weeks back and was quite fascinated and moved by the part about her mother doing the treatments in the beginning.  Not to blow smoke up anyones ass, but I am continually amazed by the courage of patients.  Thanks. 

I too have seen many chairs become empty and someone else come and fill the void. I always enjoy it when a patient "codes" in the chair right next to mine. it does wonders for my psyche. Yes I understand completely about the "protective mechanism" in your situation, such as a nurse would have in say a "neonatal" position. It is best for you to not get close and become friends with patients. I'm sure "Iowagirl" will appreciate your comment about courage, I know I do.

[Rerun]

I'm sorry, but I think it is heartless to not  know your patients.  My god, it is not like an outpatient surgery where you are here today and gone by noon.  People dialyze for years.   I would hope to become very close to my nurse and tech.  Like family.  To love and lose is better than to never have loved at all.  If I was a nurse I would try and get to know my patients very well so that I could better understand their dialysis procedure and know when they are really having a bad time of it so I could help them.  I know there are the mental cases where I would even stay away from.  But, I don't know why we are keeping them alive in the first place.  Oh, yah, Medicare Payments.   

[Iowagirl]

Black Jack-
I understand the need to protect yourself from the emotional rigors of your job.  I know there are only 2 ways out of dialysis- death or transplant.I also realize the folks at my unit are there to do a job and put food on the table for their families.  But I have been at this paticular unit 16 years.  And have staff members who are almost as close as family to me. Some of us have grown up together in this journey.  I have seen their children grow up, I have listened to them during relationship problems, been to some weddings and graduations, and loss of friends and family.  As they have me I have done my fair share of leaning on them in hard times.... God knows our angels come in surprising ways and packages.  And with that relationship and mutal caring and trust they are able to give the best most knowledgible care.  And as a side bar there are some of the staff I do worry about at home.  Its the ones who seem to refuse to see that I am a person whose life does not revolve around dialysis that set me off.... Its kinda a hot botton with me.... Believe me it happens in real life too lots of time is spent making people see I'm not just this sick poor thing to be pittied- Hot button!

[Epoman]

I'm sorry, but I think it is heartless to not  know your patients.  My god, it is not like an outpatient surgery where you are here today and gone by noon.  People dialyze for years.   I would hope to become very close to my nurse and tech.  Like family.  To love and lose is better than to never have loved at all.  If I was a nurse I would try and get to know my patients very well so that I could better understand their dialysis procedure and know when they are really having a bad time of it so I could help them.  I know there are the mental cases where I would even stay away from.  But, I don't know why we are keeping them alive in the first place.  Oh, yah, Medicare Payments.   

I think "blackjack" gets to know his patients but not take it to a personal level, for his own mental well being. It's a reality in his career he will see many people die and I mean MANY. But every tech or nurse is different. For example at my center I get along great with some of the workers and others it's just "hi" and "bye" but then again I am anti-social  but once I get to know someone we get along great. We need to look at the other side of the situation. In fact that is why I don't talk to most patients, because I don't want to make friends with someone then have to go to their funeral.