Do you tip nurses?

hilsbils58551

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Latest post on 16 August 2012 - 22:50

Ive recently spent a lot of time in and out of doctors and clinics and when my Dh first came with me, he tried to tip the nurse. I stopped him as I was quite embarrassed, but he said that in his country the staff would pretty much ignore any patient who didn't tip them regularly and this even extends to the doctors sometimes. It would never ever occur to me and yes, the nurses was pretty fantastic and friendly so I guess they deserved it.

Years ago a good friend of mine had moved to Rome and soon after got quite sick. She ended up in hospital and found the care very neglectful and couldnt work out why she wasnt getting the help she wanted. Of course she got her basic care, but if she rang the bell for water or extra pain relief she noticed it took ages to arrive. Ditto help bathing etc. It was only when an Italian friend visited her and explained that they were expecting tips for 'extra' help did she work out what was going on.

Anyone feel the need to tip nurses here in UAE? Do they accept the tips?

jesspm51562

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Latest post on 23 September 2012 - 12:59

Well Said Genie!

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Genie

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Latest post on 23 September 2012 - 12:52

I know I commented on this before but I will say it again - nurses do not expect and are not allowed to receive tips or any personal gifts. I know that many Emirati families traditionally give tips to midwives who deliver their babies but all hospitals here, as in the rest of the world, strictly forbid the staff to accept them. If pressed by the family, in order not to offend they are supposed to accept but then give the money to hospital admin. In a government hospital I worked at here this happended on the labour ward; sadly the vast majority of the midwives were from a country, previously mentioned on this thread, where this practice is rife and they kept the money. To my mind and the vast majority of nurses they just demean themselves and the whole profession by this behavior. Low salary is no excuse - everyone knows before they enter the profession that it involves long hours and relatively low pay. In the mid 80's I worked in central London in a very demanding job but had no disposable income after paying rent and bills but there is no way I would use that as an excuse for expecting or accepting a tip. tiktok 34 - you may speak for your friend but please do not presume to speak for nurses as a whole. I would tell her that if she expects and appreciates a tip she is in the wrong profession - she should go and work as a waitress or something similar. Rant over! DubaiCat - my blood pressure - and no doubt that of all professional nurses - is even higher than yours on this subject! edited by Genie on 23/09/2012 <em>edited by Genie on 23/09/2012</em>

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jesspm51562

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Latest post on 23 September 2012 - 12:39

Jeez, that's riled me so much I might need to go get my blood pressure checked. I wonder if I slip the nurse a fifty she might check my temperature for free. :)

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DubaiCat

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Latest post on 23 September 2012 - 12:30

I've been here 11 years and been in and out of various clinics and hospitals, in-patient and out-patient, and I have never once seen a nurse accept a tip. I'd be gobsmacked if I did! And as for a head midwife telling patients to tip to get better service... I'd be after having her fired. You simply cannot expect patients to cough up to be looked after. That's why they're at a clinic or a hospital, for heaven's sake, and it's not like they can bring you an extra croissant at breakfast to show they're doing a great job! Jeez, that's riled me so much I might need to go get my blood pressure checked. I wonder if I slip the nurse a fifty she might check my temperature for free.

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Beebers

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EW MASTER

Latest post on 23 September 2012 - 12:16

Make sure it is not less than 50 or 100 dhs?? Sounds like there is certainly an expectation! I am still slightly floored by this. Lots of people work in thankless industries, work hard, etc. Does everyone who works hard deserve a tip if their salary is not "high?" How about firefighters in the USA. One of the most dangerous jobs, and they save lives everyday. They deal with rescuing and reviving people. Yet you will never hear someone suggesting they be tipped and they would never accept that. Must be relegated to this part of the world.

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jesspm51562

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Latest post on 23 September 2012 - 11:12

Haven't we already ben told that it is illegal for medical staff to accept tips, leaving aside the moral question.

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tiktok3464985

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 September 2012 - 11:10

My friend is a nurse and a tip is appreciated but not expected, since they work so hard and their salaries are not as high as they should be. It really depends on the situation

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jesspm51562

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Latest post on 23 September 2012 - 09:34

Wow! I'm shocked by this! I worked in the service industry (waitress/bar/private clubs) for ten years and only expected a tip when I deserved it. By and large this would work out, but I've found the more money someone appears to have, the less they will give you (as they aren't as wealthy as they are making out to their party). I have also been in and out of hospitals all my life, being particularly accident prone but would never tip medical staff. As it's been pointed out below, it is a vocation, I would hate to think that I would be given better care should money exchange hands! Scary really. Anyway, as has already been pointed out, if I have been especially looked after I would always write a thank you, or make a point of writing to the hospital/clinic in question to commend the people who looked after me. Also, when I was younger, my parents used to always bring in gifts on discharge day, chocolates, wine, that kind of thing. Since after hours, the nurses and doctors are the real ones that lend the emotional support to children staying in over night and you can't thank someone enough for that.

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