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Do you tip nurses?

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2012 - 01:10
Never heard of tipping nurses, I never heard of that in American hospitals, anyway. But waitresses/waiters? In the US the hourly rate is around $2/hour. They survive on tips! Is it not the same here? I couldn't imagine not tipping in a restaurant....in any country, really. Restaurants in the US add the service charge to the bill so you have to pay whether the service you received was rubbish or excellent...we found it really annoying to be honest...
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 21:46
Minimum wage doesn't apply to servers/bartenders. I worked at a steakhouse when I was 15 and everyone from hosts to bartenders were making 2.15 + tips. I was a hostess and made about $30-$50 a shift in tips. We shared tips and split them, some servers keep all their own tips. It just depends. I have no clue what the minimum wage is currently. When I was a teenager it was around $5, I think. kiwi, it is nice to know that somewhere, for some reason, some people love Americans lol :) I know for a fact that the standard current pay for waitresses in the USA is about $2 an hour. Bartenders make about $3 an hour. They rely solely on tips. Their paycheck is very small because most of it is taken out for taxes. The same goes for pizza delivery guys who are expected to supply their own car and gas. Waitresses in the USA also have to pay taxes on their tips, which is about 10% of the revenue on their tables per day. The minimum wage in the USA varies by state but is usually somewhere around $8 an hour. <em>edited by AnonDubai on 17/08/2012</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 21:26
Minimum wage doesn't apply to servers/bartenders. I worked at a steakhouse when I was 15 and everyone from hosts to bartenders were making 2.15 + tips. I was a hostess and made about $30-$50 a shift in tips. We shared tips and split them, some servers keep all their own tips. It just depends. I have no clue what the minimum wage is currently. When I was a teenager it was around $5, I think. kiwi, it is nice to know that somewhere, for some reason, some people love Americans lol :) Genuinely curious - is a server/waitress not service staff? If not who on earth are service staff?!
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 21:10
Minimum wage doesn't apply to servers/bartenders. I worked at a steakhouse when I was 15 and everyone from hosts to bartenders were making 2.15 + tips. I was a hostess and made about $30-$50 a shift in tips. We shared tips and split them, some servers keep all their own tips. It just depends. I have no clue what the minimum wage is currently. When I was a teenager it was around $5, I think. kiwi, it is nice to know that somewhere, for some reason, some people love Americans lol :)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 20:28
Never heard of tipping nurses, I never heard of that in American hospitals, anyway. But waitresses/waiters? In the US the hourly rate is around $2/hour. They survive on tips! Is it not the same here? I couldn't imagine not tipping in a restaurant....in any country, really. Its not the same everywhere, for example in NZ, waitresses/barstaff earn more an hour than retail sales staff, so why would you tip the waitress, but not the supermarket checkout girl, or the guy who sold you your DVD player etc? In australia they make even more as minimum wage is much higher. In NZ nurses are making a decent living, but I know that some of the filipino nurses here make a pittance, so if tipping is based on low salary then why not tip them. For a NZer, we sort of have the attitude that you are paying for a service already, so tipping is paying twice, the employer should be paying at least minimum wage. [b'>Is minimum wage in the US really $2 an hour, that's shocking![/b'> NZ waitresses love American tourists BTW! :) I agree! So I looked it up as I thought it was a bit low, the minimum wage for service staff is $8.25 minus 31% tip deduction so becomes $5.69. It is 85% of that for minors. Of course, that is still not brilliant - but a lot more than $2!! Of course, illegals may get so little, but that's another story...
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 20:10
Never heard of tipping nurses, I never heard of that in American hospitals, anyway. But waitresses/waiters? In the US the hourly rate is around $2/hour. They survive on tips! Is it not the same here? I couldn't imagine not tipping in a restaurant....in any country, really. Its not the same everywhere, for example in NZ, waitresses/barstaff earn more an hour than retail sales staff, so why would you tip the waitress, but not the supermarket checkout girl, or the guy who sold you your DVD player etc? In australia they make even more as minimum wage is much higher. In NZ nurses are making a decent living, but I know that some of the filipino nurses here make a pittance, so if tipping is based on low salary then why not tip them. For a NZer, we sort of have the attitude that you are paying for a service already, so tipping is paying twice, the employer should be paying at least minimum wage. Is minimum wage in the US really $2 an hour, that's shocking! NZ waitresses love American tourists BTW! :)
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 14:11
Never heard of tipping nurses, I never heard of that in American hospitals, anyway. But waitresses/waiters? In the US the hourly rate is around $2/hour. They survive on tips! Is it not the same here? I couldn't imagine not tipping in a restaurant....in any country, really. Waiters get salaries here (and in most other countries) but of course it is a low salary as you dont really need a qualification to be one. I dont mind tipping waiting staff but medical staff is a big no from me.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 14:08
Never heard of tipping nurses, I never heard of that in American hospitals, anyway. But waitresses/waiters? In the US the hourly rate is around $2/hour. They survive on tips! Is it not the same here? I couldn't imagine not tipping in a restaurant....in any country, really.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 13:11
No i would never tip the nurse. I think we have all become a bit tip happy in this country and now its expected by taxi drivers, delivery guys, agency maids. Took a taxi the other day and the fare came to about 39 AED. i had 40 aed with me and a 500 note. Gave the taxi driver 39 aed and he turned to me and said .. no tip ? I apologised and said I dont have any change only a 500 and his response .. okay give me 500 no problem ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I declined and opened the door and he started revving his engine and as soon as i closed the door he sped off. Took the number plate and complained about him but it pi&&*ed me off the whole attitude. I have noticed this increasingly with taxi drivers - there is a strong sense of entitlement and I am seldom getting a 'thank-you' these days despite being a heavy tipper. I will always tip someone who jhas delivered food / groceries to our house as I know that in Marina a lot of them walk or cycle in the heat. And always in restaurants and petrol stations where often their basic salary doesnt cover expenses and they often rely on tips. I do feel sorry for the fact that taxi drivers never get a day off and ll work 7 days a week but a thank you or a smile would really go a long way. I was coming and going as an outpatient but I think I will send them a gift - and make it for attention of the 3/4 nurses I saw every time. I just remembered that I had an English friend working in Dubai as a nurse and she sometimes got tips (big - few hundred aed) from local families. She used to feel terribly embarrassed and say No but they were very forthright in pressing a tip on her. <em>edited by hilsbils on 17/08/2012</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 13:08
Yes in some countries it is common to tip nurses as their salaries in soooo low. DH's niece is a medical doctor and earns less than 1000 dhs a month in a country where a weekly grocery shopping for a family of 4 would easily cost dhs 500 . I know of doctors in private hospitals in the UAE who accept presents ( IPhone, gold, cash ....) it is wrong as they are earning a very high salary . I would not tip a nurse in a country where I know they are on a decent package.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 13:01
As a nurse in my home country and in Dubai also I never received a tip but appreciated that patients are grateful when happy with the nurse care. This could be with a simple thank you, smile. Sometimes they offer chocolates at discharge time which they say is for the all team. I find that very lovely but not a necessity. In Dubai there is a culture of tipping which is too much in my opinion. Some of my colleagues in Dubai used to receive gold from local patients in the old times,and it looked pretty normal to them...for me that is CRAZY! I use a lot taxi and i find myself tipping less and less as those who expect it are also the less who deserve it. I pay for a service and that is all. Many times I had to ask for my change, as drivers expected it as their due. Money is corrupting people s mind. Back to your topic, show your appreciation with something simple and meaningful if you like at discharge time but do not think tipping is a MUST otherwise it is expected that quality of care will be going down as SOME staff would then make a difference between patients.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 11:51
its actually quite common to tip nurses here, in our antenatal classes the head midwife actually suggested we would get better service if we did. having said that I didn't tip and my nurses will still lovely. I actually don't believe in tipping waitresses either or anyone who is getting paid to do a job. But I do find myself tipping in this part of the world where people earn so little and a small tip can mean a lot. Ks, it is outrageous that this Head midwife suggested this at the antenatal class!! I wish you could name and shame - they should all be ashamed and frankly, you should report this to the management of the hospital. She has no right to speak for her team, many of whom probably would be horrified.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 11:45
As a nurse, it is a no-no. We take a vow to treat everybody equally and without prejudice. Patients do give cards / chocolates / flowers / other gifts because [i'>they choose[/i'> to show their appreciation for the care they received from and individual or team. Ethical nurses would never expect anything or change their care plan according to who 'tips' them or not. Sadly this is not the same for all cultures, in some, nurses are considered highly educated and superior and they do wield their power over their patients. In South Africa, I witnessed a situation where bed-ridden patients had to pay nurses to bring them a bedpan and if they couldn't and they messed the bed, they were slapped or verbally abused! So very sad, but this does go on as this noble profession is not a calling for all nurses.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 11:10
You won't be surprised to hear that this form of bribery, as explained by Hilsbils's friend, is rife in Greece as well as in Italy, so it probably still goes on in Eastern Europe as well. State hospitals provide only the most basic care, though the actual treatment isn't too bad, and families have to come and bathe sick patients and bring food in from home and even in private hospitals in Athens, we had to pay cash "under the table" to the doctors to get operations and treatment for my parents-in-law, and had to pay agency nurses to sit with them at night because the nurses "on duty" didn't seem to do anything. By the way, my recent experience with my mother's treatment at the hands of local NHS hospitals leads me to believe that parts of England are going the same way as Greece and Italy. No tipping required yet, but basic care, cleanliness, attention and food leaves a lot to be desired. edited by simpleasabc on 17/08/2012 Sadly I agree with your comments re poor care in English hospitals. We have the same issues in some Scottish hospitals too. Our local new Royal Infirmary is excellent mind you having been both a visitor and a patient. My place of work until I retired recently was a hospice which I loved and care was second to none. We noticed that most student nurses we had on placement (3rd year) seriously lacked basic skills and some had the attitude that these skills should be carried out by auxillaries or care assistants!!! They reckoned that the role of a staff nurse was as a manager and sat in an office doing paperwork. We soon put them straight!! There are some excellent nurses out there both in hospitals and community who do a wonderful job and really care for their patients.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 10:45
Never tipped but have given THANK YOU notes/treats for special care. My DD recently had major surgery in OZ and the Dr's and nurses where great so we gave some choccies with a Thank You Card she scribbled on. Same here as well with my DH recent stay - we shared my DD birthday cake and choc when he left to say Thank You.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 10:45
its actually quite common to tip nurses here, in our antenatal classes the head midwife actually suggested we would get better service if we did. having said that I didn't tip and my nurses will still lovely. I actually don't believe in tipping waitresses either or anyone who is getting paid to do a job. But I do find myself tipping in this part of the world where people earn so little and a small tip can mean a lot.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 10:13
No dont tip the nurses! But if your happy with the service you got while being there why not put a smile on their faces and send a little treat? Or a thank you card? Or maybe both...we always appreciate that at my work but we dont expect it and we dont take tips!
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 10:04
You won't be surprised to hear that this form of bribery, as explained by Hilsbils's friend, is rife in Greece as well as in Italy, so it probably still goes on in Eastern Europe as well. State hospitals provide only the most basic care, though the actual treatment isn't too bad, and families have to come and bathe sick patients and bring food in from home and even in private hospitals in Athens, we had to pay cash "under the table" to the doctors to get operations and treatment for my parents-in-law, and had to pay agency nurses to sit with them at night because the nurses "on duty" didn't seem to do anything. By the way, my recent experience with my mother's treatment at the hands of local NHS hospitals leads me to believe that parts of England are going the same way as Greece and Italy. No tipping required yet, but basic care, cleanliness, attention and food leaves a lot to be desired. <em>edited by simpleasabc on 17/08/2012</em>
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 09:54
I would see it as an insult - would you tip your lawyer or Doctor, for instance? I second Joyce B here, a well trained professional would never ever accept money or gifts (this may lead to bias) and chocolates or cake would be better received since these could be shared among all the staff on duty. A personal note to an individual, should one nurse have gone out of her way, would be appreciated without embarrassment.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 09:07
No i would never tip the nurse. I think we have all become a bit tip happy in this country and now its expected by taxi drivers, delivery guys, agency maids. Took a taxi the other day and the fare came to about 39 AED. i had 40 aed with me and a 500 note. Gave the taxi driver 39 aed and he turned to me and said .. no tip ? I apologised and said I dont have any change only a 500 and his response .. okay give me 500 no problem ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I declined and opened the door and he started revving his engine and as soon as i closed the door he sped off. Took the number plate and complained about him but it pi&&*ed me off the whole attitude.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 04:39
Ladies.... I have insomnia. Been awake since 3am so delighted to find action in EW :-) Yes, that would be my thinking too...totally a no no and very surprising. My Dh is from Eastern Europe and he hasnt been back in 10 years so perhaps things have improved since then back in his home country. If you had all said a resounding 'yes' I would have sent off some gift packs to the nurses forthwith but seems that may not be necessary. <em>edited by hilsbils on 17/08/2012</em>
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 02:10
Absolutely not! I have just retired from nursing after 40 years and it would be unthinkable for a professional nurse to accept money from a patient or relative. It is just not permitted. Chocolates are always welcome though ;)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 00:19
As someone who spent 34 years working as a nurse ( in 3 different countries including here) the answer is a big NO. Not only is is not expected but it is not allowed, that goes for everywhere I have worked.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 00:13
That isn't a tip, that's a bribe. <em>edited by Expatriate on 17/08/2012</em>
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 17 August 2012 - 00:00
No.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 August 2012 - 23:25
I have never heard of anyone tipping a nurse! I think thats disgusting that a nurse would accept a tip in the first place. Being a nurse is a special calling not some waitress job. Those nurses should be ashamed.
 
 

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