What shall I say to a nurse who giggles?

I would ask to speak to her supervisor. It’s their job to moderate her behavior.

Speaking as a nurse, if I was doing something that upset one of my patients, I would want them to tell me directly (in a kind way) right then and there. I have a habit of calling people older than me sir or ma’am and I’ve had several patients tell me they don’t like that. So I stop doing it for them. I also have a habit of saying hun and sweetie to patients. I’ve had a few tell me they don’t like that as well, so I stop. I’ve been trying to break myself of that habit completely, but for some reason, it’s really hard. I also initially address my patients by Mr., Ms., or Mrs. and I’ve had several tell me they don’t like that either and ask me to call them something else. Generally, I think addressing it directly when it happens would be better than going to a supervisor because she may not even realize she’s doing it. If she doesn’t even realize it, a supervisor mentioning it to her might not do any good if she doesn’t think she does it (and they don’t witness it).

Honestly, if she’s a new nurse, it could be a nervous giggle. If you mention it to her and it continues, then I would proceed with going to her supervisor.

I’d ask her if she had feathers in her knickers & if so would she mind removing them during office hours.

I think it’s just habit… maybe she wants to fill the silence? Maybe she thinks its comforting? I know I do that quite a lot and don’t mean it in a mean way but in a friendly way trying to lighten up the atmosphere.

The mere fact that she is a youngster, is probably why she finds things/situations so funny. It’s not her fault, she just needs to know when to tone down the levity. Give her time or mention it to her superior. Just remember when you were young and just starting out in the work force.

Tell her to lay off the anesthesia.

I know an adult who does that all the time. It drive me crazy. I am not sure if I am supposed to laugh with her or not or just ignore it and not crack a smile. I work with her husband and when we are together it is like listening to a fake laugh track.
I just smile pleasantly and chalk it up to a mild case of Tourette syndrome.

Make a quip, preferably with a sharp look in your eyes and comfortable smile on your face:

“Have I done something, out of the ordinary, to inspire such laughter?”

“Do all of your patients bring you such unfiltered joy?”

“I must be particularly entertaining today!”

Sheepish as she might feel, it’s better than “Would you stop giggling, you twit!?”

I would speak to the doctor who employs her.

I would ask her name, and then tell her your name and just add ‘you know your giggling makes me feel uncomfortable’.

For whatever reason, a lot of young girls giggle when they’re nervous. I’ve done this. Unless you can tell that she’s laughing at you, I wouldn’t assume that she means anything by it.

I’m surprised at how many people are busy defending her. Of course she’s young. Of course she’s nervous. Of course she doesn’t mean to offend. But she is still a professional charged with care of patients in a setting that calls for sensitivity. This is not a social situation. Surely it is not the job of the patient to take care of the nurse’s feelings.

I once did have to speak to a young nurse in a doctor’s office. She had the habit of saying “I’ll have you”: “I’ll have you step on the scale. I’ll have you undress. I’ll have you sit on the table.” After putting up with this through several visits, I asked her if she realized that she was addressing me the way you would speak to a servant or underling. She seemed surprised and asked what she ought to say. I said a simple direction—“Step on the scale”—would do, or, if she wanted to be especially courteous, “Please step on the scale.” A boss might say “I’d like you to…,” but a nurse giving instructions in an examining room is not the patient’s boss.

I would have thought that basic manners for interaction with patients would be taught in nursing school.

She should be told to be a professional. Such an attitude is not going to take her far and she should be told this immediately. I suggest you take the high road and tell it to her straight, you’d be doing her a favour. Might i add that being straight is not being rude. She’s not your friend but a mere stranger. She must be corrected.

I’d rather speak to her directly in a very respectful manner. I know sometimes you have to go to the top, but this is trivial; I feel the boss would just be like: “Are you serious? I have to deal with this shit too?”

She is clearly under the influence of an arch villain of some kind. Most likely The Joker.

Do not accept any gas she may offer you and set fire to her at once!

I think you’re being a bit oversensitive here @Jeruba…

First, it is quite possible that the giggling is a nervous habit and not an indication of finding something you are doing funny.

That said, it is inappropriate, and you are the patient and should not be subjected to it.

I am not sure that I would say anything to her directly. I would take it up with the office manager or director of nurses (depending on how large the office is). I would simply explain what happened and that it made you uncomfortable.

@Jeruba The “I’ll have you step up on the scale” is still a far sight better than the inappropriate use of “we” as in “We need to undress and put on the gown” or “Let’s (let us) get up on the scale” that has been around for way too long in a medical setting. There is no “WE” about it and patients quickly remind nurses of the offensiveness of this old chestnut.

I agree with you on the giggling and I agree with @Seaofclouds in that most professionals (however young or inexperienced) are better served by being addressed directly the first time and then you can escalate the complaint if it recurs.

A nurse saying, “I’ll have you step on the scale.” or “I’ll have you undress” is not rude or condescending at all. It’s simply a straightforward means of letting you know what to do. She’s just letting you know what to do next. Not sure why you would think those statements, using those words are rude. To me, those particular statements, the way they are being said are just letting the patient know what to expect to do next. She isn’t demanding anything, she isn’t calling you sweetie or babe or hun, which can be construed as too familiar. These particular statements are keeping a professional distance between you and the nurse, while simply letting you know what to expect to do next in the procedure. I’m sure this nurse meant you no harm, embarrassment or condescension. I, as the nurse, would have been embarrassed to have be called out in this particular situation. There is no perfect way to address every patient. Some patients insist on being called Madame or Mrs. while others cringe at the idea. It’s hard to know who wants to be addressed in any particular manner, but I think the nurse in this example is doing a good job and you shouldn’t be upset about it.

The nurse in the second case, the giggler, also doesn’t mean you any embarrassment. Because she is very young and this may be her first job, she may not even realize that she has nervous giggles (or she may realize and already be horriby embarrassed by it, but not know how to stop herself). In this case, because I would want her to stop, but try not to embarrass her either, I think I would just say to her, “Your giggling is kind of making me nervous.” and then smile in a sad sympathetic look at her. That should get her to stop immediately, and then think about it (which she probably hasn’t been doing up to this point). No need to contact her supervisor unless she doesn’t stop or makes a snide comment back to you.

You can’t please all of the people all of the time. I’m sure some will find her giggling charming and cute. It can be an ice-breaker.

[Edit: I got thrown off by the answers. You didn’t ask what to do. You asked what we think you should say.]

I’m for the blunt approach. “Excuse me, but every time you giggle, it makes me very uncomfortable. If you could please not giggle during our appointment, I would really appreciate it”. Say it in a kind way with a smile.

And let us know what happens.

I would tell her, in an informative and friendly manner that some patients, could start feeling a little uncomfortable with her giggles.
Dress it in a way that she feels that you are doing her a favour (you know that you mainly did it for yourself).

It sounds like a nervous tic and I would ignore it.

It is understandable how you feel. Many people would feel the same way in such a vulnerable situation. If I were this nurse or aide, here is what I would like you to say to me:

“Nurse (name), I’m having a challenge when I come here and could use your help. Visiting the doctor’s office makes me feel a bit vulnerable when (whatever you want to say). It becomes uncomfortable when one of the staff members giggles.” If I didn’t get it at that point, I’d ask for more details and would hope that you would provide them.

I’ve known several gigglers, and their age probably has little to do with it, as some are well past their 20s. It seems like it would be a much harder habit to break than using a certain type of language, like “I’ll have you…” My vote is that you speak to her directly and privately about how it makes you feel and hope for the best. It might turn out to be a life lesson for her.

Folks, I’m not falling apart here because this young person can’t control her giggles. I find it irritating but can otherwise ignore it. I am pretty matter-of-fact about doctors’ appointments and don’t need to be coddled. Asking a person to maintain an appropriate demeanor does not amount to requesting special treatment.

I just think that giggling is childish and should not be part of a professional’s behavior with a client. I would not want the architect to giggle while showing me a floor plan. I would not want the attorney to giggle while explaining her work on my will. Anyone whose role should inspire confidence, anyone who is asking a client to trust them and put himself or herself in their hands, should be conscious of behavior appropriate to the role.

A young person in her first or second job should be happy to correct mannerisms that interfere with the client relationship.

Thanks to those who addressed the question by helping me think about whether to say something and what to say.

So tempted to just take wiggles and riggles and run with the limerick

Her nervous giggling makes me think she is the type who would be devastated and embarrassed by this. I would be direct, but try to be as kind as possible. Anything harsh or negative will only serve to make her more nervous. She does need to be more professional, but a gentle approach is effective and will actually increase her confidence.

I just want to point out that it is unlikely she is a nurse. She is probably an inexperienced tech. Both nurses and medical assistants have to do clinicals where they are exposed to patients and are explicitly taught how to perform their tasks professionally.

I would be very cautious with my words and tone with her so as not to offend or frighten. Unlike others above, I see no problem with talking to the nurse manager. If this employee is not a trained professional, then she received on-the-job training, which may not have included certain aspects of interacting with patients (such as giggling). Not only could the nurse manager address how to help this young lady be more professional, she could approach the issue systematically and make sure to include extra training for other employees, if necessary.

Ask her about it, in a non-confrontational manner – an earlier post, something about unfiltered joy, seems appropriate. Or perhaps present your comment as friendly advice.

Update six months later: she does not appear to be there any more.