[queasy27]

I'm curious what you would do in this situation.

You enter the waiting room of a doctor's office and there is one person at the window speaking to the receptionist. Do you:

1. Wait your turn to sign in.

2. Say "excuse me" and reach across the man speaking to the receptionist in order to take the sign-in clipboard off the shelf in front of him.

Meanwhile, a third person has entered and that guy waits for the first one to finish and leave the line before signing in.

Was the first person rude for blocking access to the sign-in sheet or was the second one rude for reaching across someone to take it? Or neither?

[Bogie Shooter]

What's the hurry? Wait your turn!

[missypie]

When going to the Doctors if I am perhaps nervous about my situation I may forget "manners". Just wait until the receptionist is finished with the person in front of you. They know that you are there to sign in.

[billybye]

Neither. Do whatever you want. Wait or reach across.

[jnieman]

I would either wait until the person is finished speaking then sign in or if the sheet is almost accessible just say excuse me and sign in. If you sit down to wait before signing in then someone else will sign in before you. Sometimes at the doctor's office they like you to stand back so you don't overhear the conversation going on. I've been told to do that before also.

[Avista]

Could always go,to Villages Health. No sign in sheet.

[DonH57]

Were you about to be late for a tee time?

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by queasy27

I'm curious what you would do in this situation.

I wouldn't sweat the small stuff. I'd step back to give some privacy and wait.
If someone gets ahead of you, it may give you an opportunity to make a new friend, or read a great article in a magazine.

[Uptown Girl]

In my opinion, it is the receptionist's job to discern and handle. If he/she is good, they will see you waiting to sign in, give you some acknowledgement and get you signed in as soon as possible.... even if the person ahead of you is clueless and engaging the receptionist for entertainment.

[ugotme]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

What's the hurry? Wait your turn!

No disrespect Bogie but I am really tired of people saying "What's your rush?"
Not everyone takes the attitude of I am retired and have nothing else to do.

It also depends on where you come from. Now I will get bashed, but I am from New York. Basically lived on Long Island but for a time worked in Manhattan. You can't help but RUSH! You don't drive 55 on the LIE. That's just the way it is.

I, personally, have very little tolerance for waiting. I am patient to a point. In this case, I would politely say excuse me, I just need to sign in, get the sheet and do so.

But please, I have calmed down a lot, but I will ALWAYS be in some kind of a rush!

[DougB]

I would be polite and wait my turn.

[Junior]

Agree

[zcaveman]

I usually say excuse me and ask for the sign-in sheet.

IF I am the one doing the talking to the receptionist, I will move the sign-in sheet to the side so that it is available for those behind me.

Z

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by Uptown Girl

In my opinion, it is the receptionist's job to discern and handle. If he/she is good, they will see you waiting to sign in, give you some acknowledgement and get you signed in as soon as possible.... even if the person ahead of you is clueless and engaging the receptionist for entertainment.

This happened to me today when I went to get an MRI done; the elderly person in front of me was 15 minutes late and just droned on and on about being on the road for 2 hrs. and her caregiver getting lost and driving round and round and round. To the people who say "what's the rush, you're retired", some of plan more that ONE thing a day (rather than just go to a Doctor's appt. then home to sleep), so sometimes we are in a bit of a rush. It happens.

[onslowe]

Bogie and Zcaveman's answers are sensible and I agree with them.

I too worked many,many years in Manhattan. Yes, rush rush and more rush. Then I moved and worked in eastern Long Island, less rush but still rush. Now I am retired. I don't want people to think that the New York rush 'syndrome' is some kind of irreversible condition. It's not. It's gone.

I too often have more than one or two items on the daily schedule….but if I have to go for an MD appointment I plan or schedule nothing - repeat nothing - else. Why be a slave to others' calendars or schedules? Been there, done that, and now I have Villages Hospital cardio post surgery tee shirt. Nuff said. YMMV.